Servant of the Month: Cahalan Sothron
Author: Nymala Ingasy
Our Servant of the Month is Cahalan Sothron, who performed a selfless act for her best friend, and posted about it for all of us to read. When I scratched the surface a little deeper though, her generous act blossomed from a simple meal to help a friend to something much, much deeper.
[Nymala Ingasy] Tell us a little about what happened on that day?
[Cahalan Sothron] My friend was hospitalized after a suicide attempt for about a week the first time, and then, after she'd been back at work for five days, was back in the hospital for three more weeks. Both times, right before she was released, our circle of friends decided that we wanted to help ease some of her burdens, personal and financial, so we organized a meal rotation for her. After her second release from the hospital, some other people from work wanted to contribute, which is when we set up the rotation through the Take Them a Meal site.
I was floored when I heard this, and needed to ask after her friend's well-being.
[NI] How is your friend doing now?
[CS] She has her good and bad days. She's moving out of her house and into an apartment at the end of October, and I'm hoping that the change of scenery will be a positive for her. She hasn't attempted suicide again, but it feels like she's still a danger to herself. I'm hopeful, though, that time and therapy will help her recover.
To lighten the mood a little, I decided to ask a question I can certainly relate to, food!
[NI] What did you make for her?
[CS] Cooking for her was actually a challenge for me, since I'm used to cooking just for two, and she had three other people in her house that would be eating, too. So the first time, I made her baked spaghetti and garlic bread. The 2nd time, I made shredded BBQ beef and potato salad. Those are the only recipes I have that can feed more than two, and thankfully she and her kids enjoyed them both. :)
[NI] How did you feel when you made dinner for her?
[CS] Useful. I hate feeling useless and helpless, and this was something concrete I could do for a friend who needed some assistance.
Then, we began to discuss her sharing her experience with the community as a whole.
[NI] How did it feel sharing your Servant of All moment with the Tar Valon community?
[CS] At the time, I thought it felt great. In retrospect, it's been a little more difficult because this has been a volatile situation for me both here and away from the site. Still, I think it was a great opportunity to show that even things that feel small can make a positive difference in the life of someone in need.
Very true words, and important to remember that it doesn't necessarily have to be something huge to make a difference to someone, or to yourself. I then asked her if she'd do it again despite the difficulties and the reasons behind why the good deed was done in the first place.
[CS] Yes, I would, both the act and the sharing. I think the Take Them A Meal is a great tool, so I'm happy that I can give it some press.
Lastly, but not least, I asked Cahalan for some last words to share with all of us about her experiences.
[CS] Food is always a way to make a difference in someone's life, whether it's because they're hungry or because giving it is a show of love. I would absolutely encourage people to take meals to anyone if they or their family is experiencing a health crisis.
