THE LOOP A COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM AROUND NEVADA
DECEMBER 2023
ISSUE 33
VOLUME 3
Greetings from WestCare Nevada, We live in a fast-paced world characterized by individual pursuits. However, when I think about treatment and recovery, my thoughts take me to a much different world. A world where individuals put aside their own interests and instead, consider the interests of others. A world full of healthy relationships where reciprocity prevails. A world that places a great deal of emphasis on gratitude and service. A world that is similar to what this time of year is supposed to signify, which is a “season of giving.” I have never believed that an attitude of gratitude and service should be seasonal either. You see, I believe that gratitude and service should be a yearround mentality because it fosters what self-centeredness and self-interest do not, which is a more compassionate and harmonious society. I am reminded that a grateful heart comes from when we recognize the abundance in our lives - no matter how much or how little we have. I am reminded that abundance should compel us to share our resources, time, and gifts with others - hence creating a positive feedback loop that doesn’t just benefit those on the receiving end. It also has a positive impact and positive transformation on the giver. This is evident in this issue of the Loop newsletter as you will read and see the impact created by those within this agency who have had the opportunity to participate in different forms of community involvement and I am confident that for each of them (us), their lives will be forever changed. This month's Loop has the following stories that I believe will inspire you to create your own life-changing experiences while serving others with an attitude of gratitude. A couple of us had the pleasure of attending the Darren Waller Foundation's Beyond the Wall fundraiser. WestCare volunteered at the
Third Annual Giving Back to Box Town Block Party and at the Annual Christmas Giving Project by Help of Southern Nevada, which at its completion, allowed us to pick up a U-Haul full of toys and bicycles that we were able to hand out to all the children associated with our clients in treatment. We also held our annual Tea Party at the Women and Children‘s Campus. We participated in the Naughty or Nice Holiday Party at Foundation for Recovery, where our Spiritual Care Chaplaincy Program (SCCP) table décor won a 1st place prize and our WestCare Nevada table took 3rd. You will also read and see how WestCare participated in the Santa Clothes program with the Las Vegas Rotary Club and our Las Vegas Community Involvement Center’s Friendsgiving event. So, in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming and even divided, cultivating gratitude and actively serving others can become powerful ways for building and/or rebuilding healthy relationships, creating a world that is more concerned about others, which in turn continues the WestCare mission of Uplifting the Human Spirit and improving the lives of everyone we encounter. On behalf of WestCare Nevada, I want to wish you a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Leo Magrdichian, LCSW, LCADC, Vice President
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