Editor, Commonwealth:
I’m a native of Danville, Illinois, but I moved to Greenwood from Crowder, Mississippi, 15 years ago. I can say that Greenwood is now my home, too.
When I was at “I’m So Greenwood,” I saw a community come as one. Children were having fun and playing while we older people gave words of wisdom. People from all over and all races were at the park showing love to each other. I saw people I have not seen in years over there. I saw people in tears of joy and happiness.
One of the reasons I love being here in Greenwood is that, even though I’m far away from my family, people here show me that I don’t have to be family to be called family. I’m part of Life Help mental health center and a member of the PACT Team. In Greenwood, people show me a lot of love and understanding.
I have seen Greenwood overcome many hard times in my 15 years of being here. But also I can see how Greenwood can improve if we work together as one. It takes a community to run a city.
People don’t know how much I love this community. If what I do gives love, faith and hope to people, then I’m doing what God gives me to do. I feel that I’m here for a reason. I know that since I’ve been here, I’ve learned a lot about being a man and how to deal with my illness. Life Help and the community of Greenwood have shown a man like me who was lost and had no hope that I can be anybody and that I’m not alone in this fight with bipolar disorder.
When you are dealing with this, it can be hard and sometimes painful. But as long as you have God, family and an excellent support team, you can overcome anything in life.
When I walk these streets, I see nothing but good people here. Yes, I do see mean people, but I see more good than bad.
Here in Greenwood I feel I’m home away from home. To me home is not where you work or where you live but it’s where you are loved and where you feel safe.
Raymon M. Johnson III
Greenwood
