Success Isn't Always Measured at the End: a reflection

Very often, we humans want to measure success by some final or ultimate outcome similar to a graduation. But in reality, and quite often, one does not always get to see or participate in the final, “happily ever after” part of the story.

Rather, as those who work on the Food Truck day-in and day-out are increasingly coming to learn, success can be difficult to measure at times and appear fleeting, and may often only be glimpsed and measured on a daily or even an hourly basis. Part of this is because many things the reader may take for granted, including the ability to communicate well or make thought-out decisions has been lost or was never well developed in some in the program.

As the reader most likely knows, The Table Foundation and Food Truck team works primarily with, and is comprised in part by, people who have been previously incarcerated or with others experiencing serious struggles in their lives like PTSD and substance abuse issues. Sadly, as one can imagine, many of these people have also had to survive very difficult and abusive family situations while growing up. In one case, a young man’s parents tried to sell him when he was a child.

But the human spirit is indeed resilient, and the person just mentioned went on to become a soldier in the United States Army. But the harder side of life wasn’t finished with him yet, as he and his unit encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) leaving him with significant trauma due to injuries incurred and the loss of close unit members.

After separating from the Army and overcoming a period of homelessness, he discovered an interest in the culinary arts, thus finding his way to working on the Food Truck. Working on the Food Truck is the vehicle, if you will, that provides the structure, support and a path towards greater independence as the person learns to return to a “normal” life again.

With a lot of hard work on his part and love, patience and generosity shown him, this gentleman made great strides in his cooking skills, understanding of the food industry, and growing in confidence.

He has decided to move on with his life apart from the Food Truck, and other Food Truck workers may come and go as the skills needed take time to develop. That is, growth usually isn't linear. In cases such as these, some may wonder if the time with the Truck was a success at all. For sure, the Army gentleman in question is missed and is still loved., and we wish him the best and pray that he will eventually live happily ever after, though we may not see it firsthand. But we rest peacefully in the knowledge that we did help him on his journey—just as you did, too, in your support of the Foundation. And we'd call that a success!