George Michael showed the way

IN the days since his sad and untimely death, George Michael has been revealed to be not just a good, but a great man.

His many acts of compassion, kindness, generosity and love, often to complete strangers, were carried out anonymously. He seemed to avoid attention when he gave to others but in his passing these examples of caring and concern have become public knowledge.

George Michael has died at a time when ideas of kindness, gentleness, solidarity and concern appear to be in retreat across the world.

There is one other attribute he possessed which we might all do well to emulate and that is courage.

In 2002, as many millions of people across the world looked on anxiously at the unstoppable march to war with Iraq, George Michael publicly spoke out against the war, knowing full well that he would be crucified by the tabloid press. He spoke out because he believed the war was wrong and that it would end in catastrophe and history appears to have vindicated him on both counts.

In the next 12 uncertain months that we will live through, we must all try to live in a spirit of compassion and courage both globally and in our everyday lives.

At the Living Room Cardiff these values are central to everything we do, compassion for the still suffering addict and courage in announcing the beliefs, ideas and values that the service encapsulates.

In 2017 we will continue to research, plan and tackle the causes of compulsive gambling, we will offer comfort and support to addicts of all walks of life but also those in the clergy and the medical profession.

We will focus on teaching recovery coaching to a new generation of skilled helpers to take the message of recovery and hope far and wide. We will also put a face and a name to the illness of addiction to draw it away from shame and secrecy. We will continue to challenge policy makers, brewers and retailers, casino chains, advertisers and every other branch of the addiction industry to put people before profits and to live up to the common humanity that binds us all.

Uncertain times require quiet, persistent and bold action, taken in the spirit of kindness humanity and love.

The great and good George Michael demonstrated this capacity for powerful positive action, combined with the utmost humility – and the Living Room will do all it can to ensure these values live on.

Wynford Ellis Owen Chief Executive Living Room Cardiff