Oh, That Four Letter Word…
Fear. The gripping four letter word that holds the most suffocating power over human beings at this time. From fear stems doubt, anixiety, depression, loneliness, angst, longing, want, and self-defeat.
Continue ReadingVanessa
Spirituality, Science, and Recovery
One of the most liberating things I have heard since I have been in recovery came from my mentor and friend Adventure Bob Granger: “Everyone’s recovery is their own.” Since I started this journey almost two and a half years ago, the lingering drive for me has been a furthering and deepening of my understanding of spirituality and where it all fits into what it is we go through addicts, alcoholics, and those suffering from mental illness. It was pressed upon me early on that it was imperative I seek and gain an understanding of a Higher Power, and that without it I may not succeed.
Continue Reading The Aloha Spirit
I have recently moved to Hawaii. When I first arrived there, a sense of awe and anxiety crept over me. What was I doing here…really? How was I going to fit into this culture that I knew NOTHING about?! Stepping off the plane and feeling the humid, cool air, I reached for my cell phone to text my friend waiting to pick me up at the airport. The “Aloha Spirit” was one I had not personally experienced but had heard a lot about. I was soon going to get it blasted to my core, and willingly so!
Continue Reading Tools of Engagement
Lately I have been finding it difficult to engage. The wonderful things I have going on in my life, the passion of my work, social interactions and my service commitments have seemed to fizzle in their attractiveness. I feel like I have hit a road block. Inspiration is blanking and being grateful becomes difficult. I have started to feel burnt out. I have started to accrue injuries in my adventures, laying me up weekend after weekend. It’s become harder to write, and multiple deadlines can be draining. I have found myself becoming frustrated with the obstacles. This is not the first time in my life I have felt uninspired and blocked. The difference between now and then is that I currently have tools to help me get through this seemingly “lost” period in my life.
Continue Reading The Faces of Recovery
I arrived at the Freedom and Recovery Conference tired, hungry, and a wee bit underdressed. The attire called for business casual, yet prepping for a three hour motorcycle ride from Palm Springs to San Diego, I had packed the dress shirt and heels in my Harley Davidson backpack, opting to wear boots, comfy pants and my bike gear for the road. Upon arrival, I texted lead advocate Nate, who stated they were eating lunch in the main hall and I could come get some grub if I wanted to. A little embarrassed in my get-up, but famished after a mini-tour, I hiked out to grab my conference pass and meander into the dining hall. I was greeted with mostly welcoming smiles and bright eyes. I dub those “the faces of recovery.”
Continue Reading Being of Service
When I first started out in recovery, I heard things from people who had some clean time. These things had to do with getting out of myself and starting to care about others in a way that I had not been connected to previously, a way to uncover a better sense of well-being. Rather than half-hearted attempts of helping out a friend to see what I could get out of the situation, whole-hearted attempts in helping someone out (anyone!) for simply his or her benefit were encouraged. Now now now, wait a minute…Do something… for someone… because I want to…? Not necessarily foreign territory for most people. But for the recovering addict/alcoholic, selfishness and self-centeredness has been the root of one’s troubles. Getting out of self is a daily challenge!
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