“Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him.” – Aldous Huxley I have worked hard at steering clear of thinking or saying things like, “he did this to me” or “they did that to me”, the truth is people do what they do for … Read more
“You think about what is going on, where you are going to be, off in the middle of nowhere, stuck in a shelter and it worries you,” — Samantha Garvey You probably do not know who Samantha Garvey is, personally I have never met her, but I had the opportunity to read up on her in … Read more
Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience. Victoria Holt Regret is a terrible thing we all make mistakes if we learn from the mistakes we move on. If we don’t we live in regret. That is correct, many people think that learning from mistakes means that we never make the … Read more
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true there is life and joy. Proverb I have been speaking to many rehabilitation programs lately, especially those centers on the West Coast, particularly California. I have been fortunate to have been able to speak with Chad Carlsen the co-founder and Executive Director of Hope … Read more
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. — Abraham Lincoln We have all heard that we should HALT, i.e. not get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. In its place we need to RELAX: Realize my worth, never confuse what we do for … Read more
All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles have strengthened me…You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you. Walt Disney There is absolutely no doubt about it, that all of the negative experiences and consequences of … Read more
Dreams Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. Langston Hughes We need to be dreamers, we need to dream again in order to live again. The recovered life is a … Read more
I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well. – Diane Ackerman As alcoholics and addicts when we are actively using we have nothing more to look forward to then more … Read more
If you haven’t forgiven yourself something, how can you forgive others?” – Dolores Huerta Forgiveness absolutely goes both ways. We need to forgive ourselves as well as forgive others. For some of us this concept is a contradiction and causes us to be disturbed at times. Yet the truth is simple, if we can not … Read more
“Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew.” St. Francis de Sales Everyday is a new day, every hour is a new hour. In recovery we learn that we have the option to start over at any time of day or … Read more