V is for Vision

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and … Read more

M is for Carrying the Message

For me today carrying the message that recovery is life and life is good is what drives me.  It is amazing to me to see folks come from the pits of addiction into a brand new way of living filled with joy and hope.  It brings me back to my early days and the feeling … Read more

Self Help or Self Improvement?

Is there a difference? There certainly is and it is big. I was in a Network Marketing Company and I heard a speaker at a conference say “This is a self-improvement program with a high compensation outcome!” It was my first exposure to this way of thinking. Honestly, I was immediately attracted to the approach … Read more

The Needle and the Damage Done…

Neil Young song a song in the 70’s “Needle and the Damaga Done”. But what if the damage has nothing to do with substance abuse? What if my impulsive behaviors have created hurt feelings or worse yet, some real damage? The same rules apply, use your tools, start with step 10 recognize, admit, amend and … Read more

If I Would Have Known… I Would Not Have Grown…

Recently, I spoke with a group of folks in Panama City.  I was sharing about some recent obstacles that I had overcome.  One gentleman asked me how I had the power to go through all of that and still have a positive mental attitude? Later that night I was rehashing my days events.  I thought … Read more

Attraction Stones

My whole life I had the inner desire to “Be Somebody”. I wanted to make a difference in the world. In the 4th grade things started to really go downhill for me. Ten years of age and I had already begun the process of giving up and I did not even know it. By the … Read more

Hope

I am fortunate to have the honor to spend time with a friend that has been living the principles of recovery for nearly 50 years. He has been sober for as long as I have been alive. We usually have lunch together on Thursday. This week we discussed two issues that I have decided to … Read more

Carol Adler, Writer, Publisher, Certified Hypnotist…

Yesterday I mentioned that I would be sharing info from two people that I respect and admire. I used the term credibility. When I think of Carol that is the term that comes to mind. She has a long list of successes to her career. When it comes to professionalism Carol stands above the rest … Read more

Good Kid Gone Bad, or Never Good To Go Bad? Dan Callahan, LMSW

I was born in 1960 into a blue-collar lower income family on Long Island twenty-five miles from New York City. My family had a strong sense of giving to the community. My dad is a volunteer fireman and has been for over fifty years. Somehow I always seemed to find the trouble. My mom always … Read more

HOW to Recover

How does someone recover? The self-help approach starts with the premise of H.O.W. Honesty, Open mindedness, and Willingness. What exactly does that mean? Honesty is required. To become actively involved in your recovery you must be honest. Starting with being honest with your-self. You are not seeking recovery from addiction (other than a food addiction) … Read more