Goodbye

Saying goodbye is never easy

Saying goodbye is hard. Goodbye to a loved one who has left this life, goodbye to a loved one when there is a need to be separated, to an old car/home that has served you well,  to a school/job or anything that you have loved is NEVER easy.

Goodbye is also hard when it involves things that have not served you well. Leaving people places, things and ideas that are more of a hindrance than a help and most importantly leaving a way of life that does not serve your higher purpose can be just as hard because right or wrong there is an attachment.

Facing addiction either as the one directly affected or the ones that love them is hard. Addiction does not happen overnight; although, I have heard heroin, meth, and crack referred to as 'one and done' by many.

Goodbye to a way of life that doesn't feed your spirit is probably one of the most difficult ventures that one can undertake. The shame, fear, insecurity and cost to your mind body and spirit don't seem to matter so much when it's time to say that word.  There are so many reasons to move forward but that first step can feel like jumping off a cliff.

It is hard to move in a new direction not knowing what the outcome will be. When you choose to leave a way of life you must leave everything behind even some of the things that may have been a positive because they are too close in proximity to the people, places or things that are not.

If you are reading this please take a moment to pray however you are able, use your soul energy to send loving strength and compassion out into the universe for all those affected by change When I started this site almost three years ago in Ben's honor and memory, I knew my mission. That mission was and is to create a worldwide chain of collective soul energy to feed the spirits of those who need it most. I believe together, we do just that! 

Goodbye is hard, however it is necessary and impossible to avoid. How we approach goodbye is what will save us from the fear, shame and insecurity that once held us back.

The beauty of goodbye is that it is a chance at a new beginning and a chance to say hello!

Hello to a new way of thinking and being. Another chance at a life filled with hope, love safety, security and peace.

Blessings to you and yours as you face all todays and tomorrows in the knowledge that we as a community of believers in new beginnings will rise to say hello!

Loving you warmly Kristyn

Well behaved women seldom make history!

Speak up and speak out 

you never know who is listening!

This post, my respect and love is offered to all of the women whom I have met in recovery, who work in recovery and who continue to rise above, make change and afford change to the people they devote their passion to.

Women have often taken the back seat or were not allowed the recognition they earned because of their gender. It was Eleanor Roosevelt who said, "well behaved women seldom make history".

The quiet unsung heroes of our gender should receive the exact same level of acknowledgement as the Roosevelts; however, knowing the difference they made in their own corner of the world without the need for recognition is enough for them and powerful in its own right.

The message for today is in gratitude for the women who stood up boldly, refused to take the back seat, were criticized ridiculed and called 'bitch' or some other derogatory term for standing up for what they believed in. 

Many women leaders in the world are leaders because they rose above. They rose above their status, their demographic, religion, their race, location, size, shape and/or their abuser. 

I have met many women in my life through work, volunteering and social settings. What I know for certain is being a powerful woman poses a challenge to weak minded people who feel threatened by their driving force.

Those who face addiction would be considered by many to be, not very well behaved. The women I meet in recovery and of course my Hillary made choices as we all do at times that were not right. Not right for them; damaging to their mind, body and spirit in many ways. 

In recovery, they ROSE, they rose above what they BELIEVED they were, what they believed their worth was and continue to rise making a difference in the lives of others in ways they would not have been able to had they not experienced the life they had. The choices they made helped them to become more compassionate, more understanding, with the ability to relate to those who are learning how to rise within their own journey. Misbehaving ultimately gave them the ability to give back in the ways they weren't before addiction.  

I know and believe from the depths of my soul that when we rise above what threatens to hold us down, stand up for what we believe in and do not keep our mouths shut, we change lives which makes it possible to rise by lifting others. 

I see Spirit at work in my life every moment of every day. I am not quiet, I have strong opinions and for some that would mean I am not so well behaved. I have also been known to break rules for the sake of what I believe in. I learned these traits from powerful women who refused to be restricted when standing up for what they believed in. 

When you believe in someone or an idea, speak up and stand up for them it will effect all humankind. You have value, it does not matter if someone else sees it. For all of the women who may read this and say 'I don't have the power to change who I am', you don't need to. You are perfect the way you are and when you make the choice to see yourself as the gift to the world you are, you will stop doing what does not serve your greatness and start to use your power to see your own potential and to help others by your example.

I have had the privilege and honor to know many who have faced addiction or have loved someone who faces it and I have learned incredibly valuable lessons that I would not have learned otherwise. Speak up, tell your story with pride; you never know who may be listening.

Making a difference in the lives of others is what makes herstory! 

May God that divinely loves us all 

continue to bless your work 

in all places and in all ways 

today and for all time!

Amen

k

What is true in our minds is true.....

A line from a movie.

Say it again,
what is true in our minds is true.

What do you believe about yourself?
Take away what you have been told.
Take away what you assume.
Take away how you think others perceive you.

What is your truth?
It is true.

Do you like your truth?
Is it the truth you want?

What is true in our minds is true.

Create the truth you want,
and it is true.

It may take time to build the truth
into a stronger truth, but even the smallest truth
is still true.

Our thoughts are who we are.
Our bodies are merely the vessel that holds our truth.

Only I and only you can create and live our own truth.

I am me and you are you, that is true.

Be true to your truth.
It is yours to decide and live out in this earthly world.

If you are not happy in your truth change what you believe
and it becomes a new truth.

My truth:
Everyone is equal, no better and no worse.
The only truth I can control is my own.
What I believe is my reality.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
I have to accept what comes my way,
like it or not life happens.
How I choose to live is my truth.
The truth is not good or bad, it is simply true.

It is impossible to lie to ones self,
we know ourselves better than that.
We know when we have tried to lie to ourselves
or convince ourselves of something that is not true.

At the end of the day,
what is true in our minds is true...……..

I am truly going to do my best every day,
to accept whatever my best is on every given day;
knowing that what I believe in my mind to be true
is true.

May your truth be satisfied,
may you truth be grateful,
may your truth be happy,
may your truth live in love; not fear
and may your truth be filled with peace.

Yours truly
In love and compassion,
k

SURRENDER?!

To surrender, or not to surrender

that

is the question

Surrender can be seen as a positive or a negative; 

no matter how you perceive it, there is always a change that comes along with it.

Another way Spirit works: 

Sitting in class a couple years ago there was a basket with a bunch of slips of paper with one word on each. I didn't know what the basket was for; however, I am always looking for Divine intervention  so I took a slip. At this time in my life the word 'surrender' wasn't even part of my vocabulary and there it was . I was fighting the fight every single day for one reason of another. I thought, well that was a mistake.....that was most certainly someone else's word, I'm no quitter. The owner of the basket came around and asked everyone to take a slip without looking. I did this swirling the papers around in my hand to ensure a different message.... yup, you guessed it, the same damn word. 

I have always identified the word surrender as being to give up, inevitably by waving the cliché white flag to let the attacker know you have no more fight in you and you submit.

When 'surrender' came up again, I looked it up and sure enough it meant exactly what I thought; so what was the message? I thought about it and came to the conclusion that the message was that  for me to heal all that was troubling me for so long I would have to do exactly what the tiny slip of paper insisted I do.

I decided I had nothing to lose and as hard and scary as it was, I gave up what was holding me back, I gave up my fear of the unknown, I gave up my attachment to a way of life that did not bring me joy, I gave up the hurt, the sorrow, the sadness, the unworthiness and I took a leap of faith that if I truly surrendered to my higher power and let go of all the pain; there would be room in my soul for the inner peace that had eluded me for so long.

Those who know me well may find that a little hard to believe as I was pretty good at 'putting on the survivor face'. What I know is there is a huge difference between surviving and living. I had to give up surviving and surrender to living. Go figure...….

I chose to surrender to life, sounds like an oxymoron but it is 100% true and now almost 49 years later I am no longer surviving, I am living and you can too!

The old adage "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is also true, surrender to what kills you. Draw strength from the power that hides behind fear; release the fear, release its power over you, let it go and LIVE!!! please :)

Love you
peace 
xox
Kristyn

Dear Ben,

Dear Ben,

Visiting you at the cemetery on your birthday was never the plan. The plan was for you to be here with Hillary raising your boys. Although I am grateful for the life you had with all of us it will never have been enough. We miss you and want to see your smile and hear your laugh again. I know you watch over all of us all the time..........

 As I write this, I’m sitting on your gravestone and I cry, listening to music, the random shuffle to see what you want me to hear today and your birthday ballon starts banging me in the back of  the  head right on cue, reminding me that your sense of humor is still here.

Stop your crying and laugh is what I hear. My memories of your silliness live on in a birthday balloon and in the spirits of those goofy little boys. I can’t help but laugh; thank you for making me smile through the tears and reminding me that you are always here. Two 333’s already this morning, I'm going to guess there will be many more before the end of the day and every day to come as there have been since the day you moved on to a higher level of consciousness surrounded by the love of those who share in the loving energy of the universe with you.

Until we meet again I will laugh and be silly in our honor. Thank you again for making me laugh once again which I know is the best medicine for all that ails you! Happy birthday ❤️

I love you kiddo
Momma k



PS last song 'Do you want to build a snowman?' lmao :)

Be nice and be happy

I was having a conversation about relationships with a couple I know which lasted for about an hour and a half or so. We were talking about the differences in how they saw and did things; neither was right or wrong, simply different perspectives, strengths and weaknesses. Another person was present while we chatted and I asked if when I left they would remind this couple of what we had spoken of and the love they shared. I said, 'what are you going to tell them while I'm away to keep the peace?' and his response was, 'be nice and be happy'.

I thought about everything we had talked about; all the words, details, the time it took to get the point across and Joe, was able to sum it up in 4 words!

When we face the challenges of living with addiction either in ourselves or those around us this concept can be hard to grasp. When emotions are at their  peak and we care about the one who is suffering or feel completely let down by a choice we have made it helps to take a step back and remember we are all fighting a battle that no one else can truly understand and the best way to move forward with loving kindness is to be nice and be happy. Not always easy to do; however always the best choice.

Thank you, Joe for your inspiration!

My prayer for today is that we all try a little

harder to be nice to ourselves and others

which will always lead to a happier life

Peace and joy be with you always!

blessings k  

Triggers

What are triggers?

Triggers are things that set other things in motion. Most commonly when we think of triggers, we think of guns. We pull the trigger and release the bullet to destroy whatever is on its path. Someone else can pull it as well and unknowingly shoot you at your weakest spot and sadly others will knowingly aim directly at you, pull the trigger and shoot you over and over again.

One of the cognitive Therapies associated with recovery is knowing your triggers and avoiding them like the plague. When triggers appear in your life, which they always will; it is imperative to see it coming and do your best to dodge the bullet. I know, easier said than done because triggers can show up out of nowhere when you least expect them right when you think you are safe.

Ways to deflect the bullets that the triggers set in motion

Move out of the way! If you know that a person, place, thing or thought is a trigger steer clear!

Tell people who love, respect and care about your well-being what your triggers are so that they can help keep you out of harms way.

Bclieve in yourself and your power to overcome. The bullet only has the power you give it, do not pull the trigger and hope there is nothing on the chamber. Russian roulette has terrible odds! If it hurt you before chances are pretty good it will most certainly hurt you again.

Most importantly, if you are reading this there is a pretty good chance you have dodged your fair share of bullets, that is survival. The trigger was pulled, you faced the bullet and lived to tell the tale.

The source of all goodness in the world has a counterpart that is the source of all evil. Believe in the power of love to overcome fear which is what all evil feeds on and the bullets become fewer and farther between and one day maybe not so far away you can live in peace with yourself which is ultimately the only person who can save you from yourself.

Remove your finger from the trigger put the weapon down and be safe, you got this!

love you k

.

Creepers

Positive and/or negative

noun (first two definitions)

1. a person or thing that creeps.
2. Botany. a plant that grows upon or just beneath the surface of the ground, or upon any other surface, sending out rootlets from the stem, as ivy and couch grass.

1. The negative: Yesterday was a rough day, I was overthinking; as I often do. The little things that are easy to push to the back of my mind gathered together and creeped up on me. It took a couple of days for them to come to the surface and it didn't happen while I was awake. they snuck in while I was sleeping when my mind was (supposed to be) at rest.

I woke up in the middle of the night two nights in a row wide awake and knew I was off. It took some time and of course, some discomfort to figure out what it was that was creeping in to my subconscious.

When things creep in that do not serve your higher purpose, give them away. Likewise, when things creep in that do serve your higher  purpose give those away too by sharing them with others.

I am grateful that I have my person, my best friend that I can give both to.

I took a look in my head and said to myself, what has to stay and what has to go. I get scared when I can't control every aspect of everything because that is what has kept me going (or at least so I thought) through some really tough times. The more I keep, the creepier the pile gets.

I let it go, I surrendered to my safe place and got rid of the creepy stuff. I was not able to answer every question or see into the future by rubbing my magical crystal ball that only shows me my make believe world filled with rainbows and unicorns.

I was able to trust my higher power which comes from Spirit and flows through me; helping me accept at this very moment in time (not sooner/not later) I have exactly what I need to pull out the creepers from the roots. I know that if and when they sneak back in, like creepers often do; I have the power and will do whatever it takes to pull out the little buggers again.

2. The positive: Creepers can bring joy, The image you see here is morning glories. Morning glories are creepers, they are flowers on vines that spread rapidly. These morning glories came from seeds that were given to me last year at the end of the season by a gentleman who lived in a long term care facility whom I met while visiting my patients. He left this life shortly after giving them to me and I planted them this year in his honor and memory. What a blessing to have had that man creep into my life and leave me with not only his memory but a beautiful reminder that I can re-seed every year to keep that beauty growing.

Weed out the creepers that do not serve you to make room for the creepers that fill your life and Spirit with joy for the journey.

Divine Spirit and Guiding Force,

I give you thanks for the creepers

in my life and for the gift of those

that help me to know the one's that

serve my higher purpose 

and those that don't

Please help me and all your children 

to see your love and light in

the dark places, at times we visit,

so that we may find our way back

to the safety of your kind embrace.

Amen!

In peace love and gratitude for

this 'mornings glory' 

k

Animal House 1978

I was a teenager in the 80's when the film Animal House was a cult classic. I remember every scene from that film and have re-watched it many times. My feelings about this film have changed over the years and I don't see it quite the way I used to. At the time it seemed as though it would be super cool to be part of that party scene; Looking back I see the film completely differently.

At 10 years old I smoked my first cigarette and at around 13 years old I started partying with friends. I drank too much, I smoked a ton of cigarettes and just as much weed. I tried other things but alcohol and weed were the drugs I chose to feel good or get away from how I really felt. Growing up is hard and I am lucky to be alive, given many of my risky behaviors. I wish I knew then what I know now.

Spending your entire life looking for the next party or partying to avoid life is no way to live. It can and it will catch up with you. If you are constantly searching, you will never see what is right in front of you.

I partied a lot, so much so that I found if I wasn't partying I was pretty miserable. Then I figured it out, if I needed something to take the edge off or something to loosen up that what I was doing was self-medicating  I wanted to feel different then I felt sober because sober didn't feel good and unfortunately that is the case for many of todays kids no different than it was when I was young.

I said I was lucky, and I was; I was spared the addictive gene that traveled through my family on both sides. I was able to choose to stop any time I wanted but I always knew it could've ended very differently.

The reality is todays alcohol and drugs are different from what was out there in my partying days and it was a lot less accessible. When I drank it wasn't some brand new fancy higher volume alcohol mixed with something else, it was the simple stuff (which truth be told got me in major trouble on more than one occasion and in more than one way). When I smoked weed it came from a friends backyard, it wasn't manufactured or treated with something, to make it 'better'.

If I had access then to what kids have access to today, I too would most probably be on the list of people who are no longer with us or fighting addiction brought on by overuse of dangerous substances.

Kids are NOT capable of understanding what Hillary called, "one and done" her introduction to heroin. She said the first time can, and usually does, get you hooked. What your 'friends' that supply it for you don't tell you, is chances are pretty good that you will spend the remainder of our time chasing that first time feeling that never comes again. When you realize that it isn't coming, it is already too late and now you chase not being sick, you chase not feeling withdrawal and you chase whatever you have to just to survive.

This is what our kids need to be taught, most don't run straight to heroin but too many eventually end up there.

Just say no will not work for every kid, DARE is great but the reality is it will not work for every kid, nothing will.

Tell your kids the truth,

do your homework,

knowledge is power!

Model positive behavior.

We all screw up as parents

in one way or another
sharing that with your children
makes you human.

You've heard it before and I will say it again,

if it can happen to me and my family

it can happen to yours.

Animal House

glorifying OUT OF CONTROL partying 

is portrayed in the media 

and sometimes in our homes as okay,
normal behavior

and the best way to have a good time.

Set boundaries for yourself and for your kids

surrounding partying.
Illicit drugs should never be okay!
Alcohol with boundaries is not only okay
but shows our kids that you can behave
responsibly with a controlled substance.
The key word there, being controlled.

I didn't have much self control
as an adolescent, and I paid the price in more
ways then I will share here today.

Most adolescents will escape the throws of
addiction; however the numbers do not lie.
Young adults facing addiction fill our streets
our homeless centers, rehabs and the homes of family members.
Sadly, those numbers continue to rise.

Please be honest, be straightforward,
share the cold hard facts and
by all means possible help them to see the difference
between sharing beverages with friends
and out of control partying.

Kids don't need you to be perfect;
they need you to be real.

Together we can make a difference,
we already have.

Peace, k

Golf

The game of golf in comparison to life 

How we play games and face life are affected by our strengths and weaknesses. By analyzing these qualities it can bring insight to how we choose to manage a 'bad shot'. What we feel like when we take a shot is not necessarily what it looks like to others or what we would see if we could see ourselves from the outside looking in.

I know very little about golf, although I am trying to figure it out. Here's what I know: people facing addiction are often misunderstood similar to the perception of golf. Those who haven't experienced addiction can be quick to say, 'just stop using; how hard could it be' and those who have never played golf could say something similar.

The key value I have learned in the years that my family and I have faced this disease is that there is nothing easy about recovery.

Here's the golf analogy 

Sincere apologies for my snap judgement on the game that is a lot harder than it looks. Until recently I thought golf was easy because I didn't know any better. I thought, how hard could it be; grab a club hit the ball, a great easy way to gather with friends on a nice day. I was wrong. This is what I have learned.

You need: 

The right club, the right fit for you.

The right conditions, weather plays a role.

The right stance.

The right ball.

The right perspective.

The proper balance.

The right swing.

Timing!

The proper placement of your arms, legs, hands,

feet; your whole body has to be in perfect alignment.

The list goes on, however I think you get the point.

Not easy, for sure.

Now let's say that the universe aligns and you have worked 

on every single aspect of your game.

Most of the time you are pretty pleased with the outcome.

In comes the bad day...……………now what?

Back to basics, It is much easier said than done

than to create the proper conditions for the 

universe to align enough to give your best game 

every single day.

When we fall short we have reasons;

I was off, just didn't have it in me today,

that's what I've always done, 

old habits are hard to break, or my personal favorite

rather than accept the hard day as a moment in time 

I beat the crap out of myself for falling short.

Sound familiar?

Golf is a game, addiction is not.

Please know I am not comparing the challenges 

faced by a having a disease and playing a game, however

for me, I learn by comparing things that occur in every day life

to things that hold more weight.

Side note:

My higher power is God through Jesus.

Jesus was a great guy who loved everyone.

Jesus used analogy to help everyday

people understand the love of God and 

that makes complete sense to me.

For me, it makes it easier when I can relate 

to something in my everyday life.

Ed the inspiration for this post

Here is my golf strategy (although not qualified)

*Find your balance

*Choose the proper club for the job and let the club do it,

that is what the club is for

*Take it slow, breathe

*Focus and believe, be positive

*Do not let your past control your present

*Let go of past mistakes, they do not serve your goal

*Remember this is not easy

*break it down (it's hard to fix everything at once)

*take a step back, look at the big picture 

and take the small steps it will take to change

*Be proud of what it takes to stand at the tee

(not everyone can, myself included)

Take your shot!

It is yours for the taking;

make it your best, whatever your best is for that moment.

You may not land on the green,

you may hit a tree, land in the rough,

the water or the sand; but you took the shot.

Daily affirmation

I got this

I give my best every time

I know what I need to do

and I have what it takes to succeed.

On the fairway or in the weeds

I am grateful for every shot I take

because they are mine.

Most importantly;

Good day, bad day and every day in between

Just as golf is not who you are;

Addiction is not who you are

No individual thing is what makes us who we are.

What makes us who we are is the 

Divine love that comes to us through 

the universal Power of all that is right and good

and wants us to succeed and be our best selves

on every given day.

Be open to receiving the Power and know

that you are loved and cherished by those

that understand, life is hard, healing is hard,

no one chooses this disease and 

with love there can be healing and success.

peace and love from me to you

~hugs k

I'm a survivor and if you are reading this........

YOU ARE TOO!

I am alive, although sometimes I wonder 

how I survived the times

when Hillary was living on the street and 

I didn't know from one day to the next if 

I would get the dreaded call.

I'm not sure how I survived driving around looking for her

or pounding on the door of the last place I had seen her
praying that she would answer.

Every day a little piece of me died...…

Then recovery began, for her, for me and all those that loved her.

It was rough,
I don't know how I survived when 

every day I worried that she would relapse.

The look; was she using again, was she simply tired,

or was I imagining something

that wasn't really there.

When Ben overdosed upstairs while I was downstairs sleeping
I thought I would die.

I don't know how I found the strength to
 breath for him when he was blue
long enough for the paramedics to arrive.

I don't know how I survived when we watched him
in the hospital fighting for his life.....
entering treatment again, leaving to begin again

…….and
devastatingly having to face his passing
on March 8th, 2015.

All of us who loved Ben more than life itself
have continued to live;

including Hillary who is the epitome of what
a survivor looks like.

I have survived,
 she has survived,
 you have survived and we will continue to survive.

We are a family who love, lose and
keep on keeping on

We never give up,

We are survivors!


Lovingly k

Laughter is the best medicine

Facing addiction is not fun or funny. 

Facing anything that threatens to dull your 

life force is hard work.

All work and no play makes the work much harder

and the possibility of success becomes

that much more elusive.

Laughter is the best medicine,
here's why;

The sound of laughter triggers emotional
changes in the body.

Laughter reduces stress, anxiety and
depression.

Laughing causes your nervous system
to activate endorphins which send signals
throughout your body to boost your immune system
and alleviate pain.

Simplified Scientific definition of endorphins: 
Endorphins consists of two parts: endo- and -orphin; 
these are short forms of the words endogenous and morphine, 
intended to mean "a morphine-like substance originating 
from within the body".


The principal function of endorphins is to
 inhibit the communication of pain signals; 
they may also produce a feeling of euphoria 
very similar to that produced by other opioids.

At the lowest points in my life, 
I have done everything in my power
to find a way to laugh.
 It will not change my situation; 
what it will change is my perspective
and sometimes your perspective is all you can change.

lol

Look for opportunities to laugh every day,
I promise you it will help.

Iza is the pun-queen and knows exactly when one is
needed to brighten a situation; here's a few
to start your day:


What do you call a fake noodle?
an impasta 

I forgot how to throw a boomerang.....
then it came back to me.

Becoming a vegetarian is 
a huge missed steak.

Why don't the French order two eggs for breakfast?
because one egg is un oeuf. 
(this one cracked me up :)

What did the grape say when he was crushed...…
nothing he just let out a little wine.

It's always hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs
because they are always taking things, literally.

ok one more

It's not that the man didn't know how to juggle,
he just didn't have the balls to do it ;)

Hopefully you got a little chuckle or
at least a distraction which is sometimes 
just what is needed to get through to the next moment.

I know it's corny
but you are a-maize-ing!

Prayers for a day filled with smiles and laughter
xox Kristyn :)

Guest article David Cook Addictionhub.org

Image by Pixabay

How to Meet Your Recovery Goals

Have you resolved to make this the year you stay true to your recovery goals? If so, then we congratulate you on taking this important step. The rewards you'll reap make the effort more than worthwhile. In this post, we'll share tips from business and life coaching experts who can help you to resist temptation and achieve lasting sobriety.

Breaking It All Down

According to Inc., any goal is easier to achieve if you break in down into short, medium, and long-range steps. Let's see how this principle applies to staying sober. You can start by deciding you will stay clean until the end of the current month; then, at that point, commit yourself to remaining sober for the following 90 days, then the next six months and so on, till at the end you look back and realize you've made it an entire year.

Writing It All Down

Setting your goals down on paper changes them from vague thoughts to concrete objectives in your mind. Those who take this step are 42 percent more likely to enjoy success, according to HuffPost. Keep the list handy and refer to it often. You may want to post it in your office or other work area as a reminder throughout the months to come.

Reward Yourself

Have a little celebration each time you reach a goal. For example, let's say you meet your initial end of the month commitment. Good for you! Now reward your diligence with a movie, a massage or something else you enjoy. Do this every time you achieve an objective and you'll find yourself becoming more in your ability to go the distance.

Stay Positive, Even in the Face of Setbacks

Beating yourself up after a setback can do more harm than good. If you tell yourself you're a lazy, pathetic, no-good loser, then your brain will assume you know what you're talking about and adjust your behavior accordingly. Focusing on the causes of the relapse rather than on yourself is a far better strategy. Failing from time to time doesn't make you a failure.

Commit to Other Health-Affirming Habits

Ever heard the saying "birds of a feather stick together?" It applies to habits, too. Making physical activity and nutritious eating a regular part of your life will help you to stick to your recovery plan while boosting your overall well being. Here are some diet and exercise tips to keep in mind:

●      Short, intense workouts can do as much as good for you as longer, more arduous routines. This is great news for those whose time is limited.

●      Fad diets may offer quick results, but the weight loss rarely lasts. Stick with sound nutritional practices like eating lean protein, getting lots of fiber and enjoying non-starchy veggies raw or with minimal cooking.

●      Give yourself a pat on the back every time you finish a workout or eat a healthy meal. This kind of self-affirmation is great for forging lifelong habits.

Stay in touch with your support team

Your sponsor, your healthcare provider and your loved ones all play vital roles in your recovery. Stay in touch with them and let them know how much you appreciate their help and support. You can never have too many people on your team.

Focus on the future

Use the tips in this post as your guide, and in 12 months, you'll look back with pride at how far you've come. Best of luck as you work toward your dreams.

 Thank you Adam for sharing our perspective on recovery. Recovery is a process that is unique to every person and I am grateful for your willingness to share! Please check out Adam's site addictionhub.org

As always may the peace of the Divine be with you today and always 

Lovingly k

You are you for a reason.....

 In many cultures and faiths,

there is a tradition that when creating a piece of art

an imperfection be included. 

The reason for this imperfection is to show that when we create something of beauty it can never compare to the perfection that is God. The highest power; who is, knows,

and believes that all creation is perfect in it's imperfection.

That is what makes us unique!

You are you

for a reason.

The Divine, 

universal compassionate energy

loves us unconditionally and

is here to support and honor 

all that we are in this life and beyond.

Listen...

and you will hear the voice of love

that with practice.........

gets louder................

and louder..............................

reminding us of our beauty

in the eyes of Spirit!

I am who I am

and you are who you are

for a reason.........

Standing out in a sea of grey!

Believe in yourself and everything you are

and slowly but surely 

the peace, that is the Love of God 

will find you.

~hugs k

The missing piece/peace

Healing mind, body and spirit,

takes a great deal of time and energy.

The recovery process is like a puzzle.

When one piece is missing, 

the puzzle is not complete.

If you have looked for the piece in your current

surroundings and haven't found it, maybe it is

time to look elsewhere.

Walking at the park this morning, I saw these 

puzzle pieces on the ground.

Probably not the place you would go 

looking for them and yet there they were.

Today,

take a moment to think about which pieces

may be missing from your puzzle...........

What piece could you add to what you already have

in front of you that would help you to feel 

more complete?

When you figure it out, go out and find the pieces,

put them in place, 

use puzzle glue to hold it all together,

and be careful; glue or no glue puzzles are fragile.

Treat them with TLC to keep them together.

Divine Spirit of love & compassion,

thank you for watching over all of the pieces of our lives.

Keep us safe and help us to seek out what is missing.

Guide us on the path toward healing;

greet us at the beginning of each day with a renewed strength

and tuck us in each night with the knowledge 

that we hold the power to become whole once again.

prayers for peace in each piece,
love you(rself)
k

The before and after moments

We have all had 

before and after moments.

These moments are the moments when something happens

that changes the course of your life forever.

When we talk about events in our lives 

they are either followed by or prefaced with the 

before or after statement.

Here are two of mine:

Before I learned of Hillary's addiction to IV heroin

and after Ben died.

Life changing events that, although I know they happened;

there will always be a certain level of disbelief.

To keep this as simple as possible I would like for you

to think about the statement before I started using drugs.

Then,

Think about the possibilities of what the after I recovered 

looks like.

Make a list and keep it on you at all times.

This list should include,

what your life in recovery looks like,

who is with you,

where are you, 

what does it smell like, taste like, feel like.

Recovery is hard and it doesn't happen over night;

however IT IS possible.

I have seen first hand, Hillary and many others

who have fought the battle and won

on the day it mattered the most;

and because they won the battle, they lived another day

to continue to fight the war.

Two treasures from this morning,

a boulder of a heart shaped rock (a gift)

and a tiny baby feather. Both messages

of God's love in the simplest of things.

Please,

you are worth the fight,

you can win the battle and

eventually be able to confidently

say,

"before I was in recovery I didn't think I could.....

and after I found my power and my higher power

my life is more important to me than I 

could have possibly imagined."

Living with and loving many
who live in the throws of addiction and
living with and loving
 those in recovery has changed my life forever
Although I would love to wave a magic wand and make
all of the hurt and sadness go away, I don't think I would
even if I could, because I have met some amazing people
along the way whom I would not have met otherwise;
and that includes you. Although we may not have met in person,
You are part of my heart and soul and we are connected
by a bond that can't be broken.

Much love
k