Viewing entries tagged
recovery

Hear that?

You're hiking in the woods with a good friend and all of a sudden she stops you and whispers intently, "Hear that?"

You freeze in your tracks, try to control your heavy breathing and listen...

At first nothing. Then a stirring in the brush. The snap of a twig somewhere behind you. You turn to look. A family of whitetail deer-  several does, a fawn and then a majestic buck come into view. You are amazed. Then, there - you see it all. The wildness, the beauty, the strength of the moment - nature, raw and untouchable, untamed. The buck catches your scent on the air, stares at you and your friend for a moment and then snorts and the deer are gone. 

You and your hiking buddy look at each other and smile, then laugh. You've been graced by the woods, touched by a fleeting moment of surprise and you both know it.

Nice?

Here's the deal. What about the woods we are hiking in right now? Am I listening for the subtle sounds of beauty approaching? Is a colleague (or Spirit) trying to alert me that I'm missing something important? Am I willing to stop and really soak up this moment?

Hear that?

An Inspiring Moment...#UNITEtoFaceAddiction

Last weekend I had the joy of attending the National Rally in Washington, DC - #UNITEtoFaceAddiction. 

Where in the world could you hear Dr. OZ, Paul McCartney, The Fray, Sheryl Crow, Steven Tyler, President Obama, and the Surgeon General of the United States?

Made possible by hundreds of organizations throughout the country and lead by The Faces and Voices of Recovery, this first time rally had a duel purpose:

  1. A shout from the 20+ million Americans in recovery and the millions more affected by addiction that our policies and laws MUST change to begin treating addiction like the health care issue that it is (not a criminal or moral failing).
  2. A 'coming out' party for some of the 21 million people in recovery in America to make the success and joy of recovery more public in an effort to dispense with the many social stigmas playing havoc with our society.

You can find out more about the details of the event over at the this website: https://www.facingaddiction.org/blog/partner/faces-voices-of-recovery 

Joe Walsh Performs at #UNITEtoFaceAddiction

I arrived hours before the scheduled start time and there were already 5-8 thousand people gathered in the National Mall. As the event drew closer, the crowd poured in. Following a full week of threatening hurricane weather - the attendees had navigated the weather concerns and the crowds undaunted. 

Along the parameter of the mall were a few dozen tents with representatives from organizations all invested in the battle against addiction. From Collegiate Recovery Programs to Medical Treatment Providers - the focus was all the same. We MUST make sweeping changes to successfully battle the causes of addiction and it's rampant destruction of lives and communities in our country. 

The message was clear from the stage - MUSIC rock songs, country ballads, alternate tunes, SPEECHES - politicians, activists, medical professionals, treatment counselors - We must have rapid and significant change in our public perceptions, legal treatment and health care management of those struggling with addiction. The shouts of the stars and thousands of people in recovery from the National Mall lawn proclaimed it: We do recover and we do vote.

A Special Message to #UNITEtoFaceAddiction

Today is the day the silence ends. Check out this special message to the #UNITEtoFaceAddiction community from our notable supporters, produced by Yamaha Entertainment Group.

Posted by Unite To Face Addiction on Sunday, October 4, 2015

Want to know more? Are you all in?

Recovery Est. 1999

I am the face of addiction...and recovery.

The Anonymous People - A Movie That Is Changing Our World

For too long now stigmas, misunderstandings and overall social environment have kept one fact secret. Over 23 million Americans are living in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.. Why do we hide?

“...over 23 million Americans living in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.”
— The Anonymous People

I ask you to take about 2 hours of your life and watch the movie, The Anonymous People. It's available on Netflix, Amazon Prime and iTunes. If you're in the Triad of North Carolina, you can join a group of us as we watch and chat together. Attendees will be supporters of recovery as well as people in recovery. 

Details in this photo.