Larry Winter

One problem with Recovery is I am always trying to explain what it is. After many years I realize I do not need to fall into explaining Recovery but knowing Recovery is personal and unique for each of us. We can know someone without fully understanding them. I know my wife and she knows me

This blog is a tribute to my mother, she went home to eternal life on June 19, 2021. She suffered from Bipolar disorder for over 50 years. Rest in peace Mom I look forward to meeting you again! How would we describe our Recovery life if a person asked us? When do we reflect and

Have you read a book, magazine article, blog, email, or other media, then re-read it years later? I have done this often during my lifetime. When I re-read a book I say to myself, “Wow I did not get the message the first time. There is a deeper meaning I glossed over initially.” I read

The gift of Recovery guides and strengthens us. We do not come close to healing by our own efforts. Having a team of people to help support us during our struggles and when life is running smoothly gives us spiritual food. Recovery begins and ends in the grace of our Higher Power (for me God).

A mother of twelve adult children informs them she has cancer and will die within six months. The children don’t understand and ignore her. One of the older children asks the mother, “Who is the greatest child? The children are arguing amongst themselves each stating they are moms best. The children were not worried about

Celebrate Recovery the mother of love. Sometimes we gloss over the importance of support from people who care about us. This gives way to freeing us from the thoughts that bind us, blaming others for our struggles, and succumbing to a world of hopelessness. We belong to each other (spouse, family, friends, co-workers, recoverees, etc.)

Happy Wednesday to you. A Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) is a person who has not only lived the experience of mental illness but also has had formal training in the peer specialist model of mental health support. We use our unique set of recovery experiences in combination with solid skills training to support peers who

When we receive information about Recovery we can be formed by what it offers us. When we become on fire by enveloping Recovery we find love for ourselves and people. We unite organically with people we don’t like and people we are in community with i.e. spouse, family, friends, and peers. Our openness to our

The unity of people is what we hope for when we practice the steps of Recovery. Some of us entering Recovery find our relationships involve division and discord. We can be divided against a spouse, child, friend, co-worker, etc.. Some of us are in union with the purpose and principles of Recovery. Sadly unity is

Have we ever asked someone “How old do you think I am?” Typically the person responding to this question will lowball our age. Our return response may be, “Actually I am much older than that. Don’t I look good for my age?” People I interact with sometimes ask loaded questions and want answers to make