Fran and Ed loved their son Luke (Age 12) and were devoted parents. Fran and Ed were both in Recovery from a mental health condition and addiction. Luke and several of his friends were enrolled in a basketball tournament. His parents chaperoned and drove the boys to a town 50 miles away from their home. […]

Imagine a document with the 12 steps of Recovery listed. Within the steps, is a shadow of a heart touching each statement. When we enter Recovery our hearts are pierced due to mental health conditions, addiction, trauma, or situational circumstances (loss of a loved one, divorce, car accident, and others). Two things happen when we

When we reach a point in our recovery of managing our mental health, substance use, or both it is time to turn around to discover the world. Resist the temptations to return to our former ways.      Take guidance from our prior recovery behavior by learning to recognize and honor our true selves. Our recovery will

What am I working on right now? Being an author is a privilege and blessing. I am making many connections with people interested in my lived experience and looking for mental health, addiction, and trauma resources to support people in Recovery. I want to share with you what I am up to. I am open

In many approaches or organizations, there are core values each person follows to promote the common good of the group. For example, I just completed a Mental Health Crisis Training with eleven core values to consider and actively implement. The 12 steps of Recovery are a foundation for us. The steps are rooted in two

I hope you enjoyed the 4th of July holiday weekend. We spent time at my in-laws cabin with other family members. My father is moving into an Assisted Living Home today. He needs a lot of care despite the rehab he has been doing for the last five weeks. I find it sad to watch

We cannot bargain with Recovery. “Recovery if you make our mental health condition go away we know our program is working.” If our addiction goes away we will begin attending support groups. Somehow we think we will deepen engagement in Recovery by negotiating a deal. Recovery grants healing in the way we need it most.

Recovery has three layers: I have a changing life circumstance right now where I am experiencing sadness. Beginning in March my dad had issues with his knee. His condition began to cause a considerable amount of pain. He required a walker which zapped his energy due to the difficulty moving from one location to another.

We know our mission is to heal. I have been asked, “Do we ever fully heal from a mental health condition, addiction, and trauma?” My response is, “It depends.” People who are in a car accident and receive injuries such as whiplash often recover. They may require physical therapy and massages in an attempt to

Peace of mind is hard to achieve; paying bills, managing feelings, healing from trauma(s), challenges at work, and doing ministry very well. Our humanity seeks justice, kindness, and peace. I am asked by friends and family whether I watch the news. My response is, “No.” because the reports are often violent. I also do not