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Sunday, September 8, 2013

Going Public


There was a lot of communicating going on today in Victoria at Centennial Square. I was very disappointed to have to miss this second annual Recovery Day in Victoria. The communication today was about and by recovering alcoholics and addicts going public. Speakers at a podium in the open air and sunshine. Public about where they have come from, where they have been, how they got there and that they are here, walking among us as ordinary members of the community. With a difference. The difference is that recovering alcoholics and addicts have learned to live life on life’s terms despite the strangely normalized use of drugs, whether prescription narcotics, illicit narcotics or the wide, and widening array of alcoholic beverages.

These men and women have stepped up, sometime very many times, and asked for a sober life not really knowing the incredible changes that would entail. Changing attitudes, friends, residences, places or types of employment, sometimes staying away from still drinking or using and dearly loved family members....and the list goes on and on.

I have been honoured and pleased to care for many folks in these situations as they try one more time, or for the first time, to find stability in sobriety. 

Thank you to each and every one of you brave enough to try first or one more time until you find what you need to do, what attitude you need to change, what life changes you need to make. You are all awesome folks.

And a special thank you to the Umbrella Society - Gordon, Sharlene, Chris, and Amber. Trevor, you as well - you are missed but we are glad you are continuing your work in another venue. You have brought many into recovery and the facilities available, walked through life situations with our mutual clients, and cheered them on into sobriety.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself.  Life is about creating yourself.”
~ George Bernard Shaw

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