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Today I was in the thick of work gearing for a busy fall season. A regular customer stopped in to grab his usual. My boss had mentioned that he worked in counseling in some capacity and I decided to ask about it to pass the time while he waited on his bouquet of flowers to be made. He shared that he specialized in substance abuse and without hesitation I stated I was in long term recovery myself for 8years. “Yesterday made 16 years for me!” He smiled so warmly as he told me. And we hugged and both rejoiced in our shared experiences. It was such a beautiful moment. This is thread that bonds the recovery community- a shared moment of joy that we both had made it to this point. Just two humans doing there best one day at a time! I told him I was proud o…

I saw a video today of a shelter dog. He was shaking and cowering-scared of everyone and everything. ( I have to be careful watching these bc I will have no less than 100 dogs within the hour). I felt my heartstrings pull and I immediately wanted to show him love. I have brought 2 of these shelter dogs home in the past and treated them like I carried them for 9 months.I’ve given them the best life, full of love and stability. I have watch them transform into the sweetest most loving animals you will ever know. I wasn’t much different when I came into early recovery. I was quick to react, impulsive, and ashamed. I often reacted from a place of fear. I had been in fight or flight mode for so long that I didn’t trust anyone including myself. But I had some very special people a…

I hope everyone has a great and safe labor day weekend

Mornings can be hard in recovery.

Tip #1 Wake up without looking at your phone right away. Avoiding your phone immediately upon waking helps protect early-morning mental clarity, lowering stress and preventing a reactive mindset. In sobriety, starting the day without a screen builds emotional stability, strengthens impulse control, and keeps your focus centered on recovery goals rather than outside chaos.

God had restored my relationships with my 3 adult children. My middle son came by lady night. My daughter and granddaughter are visiting today. I am cooking what my baby girl asked for. I praise God my life has truly

changed.

I have been free from jail almost a year. In that year, I relapsed and was homeless. Between Unison, Oath, and the Kindness close, I found a home at Bethesda. In my almost 10 months here, I lost my daddy right after I got here. I have reconnected with God and he restored my relationship with my children. I have a family here at Bethesda. We lost a part of our family in February and Mr. T is truly missed. We have "mom" Ms. Cathy, and she's a truly wonderfully lady. I can't leave out Tonya, she's my go to person when stress hits or temptation. I have almost 10 months clean, and if I hadn't been connected to all these organizations by God, I wouldn't be at Bethesda. I have truly turned my life around. I work a lot and miss the Tuesday night check inns …

I have recently been learning about kintsugi, which means "golden joinery." It is the centuries-old Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery by mending the broken pieces with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Rather than hiding the cracks, kintsugi highlights them, making them part of the object's history and beauty.

Instead of throwing away a broken bowl, the artist patiently and lovingly restores it. The fractures are not erased—they become a visible testimony of survival, restoration, and resilience.

As I have reflected on kintsugi, I can't help but compare it to the recovery journey and, even more importantly, to God's work of redemption in our lives.

Kintsugi is more than pottery repair, it provides a beautiful picture of restoration. In a similar way, God does not discard us because of our failures, wounds, or brokenness. Through Jesus Christ, He redeems us, restores us, and gives us…

Practice accountability and Honesty: Take ownership of your actions. If you stumble or make a mistake, practice humility and communicate openly with a sponsor or trusted peer. Secrets keep you sick and feelings are not facts.

Develop Life Skills:

Use this time to build independence. Practice financial budgeting, time management, and effective communication so you are fully prepared for independent living.