You've most likely heard the saying, "we all have a choice," before. It's true, every single one of us has a choice. In fact, we make hundreds of choices every single day. From the moment you wake up you make a decision to check your phone or not check your phone as the first thing you do. Small choices each day add up to habits over time. To be successful in recovery means to begin making different choices, consistently, over the long haul. Achieving 7.5 years clean meant Jak had to make...
6 months ago • 3 min read
With over 7 years clean and continuing our Recovery Lifestyle, we're in a very different place then we were back then. In our early 20's you can bet we spent more on Black Friday... and we didn't make the best financial decisions. Fast forward to 2023? I bought a budget book for cash stuffing since Jak let me know he feels he is better with money when it's physical ($8) and Jak bought a shelving unit for the basement to organize his stuff ($66). That was it. We spent a whopping $74 this year...
8 months ago • 6 min read
Hey Reader, As I read this article I thought about you and everyone else in the recovery community. I just knew I had to share this so that you could have a chance to read it and get take aways too! This article is by Jose Briones someone I discovered about 2 years ago now. He has his Youtube Channel where he goes into all the dumbphones on the market. He also wrote a book recently on Digital Minimalism (amazing, btw!) and I'm subscribed to his newsletter and when I read this one, I just knew...
10 months ago • 1 min read
I hear a nasty scratch and look at the hardwood floors in horror. Jak looks up at me sheepishly as he stops moving the couch. I take a deep breath in and know that it is just floors and we can always refinish the floors down the line. We lifted the couch and continue to re-arrange it.... 7 different times. We play a game of Tetris to figure out how to fit this couch that has a "cuddler" side to it that Jak fell in love with 4 years ago in a small space. After an hour of furniture Tetris we...
10 months ago • 3 min read
Truth takes courage. Truth takes strength. Truth takes acceptance. In recovery, most people know the saying, "you're only as sick as your secrets" and it's true. Addiction is a disease of disconnection. Connection comes from building bonds with someone. How do you begin to get close to someone? By being honest with them - telling them the truth. Lies will only push those you care about away. In Knights & Warriors, your ability to be honest with yourself, your coaches, and your partner are...
11 months ago • 1 min read
The most important question in recovery,Reader, is do you believe that you can recover? The success stories I know of - from clients and others - are those who truly believe and don't give up when the going gets tough. So, as the recovering addict, do you believe you can recover, long-term? As the betrayed partner, do you believe your recovering addicted partner can recover, long-term? Do either of you believe that the relationship/marriage can recover? Where do you stand in terms of your...
11 months ago • 1 min read
Smack. My head hurt and everything was spinning. I knew moshing was a bad idea, but nope, my best friends all thought it would be great if I joined them. I admit I wanted to "fit in" with my punk friends and be "cool," but I underestimated the risks of looking cool. I tried to focus as the live punk music blared in my ears while people continued moshing all around me. I got bumped back and forth, not helping my dizziness. One guy, who was interested in me who saw me get hit in the head by...
11 months ago • 4 min read
Time is a funny thing. We often think we have plenty of it, and act as if it's endless. But, the unfortunate truth is that many addicts wait years (until their "rock bottom" moment) until they get help … and many betrayed partners submit to the belief that the addict won't change and resign to a disconnected unhealthy marriage. Often the marriage is about to end, the addict might get fired for using P at work, or their child is the one who brought the addiction to the betrayed partner's...
12 months ago • 3 min read
Telling the difference between someone in addiction who uses abusive tactics to keep the addiction alive and someone who is an abusive individual who happens to have an addiction can be hard. I'm sure you've seen some of the big names in the industry that preach that the addict is "narcissistic" and "abusive" and basically paints all addicts to be monsters. I'm here to say that isn't always the case - and in fact it's not something I come by often. Maybe it's my messaging and who is drawn to...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read