Being ‘In Recovery’: What Does It Actually Mean? by Pat A., Parent & Clinician I have the privilege of hosting a support group for the most amazing, strong and resilient families I’ve ever met. In an atmosphere where vulnerability, tears and laughter prevail, we discuss what’s working and what could be better. While individual situations run the gamut from worry about problematic use of substances to those with kids who have significant co-occurring issues, as well as legal and financial issues, many participants have children in “recovery.” I’ve placed quotes around the word because each family sees recovery in a different way, as they shared in our most recent meeting. There seems to be a typical progression where families initially struggle to figure out how to get their son or daughter into treatment. Once treatment is completed, whether inpatient or outpatient, the hope is that life will get back to “normal.” Recovery can be synonymous with total abstinence, but not always. Read what recovery looks like at the moment for this group of families and their children: Everything Has Changed Dealing with Old Triggers Constant Worry A Weight Lifted Read All

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FINAL Walk with the Angels/ROCKFEST Volunteer Meeting Walk with the Angels/ROCKFEST Volunteer Meeting Wednesday, September 12, 2018 6:30pm - 8:00pm Well here we are days away from the City of Angels biggest fundraiser of the year. This will be the FINAL volunteer meeting prior to the event. Please join us for pizza at the Dwyer Center so we can discuss COA's volunteer needs to make these 3 events a huge success!  We have 3 events coming up that are huge to the City of Angels and our ability to continue our mission of helping others conquer their addictions. All of these events are now being held at the festival grounds in Mercer County Park. This year we have volunteer needs over a two day period and various times. I will list below some of our needs for volunteers so you can attend this meeting with an idea of the areas we need fulfill. The success of these events depends on the cooperation of our COA volunteers coming together as the great team they are. The Events & Fundraising Committees have done an outstanding job this year. They have planned and arranged an event that we feel is going to WOW you! We also now have our raffle license so we will be offering a Super 50/50, Daily 50/50's and we are raffling off a New Schwinn Signature Cruiser Bicycle courtesy of the Bike Rack in Hightstown. Please see below the dates and times of each volunteer opportunity and we are very appreciative to any time you can offer for these events. Friday, September 14th 6-10pm Load truck, pick up Shirts & Unload at the park, Kick Off of ROCKFEST & FREE Community Picnic Honoring Our Volunteers * Load the truck at the Dwyer Center  12pm * Pick Up Shirts at Aztec Grapics  1pm * Unload at the Festival Grounds  1:30pm * Set-up at Festival Grounds  1:30pm - 5:30pm Community Picnic & Rockfest  * Grilling, Food Serving, etc 6pm - 7:30pm * Selling Raffles 6pm - 9:45pm * Merchandise Tent 6pm - 10:00pm * Remembrance Tent 6pm - 10:00pm * COA Information Tent 6pm - 10:00pm * Donation Table & Ticket Handout at the Gates 6pm - 9:00pm * Green Room (Hosptality tent for the bands) 6pm - 10:00pm Saturday, September 15th 7am-12pm Walk/Run with the Angels * Refreshments  7am - 10:00am * Onsite Walk/Run Registration  8am - 9:30am * Run water station  9:45am - 10:15am * Walk/Run crossing guards/course guards  9:25am - 10:30am * Selling Raffles  8am - 11:00am * Merchandise Tent  8am - 12:00am * Remembrance Tent  8am - 12:00am * COA Information Tent   8am - 12:00pm Saturday, September 15th  2pm-10pm ROCKFEST * Selling Raffles  2pm - 9:30pm * Kids area   2pm - ? Not certain of the hours yet * Donation Table & Ticket Handout at the Gates  2pm - 8:00pm * Merchandise Tent  2pm - 10:00pm * Remembrance Tent  2pm - 10:00pm * COA Information Tent  2pm - 10:00pm * Green Room (Hosptality tent for the bands)  2pm - 10:00pm * Break down and load up take back to Dwyer  10pm - 12:00am The list could get added to. If you have any questions, comments or if you can not attend the meeting but are interested in volunteering, please email info@cityofangelsnj.org. If your interested in volunteering but can not attend please me us Your Name, Email Address, Phone number, Volunteer area you are interested in volunteering for and the hours you would like to volunteer. Thank you in advance for your continued support. www.WalkWithTheAngels.com www.RockfestCOA.com  Get Help Now   City of Angels NJ, Inc. offers many services for people with addictions. If you are actively using drugs and/or alcohol Click Here to Get Help Now Stay in Touch!

City of Angels NJ, Inc., P.O. Box 10237, Trenton, NJ 08650 | About our service provider Sent by info@cityofangelsnj.org in collaboration with Try it free today

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”  ~~Frances Hodgson Burnett  “Perspective is the way we see things when we look at them from a certain distance and it allows us to appreciate their true value.”  ~~Rafael E. Pino   “It’s not only moving that creates new starting points.  Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift in perspective, an opening of the mind, an intentional pause and reset, or a new route to start to see new options and new possibilities.”  ~~Kristin Armstrong Statement #11:  Enthusiasm is my daily exercise. I treasure the moments of my New Life.  In our face-to-face group, I like to share how I ‘get’ to do some of those “unremarkable” things in sobriety and recovery.  In the past it was easy to overlook small moments, but with the practice of Statement #11, it becomes easier to treasure moments that we may once have taken for granted.   A beautiful example of Statement #11 in action happened at our annual WFS Conference a few years ago.  In one of the workshops, Nancy Cross (who lovingly established the WFS Online Forum) brought a small glass or possibly marble rabbit and sent it around the circle that we were sitting in so that each woman present could hold and touch this tiny treasure. As this little rabbit went from hand to hand, Nancy shared with the group that she wanted to re-energize this little bunny and take each of us home with her.  We had just become treasures.   Instead of dreading an activity or task, it is possible to feel content or even grateful for the experience.  Fresh perspective encourages embracing the treasures all around us, and Statement #11 leads the way. Friendships, family, experiences can become filled with awe and wonder.  This Statement can also help cement sobriety and recovery, and like all exercises, invigorates and strengthens.   Hugzzz Karen Hi 4C Women, Karen's perspective regarding Statement #11 came at just the right time for me. In preparation for a family wedding, I was fluctuating between enthusiasm in seeing the whole family, including my son, and the thought of driving 15 hours. Enthusiasm and a bit of dread all caught in one moment's thoughts! So how to stick with the enthusiastic part of gratefulness, as Karen suggested, is the question. If there is any Statement that helps to bring focus to such a situation, it surely is Statement #11. It guides us to consider how our thoughts have a huge impact on the outcome of a specific situation/event/interaction with people in our lives.  Do we automatically respond with dread or do we shift our focus to the possibilities of adventure, learning new skills, the joy of spontaneity or unexpected positive benefits from taking a risk, overcoming a fear by facing the unknown?     I've been reflecting on just that. Thinking about my decision to quit drinking certainly did not initially bring about a feeling of enthusiasm or considering how much I would treasure the moments of my New Life. Yet, I took that risk and wow, how much my life has changed, how I learned that fear can be faced with full force and surviving becomes thriving. The woman who automatically said no was now saying yes and became filled with wonderful surprises, unexpected and treasured adventures and relationships. What surprised me the most is my confidence began to take hold as I relished the feeling of enthusiasm. There are still situations I struggle with yet I am not fearful that I will remain stuck. It's part of living and years ago, I finally learned and understood that life is change, growth is possible and it's important to choose wisely. I will make mistakes along the way yet I do know that I want more enthusiasm than dread when new situations arise and I have the tools given to me by WFS to reflect and choose wisely.   How do you experience enthusiasm?   What tools do you have to face your fears and be spontaneous, to thrive in your New Life?   What is the last spontaneous moment you experienced?   What ordinary moments do you treasure? What does "being in the moment" feel like to you?  For some, creating a grateful journey keeps the focus of enthusiasm fresh and current. Consider writing down at least 2 experiences each day for a week that highlight your gratefulness for your New Life in recovery. Treasure these moments.     Bonded in treasuring the moments of your New Life, 4C WFS Member Special Sale: Booklet Grab Bags Each grab bag contains a random assortment of booklets from our Legacy Literature Collection: 2 - Collection of Sobering Thoughts (various volumes) or Best of the Rest (volume 1 or 2) 3 - Recovery Stories or WFS Topic Booklets 1 BONUS Booklet Total Retail Value: $15.00 or more Sale Price: $5.00 All Booklet Grab Bag sales are final - sorry, no returns or exchanges on this item. Explore our updated website. Join our online community of support (women in recovery only, please). If you received this email from a friend, we welcome you to join our mailing list!  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ Copyright © Women for Sobriety, Inc. | All rights reserved | Federal ID # 23-1972763 Email: contact@womenforsobriety.org | Ph: 215.536.8026 | Fax: 215.538.9026 https://womenforsobriety.org

Women for Sobriety, Inc. | P.O. Box 618, Quakertown, PA 18951-0618  | About our service provider Sent by contact@womenforsobriety.org