As part of our commitment to communication a service we offer for our friends and guests is an addiction directory.  The directory is a listing for professionals from various genres and services that expand beyond addiction services.   We ask people to post their information on our website so that our guests and visitors to our site can go to the directory and search for a service such as addiction aftercare in their hometown.  If you or someone you know has a need please take a look at our addiction directory.  If you or someone you know would like to be added to our service as a professional please forward them our information as well.

Thanks for all you do!

Dan Callahan

I learned so many lessons in my early years of sobriety, my early years of recovery from alcoholism & addiction.  Today I can draw from my experiences because of those early years.  In April of 1988 I knew that I knew that I wanted more in my life.  I found myself surrounded by people in the bar, at the after hours parties, even when I was at the house I was sharing with my partying friends.  The house I was living in was on the edge of town in Cortland, NY where I was attending college, my sixth year in a four year program!  The house came to life when the bars closed.  We had a huge pool table, a bar with a half keg tapped through the refrigerator, a music studio with amps, drum kit, keyboards, a P.A. system etc…  Each night the music was cranking and the girls were flowing, I was popular but on the inside with everyone around me, I felt alone!

I finally made the decision that I could no longer live the life I was living, I had two children, I wanted to be a father, I wanted to be responsible, I wanted to be loved and love!  I was alone and desperate on the inside.  I arrived at the beginning of my new journey! I just knew that I wanted to change, I wanted peace of mind, I wanted to be everything I could be.  Fortunately for me, I met people that wanted to help me.  I met people that gave me suggestions based upon what they knew worked.  They knew it worked because they utilized the same strategies to overcome alcoholism and addiction.

I guess you can say I surrendered.  I was always stuck up in my head, I needed the answers to the questions I had.  I was confused about life, God, & faith.  I made the decision that I was going to remain teachable, I was going to listen and accept what the folks that were successful already were telling me.  I wanted what they had!  I made the decision to stop challenging what I did not understand.  My friend and sponsor Joe O’Sullivan would say to me “Danny, faith without doubt is not faith”.  It is normal to doubt, just don’t live in the doubt.  Continue taking the next right step.    Have the courage to believe even when the doubt creeps in.  Have the courage to do the next right thing even when you make mistakes.

Today, based upon the early advice and the fact that I utilized the advice, my actions are in congruence with the advice I received.  Today I take action based upon the practice I received in early recovery.  Today my faith is stronger, my doubt is weaker and I act even when the fear creeps in!

Make the decision to take the risks today, those actions are the building blocks of faith!

Go, Go, Go…

Dan

“If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.”  – Gail Sheehy

I attended a self-help meeting yesterday and the topic was change.  I heard quite a few interesting tidbits as the group members took their time sharing.  If you have ever spent time with me or read my blog or articles you know that I often point out how good life is.   Life is Good!  I remember the first time I saw a T-shirt that said “Life is Good”, I thought “wow, that is great”!  Life is Great!  However, when it comes to recovering from alcoholism, drug addiction or any other life effecting substance we are essentially starting over in many areas of our lives.  Often it feels overwhelming and difficult.

Change is essential in our lives as human beings, the recovered life does not hold a patent on the concept of change it is not unique to us.  Everyone must go through changes in life in order to grow and become better and better.  Yet, for the recovering individual if we do not change starting with the basics, “People, Places and Things that lead us to using or drinking.  We want to give ourselves the best opportunity to overcome the addiction.  Therefore, steering clear of the temptations are highly suggested.

As we progress in our recovered life there are many areas of life we will want to address and eventually change.  We begin with where we are and go from there!

Go, Go, Go…

Dan

Typically I will write one Blog in a day but the first today is more of a thought provoker and news story.  This is primarily a recovery blog that I attempt to look at the bright side of the recovered life.  Hope!  When I look back at my life before recovery and in recovery the word “Hope” consumes me.  I was in chains, I could not make any productive decisions in my life for the fear of my unpredictability.  When I was 18 years old, my father was giving me the lecture about work and growing up.  My mother chimed in, your father can get you a job at Grumman, Grumman was the largest employer on Long Island at the time.

I remember saying to my mother, I don’t want it because if I screw it up and I will I will never be able to get a good job again!  I knew inside of me that I could not handle responsibility or commitment.  I could not grow up as they put it.  That is the bondage of addiction.  Today I am grateful that I do not live in the bondage of addiction!  The recovered life is the life of freedom.  I love life and enjoy life in the good and the bad!

Go, Go, Go…

Dan