Well here we are...fall and I love the fall weather! However, fall also signifies the start of the holiday season; a season that brings about much stress and overwhelm. I use to love the holiday season. I enjoyed buying things for friends and family, getting together for large family dinners, attending parties, etc., but not... Continue Reading →
A Flower Blooms
Such a beautiful poem I had to share... So young; shy; quiet; her voice often lost on the wind. Reserved; withdrawn; lonely; her feelings often ignored. Broken; imperfect; defeated; her sense of self only an essence of what she could have been. Now, like a blooming flower, with the sunlight touching her soul; she will... Continue Reading →
Enjoying A Relationship With Myself
Just rambling on today... “Codependency underlies all addictions. The core symptom of “dependency” manifests as reliance on a person, substance, or process (i.e., activity, such as gambling or sex addiction). Instead of having a healthy relationship with yourself, you make something or someone else more important. Over time, your thoughts, feelings, and actions revolve around that other person, activity, or substance, and you increasingly abandon your relationship with yourself.” Ah,... Continue Reading →
Black Belt Codependent Interview Series – Julie
Today’s interview is with Julie. Julie is one of my best friends and I have had the honor of watching her grow and change over the years. She is a powerful woman of God! Want to share your story and encourage others? If you are interested in participating in the “Black Belt Codependent Interview Series“, please click here and... Continue Reading →
Black Belt Codependent Interview Series – Shari
Today’s interview is with Shari. She is a dear friend of mine who has traveled this journey of recovery with me from day one. Yep, she is the one who handed me the materials about codependency at the very first Celebrate Recovery meeting I attended. She is an amazing and caring woman of God! Want... Continue Reading →
What Are Your Favorite Recovery Tools?
We use various tools every single day of our lives. We have kitchen tools, grooming tools, gardening tools, construction tools, tools to help us walk, tools to help us reach, tools for this and tools for that...the list goes on and on. All these tools were invented to help make our tasks easier. Take the... Continue Reading →
She Is Staying Off The Dance Floor
My best friend Lucy has a son who is an addict. He is 36 (I think) and has been in and out of jail for drugs and drug related crimes since he was a young teen. He even lived with me for about a year when he was getting his life together and attending school... Continue Reading →
Black Belt Codependent Interview Series – Josie
Today's interview is with Josie. I had the pleasure of working with Josie few years and she is such an amazing, caring, gentle and loving woman. She and her husband lead a faith-based, 12-step recovery program called SOAR (Spiritual Outreach and Recovery) in Richmond, CA. Want to share your story and encourage others? If you... Continue Reading →
Okay, I’m Listening
Well, that little voice told me "it's time", again. I keep thinking, "time for what?" but I already know. You see, it's that denial game I play with myself and God. I think it's just some random thought that pops into my head and I say, "yeah, yeah" and move on with life. Then it... Continue Reading →
Black Belt Codependent Interview Series – JoAnne
Today's interview is with JoAnne, a retired addictions/mental health counselor and a woman who also walks this journey of codependency. She recently published her first book, "Trust The Timing: A Memoir of Finding Love Again", which can be found on Amazon. Please be sure to check our her blog, Anything Is Possible, as she shares... Continue Reading →
“Everyone” Wants To Be Heard But “No one” Wants To Listen
It amazes me how fast we can get stuck in an unhealthy cycle of dysfunction. Life's circumstances and daily stresses can become overwhelming and we just want someone to listen as we work through the pain, emotions, challenges, etc, that each day brings. Unfortunately, because we all have these pains, emotions, challenges, etc, we get... Continue Reading →
Black Belt Codependent Interview Series – Valencia
Today's interview is with Valencia. I have connected with Valencia via email and Facebook and she is an amazing young woman. She has a big heart inspires me with her strength and fortitude. Valencia just recently started her blog Pleasant Places and writes to encourage others. Please take a minute and check it out! Want... Continue Reading →