“Oh lord it’s hard to be humble.”… In my previous entry I talked about getting down on my hands and knees to push the pen. In many ways it was a humiliating experience. Many feelings came up during that time, anger, confusion, pride, ego, desperation, with the end result being freedom, relief, and awakening. Humiliation I have found is often being put in my place with challenge, accountability, and many times against what my head wants to do. Now humility is something totally different. Humility is knowing my place. Where do I fit? Humility put me on level playing ground with everyone else. I was not less than, nor better than. It taught me the difference between my quest for significance verses my self ambitions.

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, they serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are and who you want to become. You never know who these people may be: they can be your neighbor, child, long lost friend, lover, or even complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way. This is what happened to me.

Many of us have the experience of multiple treatment episodes. Many times I used treatment as a clean up, rebound, and a retreat place to plan my next run. I spent a lot of energy and years trying to figure out how to use successfully, a easier softer way. Consequently, I never found that way. I even tried to rewrite the steps at one time.

During my “How Food Affects Mood” lectures, people often ask for my opinion of artificial sweeteners. My reply has been, “I am a naturopath, I am skeptical of anything that did not exist 500 years ago.” Now, with the results of a long term study sponsored by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, my doubts are confirmed. The study shows that artificial sweeteners cause the very things-obesity and diabetes-that people are trying to prevent by using sugar substitutes.

Last month we featured Tyler on Online Recovery Support Radio. Tyler’s story inspired many of our listeners to share their own experiences, ask questions, and participate with the show. Shortly after, Tyler’s family sent us this photo of artwork that Tyler has been working on lately, we’re proud to display it here for others to see.
This is Tyler’s first piece of art! I am SO excited – he is amazing! He says he isn’t done with this piece, but I was so amazed with it as it is …

How do I identify someone that I perceive being a person of integrity? The first early days I spent in my treatment was a time I felt it was important to let people know who I thought I was. I’m a city boy, street level, low bottom, live under the bridge heroin addict from Portland Oregon. This treatment was in Klamath Falls Oregon, a small town, somewhat red neck and the farthest place away in the state I could find. The treatment was about 95% court mandated, and I was one of two who was a heroin addict. For some reason I thought I was different, better, more hard core, although any of the qualities I had I could not put on a resume for a job. One day I was walking down this long hall, and at the other end was a counselor who was intent on watching me walk towards him. When I reached him there he asked me,” What’s with the walk?”

Success is a very individual perspective, and has brought many a good soul to rack and ruin. With our energy levels raised and motivation at an all time high, we can achieve great things. The old saying “pride before a fall” becomes very relevant. I’m not saying that we should hold back our ambitions and dreams, for they have been on the back burner for too long in our lives – But if success makes us feel invincible, then the parasite within will begin to stir.

Hosts Kurt and Jennifer discuss meditation and its use in the recovery process.

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Serotonin is the chemical in our brain that makes us feel good, relaxed, upbeat, and happy! Typically as our serotonin level goes up, or is regulated correctly we are happy, and smile. Thus when we smile and are happy, blood pressure, blood flow, and many other organ functions are regulated. When all our organs are are functioning properly this in turns leads to health, happiness and more production of serotonin. It’s a wonderful cycle as long as it’s going in a “good” direction, not a negative one.

Depression: “A condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason.”
A large part of experiencing depression is how much time we spend with our own thoughts, pondering on events and outcomes that may or may not have happened.