Vol. 1 • Issue 12 • November 2015N E W S L E T T E R

WHAT DOES GRATITUDE MEAN TO ME? ALUMNI

“Gratitude is an essential part of my recovery. Without it I feel entitled and resentful. When that happens I lose my humility and I begin to drive the bus … and I’m a terrible bus driver!”

“The role of gratitude in recovery is to remind us of what we have gained in sobriety. When we feel that the recovery road is too long and hard to keep traveling, a gratitude list is an important tool to remind us what we stand to lose if we take that first drink.”

“It’s very near the top of my list. Thankful and grateful God gave me a second chance to get life right, for family and friends sticking with me and not ditching me after the mistakes and bad choices, for First Step for teaching me how to cope and learn from sharing and listening, for the new people in my life from my recovery support system, for faith that is stronger than ever and, for healing inside and out.”

STAFF“I am grateful for the alumni who drop back in at First Step

to share the fruits of all their recovery efforts and to see the joy and, most times … peace, in their eyes.” —Mary Jo

“I am grateful for patients who come back with smiles on faces and cupcakes in hand to celebrate their one year anniversary with us!” —Donita

“I am grateful for the opportunity to see the mending and healing of family relationships.” —Mary Jo

“On days when I am feeling “icky,” I write a gratitude list. At the top of my list are always two things: (1) My Higher Power, whom I call God; (2) My Sobriety. With those two things I can quickly change my life by remembering life without them!” —Judy

“I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the journey as our clients make profound changes in their lives and become more the person they’ve always wanted to be.” —Mary Jo

WHAT DOES GRATITUDE HAVE TO DO WITH IT, ANYWAY?

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” —A.A. Milne

A Hindi guru named Maharaj told his followers that the key to happiness is gratitude. It’s also a mindset that’s tremendously helpful to those of us on the road of addiction recovery. Why?

Gratitude is really about positive thinking. It is an appreciation for the good in our lives. It changes the way we interact with the world. It helps promote thoughts and behaviors that are supportive of recovery. To put it another way, the opposite of gratitude is stinking thinking.

But some days, a person just doesn’t feel very grateful. How do we get from that place where thoughts of all the bad things in our lives crowd out any thoughts of gratitude to a place where gratitude nurtures, comforts, and enriches our lives?

CONTINUED ON BACK

CONTINUED FROM FRONTHere are some steps you can take to

cultivate an attitude of gratitude:

SHIFT YOUR MINDSET: Recovering from the disease of

addiction requires a new way of being and thinking. It involves a series of challenges to give up one way of life and thought and embrace another; a shift in mindset, if you will. Initially, some of those changes may feel like losses, but as time goes by, we are able to look at the lessons learned in recovery with a spirit of abundance. The gifts of honesty, peace, and physical well-being provide a framework for the gratitude that strengthens recovery.

APPRECIATE THE SIMPLE THINGS

An awareness of the simple things that bring joy helps develop gratitude. It’s different for everyone, but whether it’s a laugh with a friend, a great book, or a beautiful sunset, focusing our thoughts on the blessings we have rather than fretting about what we don’t have, is what makes gratitude part of our daily life.

MAKE A GRATITUDE JOURNAL

Once you become aware of the simple things that make life happy and joyous, write them down. It might feel awkward at first; you might feel a little silly writing that you feel grateful for grape bubble gum. But writing things down makes them real. The words don’t have to be fancy, and

the list can include whatever you want it to include. There will be days when nothing comes immediately to mind. On those days, sit quietly and ponder those people, things, and experiences you wouldn’t want to be without. Then write them down.

DO SOMETHING FOR OTHERS

The disease of addiction carries with it the condition of being self-centered and self-absorbed. Developing humility and gratitude during recovery allows us to look around and see that everyone has their difficulties and that we can sometimes help them. The key to doing something for others is to have an open heart, with no expectation of getting anything in return. The opportunities are endless and the rewards are many. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive!

PRACTICELife is chaotic at times, often

challenging, frustrating, and even sad. But even during difficulty, there are things that we can be grateful for. Like every other skill we have, gratitude requires practice. And as we practice being grateful, we develop the ability to employ gratitude when life is a bit out of control.

Gratitude can be a celebration with others or a quiet, internal voice that comforts and sustains us. But whatever it looks like on any given day, it is a powerful tool for recovery.

UPCOMING!Please join us for “A Day of

Gratitude.”First Step Recovery will host a

unique alumni event on December 8 that will serve several purposes. First, we are celebrating our alumni and their journeys to recovery. We have wonderful alumni speakers lined up who will speak about their FSR experiences and their ongoing recovery stories.

The December 8 event will also mark the kick-off for our Grateful Patient program. We are looking ahead to the future and have identified goals to help us continue to provide outstanding care for our patients and their families while staying vibrant and healthy ourselves. Providing health care in the 21st Century has many challenges and opportunities, and we are developing a framework to meet those challenges. The Grateful Patient program is a vital part of that plan.

Finally, we will celebrate the start of the holiday season with scrumptious cookies and treats.

Send us an RSVP! Hope to see you here!

FIRST STEP RECOVERY IS ON F A C E B O O K !

Just search for “First Step Recovery” to check out our public Facebook page and stay up to date on what’s happening in the recovery community.

Also, all alumni are invited to be a part of the FSR Alumni Facebook Group. This group is accessible by invitation only and is just for alums! It is NOT accessible to the general public and is a great place to connect, celebrate, and stay up to date on alumni happenings.

E-mail Patti@firststep-recovery.com if you would like an invitation to the page.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity ... Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings

peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie