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CeDAR Connects Alumni Newsletter
March 17th, 2022 | Volume 10
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Community is delicate. I like to think of our Alumni Community as a garden; it requires constant nurturing between watering, sunning & pruning. Our community, comprised of recovering people, is even more delicate, as many of us wade through the depths of healing from trauma, mental health & addiction, on top of the ever-changing tides of life. Looking back on these two tumultuous years, it's been remarkable to see the impact they have had on our community. The start of the pandemic marked the end of an era, but as the Semisonic lyrics go, "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."
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Since the era change, we have welcomed many new faces and have missed seeing some familiar ones and despite the restrictions of the virtual platform, we have stuck together as unit, helping one another traverse unknown terrain. We are soon to arrive to that familiar junction, as we usher in yet another new era. This one requiring a bridge, connecting the physical to the virtual. Our community is the vibrant garden it is because each of you are its keepers. You tend to it by showing up, sharing, teaching, listening & learning. Throughout the many changes our community has gone through and will continue to go through, it remains a place where members can seek safety, connection and support while ultimately finding lasting recovery.
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CeDAR Alumni Feature:
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Sobriety Date: August 15th, 2015
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Home Group: AA, Being Convinced
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Describe your level of use and its impact on your life.
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I went from occasionally drinking and smoking weed in high school to becoming a frequent user of both during college. After college I began to use stimulants and quickly became addicted. The last few years before getting sober I was a daily drinker and drug user, which eventually became the only concern in my life. My life was very small and going nowhere because I was convinced I would never find a way out!
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What other elements do you bring into your recovery?
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I enjoy a range of things that enhance my spirituality. Two of my favorites are music and nature. I really enjoy listening to music, attending concerts, and playing the guitar! I find a happy place with music that fills my soul. I try to get out into nature when I can and I find it a great way to enjoy being sober! I definitely try to eat well and exercise regularly and have found the physical component of wellness to be a great complement to recovery! I volunteer at CeDAR, I have a sponsor and also have the honor of sponsoring someone.
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What has been most challenging about recovery?
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It was a challenge in early recovery to establish a new structure and routine for my sober life. For me, being sober takes discipline and I need to continuously evaluate how well I am sticking to what has got me where I am today. In long-term sobriety, the biggest challenge recently has been accepting that I am not in control of most things, including other people, and that sometimes I just need to focus on recovery and watch the amazing things in my life play out how they should!
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What is something that has surprised you about recovery?
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I never thought my life would be this great! My life is so much better than it ever was before drugs and alcohol began to be an issue. The other thing that has surprised me is I thought when I got sober that it would always be a struggle and I would always be tempted to use. I have found that because of continuing to work the steps, staying in contact with a sponsor as well as other recovery friends, and trying my best to help others that I live a pretty free life where I can go to fun social events (especially concerts!) and feel comfortable with who I am sober!
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If you could share any insight with your younger self on the first day of treatment, what would you share?
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I came to CeDAR still thinking I had the answers to what was best for me. I did not stay sober after my experience with treatment, mainly because I had not yet experienced what my truth with drugs and alcohol really is. I used to think that addiction simply meant that I would live with added consequences, but I eventually realized that it was a matter of life and death. It wasn't until I believed and told myself "Dude, you better get sober or you're going to die" that I was finally willing to do whatever it took. Part of that was not having any more answers, a willingness to ask people for direction, and to listen!
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For information on programming including meetings, activities & service opportunities, check out:
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Successful NoCo Launch:
Last Monday was the very first regional alumni chapter meeting for Northern Colorado. We had a great turnout and an even better discussion. The meeting has it all: sobriety chips, snacks and coffee, CeDAR Swag and some really good people. We will definitely need a core group of alumni to get involved and support the meeting.
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The meeting is held on Mondays at 7pm at MCR (Medical Center of the Rockies) in Loveland, specifically in the Big Thompson room on the 1st floor. Stop by the front desk and they'll direct you.
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Medical Center of the Rockies
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2500 Rocky Mountain Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538.
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Advocating For Us!
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Advocates for Recovery is a peer-led and peer-serviced organization geared towards de-stigmatizing and supporting recovery from substance use. For people looking for resources, they are a one stop shop! They offer peer support, coaching, all paths meetings, both in person and online, and, if you want to work in the field as a coach or peer-support specialist, they provide the training. Read about James Gannon, the Director of Programming, and Advocates for Recovery’s great work.
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Dads in Recovery Update:
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Last week, I met with 7 CeDAR Alumni dads to discuss and plan for the upcoming launch of a Dads in Recovery group. The group will meet virtually on Tuesdays from 8pm-9pm on the Microsoft Teams platform. It is a peer-led group for dads by dads. The group will focus on topics which address and support the unique intersection of being a dad in recovery. The group encourages cross-talk as it lends to deeper discussion and greater bonding. We are aiming for the group to begin on Tuesday, March 29th. Join with this link: https://tinyurl.com/yp24jj3w
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Meetings Field Trips:
Addiction is layered and complex so then, one's recovery needs to be equally as layered and dynamic. Walking multiple recovery pathways concurrently allows for a diversified recovery portfolio. The intention behind meeting field trips is we, as a community, are more likely to explore recovery options than we would be by ourselves. Field trips help expose you to a variety of pathways and resources. We venture to in-person and virtual meetings and recovery events. If you have a suggestion for a meeting field trip, perhaps your home group or a meeting you've wanted to check out, let us know! Here's what is coming up:
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"Invest in relationships. Life is hard. None of us has the strength to do it alone. We need people to encourage and inspire us so we can encourage and inspire others." - Simone Sinek
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