Women in Recovery Make Strong Connections on Annual Sail

On September 16th, 38 Crossroads for Women clients, alumnae and staff set sail on a 74-foot Maine built windjammer named Frances. This is the 5th year that Maine Sailing Adventures generously hosted the sunset sail on the beautiful waters of Casco Bay.

Each year, the halfway house plans the trip and invites other clients from the agency, staff, former clients and their own family and friends. After the sail, they shared their thoughts on the experience of the sail and what it meant to them.

Most all of the halfway house clients said the trip was relaxing and a great way to connect with other women. Many noted that it was a good example of how to have “sober fun,” something that one woman said she never knew could be possible until coming into treatment.

The sail was also a good bonding experience for everyone who attended. There were opportunities to work together to lift sails up and help the crew. Some of the women in treatment brought their moms on the cruise. While they may still be working on mending relationships, those clients said it was helpful for their mothers to see other women that are going through the same thing they are going through.

Clients were especially grateful to have the chance to spend time with former Crossroads clients. Seeing alumnae gave them hope that they could maintain their sobriety after treatment and lead a healthy lifestyle. They noted that those former clients didn’t have to be there. They were there because they wanted to be there. And they even shared their own experiences with treatment and recovery.

Personal connections are so important for women, which is why part of Crossroads for Women’s treatment philosophy focuses on positive relationships, and a sail like this is much more than just a fun thing to do on a September evening.

Inspirational Quotes to Celebrate Recovery Month

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. To celebrate, here are some inspirational quotes taken from RealMentalHealth.com.

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
- Thomas Edison

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It does not matter how deep you fall, what matters is how high you bounce back.
- unknown

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Superman’s not brave. You can’t be brave if you’re indestructible. It’s every day people, like you and me, that are brave knowing we could easily be defeated but still continue forward.
- unknown

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Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget about everything except what you’re going to do now – and do it.
- William Durant

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You don’t have to control your thoughts; you just have to stop letting them control you.
- Dan Millman

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Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.
- Og Mandino

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Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
- Ambrose Redmoon

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Determination, patience and courage are the only things needed to improve any situation.
- Peter Sinclair

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Fall seven times, stand up eight.
- Japanese proverb

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We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.
- Martin Luther King “

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Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.
- Elie Weisel

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Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.
- Dr. Dale Turner

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To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.
- Anatole France

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He who has hope has everything.
- Arabian Proverb

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Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.
- Helen Keller

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technorati tags: recovery month, addiction, inspirational quotes

Promise Yourself: Inspirational Poem for Those in Recovery or Close to it

The following poem by Christian D. Larson has been used by hospitals to help patients recover from illness and by coaches to motivate their players. It seems to be pretty inspirational for those in recovery or those close to someone in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction.

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.

To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

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6.17.09 National Call-in Day to Include Addiction and Mental Health Services in Healthcare Reform

Those in the substance abuse and mental health fields are encouraging people to call their legislators today to make sure that addiction and mental illness prevention, treatment and recovery are included in any healthcare reform considered by Congress and the Obama Administration.

If you’d like to participate, visit the Faces and Voices of Recovery Action Alert page. Type in your zip code to find your local legislators’ contact information.

The CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) also sent out an email with this suggested message to leave:

“I am calling to urge you to ensure that addiction and mental illness prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery are fully and equitably included in healthcare reform. Research confirms that substance use disorders and serious mental illnesses are chronic diseases for which prevention and treatment are effective. Specifically, please include substance use/abuse prevention on par with nutrition, smoking and tobacco cessation issues within any health and wellness funds authorized in healthcare reform legislation.”

According to the CADCA, momentum for healthcare reform is building. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee recently released a draft of its bill, and both the Senate Finance Committee and the Committees of jurisdiction in the House (Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Energy and Commerce) are expected to release their drafts of healthcare reform legislation this week.

technorati tags: national call-in day, healthcare reform, addiction, mental health, recovery