Sober Fun Adventures

04/12/2014

Love, Love, Bliss! let's do it again!

03/12/2014

WHAT AN AMAZING GROUP OF SPIRITS!

21/10/2014

This photo is a perfect rendition of me and my addiction, and on my 22 year anniversary 10/20/14 inspired me to write my story.
At about 15 years of age invited a cute baby Rhino into my boat. I believe there were several contributing factors which lead to this life changing event, peer pressure wanting to fit in, to change the way I felt about myself and to escape from my volatile home life.
In the beginning my little Rhino and I rowed through life happily having fun drifting between fantasy and reality on the calm sparkling blue waters of life. On our journey we had many friends come and go that were on a similar path although as my little Rhino grew he demanded more food and soon all of my time was devoted to feeding him leaving friends and family behind.
The years went by and my Rhino grew and grew as did its appetite. I found myself going places that I never thought I’d go, doing things that I never thought I’d do, crossing line after line that I said I’d never cross in order to feed my Rhino. As a result of my actions the seas got rougher and rougher, storm after raging storm battering my boat.
The cold grey waters were calling to me “jump overboard, end your suffering, there’s no other way out”. I was endlessly rowing and bailing just to keep my boat afloat caught in the maddening cycle, with the whispers of my Rhino urging me on with promises of peace, relief, oblivion and serenity.
Eventually my boat was washed ashore on a desolate island; I sat hopeless with my Rhino screaming at me to be fed one more time! Out of nowhere a man approached my boat appraised my situation and began to share with me his tale which was very similar to my own. This stranger suggested that there was a way out for me and the first thing I need to do was to stop feeding my Rhino! I followed his suggestion and the next few days were the hardest days of my life although I awoke one morning and my Rhino had left me in search of some other unwary traveler to feed its insatiable appetite.
With this burden lifted from me I prepared to launch my boat once again into the placid blue waters but before I departed this kind stranger once again approached my boat offering me a Big Book bound in blue which he said would aid me on my journey. Though my continued voyage has not been all calm waters and sunny days whenever a storm approaches I reference this Book and have been able to navigate through triumphs and challenges without having to invite the Rhino back into my boat!

11/08/2014

As our Sober Fun Adventure Retreat comes to a close we are blessed with overwhelming gratitude by the send off Mother Nature has given us! An amazing sunset followed by Fireflys dancing in the trees to the symphony of the rainforest incests, percussion provided by the booming thunder and light show by the lightening streaking the sky! In Lak' ech - Peace - Namaste

30/07/2014

23/07/2014

Off we go to Pura Vida land

04/07/2014

SFA wishing you a Happy UN-DEPENDENCE DAY from alcohol and other drugs!

19/06/2014

“Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life.” - Burton Hills http://ow.ly/xKUNu

18/06/2014

18/06/2014

“The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm”. http://ow.ly/xKUDo

17/06/2014

IN THE MOMENT: I just took my dog for a walk and after about 2 blocks it was like I was waking up from a dream, guess what I was walking my dog! My mind was everywhere the past, the future, spiraling out of control. What woke me up was noticing my dog, ears up hearing every little noise, nose twitching taking in every smell, eyes searching for whatever might come around the corner. This little guy was fully in the present! When this realization hit me I noticed what a beautiful day it was, blue sky, warm breeze, blooming flowers, the moment was perfect. It is said that “When the student is ready the teacher will come”, and for me today my little dog appeared as the teacher. Every day is a Sober Fun Adventure!

17/06/2014

"I paid for my seat many times over through 25 years of active addiction, the cost was high and the losses many. Today I don’t regret the past or wish to shut the door on it as it brought me to where I am today. I share this with you in hopes that your price of admission won’t be so high; I’m saving this seat for you"! (Playa Domincalito, Costa Rica Beach Meeting) http://ow.ly/xKU8Z

16/06/2014

"The most satisfactory years of your existence lie ahead". (BB page 152) http://ow.ly/xKTBz

15/06/2014

FREE YOURSELF! “Shame is guilt in overdrive. If it helps think of the difference between shame and guilt as this: shame says "I'm bad, I'm flawed", guilt says "what I did was harmful to myself and/or others, and I can do better than that". Thoughts of healthy, unbiased guilt are how you converse with your conscience, while feelings of shame don't even let the conversation begin.” - Renee Bledsoe http://ow.ly/xKTkZ

14/06/2014

THERE'S HOPE! On October 18th of ’92 I was locked up in my room with a crack pipe in one hand a bottle in the other and a cigarette burning in the ashtray, there was a knock at my door and for some unforeseen reason I opened the door which was totally out of character for me as I still had some stash left. It was a friend which had recently gotten sober; she proceeded to tell me that I had a disease and that there was a way I could quit by going to these meetings. I thanked her ushered her out and continued to feed the demon.
By some divine intervention what she said stuck with me and I felt a sense of relief! I had lived the last 25 years of my life as an addict/alcoholic and was resigned to the fact that I would die that way, completely hopeless. The fact that she said “I had a disease” allowed me to stop blaming myself and gave me a ray of hope. I stayed sober the next day which was a miracle and the day after on Oct 20th I attended my first meeting. One day at a time and sometimes one hour at a time I have been able to meet life’s challenges and celebrations without using, if someone as hopeless as I was can accomplish this so can you! I reached out and asked for help which was something that I had never done before and the support that I received was overwhelming! Hang on even if it’s an hour at a time like it was for me and let the miracle happen!
Strength!

14/06/2014

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it.” - Margret Fuller Who has shared the message of recovery today? http://ow.ly/xKSGP

13/06/2014

Psssssst, there are only 2 more spots open for our July SFA retreat in Costa Rica! http://ow.ly/xKSky

12/06/2014

To those who have made progress in AA, humility amounts only to a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed by a sincere attempt to become what we can be. (Bill W) http://ow.ly/xKRvq

10/06/2014

“Honesty gets us sober, tolerance keeps us sober”. (Bill W.)

09/06/2014

“We know perfectly well how to be spiritual. It's being human that we have trouble with.” - Renee Bledsoe http://ow.ly/xKQU6

08/06/2014

We come to the program thinking we are at the end of the line, although we are just at the start of a journey. http://ow.ly/xKQvu

08/06/2014

it’s not all doom and gloom! :-)

Mercury, that impish messenger, is going retrograde from the first week of June until July 1. Here is your monthly horoscope, plan accordingly,

07/06/2014

“Believe more deeply. Hold your face up to the light, even though for the moment you do not see.” - Bill Wilson http://ow.ly/xJdNq

06/06/2014

“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” - Nathaniel Hawthorne http://ow.ly/xGhn4

05/06/2014

At my first meeting I saw person stand up and take chip for 30 days and I was amazed. I couldn’t put together hours at a time. This gave me hope that just maybe I could do it too! http://ow.ly/xDFdp

05/06/2014

TBT '93 1 year sober, playing some B-Ball at Don R's ranch for a sober BBQ! http://ow.ly/xDFUr

04/06/2014

Sober Companion: After a long day of phone calls and working on the computer in the morning and a business meeting in the afternoon I arrived home for some well deserved rest, the moment I sat down my 7lb Sober Companion (don’t let size fool you this little guy is tough and doesn’t take no for an answer), suggested that I needed some physical activity by jumping on me licking my face, barking and nipping at my heels. Well, I put on my hiking shoes and we set off for the trails. We are very fortunate to live close to nature and have beautiful hiking trails within a 5 minute walk. With the ancient oak sentinels lining the path we walked among the elders embraced by the serenity and solitude of the woods, around a bend in the trail we surprised by two coyotes heading our direction these sleek hunters paused on the trail and we had the opportunity to observe them up close before they disappeared into the brush. Further on as we passed quietly along the trail the sound of a twig snapping stopped us in our tracks and a beautiful doe appeared followed by a magnificent stag and two spotted fawns we stood silently wrapped in a blanket of stopped time as the family passed taking in the elegance and grace of their movement. It is times like these that bring me so much gratitude for the second chance that I have in life and its all contingent on my sobriety!!! PS a shout out to my Sober Companion Merlin for the motivation!

03/06/2014

It’s a beautiful day today, I’m above ground that’s a good thing, I woke up rather than come to this morning, I have an attitude of gratitude for my life today and it’s all contingent on my SOBRIETY! http://ow.ly/xysW2