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Different Path to Recovery

 Brothers and Sisters in Recovery 🙏 I’ve been doing some thinking about my recovery program and I’ve decided it’s time for me to change things up a little. I love Narcotics Anonymous, and I’m grateful for everything NA has given me. But lately, I’ve felt like my recovery has become a little stale. I’m still committed to recovery, but I believe sometimes we have to be willing to step outside of our comfort zone and look at different ways of strengthening our program. Because of that, I’ve been looking into Recovery Dharma as an alternative or something I can add to what I’m already doing. I’m interested in learning something new, gaining a different perspective, and finding practices that help me continue growing spiritually and emotionally. I’ve learned that recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. What works for one person may not work for another, and that’s okay. The important thing is that we keep moving forward and remain willing to do whatever is necessary to stay clean, ...
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Start Today With a Smile 😁

Brothers and Sisters in Recovery 🙏


I’m starting today with a smile. It’s shaping up to be one of those charged-up days where life shows up on its own terms—and yeah, I’m not exactly thrilled about it. So what do I do? I lean into dad jokes. Why? Because sometimes the simplest, corniest things are exactly what break the tension and remind us not to take everything so seriously.


Laughter and smiling aren’t just nice ideas—they’re tools. In many Hindu traditions, laughter is seen as a form of healing energy. There’s even a practice called “laughter yoga,” built on the belief that intentional laughter can reduce stress, calm the nervous system, and restore balance to the mind and body. The idea is simple: the body doesn’t always know the difference between forced laughter and real laughter—either way, it releases the same feel-good chemicals. That’s powerful when you think about it. Even when we don’t feel like it, choosing to laugh can shift something inside us.


That ties directly into recovery. We don’t always get to control what hits us during the day, but we do get a say in how we respond. Sometimes the best response isn’t to fight harder—it’s to soften up, crack a smile, and take the edge off. Laughter can break the grip of anger, fear, and frustration long enough for us to get grounded again.


And because I said I would…


QUESTION: How do you make a tissue dance?

ANSWER: Put a little boogie in it!


Yeah… I know. Terrible. But if it got even a half-smile, it did its job.


So today, when life is “lifing,” give yourself permission to smile anyway. Stay in the moment, keep it simple, and remember—this too shall pass, one day at a time, easy does it.


With love and gratitude,

Gary G

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