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Minnesota

Brothers and Sisters in Recovery 🙏  Currently, I'm on a vacation/funeral trip in Minnesota, and all I can say is wow. It is absolutely gorgeous here. This morning I sat on the back deck overlooking a beautiful lake in northern Minnesota with a hot cup of coffee in my hand, and I was overcome with gratitude. As I sat there watching the water and taking in God's creation, I couldn't help but reflect on where I used to be and where recovery has brought me. There was a time when I never would have had the opportunity to enjoy a morning like this. Addiction robbed me of the ability to appreciate life's simple gifts. My mind was always somewhere else—chasing, running, worrying, or trying to escape reality. Today, because of recovery, I can be fully present. Recovery has given me the ability to slow down and appreciate things I once overlooked. The warmth of the morning sun. The sound of birds singing. Time spent with family. The peacefulness of nature. The simple blessing of...
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Own Your Recovery

 

Brothers and Sisters in Recovery 🙏

A tree does not stop growing because someone doesn't like its shade.

Think about that for a moment. A healthy tree continues to grow, reaching higher toward the sunlight and extending its roots deeper into the earth, regardless of who appreciates it and who doesn't. It doesn't shrink itself to make others comfortable. It doesn't stop growing because someone complains about the leaves it drops or the shade it casts. It simply continues to be what it was created to be.

Recovery is much the same way.

As we grow in our recovery, not everyone will understand our journey. Some people will celebrate our progress, while others may question it. Some will cheer us on, while others may remind us of who we used to be. There may even be those who become uncomfortable watching us change because our growth highlights areas of their own lives they have yet to address.

But our recovery was never meant to be built on outside validation.

We do not recover to earn approval. We recover to save our lives. We recover because we deserve freedom from the chains of addiction. We recover because our families deserve the best version of us. We recover because there is purpose waiting for us beyond the pain.

Every meeting attended, every phone call made, every honest conversation, every craving overcome, and every day clean is another ring in the trunk of our tree. Growth is not always visible from the outside, but it is happening nonetheless. The roots are getting stronger. The foundation is becoming deeper. Character is being built where chaos once lived.

Sometimes growth is uncomfortable. Trees face storms, droughts, and harsh seasons. Yet those very challenges strengthen them. Recovery is no different. The difficult days do not mean we are failing; often they are the very days that are strengthening our spiritual foundation and teaching us resilience.

Never allow the opinions of others to determine the value of your recovery. If you are putting in the work, seeking help when needed, staying honest, and moving forward one day at a time, then you are exactly where you need to be.

Keep growing.

Keep reaching.

Keep believing.

The shade you provide today may become the shelter someone else desperately needs tomorrow. Your story may become another addict's hope. Your struggle may become someone else's survival guide. The life you are building is proof that recovery works.

So stand tall in your recovery. Stay rooted in gratitude. Continue growing regardless of who understands it, who applauds it, or who doubts it.

Progress, not perfection.

One day at a time.

Keep coming back.

Easy does it.

Stay in the day.

It works if you work it, and you're worth it.

With love and gratitude,

Gary G

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