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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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Surrender to Win

 Brothers and Sisters in Recovery 🙏


Yesterday I went to church with a good friend and was deeply moved by the message. One thing that stood out to me was the idea of surrender. For many of us, surrender was one of the hardest things we ever had to learn. We spent years trying to control everything around us—our circumstances, other people, our emotions, and sometimes even the consequences of our own actions. We fought battles that were never ours to win and carried burdens that were never ours to carry.


Recovery teaches us something different. It teaches us that true strength is found in letting go. When we stop trying to force outcomes and instead place our trust in our Higher Power, we begin to experience a freedom that control never gave us. Surrender is not weakness. Surrender is courage. It is having enough faith to admit that we do not have all the answers and allowing something greater than ourselves to guide our path.


The challenge is that surrender is not a one-time event. It is a daily practice. Some days it comes easy, and other days we find ourselves picking up worries, fears, resentments, and expectations that we should have left behind. Life continues to happen on life's terms. There will be victories and setbacks. There will be moments of joy and moments of pain. There will be people who understand us and people who do not.


That is why we must continue working on surrender every day. We learn to ask ourselves: "Is this something I can change, or is this something I need to accept?" Not every battle deserves our energy. Not every disagreement requires our participation. Not every obstacle is meant to be conquered immediately. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is pause, pray, trust the process, and move forward with faith.


When we stop fighting everything and everyone, we find peace. When we stop demanding that life go according to our plans, we discover gratitude. When we surrender our fears, we make room for hope. And when we trust our Higher Power, we realize that we never had to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders in the first place.


Today, no matter what challenges come your way, remember that you do not have to face them alone. Lean on your Higher Power. Lean on your recovery family. Trust the journey. Keep your side of the street clean, live and let live, do the next right thing, keep coming back, and remember that progress—not perfection—is what matters.


With love and gratitude,


Gary G

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