Recovery Blogs

Got an email notifying me that "An Addict In Our Son's Bedroom" has been recognized by www.portofcall.com as one of the best 20 recovery blogs.

It's quite an honor for us to be read so far and wide. Port Of Call is based in the United Kingdom. I guess not bad for a non-professional, simple parent of an addict located in the middle of the United States.

This goes to prove that with addiction and recovery there are no borders, oceans or boundaries that cannot be crossed.

This is a direct quote copied and pasted from their site. "This is one of the best drug addiction blogs for family and friends of an addict or person in recovery. Seeing a loved one go through addiction can be the hardest time of anyone’s life and this very honest account provides comfort for anyone that knows somebody going through addiction treatment."  For me that's quite a compliment

http://www.portofcall.com/20-best-recovery-blogs/

Thank You Port of Call for this recognition.

A Captive Audience

I have been ask again to speak at the "Johnson County Resort."

If you are a long time reader you know why I have renamed the institution. Catch up for those that are new, our son spent many a night at the Johnson County Resort, or aka Johnson County Department of Corrections.

On Tuesday evening I will be speaking this time to juveniles.

Johnson County Department of Corrections has been recognized nationwide because of their new and innovative methods of handling offenders addicted to drugs and alcohol.
http://www.jocogov.org/dept/corrections/home If you want to read more look at the menu bar on the left side of page.

The last time I spoke at the Johnson County Resort it was to inmates in the Therapeutic Community, (TC).  http://parentsofanaddict.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-johnson-county-resort-talking-to.html

It will be different talking to these young people. Most of the time I am talking at schools and my message is more tailored to don't go down this path. This time I will be talking to young people that are already on that path. I am going to say many of the same things but talk more about help and second chances.

If anyone has any suggestions on points you think I should cover that might help a young person.......let me know.



Here is why I continue to talk.  http://parentsofanaddict.blogspot.com/2015/11/fight-stigma-talk-to-your-kids.html

A Mentor

Last week I visited a friend and my mentor. He was 98 years old on Sept. 11.

I met this person nearly 30 years ago. I was just a little past 30 years old myself; doing the math he was in his upper 60’s. I have often wondered to myself why would a wise and renowned man near the end of his career spend time with a young person at the beginning of his career? Guess that question answers itself in that he did. Sometimes there doesn’t have to be an explanation.

As the years pass I have been thinking about how do you define “mentor” and how do you find/choose a mentor. Of course, a mentor is not something you just set out to do one day. A mentor is a special person that accepts a person as a raw material that is capable of transformation. You cannot choose a mentor. A mentor allows you.

Mentor is a term used loosely in life and in the workplace. I often heard leaders at work and in the community proclaim, “We must develop mentors to pair up with our young people.” Sadly, those are nothing more than “tour guides.”

A mentor is willing to share knowledge but much more important a mentor shares learning and how to learn in life.

For me a mentor is not someone that necessarily has to be walking your path. A mentor knows how to see and understand your path. It isn’t about having someone to talk too. A mentor that accepts you as a person that understands how you learn and what you need and when you need it.

It’s easy for anyone to provide opinions and answers. A real mentor shares wisdom.

Why is it I don’t see what a wise man sees? A real mentor has the ability to help you open your eyes and mind. We all know how two people can pass the same spot and see different things. My mentor sees beyond the obvious.

A mentor doesn’t point out the things unseen. A mentor teaches you to see the things unseen. Teaches you how to learn. A skill much more valuable than any answer that can be spoken.

My personal dilemma is how do you express appreciation to a man that has spent 30 years teaching me?

The only way I know how to answer that question is to live my life with the lessons learned from a wise man.