The Recovery Guy Podcast

Episode #202 Friday The Check Up- Coming to Terms

This podcast I am focusing on two keywords that have helped shape my recovery over the years. The words are normal and transparent.

Before we adopt or reject a term, let us find out what it means for us and whether it adds to our life. Others may reject it because of their own inadequacies, and they want us co-sign. Do not let others limit who we want to become.

First, normal is often put down as a word or term in the program of recovery. Oftentimes, the word normal could be used because a person wants to resume their drinking or behavior but do so in a way that is not destructive.

For most everyone I have ever met in recovery, this is not only an erroneous suggestion, but also extremely dangerous. Having said that, normal simply means to be average and free from infection.

Transparent simply mean to be seen in a way that others can see what we are about. It also means we are no longer hidden from ourselves or others. Transparent does not imply weakness or vulnerability. Bulletproof glass is a great example of how something can be transparent while maintaining protection.

Find the terms that work for you and help you become a more able version of who you are.

Episode #201- Tuesday the Fix: A Time with Suzy

 

This podcast is centered around co-dependency and how addiction is a family disease. Regardless of whether or not the addict seeks help and finds recovery the SO and other family members must. Suzy shares her story of this battle to victory.

 

Episode #200- Friday The Checkup: Conversation with Corey W of 217 Recovery

 

Today we are having a conversation with Corey W of 217 Recovery. Corey is a great advocate of recovery and wellness. Corey has dedicated his time in recovery to help others find what he has found. In sharing his story of hope and wellness he has encouraged others to seek a better way of living. Corey serves his community in various areas and is continuing to look for more opportunities. Please follow Corey and share his content with others

 

You can reach Corey and his mission by going to www.217recovery.com.

 

Episode #199- Tuesday The Fix: Letting Go of Needless Suffering

Early on in my sobriety, I had a friend who would not let go of a particular feeling of being wronged. She suffered daily, over the course of 2-3 weeks. Gradually she stopped going to meetings and stopped coming to the Alano Club. I remember learning one Friday night that she was out with some “old playmates”. 

I tried to speak with my friend, but she did not want to hear all the reasons she had to be grateful. She seemed to prefer the needless suffering over something out of her control. I finally said to her, “maybe you should go get drunk.” Do you know what? That was the only advice she was willing to take. Fortunately, she came to her senses in a couple of days and was able to make it back to AA. To my knowledge, she is sober to this very day. She was one of the lucky ones. 

The most effective way I have found of avoiding needless suffering in my sobriety is to follow a plan of recovery that puts God at the front of the plan.  Then begin talking to those who have used that plan of recovery and find out how they did it.  I would also suggest that you stop taking yourself so seriously. 

Episode #198 -Friday The Checkup - I am Responsible

Responsible is a word that only responsible people want to accept. I know that sounds simplistic in its presentation, and it is meant to be. Those who are irresponsible have made an active choice to not accept what their role is in the things that occur to them. More specifically, in addiction, the individual who is addicted is the person responsible for their addiction. Until I am willing to realize I am my own worst enemy I will not recover. If I do have a period of sobriety, more often than not, it will be shallow and short lived. That has been my experience. You can disagree if you like but that would likely mean you are not being responsible.

Episode #197 -Tuesday The Fix - Others are the Key to Sobriety

Today I am in studio with Justin B of Reco12. we are discussing his personal recovery, exchanging recovery ideas, and sharing how individuals can get in touch with him at Reco12.com. Justin is always willing to share his personal story as well as inviting sober people on as guests. Please reach out to him as a listener or a guest applicant. Go to www.reco12.com where you can email Justin from the website.

Episode #196 -Friday The Checkup- Are You Teachable

Being teachable is the prerequisite for learning anything. If I am not teachable in an overall perspective or in a specific area I wouldn’t find it necessary to be taught anything. With that, being teachable is to learning what air is to breathing.

Most all of us have heard of Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein was literally a genius. His IQ was 160. That put him in the top 99%. Albert has more life quotes than most people and one of his most famous quotes is “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them“. When we come into recovery we need to become agreeable to the notion that we don’t know anything regarding how to become well. If we did, we would not have become so sick. Over the years, I have had numerous teachers, counselors and mentors. One of my most favorite and instrumental mentors was a person by the name of Glenn Moffitt. Glenn passed away back in 2002 and to this day I still miss him. I met Glenn as my pastor when Laura and I first started going to church in Hesperia California. There were so many things that this man taught me about being a husband. One of the things that he would ask me more times than I can count, and it is the title of today’s podcast, is “Are You Teachable“. Teachable simply means capable of being taught, apt and willing to learn and favorable to teaching.

Here are some steps that I recommend to test whether we are teachable.

1. What is my first reaction when presented with something new?
2. Am I willing to try things based on the counsel of others I see leading a healthy life
3. Do I solicit new ideas from people before I am in a challenging situation?
4. Do I share with others what has been given to me?
5. How willing am I to get out of my comfort zone?

Doing these things will keep my perspective fresh. As a result of being teachable, I will continue to grow from the inside/out. To contribute to our recovery movement please visit www.recoveruguy.org and click on the Patreon link, go to www.patreon.com/recoveryguy or visit me on Venmo @Robert-Pardon-3. All funds to go support others in their pursuit of wellness.

Episode #195 -Tuesday The Fix - What Path Are You On

Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven “Yes, there are two paths you can go by but in the long run, there’s still time to change the road you’re on.”

“Yes, there are two paths you can go by but in the long run, there’s still time to change the road you’re on.”

One of the greatest movies of all time and maybe the greatest movie depicting recovery in a fantasy world is the movie Wizard of Oz. Dorothy was not happy where she was in her life on so many levels and chose a different path.

Dorothy decides to go on a journey and along the journey, many things happened to her and she meets different people with different life experiences. Dorothy has decisions to make some for herself and as feeling a sense of responsibility, for those who have joined her along the way.

At a point in the movie, Dorothy is given the choice of which path. Dorothy knew what she wanted her destinations to be, yet she wasn’t convinced of the path or the road that she had to travel to get there. This is the same as our recovery.

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous states, “Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.” It goes onto to say that if you don’t recover it is because you treated the path as a buffet. You took what felt good and left the rest.

Aristotle was a Greek Philosopher and lived from 384–322 BC he stated, “Water seeks its own level.” It does so because water takes the path of least resistance. We are the same way. That is why most all addicted people need a plan, higher power, and accountability. Without these things active in our life, we stand little, if any hope, of recovery.

Episode #194 – Friday The Checkup: No End in Sight

Topics regarding Recovery and points of discussion are endless. If we pay attention, we can find them anywhere. I was watching the Masters this last weekend and I heard a commercial regarding the universe and a particular perspective. Lack of power was our dilemma. Outer space is so vast that we don't know where it starts or where it ends. The same is true in recovery. We might be able to come close to where our addiction began. We might be able to discern the varying degrees of nature versus nurture, but pinpoint where it begins is near impossible. The same is true with our recovery. Unless we relapse, we do not know where it ends. Therefore, it is so important to remember that Recovery is a journey, not a destination. I am so grateful for both truths.

Episode #193 -Tuesday The Fix - Traditions Are The Glue

One of the best ways to ensure that something or someone keeps their foundational structure or direction is to establish traditions. Twelve- step recovery is second to none when it comes to establishing traditions that remain Intact and unchanged. Both of these things are important for without them being intact we would have no foundational direction and if they would change from time to time, they would be more subject to people's feelings than they would their thinking. Alcoholics Anonymous has remained structurally sound because of the traditions it has laid out from its earliest inception. For a list of traditions please go to aa.org. For today's podcast, we will focus on traditions 1-3 and tradition 5.

Traditions are defined as the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information. These travel from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice. It is also referred to as a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting.

This perfectly describes AA's 12 Traditions.