The Recovery Guy Podcast

Episode #206- Friday The Check Up- Forever Home

Today I want to speak with you about a recovery absolute that we can be as confident in as in the air we breathe.

Laura and I just finished watching Season 1 of Perry Mason on HBO. It is a remake of Perry Mason that ran from 1957-66. It is a crime drama set in LA circa 1930s. Emily, a main character, states “A turtle keeps its shell on its back so wherever it is they are home.” The minute I heard this, I thought of my recovery.

My recovery is the shell on my back and wherever I am at I am home. Even Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz, said, “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t have to look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it, to begin with. There’s no place like home.”

That’s the absolute I am talking about. Once we reconcile our past and build our foundation on the principles of recovery we find the home we have always wanted. It becomes the shell that we live in. No matter where we go we will ALWAYS be home. We are NEVER alone anymore. This is what recovery offers us. So, when you choose what recovery path choose wisely.

Choose a plan that gives you back the power to choose to wear your shell on your back. A path that has a provision to stay recovered for the rest of your life. A path that doesn’t require me to look backward at my past (except when helping someone). When we do this, we can live the absolute that our recovery is a journey for our lifetime.

Here are 3 things I must do to ensure this is true for me.

1. Stay grounded in the truth that set me free
2. Be open to adding new elements to my plan
3. Pray for and assist others along the way

Doing these things will add to the absolute position I decided to take. Thanks for listening and be blessed.

Episode #205 Tuesday The Fix: Being an Exceptional Being

 

When we first arrive in recovery we are questioning many things. We are questioning if we’re making the right decision. We are questioning if this will work for me? We are questioning if we should follow through with the path we decided to try. One of the most exciting things I have ever read is on page 98 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. It reads “Burn it into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house.”

Being an Exceptional Being is not about being better than others, but rather being the best possible version of others.

Episode #203- Tuesday The Fix: “On a Mission to Serve” Charlie from The Way Out Podcast

On today’s show, I have Charlie from The Way Out Podcast. Charlie and I discuss our personal recovery. We dig deep into our common desire to assist others along the way. I hope you enjoy today’s program. If you want to reach out to Charlie you can do so by emailing him. His email address is share@wayoutcast.com. You can also find his podcasts on major podcast channels as The Way Out 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.