Rick Price
“Every moment of your life is a second chance”
The beautiful thing about addiction recovery is that we have newfound hope for our lives. We recognize the power of forgiveness and second chances. When we are lost in the throes of drugs or alcohol, it’s easy to miss life’s greatest joys. It’s easy to forget the people and experiences that truly matter in our lives. Whether missing your kid’s first baseball game, a best friend’s college graduation or missing out on holiday vacations with family, we often feel helpless when we’re not there for those who need us the most. When we take proactive steps toward recovery, we take back control over our lives. And in turn, we get to participate in life’s greatest joys.
Recently on Positive Recovery MD, Dr. Jason Powers was joined by Stephen Cochran, Principal and Owner of Cochran Design Studio. For Stephen, a series of tumultuous events in his teen years set off the addictive gene that sent him spinning into chaos. During their conversation, Dr. Powers and Stephen discussed the importance of accepting people where they are and how group therapy holds a mirror to our soul, as well as the blessing of recovery and the gift of a second chance at life.
So what are some beautiful gifts we can receive when pursuing a meaningful life free of drugs and alcohol?
The Gift of Healing
We can all agree that life can be stressful at times. Our daily lives are filled with unknown, unexpected events, an oversight that feels like a setback, or meeting critical deadlines. Things can often feel so overwhelming and chaotic that it’s easy to have one too many sips when trying to forget our troubles. Though, as well know, ignorance isn’t always bliss. Most of the time, when we try to suppress our trials, it creates even more significant challenges down the road.
On the contrary, when we face these stressful times head-on, we realize that we’re stronger than we give ourselves credit for. One of the beautiful things about recovery is that we can recognize our strengths and lean into them. No longer do we need bottles or pills to circumvent these experiences. Through healing, we can really soak it all in, take the skills we’ve learned, and apply them when we feel anxious or stressed out.
Through recovery, we’re able to heal our minds, our bodies, and our spirits. From journaling our thoughts and sharing our emotions with others to practicing mindfulness and participating in local yoga communities, we’re able to come back to ourselves. By aligning ourselves with these conscious acts of courage, we give ourselves the gift of healing.
The Gift of Connection
While we are stronger than we often give ourselves credit for, we still can’t do it all alone. Humans aren’t meant to be so self-sufficient that we don’t need anyone’s help. One of the lies addiction tells us is, “We don’t need anyone but ourselves. We can do it all by ourselves. We don’t need any help.”
That’s simply not true. We are designed to connect and commune with our fellow man. Where addiction thrives in isolation, recovery thrives in community. By actively choosing sobriety, we have the ability to connect on a deeper level. Our thoughts are no longer clouded by drugs or alcohol. And we can be fully present in our relationships. Through recovery, we have the gift of connection.
We become deeply connected with our inner beings and learn to trust ourselves. Not only that, but we also learn how to communicate with those around us. The bond we share with our friends becomes stronger. Within our families, we can rely on each other through both the good and hard times. And we also learn to connect with a higher power through prayer and meditation.
The Gift of New Experiences
After coming out of battling substance abuse, we begin to look at life through a whole new lens. We begin to find beauty in the most mundane daily tasks. Even household chores such as cleaning the dishes or vacuuming the floor become fun experiences we get to participate in. Through recovery, we learn to take inventory and appreciate what we have. Looking around, we find joy in the simple pleasures of life, something that addiction can never give us.
Recovery can give us the gift of new experiences. Instead of dreading work each morning, we shift our focus to welcome new opportunities. Each day is a new day to explore and experience something new. Embarking on a new, meaningful life outside of addiction means we have the courage to try new things. Maybe you’ve always wanted to go on a month-long backpacking trip across the country with friends. Maybe you’ve always wanted to try something as exhilarating as skydiving or parasailing. Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn a new skill such as crocheting or growing a garden. No matter your largest goals and dreams, recovery grants us a second chance at life.
A Second Chance at Life
If you’ve always wanted to embark on a life free of drugs and alcohol, you have options. There is an opportunity for you to heal, grow, and embark on this incredible journey we call life. And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone; you don’t have to recover alone. We recognize the power of community and strength in numbers.
If you, or a loved one, would like to embark on the journey of returning home to yourself, we invite you to call us at (877) 697-1383. We have a full continuum of care from Detox through Aftercare and have 14 locations from Houston to Austin’s Hill Country.
We believe in redemption and second chances because we know that the greatest gift of all is life itself.