N E W S L E T T E R
Vol. 1 • Issue 11 • September 2015
HOW RECOVERY IS LIKE GARDENING Upcoming events:
September is Recovery Month and there are a number of events coming up to celebrate. Put these on your calendar and make a plan to attend one or more in support of YOUR recovery.
September 3
Comedian Mark Lundholm will be at the Fargo Theater on Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. He will be presenting his nationally acclaimed show “Addicted.” Tickets are available at www.lostandfoundministry.org or at Lost and Found Ministry 111 7th Street South, Moorhead. Cost is $30.
September 5
If you’ve been hanging around First Step lately or have seen our newsletter, you know that we planted our first Recovery Garden this summer. One of the cool things about gardening is that it lends itself to meditation, and something I reflected on in the warm sunshine was that recovery and gardening have a lot in common. I shared that with Patti out by the radishes one day and she promptly replied, “They’re both messy!” Besides being messy, they’re both hard work. The care and weeding of a big vegetable garden seems never-ending; but it’s physical work where the results are pretty obvious. The results of the work of recovery aren’t always as obvious, especially at first, and while the work isn’t physical it is no less exhausting. However, the fruit of both labors are worthwhile and long lasting, and the work gives a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at the end of the day. I think one of the main things they have in common is that you have to trust the process. My daughter helped plant broccoli and carrots, and later told me she thought it was cute that we were all out digging in the dirt, but that she really Continued on back
1st Annual Bike 4 Recovery hosted by reGROUP. On Sept. 5 at 9:00 A.M. Meet at Trollwood for a 15-mile family, fun ride. Pre-registration is $35 for individuals or $75 for families. There will be free t-shirts, free-will donation lunch, refreshments and musical entertainment. Pre-registration is required! For more information or to register, contact Kerry at 218-287-2089 or
[email protected].
September 9
The 3rd Annual Fargo Recovery Event at Lindenwood Park is Sept. 9, 5:30-8 p.m. in the main shelter. This is a free event for family and friends with food, games and live music. The featured speaker is Dick Beardsley, a former international distance runner with a powerful message about addiction and recovery.
September 24
First Step Recovery of The Village Family Service Center is sponsoring a free screening of “The Anonymous People” at the historic Fargo Theater on September 24 at 7 p.m. The documentary will be followed by a panel discussion on addiction featuring community experts. This event is open to the public.
September 17
reGroup is holding a Town Hall meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. at Moorhead Center Mall, Northeast corner. The town hall meeting is a panel of people in leadership roles in our community listening to people talk briefly about their recovery and how recovery is possible.
Continued from front
didn’t expect anything to happen. Recovery can be the same way. Sometimes, even if there is doubt or skepticism, we have to do the things we’ve been told will work, then step back and let the process unfold. Our garden is a community project with people tilling, planting and weeding. Many of them check in frequently to see how the garden is doing—is it dry, is it weedy, do the peppers need cages? Recovery is a community project too, with NA and AA, churches, families, and many other resources available to help support it. Sometimes the helping hands are reaching out; sometimes we need to reach out. Either way, there is much to be gained in sharing the work. Sometimes, we have to just let go of things we can’t control. A gardener can’t control if the wind howls out of the northwest and knocks over the corn any more than someone in recovery can control the behavior of people around them. The best that can be done is to have a plan, such as building a wind break or avoiding people who are toxic to recovery. Once the plan is in place, it’s time to let it go.
And, don’t forget about the weeds. Like the sneaky thoughts of relapse, they cannot be allowed to flourish. As with those thoughts, we have to be on the constant look out. And, as with the noxious signs of relapse, early intervention is the best prevention. Then, when everything seems to be going great, the tomatoes have crinkly leaves. Do they have a disease or are they just dry? It might be time to check with the pros to get past the crisis. In recovery there are also challenging times that might call for expert help. Counselors and doctors, clergy and sponsors are all great resources for getting recovery back on track. And, like the tomatoes, it’s better to ask for help sooner rather than later. After a few more hours in the veggie patch I wondered why I was surprised by the similarities between recovery and gardening. They are both living things that need nurturing; they grow with attention and wither with neglect. They are products of our passions and our hard work. They make our lives better and the results are meant to be shared.
ALUMNI SPEAKERS WANTED!
We LOVE to have our alumni come back and share their stories with our treatment groups—if you have at least a year of sobriety, please consider sharing your message of “What it was like, what happened, and what it’s like now.” Our Alumni Speaker Nights give a powerful message of hope and recovery to those just starting on their own journeys. If you are interested, please contact Patti at patti@firststep-recovery. com or 701.293.3384. Thank you!
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
We are excited to launch our Alumni Association! We met on August 18th and the consensus was to develop an online community. Be on the lookout for information regarding a Facebook page for alumni only. It will be an opportunity for all alumni to stay connected and help support the mission of First Step Recovery. Our goal is for this to be an alumnidriven program in which alumni determine its focus and goals. Some of the upcoming activities the Association will be planning or involved with include a Holiday Social and Fundraising Gala and brainstorming other ways for alumni to keep in touch. We would love to have you involved!!! Our next meeting will on September 15h. September is National Recovery Month so it will be a Pot-Luck meeting to celebrate. Please plan to attend—YOUR VOICE COUNTS! Drop us a line if you are able to attend at
[email protected] or call 293.3384.
JUNE ALUMNI SOCIAL
We had a tremendous turnout for our June Social—there were well over 100 people in attendance! It was an occasion to have some good food, connect with other alumni, and celebrate recovery. It reminded us how important it is to provide opportunities for people to stay connected. We remain committed to building a community of friends and alumni of First Step Recovery to support our mission. As a result of numerous requests and inquiries, we have launched an Alumni Association that meets each month. We are also already busy planning for a Holiday Social and Fundraising Gala. Thanks again to everyone who attended, and a special “Thank You” to our speakers—we are truly grateful for your continued support.
