Living Large 3rd Ed

Living Large n NOVEMBER 2014 1
IF ADDICTION IS CONTAGIOUS, SO IS RECOVERY –
ARE YOU A RECOVERY CARRIER?
Living LargeNOVEMBER 2014DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN RECOVERY
Recovery
ALLIES
ADVOCATE • CELEBRATE • EDUCATE
A PUBLICATION OF RECOVERY ALLIES OF WEST MICHIGAN
recoveryallies.us
Kevin McLaughlin, Executive Director
Sara Vanderleest, Assistant Director
Recovery Community Organization (RCO)
Phone: 616-262-8531• Email: kevin@recoveryallies.us
WILLIAM WHITE
DEFINING THE RECOVERY CARRIER
Recovery carriers are people, usually
in recovery, who make recovery infectious
to those around them by their openness
about their recovery experiences, their
quality of life and character, and the com-
passion for and service to people still suf-
fering from alcohol and other drug prob-
lems.
The recovery carrier is in many ways
the opposing face of the addiction carrier
— the person who defends his or her own
drug use by spreading excessive patterns
of use to all those he or she encounters.
The pathology of addiction is often spread
from one infected person to another; some
individuals are particularly contagious.
Highly infectious addiction carriers can
be found in most drug use settings, always
willing to induct newcomers, always push-
ing “just one more,” always pushing the
furthest boundaries of risk. In fact, some
addiction carriers have, after their own
recovery initiation, become quite effective
recovery carriers as a form of amends for
the past harm they caused to others by re-
cruiting and inducting them into the cul-
ture of addiction.
So who and what exactly is this re-
covery carrier? The role is not unique
to a particular pathway of recovery. Re-
covery carriers can be found in religious,
spiritual, and secular recovery mutual aid
societies and those in recovery without af-
filiation with any such group. The role is
not defined by age—the recovery carrier is
not synonymous with elder status in com-
munities of recovery—nor is it unique to a
particular gender. It is not a role requiring
superior intelligence or academic achieve-
ment. I have seen people with advanced
degrees inspired into recovery by those
with meager education. Being a recovery
carrier does not require occupational suc-
cess or social status. In the recovery world,
value comes from much different sources.
The personalities and interpersonal styles
of recovery carriers can vary markedly.
Some are gifted with great energy and
charismatic speech, others with serene
wisdom and quiet dignity, still others with
a self-deprecating, healing humor. What
they share in common is three observable
traits: 1) people are almost magnetically
drawn to them—even those needing but
not actively seeking recovery, 2) they ex-
ude a kinetic energy that elicits confidence
and readiness for action in those around
them, and 3) people who spend time with
them and stay connected to them seem to
recover and achieve a high quality of life in
recovery.
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anony-
mous says to its readers, “Our stories dis-
close in a general way what we used to be
like, what happened, and what we are like
now. If you have decided you want what
we have and are willing to go to any length
to get it–then you are ready to take certain
steps.” (underline added by author, Alco-
holics Anonymous, 1939, p. 70.) Recovery
carriersarepeoplewhohavemoreofthose
qualities that others want and a clearer
understanding of the steps required to ac-
quire such attributes.
The source and exact nature of this
magnetic energy is unclear; it is not some-
thingonecanacquireinschooloraprofes-
sional training program. It is not so much
what one knows or does—knowledge or
actions that could be imparted by educa-
tion or training—as much as who one is
and how one relates to others. In listen-
ing to people describing how they “caught
recovery,” there are consistent themes in
how recovery carriers are described and
what made contact with them so catalytic.
Comments like the following are typical.
“He used to freak me out by saying
things like, ‘Are you tired of living behind
that mask?’ or he would call me when I
was back using and ask, ‘How’s that high
life working for you?’ He messed with my
head, but he hung in with me, and I kept
going back to him until I got my head to-
gether.”
“I could not write off ___(name) as I
had so many other would-be helpers. It
wasn’t even like he was helping. Others
wanted to drop their pearls of wisdom and
run. He was comfortable just being with
me.”
“I knew if I wanted to stay out there
in the life, I needed to stay away from her
cause she was the real deal.”
“He kept telling me with this big smile
on his face that I was full of shit but that he
still loved me. He was telling the truth on
both counts. I was and he did.”
“She kept calling to see how I was and
to say she had been thinking about me at a
time no one was thinking about me--even
while she was going through cancer treat-
ment. How does someone do that?”
“Everyone had threatened me or given
me advice; he gave his story and gave me
hope. He didn’t have any advice, only ex-
perience.”
“Every time I tried to praise her for all
she had done, she would just smile and tell
See CARRIER page 6
We had over 1500 hundred brave individuals attend
in spite of imminent thunder and rain!
Recovery Allies ofWest Michigan wants to say a special thanks to the
more than 100 volunteers that made it possible – SO,THANKYOU!
THANK
YOU
TO ALLTHAT CAME OUT
IN SUPPORT OF
RECOVERY ATTHE
RECOVERYPALOOZA
IN SEPTEMBER!

NOVEMBER 2014 n Living Large2
RECOVERY RESIDENCES
RECOVERY RESIDENCES
UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY
HEALTH FIRST STEP HOUSE –
WOMAN’S HOME
Contact: Rose Simmons
Phone: 616-452-3226 Ext. 3037
MailingAddress: 904 SheldonAve. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
E-mail: rsimmons@umchousegr.org
Website: umchousegr.org
HomeAddress: 922 SheldonAve. SE
HOUSE OF BLESSINGS –
WOMAN’S HOME
Contact: Shellie Cole-Mickens
Phone: Update soon!
Address: 938 Humbolt Street Southeast
918 Hall Street Southeast
NEXT PHASE – WOMAN’S HOME
Contact: Freddy Martin
Phone: 616.450.0686
Address: 368 SenoraAve Southeast
SACRED BEGINNINGS –
WOMAN’S HOMES
Contact: Leslie Borrego
Phone: 616-890-8278
E-mail: leslieborrego@gmail.com
HomeAddress: 1165 Hermitage SE
1366 Elliott SE
Website: www.sbtp.org
STEP FORWARD RECOVERY HOMES
Address: GrandvilleArea
Contact: Jo Ringnalda
Phone: 616-662-0881
THE COMFORT HOME
Address: South East Grand Rapids area
Contact: Ron and Laurie DeBose
Phone: 616-459-1930
MY SISTER’S HOUSE
(WOMEN IN RECOVERY)
Address:761 Bridge Street NW
Phone: 616-235-0223
RECOVERY ROAD LLC –
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S HOMES
Contact: Shelly Demull
Phone: 888-588-0434
Website: recoveryroadllc.com
HomeAddress: 961Alpine NW
3036 Perry SW
Wyoming, MI 49519
HOPE HOUSE – MEN’S HOME
Contact: Matt Matlock
Phone: 616-915-4664 or 616-246-6369
MailingAddress: 1036Alexander SE
NEXT PHASE RECOVERY –
MEN’S HOME
Contact: Freddy Martin
Phone: 616-450-0686
Address: 1145Alexander SE
RECOVERY ROAD CHARITIES –
TWO HOUSES FOR MEN
Address:Alpine and Kentwood locations
Contact: Cameron Stockwell
Phone: 616-915-0594
FAITH CHARITY RECOVERY CENTER –
COUPLES HOME
Address: 2219 HortonAve SE
Contact: Dan or ZoeAnn
Phone: 616-247-4744 or 616-808-5106
TOUCHSTONE RECOVERY
Address: 138Travis St SE
Contact: Kevin O’Hare
Phone: 616-558-4958, Cell: 734-309-
3091
PINE REST JELLEMA HOUSE
Contact: Derrick Jackson
Phone: 616-222-6861
MailingAddress: 523 Lyon Street
BUILDING MEN FOR LIFE
Address: Ottawa County
Contact: JeffVantrees
Phone: 616-393-2188
GRAND RECOVERY
Address: PO Box 1060, Grand Rapids, MI
Contact: Sanford Cummings
Phone: 616-516-6537
WHAT’S NEW? FROM OUR PLANNING PARTNERS
By Mark Witte PLANNING DIRECTOR SUDAT LRP
So,what’snew? Wegetaskedthatallthe
time, don’t we? Most of the time, we don’t
have a lot to say that is truly “new”. Well,
when it comes to the system that provides
public funding for persons with substance
use disorders, the answer is A LOT!
Substance abuse prevention and
treatment services are delivered through
a system that begins with the Michigan
Department of Community Health. Up to
9/30/2014,therewere16regionalsubstance
abuse “coordinating agencies” that together
covered the entire state of Michigan. As of
10/1/2014, these contracts held by these
agencies were assigned to one of 10 mostly
new regional mental health entities that
manage Medicaid benefits for people with
behavioral health needs. Substance abuse
services are now a new part of what these
agencies are responsible to do.
In the case of Kent County, Network180
was both a CMH (community mental
health) agency and the substance abuse
CA (coordinating agency). Network180
is now a partner with an organization
called the Lakeshore Regional Partners (or
“LRP”) to deliver services across a seven-
county region in West Michigan which
includes Kent County. You can look up
more information about the LRP at http://
lakeshoreregionalpartners.lsre.org.
While this shift has involved a lot of
planning and paperwork changes, the good
news is that services are still available for
people needing substance abuse treatment
or recovery support in much the same way
they were before. It’s just that the central
hub for planning and contracting with the
statehasshiftedtotheLRP. AlloftheCMH’s
still continue and will increasingly provide
coordinated care for persons with substance
use disorders and/or co-occurring mental
health needs.
We hope that one of the things that this
shift to the LRP as the central organizational
entity means is that the whole system of care
within the region can be developed in a way
that keeps differences between counties to a
minimum and maximizes the potential for
creative development of new services and
efficiency in administration so more money
can be preserved for services.
In June of 2011, my business partner
and I opened the doors to our outpatient
counseling practice, The Well Being LLC.
We have a small fitness center on-site that
our clients can use for free at anytime during
business hours, and we strongly encourage
our clients to incorporate exercise as a
part of their overall treatment. We did this
because of the large and growing body of
research that shows cardiovascular exercise
to be on par with psychotropic medications
in terms of it’s efficacy in treating most
commonly occurring mental health issues.
We view it as being the best mental health
“medication” available, having the world’s
greatest side effects.
There are many pathways to recovery
from addiction and cardiovascular exercise
is one such pathway that is frequently
overlooked. To quote Dr. John Ratey,
professorofPsychiatryatHarvardUniversity,
exerciseis,“simplyoneofthebesttreatments
we have for most psychiatric problems”. In
his book, “Spark: The Revolutionary New
Science of Exercise and the Brain”, Dr.
Ratey uses research to support his claim that
exercise can and should be used to treat a
wide variety of mental health issues. He also
makes a very strong case as to why it can and
should be used as a form of substance abuse
treatment as well.
He breaks down his reasons for using
exercise to treat substance use issues into
two components. The first component has
to do with the efficacy of exercise when used
to treat depression, anxiety, or stress. All
three are found to be common “triggers” to
relapse as a person who is feeling depressed,
anxious, or stressed out may turn to drugs
or alcohol in order to change how they feel.
When a person turns to exercise to improve
their mood, decrease their anxiety, or feel
less stressed out; they can successfully deal
with the “trigger” and thus reduce their
craving.
The second component has to do with
a brain chemical called dopamine. When
people are in Recovery and dealing with
cravings, a big part of what they are craving
is the release of dopamine. Dopamine,
when released, serves as a reward, which
reinforces the behavior that triggered its
release. Drugs and alcohol trigger the
release of significant amounts of dopamine
in our brains, which is a big part of the
reason why they can be so addictive as
the dopamine rewards and reinforces this
behavior. When a person stops engaging in
substance abuse, they start to experience
cravings for this reward. Science has found
that when a person exercises at a moderate
intensity for approximately 25 minutes, this
behavior also triggers a release of dopamine
in the brain, leading to an immediate
reduction in cravings.
To me, the best thing about exercise is
that the benefits are felt almost immediately.
When a person who is feeling depressed
exercises at a moderate level of intensity
for approximately 20-25 minutes, they feel
re-energized, happier, more motivated, and
better able to focus or concentrate. For a
person who is struggling with anxiety or
feeling stressed out/overwhelmed, they
immediately feel more calm, at ease, and
better able to deal with the stress or anxiety
they are experiencing. For the person who
is struggling with cravings to use, they
suddenly notice that their craving has
decreased and is now more manageable. It
is a mental health “wonder drug” that is very
affordable, available almost everywhere,
and does not need a prescription.
As always, if you are thinking about
starting to exercise again, please make sure
it is safe for you to do so by consulting with
your physician. There is a tendency for
those who have not been exercising to try to
“make up for lost time” and overdo it at first.
Researchshowsthatwhenapersonexercises
at a moderate level of intensity, rather than
high, that is when they notice the positive
mental health benefits the most. You should
be breathing fairly heavily, but not gasping
for breath. You should be sweating, but not
profusely. And, you should be able to carry
on a conversation, but not able to sing. But
most importantly, you should be out there,
doing something. Your brain will thank you
for it.
THE BEST MENTAL HEALTH ‘MEDICATION’
By Brendan Kelly LMSW,CAADC
BRENDAN KELLY, LMSW, CAADC
THERAPIST/CO-OWNERTHEWELL BEING, LLC •WWW.GRWELLBEING.COM
HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GRWELLBEING
HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THERXRUN

PATHWAYS – HOW MINE WORKS IN EVERY ‘SITUATION’ LIFE BRINGS
By Tom Moore
BATTLE TESTED
“What would it take for you to go back
to using?” Ted asked. He peered at me
intently through his thick glasses. Ted was
the clinical director, senior to me in the
treatment field, also in length of recovery,
and at this particular treatment facility.
Although I had been in the field for years,
I was new to this particular organization.
We had been discussing a case where
one of the former program participants,
had returned to using substances. His
statement caught me off guard, as I
assumed we were talking about the client
and not about my own recovery.
It reminded me of an event that
transpiredaboutayearintomyabstinence/
recovery. I was driving down the street,
wanted to obtain a soft drink, and pulled
into the parking lot of a former party store
I had frequented. I had not been in that
particular store since the beginning of my
recovery.Igrabbedabottleofpop,tookitto
the counter, and the owner recognized me.
He looked at my purchase and commented
“we got to get you back to drinking. “ I
was shocked, completely blindsided by his
remark, and later on my way to the parking
lot I chuckled to myself. If he only knew
what it would take to get me to return to
using mood-altering substances. I smiled
to myself, celebrating my recovery, saying
a quick prayer of gratitude, and feeling
relieved that I no longer had to live that
lifestyle.
Ted’squestiondisarmedandsurprised
me in the same way. He was known to
be rigorously honest, frank, and clearly
expecting an answer. My mind raced,
and I finally stated in response “Nothing,
I hope. I hope that my current course of
sobriety lasts the rest of my life. Maybe
the one thing would be the death of my
children.” Little did I know what was
waiting for me a decade in the future.
My daughter, Karen, had just visited
from Champaign/Urbana, Illinois.
She was finishing a masters degree at
the University of Illinois, and arrived
to celebrate her 29th birthday. Since
Karen was born during the 1980 Winter
Olympics, and the “miracle on ice,” I
obtained the DVD and showed her what
was occurring, and at her birth, the cold
war world and dynamics. Just before
Karen returned to Illinois, she stated that
she was concerned about her brother
(my son). Chuck and I were estranged,
althoughIhadattemptedtocommunicate
withhimforseveralyears,helivedinrural
New England, and did not desire contact
with me.
A phone call on March 10 changed
all that. It was after supper, and I was
working in my study when the phone
rang. As I answered it, I knew there was
someone on the other line, however
the voice was unintelligible, my mind
raced as I attempted to figure out what
was occurring. The voice was hysterical,
sobbing, and I eventually recognized
Karen’s voice. Not sure what else to do, I
quickly asked, “Has something happened
to Chuck?” Between her sobs, she stated
“yes,” indicated Chuck had a suicide
attempt, and EMTs had transported
him by chopper to a major metropolitan
hospital on the East Coast. “Dad,” she
said, “they don’t expect him to live. He has
already coded twice.”
My mind swam. I knew I had to get
us there as soon as possible. I told her
we would be in touch, and then started
checking flights to the East Coast. It was
late enough in the evening that nothing
was flying out of Grand Rapids, and I
would have to wait until morning to
obtain a flight. I found a way to get Karen
and I on flights from Grand Rapids/
Champaign-Urbana to Chicago, and then
on the same flight from O’Hare to the East
Coast the next morning. In the meantime,
I learned that the physicians weren’t
sure they could keep Chuck alive until
we got there or that he would ever regain
consciousness.
Several frantic phone calls followed:
several times to Karen, to my ex-wife
(Marie), to the rest of my family, and
to my supervisor at work. Each time I
explained what happened, there was this
stunned and awkward silence on the
other end. Finally sitting on the floor in
my basement, packing a suitcase, and
wondering what was an appropriate suit
for your son’s funeral, I heard some words
barely squeak out of my mouth to my
current wife “it’s gonna be okay,” stated
as much for me as for her. Kay looked me
square in the eye and with the rigorous
honesty of Ted, my former supervisor,
stated “it will never be okay again.”
It’s hard to describe what the rest
of that evening was like. Obviously,
significant feelings of surrender, realizing
my self-will would not get me to the East
Coastanyquicker.Rememberingprogram
guidelines I continually prayed to allow
God’s will to be done, and to provide me
acceptance, regardless of the outcome.
If I slept at all, it was a few minutes here
and there, tossing and turning, repeatedly
looking at the clock, making sure that I
would make the plane to O’Hare.
I remembered passage from the
program the talked about members of
AA going to World War II. The central
theme of the passage question whether
the principles of program would serve
those well in active duty, and whether
they would be able to remain committed
to their recovery despite the rigors of war.
Apparently this was to be my own test
in the matter, and I thought back to my
response from Ted’s question a decade
earlier. Official and unofficial program
slogans were also going through my brain:
let go and let God; acceptance is the key
to all of my problems today; one minute/
hour at a time, etc.
Apparently a Higher Power was
working, as the next morning when I
arrived in O’Hare, I was able to get a seat
selection change so Karen and I could sit
next to each other. It was both the longest
and shortest flight from Chicago to the
East Coast that I had ever experienced.
There existed an overwhelming sense of
dread, combined with the need to help
her stabilize. Since Karen significantly
struggles with spiritual issues, I was
able to explain to her some concepts,
axioms, and other principles from my
background, drawing extensively on 12
step philosophy. A significant portion of
this task was preparing her to see Chuck
in a coma for the first time as well as
accept that the brain trauma may be so
significant that he would never regain
consciousness.
When we reached the hospital,
although Chuck was comatose, tubes
running everywhere, he physically looked
better than I thought. Apparently there
was brain damage that would not heal,
as the medical staff informed us. Chuck
was on a ventilator and it was uncertain
if he would breathe on his own, then or
ever. The next few days were a marathon
of encounters between myself, Marie, her
cousin, Karen, a step-sister and several
family friends. At one point, I traveled
(at Marie’s request) to her home, the
scene of the suicide attempt, as the plan
was to eventually have everyone reside
there, and Marie did not want Karen or
her daughter to see the vehicle, garage, or
other evidence as it had been left.
Eventually, during one time in the
critical care family room, my daughter’s
friend stated she could not believe that
Marie and I could sit in the same room
together, collaborate, and communicate.
Her divorced parents could not stand to
be anywhere in the same vicinity of each
other. All I could think was that this was a
gift of recovery, and a gift of the program.
Not only was my physical sobriety intact,
I was also able to not act out in other
ways, which were previously true to my
nature. At some point, I realized that
all my time in recovery, the principles,
wisdom, and step work, along with my
counselor training had prepared me for
this event. I reflected on the Promises in
the Big Book along with the Saint Francis
prayer, which although I aspired to the
words and concepts, had always seemed
unattainable. Obviously “we will suddenly
realize that God is doing for us what we
could not do for ourselves” (page 84) was
being realized.
Thorough divine intervention
and some extremely talented medical
professionals, Chuck lived. He is engaged
in his own journey of recovery which I am
honored to support. Chuck became a peer
support in mental health last year, sharing
his experience, strength, and hope with
others. I returned to Grand Rapids and
my professional duties with a great deal of
humility, gratitude, and appreciation for
the teachings of 12 step programs and the
miracle of recovery.
Names changed for everyone but me
to respect their privacy.
Advertise In Living Large!
Currently distributed to 45 agencies/companies.
NEW EDITION OUT MONTHLY!
Includes inspiring and thought provoking articles on
recovery, felon friendly employer list, meeting schedules
for self help and much, much more!
Contact sara@recoveryallies.us.

(888) 588-0434
"Only by changing our behavior,
will we change the outcome of
our lives"
Recovery Road, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan is a
group of “Sober Living Houses” with four male houses
& three female houses; offering a supportive
environment that allows new beginnings for both
men and women. Our clients have personal
challenges with drug and alcohol dependencies.
Our goal is to provide a structured, caring
environment free from drugs and alcohol. We are
unique in that we try to offer a life of hope and
greater opportunity to develop the changes needed
for recovery. We envision a sober community that
works together to create an environment of growth,
support and accountability for everyone. Therefore,
we stress our primary goal of helping residents focus
on recovery as a way of life. We stress that lasting
sobriety requires a transformation in attitudes and
behavior each day for the rest of your life
[COMPANY NAME]
[Address, City, ST ZIP Code]
[Telephone] | [Email Address] | [Web Address]
mascupathy.org
Available for purchase through the Institute for
the Prevention & Treatment of Mascupathy
or Amazon.com
Understanding and Healing the Malaise of
American Manhood
Charlie Donaldson
Randy Flood
MASCUPATHY
Psychologists Donaldson and Flood create a new terminology:
Mascupathy - a pathology of masculinity. They explain that men’s
errant behavior is not capricious or malevolent; instead, it is a product
of male socialization that exacerbates inherent masculinity and
minimizes inherently feminine characteristics leading to the loneliness,
fear, and shame that characterizes so many men’s lives. The authors
believe that innovative treatment regimens and societal interventions
can cultivate a self-aware and whole-hearted masculinity.
“The last half century saw the revolution for women. A new era
is upon us, a time when men are discarding their ancient and errant
masculinity, and seeking the soul of a new manhood. Mascupathy is
an important book, the first to identify the problem, awaken a new
consciousness, and usher in men’s second act, revealing hope and
transformation.”
- David Rosen, Ph.D., author of Changing Fictions of Masculinity
mascupathy.org
“Only by changing our behavior,
will we change the outcome of
our lives”
Recovery Road, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan is a
group of “Sober Living Houses” with four male houses
and three female houses; offering a supportive
environment that allows new beginnings for both
men and women. Our clients have personal
challenges with drug and alcohol dependencies.
Our goal is to provide a structured, caring
environment free from drugs and alcohol. We are
unique in that we try to offer a life of hope and
greater opportunity to develop the changes needed
for recovery. We envision a sober community that
works together to create an environment of growth,
support and accountability for everyone. Therefore,
we stress our primary goal of helping residents focus
on recovery as a way of life. We stress that lasting
sobriety requires a transformation in attitudes and
behavior each day for the rest of your life.

www.PromisesOfHopeInc.org
Catherine@PromisesOfHopeInc.org
(616) 574-4098
Congratulatingmylittlesis
and“otherpeanut”
onherfirstyearofsobriety.
Soveryproudofyou!
I’mhereforyouonthejourney!
Love,“otherpeanut.”
Our Place: Peer to Peer
Kent County’s NEW Community Wellness Center
Support Groups •Wellness Classes
Safe and Sober Friday Gatherings
Workshops •WiFi
ALL OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE
Call or email us for more information!
616-389-2734
ourplace@hopenetwork.org
Monday through Friday 11am-7pm
385 Leonard NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Corner of Leonard and Lafayette
Accessible via the Rapid line 11 or 15
Leonard Street Counseling Center
Providing individual and group counseling services
Accepting new patients and most insurances, including
Medicaid and Healthy Michigan (no copays)
To schedule an appointment
call (616) 954-1991
Promises
of HopeCounseling,Education,and
SupportServicesforFamilies

I remember saying in my first year of
recovery “For this holiday season, I am
actually going to cook Christmas dinner for my
family for the first time in a long time!” When
the time came to prepare dinner I warmed
up a precooked prime rib, and a pre-made
frozen green bean casserole, frozen scalloped
potatoes and frozen pies. It was the first meal
I had cooked for anyone other than my son
and myself. Because I have been a classically
trained chef and have catered for thousands,
some of my guests at dinner that year might
have had higher expectations. In a rare
moment of silence, one dear family member
said “nice, a frozen Thanksgiving dinner….”
I love my little sister. The truth was, I cared
more about my serenity. It turned out well
and the family was grateful for the meal and
the time spent together.
When I quit drinking, I quit cooking. I used
to make beer and I had to stop that too. I
couldn’t even stand next to a grill without
thinking about how I would like a drink. I
struggled with cooking without alcohol both
as an ingredient and as a beverage. Cooking
recreationally or professionally had strong ties
to drinking.
I was in a period of change; I figured this was
just another unfortunate change. As I had
recently become single I didn’t really have
a need to cook. I lived on peanut butter and
pizza. I also found myself working in a field
other than food for the first time in years. No
cooking at home, no cooking at work.
Eventually my job evolved into a food job.
Funny, how that happens to people with a
food background. This job had me working
with kids. When you cook with and for kids
it’s obvious that you don’t use alcohol. I
ended up cooking all kinds of great meals
and even desserts that had no alcohol. I did
this for about two years and absolutely loved
it. I rekindled old recipes, came up with new
ones, and got to see the kids grow and acquire
a sense of accomplishment that was profound.
I then got to work with adults in addition to
the kids. I got to teach people in recovery
nutrition as it pertains to recovery – especially
early recovery. I also got to bring them into
the kitchen. When I heard a woman say, “ I
haven’t baked since before I started using
and I can’t wait to go home and bake with my
children” it is so satisfying, there is no room
in my mind for ‘’I miss alcohol’ in the kitchen!
The next year I was excited to have a house
full of people over for dinner. Actually I was
pretty happy to have a house! So that first
family get together was more about people
than about food. The next was about progress.
Now, eleven years into it, I am amazed that
everything I did that alcohol played some role
or another in, I can do now without it even
crossing my mind. They say if you choose not
to drink for enough days in a row, there will
come a day when you prefer not to drink. That
is my experience along with many of my peers.
This year, I will serve the prime rib again but
I am going to get the kind you roast for three
hours, I will make scalloped potatoes from
scratch, green bean casserole from scratch,
and if the pressure isn’t too much, two
cranberry-pear pies from scratch. I also like
to have one wow factor dish and this year it is
going to be an old family tradition: Yorkshire
pudding. It’s very simple but also very easy
to screw up. It contains flour, salt, milk and a
couple of eggs cooked in beef juice. When its
done right the edges curl three inches up the
side of the pan and looks like a wave. When
it isn’t done right, it just lays there, all wet and
soggy, in a puddle of juice. I think this year I’m
up for the challenge!
As for the family part, family gatherings can
be rough in both recovery and out of it. Reach
out to people if it’s a new experience. You
may need to arrive late and leave early. One
thing I do in the midst of chaos is focus on one
thing, like baking a pie. Do it right during the
get together. It can be a focal point to help
you remember to stay in the moment, to be
mindful. When it gets rough in the house,
go back to the pie. Focus on it…become one
with it…. okay enough already, I’m a chef not a
guru. Enjoy the Holiday!
From the Sober Kitchen:
Holiday Food and Families
Chef Kevin
FELONY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS
AXIOS INCORPORATED
528 Bridge St NW
ADECCO
1140 MonroeAve
Grand Rapids, MI49505
EXPRESS PERSONNEL
2330 44th St, Se Suite 1A
UNITED CHURCH OUTREACH
MINISTRIES
631 Hall Street
JUBILEE JOBS INC.
935 Baxter St. Se
EMPLOYMENT GROUP
3230 BroadmoorAve. Se SuiteA
Grand Rapid, MI 49512
TROY TECH CONSTRUCTION
RESOURCES INC.
1000 3 mile Rd.
VAN ANDEL ARENA
130W Fulton St,
GOOD WILL INDUSTRIES
LABOR READY
2438 28th SE
Wyoming, MI 49519
BEACON SERVICES
4595 BroadmoorAve, SE Suite 180
STAFFING INCORPORATED
528 Bridge St. NW
AMERITEMP STAFFING
6151 28th St. Se Suite 9
AEROTEK
4665 44th St. Se
Kentwood, MI 49512
ADVANCE EMPLOYMENT
3160 Breton Rd. Se
GILL INDUSTRIES
4328 KalamazooAve. Se
CLEANING COMPANIES
AWWARD WINDOW CLEANING
SERVICE
3552 Rodger B. Chafee
Grand Rapids, MI
BYERS D C COMPANY
5946 Clay SW
Grand Rapids, MI
AUTOMOTIVE
MUFFLER MAN AUTO REPAIR
CENTER
3300 28th St SE
Kentwood, MI
CARQUEST AUTO PARTS
STORES
801 Michigan Ne
3554Alpine NW
6015 S. Division Se
2417 Northville Dr. NE
5007 28th St
AUTO SOURCE
1408 Hall St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI
TALENT TREE
4328 Kalamazoo SE
MANUFACTURING,
FACTORIES, WAREHOUSES
MODERN ROOFING
4741 21st
Dorr, MI
Contact Paul
AMERISUITES
5401 28th Ct.
RANIER
4701 East Paris
PRO FINISH POWDER COATING
1000 Ken-O-Sha Ind’l Dr. Se
PHILLIPS AND MEAD PAINTING
215 Sweet St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49505
VI-CHEM CORPORATION
55 Cottage Grove St. Se
N-K MANUFACTURING TECH
1134 Freeman SW
Grand Rapids, MI
BUTTERBALL FARMS
1435 Buchanan SW
Grand Rapids, MI
AIMS FINANCIAL
4595 Broadmoore E Suite 297
Kentwood, MI 49512
PRECISION FINISHING
1010 Chicago Dr.
Grand Rapids, MI
DEN KETELAAR PLUMBING
883West River Dr.
Comstock Park, MI
LEON PLASTICS
4901 Clay SW
PRIDGEON AND CLAY
50 Cottage Grove SW
SUPERIOR ASPHALT
699 Century SW
Grand Rapids, MI
ERIE CONSTRUCTION
44th St
Grand Rapids, MI
B & G MOLD
ENGINEERING INC.
2851 Prairie
CHALLENGE INDUSTRIES
3079 3 Mile Rd
RESTAURANTS
JIMMY JOHNS
63 Monroe Center
Quizno’s Sub
146 Monroe Center
SUBWAY
1202 Fulton St.W
OLGA’S KITCHEN
3195 28th St
FIRE MOUNTAIN
3725Alpine NW
WING HEAVEN
ARNIES RESTAURANT AND
BAKERY
710 Leonard St. NW
BS’S MONGOLIAN BARBECUE
2619 28th St.
BELTLINE BAR
16 28th St. Se
BUFFALO WILD WINGS GRILL
AND BAR
2035 28th St. Se
2121 CelebrationsAve
Bob Evans
3766 Potomac Cr. Grandville
CARLOS O’KELLY MEXICAN
CAFÉ
4977 28th Street
CHECKERS RESTAURANT
1131 Michigan NE
TGI FRIDAYS
3345 28th St. Se
LITTLE CAESAR’S
RESTAURANTS
NEW BEGINNINGS
RESTAURANT’S
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN
28th Street
MONGOLIAN BBQ
2619 28th Street
CHILI’S BAR GRILL
River town Crossings Mall
E3 BISTRO
3075 28th Street SW
FIRE MOUNTAIN
3725Alpine NW
BIG BOY RESTAURANTS
MOVING COMPANIES
FORT KNOX STORAGE AND
MOVING INC.
1514 JeffersonAve SE
BIG BROTHER
3470 Roger B. Chaffe
Grand Rapids, MI
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
912 47th St
Grand Rapids, MI
STATUS DELIVERY
4156 Danvers Court SE
ALLIED VAN LINES
Contact: Philo Frost
STORES
ADMIRAL TOBACCO
2333 44th St. SE
Kentwood, MI 49512
MC SPORTS
3070 Shaffer SE
Kentwood, MI 49512
EASTSIDE TATTOOS
1409 Robinson Rd. SE
THE HOME DEPOT
257 54th ST
Wyoming, MI 49548
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYERS
Ace Hardware
Applebee’s
AT&T
Alstate
Bed bath and beyond
BuffaloWildWings
Chili’s
Chipotle
Dairy Queen
Denny’s
DollarTree
Dunkin’ Donuts
Embassy Suites
Family Dollar
General Electric
Golden Coral
Hilton Hotels
IHOP
Jimmy Johns
KFC
Kohl’s
McDonalds
Meijer
Men’sWarehouse
Olive Garden
Pet Smart
Radisson
Red Lobster
Red Robin
SalvationArmy
U-Haul
me she was just another drunk trying to stay
sober and do what was right. I started think-
ing maybe I could be like her someday.”
The hard-to-define essence of the recov-
ery carrier may well be his or her ability to
live and speak what AA-Cofounder Bill W.
referred to as “the language of heart.”
I suspect, at least for the near future,
that such traits can be identified, nurtured
into maturity, and channeled into innu-
merable service channels but not artificially
created where they do not naturally exist.
I don’t think just anyone can be a recovery
carrier with or without recovery experience.
(The history of recovery in America is filled
with people who performed this role who
were not in personal recovery.) I don’t think
this is something you can decide to be. It is
rather something that emerges within some
people out of the very process of recovery
or from experiencing what Ernie Kurtz
(1996) described as their “own dark night
of the soul.” I think the traits so critical to
this role must be fed to be sustainable. And
yet I think it is quite possible that condi-
tions could be set within a community and
within communities of recovery (the image
of community petri dishes with a rich grow-
ing medium comes to mind) within which
recovery carriers can rise. I suspect a major
breakthrough of the future will lie not in
the further isolation of addicted individu-
als within institutional environments but in
seeding their natural community environ-
ments with recovery carriers. How might
this be achieved? Experiments are under-
way in places like the City of Philadelphia to
answer that question.
CARRIERcontinued from cover

UPCOMING TRAINING & EVENTS
• WhataretheethicsinRecoveryCoaching
• Identifyingethicaldilemmas
• Understandinghowhelpinginasituationmightmedetrimentaltotheclientor
toyourownrecovery
• Gainingenoughsecurityinselftosetaboundary
• Howtoworkthroughanethicaldilemma
• Whatcodependencyis
• Howtoidentifycodependencyinselfandothers
• Howcodependencycanleadtostress,relapse,andburnout
• Wheretosendsclientsforhelpwithcodependentrelationships
• Whatisaboundary
• Whentosetandboundary
• Howtosetaboundary
• Howcodependencyinterfereswithboundarysetting
• Ethicssurroundingworkingwithindividualsdealingwithsubstanceusedisorders
CODEPENDENCY, ETHICS AND
BOUNDARIES TRAINING
November 21st • 8:30am to 4:00pm
RECOVERY COACH ACADEMY
Dec. 3rd, 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th • 8:30am to 4:00pm
Name:___________________________________________
Phone:___________________________________________
Email:___________________________________________
Agency:__________________________________________
*Costofthistrainingis$40.00,therearelimitedscholarshipsavailabletothose
whoareinneedofone.Thelocationofthistrainingistobedeterminedandwill
beupdatedASAP. PleasesendRegistrationintosara@recoveryallies.usorMailto
RecoveryAlliesofWestMichiganat321FullerAveNe,GrandRapids,MI. Ifyouhave
anyquestionsyoucanreachSaraVanderleestat616-254-9988.
Thistrainingwilloffer6MCBAPhoursinEthics.
AboutThisTraining:
RecoveryAlliesofWestMichiganishostingtheRCAfive-daytrainingopportunity.Thetrainingisdesignedtoprepare
participantsforemploymentasaRecoveryCoachaswellasinformthosethatwanttoattendthatmaynotbeseeking
employmentasone. Thetrainingwillprovideparticipantswithanin-depthandcomprehensivetrainingexperience
focusedonthedevelopmentoftheskillsrequiredforapersontoresponsiblyprovidetheservicesofaRecoveryCoach.
Thetrainingwillprovideparticipantstoolsandresourcesusefulinprovidingrecoverysupportservicesandwillempha-
sizeskillsneededtolinkpeopleinrecoverytoneededsupportswithinthecommunity.
• LearningObjectivesfortheRecoveryCoachAcademy:
• DescribetherolesandfunctionsofaRecoveryCoach
• Listthecomponents,corevaluesandguidingprinciples
ofrecovery
• Buildskillstoenhancerelationships
• Discussco-occurringdisordersandmedicated-assisted
recovery
• Describestagesofchangeandtheirapplications
• Addressethicalissues
• Experiencewellnessplanning
• Practicenewly-acquiredskills
Who Should Attend:
TheRCAisopentoindividualswhohaveaninterestinprovidingsupport,mentorship,andguidancetopersonswith
substanceusedisordersandco-occurringmentalhealthdisorders. IndividualswhoareinterestedintheRCAmustbe
approvedforparticipationbytheiremployer,acoordinatingagencyorendorsedbysomeoneinthecommunitythat
canspeakasareference. RCAparticipantsshouldthemselvesbeindividualsinstablerecovery,asitisimportantto
thoseservedthattheircoachhaveapersonalunderstandingofaddictionandrecovery.
Thecostofthistrainingis$400.00andworth32MCBAPhours.Lunchisincluded.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agency/PersonReferredby:__________________________________________________
Name:______________________________________________________________
E-mail:_____________________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________
Phone:______________________________________________________________
Sendregistrationandpaymentto321FullerAveNE,GrandRapids,Mi49503.Thecostis$400.00.Makechecksand
moneyordersouttoRecoveryAlliesofWestMi.Youcanalsoemailregistrationtosara@recoveryallies.usandcall616-
254-9988topaybyphonewithcreditcard.
CRANBERRY PEAR PIE
4 medium pears (Bosc, Bartlett or Anjou)
1 cup Sugar
¼ cup all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. orange peel, finely shredded
1 Tsp. ground cinnamon
2 cup Cranberries
Pastry for double crust pie
1 Tbsp. butter, cut
1 recipe Glazed Nut topping (optional)
Peel, core and slice pears (should equal 5 cups). In mixing
bowl, combine sugar, flour, orange peel and cinnamon.
Add pears and cranberries: Toss to coat. Set aside.
For pie shell, prepare double crust pastry. Roll out half of
pastry; line a 9”pie plate with pastry. Fill with pear mixture.
Dot filling with cut up butter. Cut remaining rolled out
pastry into ½ inch-wide strips. Weave them into a lattice for
top crust. Bake at 375 degree for 55 minutes or more, until
crust is golden brown spoon Glazed Nut Topping evenly
over warm pie. Cool pie on wire rack
GLAZED NUT TOPPING
In small sauce pan, combine ½ cup chopped walnuts and 2
Tbsp butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until nuts are
lightly browned. Stir in 3 Tbsp brown sugar. Heat and stir
until sugar is dissolved. Stir in 1 Tbsp milk.
SCALLOPED POTATOES
¼ cup onion, chopped
¼ cup butter
1 ½ tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
¼ cup all purpose flour
2 ½ cup whole milk
5 Large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (to equal 5
cups)
Cook onion in butter until tender, not brown. Stir in flour,
salt and pepper, Add Milk. Cook and stir until thickened and
bubbly. Cook and stir 1 or 2 minuets more. Remove from
heat. Place half of the sliced potatoes in a greased 2-quart
casserole dish. Cover with half of the sauce. Repeat
YORKSHIRE PUDDING
Mix 1 cup flour
½ tsp. salt
1 cup milk
2 eggs
Melt ½ cup butter in a 9” x 9” pan or use dripping from
roast beef to equal ½ cup. Pour in mixed batter. Bake at 425
degree for 35 minuets.
Holiday Recipes From the Sober Kitchen

“The roads to recovery are many
and that the resolution of alcoholism by any
method should be a cause for celebration by
A.A. members.” – Bill Wilson, 1944
Recovery Allies recognizes that there are
many pathways to recovery. Below are
some that we know of.One way to advocate
is to start one in your community!!
Some of the many pathways
n Alcoholics Anonymous – www.aa.org
n Narcotics Anonymous – www.NA.org
n Al-Anon – www.ola.is.org
n Other A’s
n Women in Sobriety – www.womenforsobriety.org
n Men for Sobriety – www.womenforsobriety.org
n Rational Recovery – www.rational.org
n Moderation Management – www.moderation.org
n HAMS – Harm Reduction Abstinence and
Moderation Support – http://hamsnetwork.org
n White Bison – www.whitebison.org
n S.O.S Secular Organization for Sobriety –
www.sossobriety.org
n Life Ring – www.unhooked.com
n SMART Recovery: Self-Management and
Recovery Training-www.smartrecovery.org
n Celebrate Recovery – www.celebraterecovery.com
n HAHA – Health and Healing Advocate's
n Pagans for Sobriety
Online Resources
n Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Administration (SAMHSA) – www.samhsa.gov
n U.S. Department of Health and Human Services –
www.hhs.gov
n National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) –
www.drugabuse.gov
n 24/7 Help Yourself – www.24/7helpyourself.com
n Sober Recovery – www.soberrecovery.com
n Cyber Recovery – www.cyberrecovery.net
n Addiction Tribe – www.addictiontribe.net
FEATURED
BOARD MEMBER
Karima Diggs-Holmes is currently
Arbor Circle’s Peer Recovery Coach
for the Mission Inn Program. She is
a CCAR Certified Recovery Coach
Trainer, PL-LTB-SP (Lies That Bind
Service Provider), Network 180 Certi-
fied Trauma-Informed Care Trainer,
& Multi-State Licensed Cosmetologist
of 23 yrs. Karima has a Bachelor’s De-
gree in Business Administration and
nearing the completion of her MBA in
Marketing come summer of 2015.
Having been in Long-term re-
covery (8+yrs), Karima’s personal,
professional, and social interactions
have provided positive impacts on
her community. She has worked at
Pine Rest’s Women’s Residential
Treatment, Interactions, & Pine Rest
Christian Homes as a Resident Care
Provider. Karima also contracted
for the Fair Housing Center of West
Michigan for over two years.
Karima is an active member in the
recovery community and involves
herself in all things positive. Her char-
ismatic personality, compassion, &
candor aid in her destiny to celebrate,
advocate, and educate others as she
also continues to unfold.
Karima
Diggs-Holmes
Meet Our Board Members & Staff
Mark
Thomson
Director of Special
Projects D.A. Blodgett -
St John’s
Crystal King
Recovery Coach
Arbor Circle
Catherine VanDe
Wege
President of
Promises of Hope Inc
Nonprofit
Scott
Swinburne
Program Director at West
Brook
Recovery Center
Mark
VandenBosch
OwnerVandenBosch Counsel-
ing Services, PLC
Kristin Reinink
Intake Coordinator and
Recovery Coach
Sanford House
Karima Diggs-
Holmes
Recovery Coach
Arbor Circle
Steve Alsum
Executive Director
Grand Rapids
Red Project
John Rhodes
CADC
Juvenile Court
Call or email for information on how
YOU CAN GET INVOLVED with Recovery Allies!
GET INVOLVED!!

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