Pictures of My Day

I am back to loving unemployed life. 

Today was AWESOME. 

I started the morning with a hike up to Bell Reservoir, had my FIFTH interview with Chase, then volunteered at Turning Point Centers, then got to see my cute nieces and nephew, then got a massage, then got to see my old time best pal Jessa. 

I don't think I ever want to work again (until tomorrow probably)

 Remember how jacked my hand was when the glass came out?? It's all healed!!

Our Rad Hike

The Lake at the TOP

Charlee is my best friend when she comes over. 

Then she wanted to take her own pictures

I would just like to point out how strong my arm is getting! Thanks to Fit To Recover!

Charlee wanted to look like me haha

I got a new harness and shoes for our sweet Labor Day Weekend trip up to Rock City!!

Back To School

Well, today is the day. I head back to school. It feels so weird to be a student again. I honestly don't know what to think about it. I haven't sat in a classroom for 3 years, and those 3 years have been LOOONG years. So much has changed. I'm not in that mindset yet. I am so used to having my nights free, and now two nights a week, I will be in a classroom. 

I am super stoked to be able to chase my dreams. I am actually really lucky that I made it into the program that I did. I wasn't supposed to be able to start the program until I was 3 years sober, yet here I am at 7 months sober. I am so excited to learn more about addiction and recovery. I feel that this experience will enhance my recovery journey and I will be able to give back in more ways than I already have. I really believe the best addiction counselors are addicts in recovery. It adds a layer of understanding and empathy. I have been able to teach a few groups at my old treatment center, and I love being able to be an example to the clients in there and show them what recovery really looks like. 

So...here we go. Off into the unknown. I am sure it will be a wild ride, but I am ready!

This is my "I'm gonna kill it" face. Definitely appropriate for today. PS- I haven't thrown up in a week! The medication I am on seems to be working! Holla!

Last night, I went climbing with a couple friends who are also in recovery. I love being around friends who are in the same boat. There's just a level of authenticity that recovering addicts have that is hard to find. 

Wish me luck!

Finding Community In Recovery

This is the Fit To Recover Women's Group that meets every Thursday evening. A great group of women who are all strong in recovery and offer great support for one another. 

This is the Fit To Recover Bootcamp that is held every Saturday morning. 

These past few months of summer, I have really reached outside of my comfort zone. I am a very reserved person and I don't normally go to social activities alone, but I felt like I needed to find a sense of community within my recovery. I think that being a part of the recovery community in SLC has drastically changed my recovery for the better. When I felt all alone in my recovery the first few months after I got out of treatment, I almost like an outcast of society. I had lost a lot of friends during the intense times of my addiction and didn't really have a solid group of friends in SLC. I really questioned how long I could stay in recovery without any support besides my weekly therapy visits. Now, I go to at least 2 groups per week, visit my therapist, and volunteer at the treatment center I went through. This has given me a sense of belonging. I don't feel like I am trying to do this all on my own anymore, I am doing it with an incredible group of human beings. People in recovery are my favorite people. You don't have to worry about cliques, fake people, judgmental people, etc. There's no right or wrong way in recovery. I love being able to feel authentic and vulnerable and feel the support from others who are going through the same thing. Being in recovery has made me a better person in so many aspects of my life. I find myself feeling so much gratitude each day to be able to be a stronger and better person. If I didn't have an addiction, I wouldn't have this time of my life where I can really reach inside and strengthen my weaknesses and offer the world a stronger, more compassionate, courageous, and overall better human being than I ever believed was possible. 

Welcome Baby Kylie

This week, my sixth niece was born on August 19th. Shawn and Candy had their 3rd child.

Introducing Kylie Young. We couldn't be more excited to have another princess to spoil!

Workout Mix

People always ask me for good songs to workout to, so I decided to post it on the blog for anyone who needs to update their workout jams. 

Here is a list of songs I have been working out to lately: 

1. Beating Heart- Ellie Goulding

2. Bad Blood- Bastille

3. Trumpets- Jason Derulo

4. Loud- Mac Miller

5. And We Danced- Macklemore

6. Maps- Maroon Five

7. Gold- Macklemore

8. Shake it Out- Florence and the Machine

9. Sunshine- Matisyahu

10. Hall of Fame- The Script

11. Demons- Imagine Dragon

12. Cinema- Skrillex

13. Young Blood- The Naked and Famous

14. Timber- Pitbull

15. Pompeii- Bastille

16. Burn- Ellie Goulding

17. Monster- Imagine Dragons

18. Sweetness- Jimmy Eat World

19. Damage- Jimmy Eat World

20. Castle of Glass- Linkin Park

21. Alone Together- Fall Out Boy

22. Hey Brother- Avicii

23. We Weren't Born To Follow- Bon Jovi

24. On Top Of The World- Imagine Dragons

25. Summer- Calvin Harris

26. Victory Lap- Macklemore

27. The Catalyst- Linkin Park

28. No Light, No Light- Florence & The Machine

29. Feel This Moment- Pitbull

30. The Great Escape (Cool Down)- Pink

Check them out! You can thank me by adding these to your playlist and go for a run!

Relationship Vacation

People always want to know how my love life is going. Well, lately I have responded by telling people that I am on "Sabbatical" from dating and relationships. 

I believe that the first year that someone becomes sober is a time when relationships should be put on the back burner. The first year of recovery is an opportunity for someone to really work on themselves and fine tune their lives. I feel very fortunate to be in recovery and give myself the time and attention that I need to heal my mind, body, and spirit. When someone is in the "dark days" of their addiction, their mind, body, and spirit are severely wounded. Being in recovery has allowed me to really take a look at myself and the core beliefs that I have about myself and really work on those things. The first year of recovery is hard enough, and if I threw a relationship on top of that, I would be in a very vulnerable place to relapse. 

I strongly believe that love and relationships will come when the time is right. I don't believe the first year of recovery is the right time. I need to make sure that I am okay with myself, before putting myself in a vulnerable place with another person. Relationships complicate life, and I believe a person really needs to work on their own issues before adding another person to the mix. I feel like this will make my future relationships so much better. 

When I first got sober, my therapist told me something that I strongly believe today. She told me that everyone, in their adult life, needs to learn how to be alone. I used to be terrified of being alone. I thought that being in a relationship was the only way to be happy. I was DEAD WRONG. Now, 7 months later, I can sit in silence with myself and be okay. I have learned to love myself. I have learned what I want and don't want in my life. I have learned what I want in a future companion. I have learned how to be okay in my own head. These are all lessons that I feel someone should learn before adding another human being into their life. 

Love will come. A family will come. But the best way to insure a happy future with a companion is by making sure that I am strong on my own without any one else. I need to create the life that I want for myself, and when the time is right, another person will fit into that life that I have already created. 

Fit To Recover

Friends: please watch, share, and donate to this cause. Fit to Recover is an amazing cause to be a part of. Up until the last few months, I felt alone in my recovery. I questioned my long term sobriety. I knew that I wanted to get involved, but I didn't know how. Then, I got introduced to the Founder of Fit to Recover, Ian Acker. He invited me to come out to his bootcamp and weekly process group/run. I started coming, even though it felt uncomfortable to reach outside of my comfort zone. After going just once, I felt like I belonged to something great. I was excited to go back. This cause is exactly what Salt Lake City needs. Please take some time to watch and donate just $10 if possible. If you can't donate, then share. Or do both!