Restraint of pen and tongue has evolved into one of my most valuable tools for managing my relationships. I don’t always have to speak, contribute, or correct someone. It’s fascinating that without adding my opinion, life still happens! And sometimes it turns out better than if it went my way. Pausing gives me a chance to shut my mouth while I think, to let humility in before self-righteousness takes over.

I heard today that practicing these principles isn’t contingent on anyone else’s behavior. What a concept! When I’m disturbed, that’s my signal to look inward, not point fingers and assign blame. Sometimes choosing silence strengthens character, while speaking out too quickly can unintentionally disturb others’ peace. The pause gives space for gratitude and tolerance.

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To learn more about vestibular disorders visit https://vestibular.org

#RecoveryJourney #EmotionalSobriety #RestraintOfTongue #DailyRecovery #SpiritualGrowth #LivingWithHumility #GratitudePractice #PauseAndReflect #BuildingCharacter #SerenityFirst

In early sobriety, I spent a lot of time wishing I could be like everyone else and have a glass of wine at dinner without ending up in a downward spiral. I wanted to be able to relax the way other people did. But I’ve learned over these nine years that the relaxation I envied wasn’t healthy for me. My relaxation today is deeper because I can decide to let go at any time without tucking all my problems into my “dark place” only to see them again in the morning bigger and more terrifying.

That same mindset shift is happening in stroke recovery. I still wish my vision worked like everyone else’s to do all the things I want to do. I do have moments of jealousy, like knowing I can’t go biking with a friend or play volleyball at a summer picnic. But instead of staring at what is missing in my life and the space left behind, I’m filling it with new possibilities. I have new hobbies and am connecting more deeply in ways I never would have without the stroke. The abundance in my life that has filled the empty space is what I focus on. I’m not a victim of what’s happened to me or of my own thinking. I choose to see my differences as the reason my life is richer, not poorer, and I believe that over time, both in sobriety and stroke recovery, I’ll only grow more grateful to be exactly who I am.

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To learn more about vestibular disorders visit https://vestibular.org

#StrokeRecovery #LifeAfterStroke #SobrietyJourney #AlcoholFreeLiving #HealingIsntLinear #RecoveryJourney #GratitudePractice #ThrivingThroughRecovery #LivingWithHope #NoFinishLine

There is no finish line living with chronic illness. I’m learning to exist in a body that feels different from one day to the next. People typically say, “Hope you feel better soon,” as if there’s a shortcut back to the person I once was. I suppose it’s hard to know what to say to a stroke survivor.

Full recovery is deeply personal and constantly evolving. Some days, the progress is in small victories, like getting up, attending a meeting, or taking a walk. Other days simply require acceptance that symptoms are flaring and rest. This sometimes feels like regression, but it’s the nature of a dynamic, unpredictable condition.

Like sobriety, stroke recovery doesn’t end when a milestone is reached. There’s no “You’ve made it” moment. We can give ourselves checkpoints while learning to navigate life differently. Stress, life changes, and even joyful events like buying a new home can trigger symptoms, but that doesn’t erase the progress made. It just means the work shifts. With a strong enough foundation through support groups, professional guidance, rest, and self-awareness, my recovery can withstand the unpredictable waves of life. Recovery is walking forward with patience, living on the path rather than reaching the destination.

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Visit my Etsy shop, and join my creative journey at Recovery Upcycling. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

To learn more about vestibular disorders visit https://vestibular.org

#StrokeRecovery #LifeAfterStroke #VestibularWarrior #SurvivorStrong #InvisibleIllness #RecoveryJourney #NoFinishLine #HealingIsntLinear #LivingWithHope #KeepGoing

Early recovery felt monotonous, both in sobriety and post-stroke. The stillness is such a contrast to the chaos of drinking and the busy life before a stroke. In those early days, the work felt like hard work. Going to meetings, calling my sponsor, reading the literature, doing my prayers, and meditating happened every day. In stroke recovery, doing vestibular therapy exercises, support groups, and taking daily naps was BORRRING. I had never practiced consistency in my life, so doing the same thing over and over felt exhausting and joyless. Every choice felt like a mountain to climb, and the payoff wasn’t immediate. But over time, that monotony turned into consistency, and consistency turned into habit. What once felt like forcing myself to work became something natural, like brushing my teeth without thinking about it.

That’s when the mental energy I spent struggling to simply work at living better was freed up for other things, like relationships, growth, and purpose. In sobriety, the drama-less life that once felt empty became purposeful. Stroke recovery is the same, yet the work still seems hard for me. The quiet routine is laying the foundation for something better. The monotony is proof I’m doing the work, and that work is what leads to stability, freedom, and joy. The same rhythm that feels repetitive is the rhythm of the life I’m fighting for. I just keep showing up until the momentum in the monotony turns to consistency, then habit, and eventually effortless joy.

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Visit my Etsy shop, and join my creative journey at Recovery Upcycling. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

To learn more about vestibular disorders visit https://vestibular.org

#earlyrecovery #sobrietytips #strokerecovery #habitbuilding #consistencyiskey #recoveryjourney #emotionalhealing #healingprocess #lifewithpurpose #mindfulrecovery

Alcoholism in the workplace is more common than many realize. Suffering alcoholics are terrified to speak up for fear of losing their jobs, facing stigma, or being labeled a liability. I’ve lived both extremes of employer response. One company, after I returned from self-admitted detox, gave me an ultimatum to move across the country or take a severance package. They had the resources to support me but chose to “pick the dead leaf off the tree and flick it into the yard.” The message was clear that my life was not worth their investment. I understand that business is priority, but what is a humane response? The result was devastating. Without a supportive environment and being discarded from my job after starting the road to recovery, I relapsed, drinking escalated, my confidence crashed, and I was left trying to hide a disease that was killing me. That experience is exactly why so many people stay silent and keep drinking. They don’t believe their employer will have their back, and they will be picked from the corporate tree and discarded.

My next employer proved how different the story can be. When I told them I needed help after hitting my bottom, they took action. They gave me a flexible schedule to go to detox and then attend IOP, addiction therapy, and daily meetings. Executives stood beside me at company functions to make sure I felt comfortable, even ordering me a Coca Cola the moment I walked in. When I graduated from IOP, they sent flowers to my home to tell me they were proud of me. That kind of compassion changed everything. Their belief in me helped me to believe in myself. It strengthened my loyalty, improved my morale, and helped me stay sober. Employer support is the difference between a life unraveling in silence and a life rebuilt with hope. In the workplace, compassion is a lifeline.

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Visit my Etsy shop, and join my creative journey at Recovery Upcycling. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

To learn more about vestibular disorders visit https://vestibular.org

#WorkplaceRecovery #SobrietySupport #EmployerCompassion #RecoveryJourney #MentalHealthAtWork #SoberLiving #SupportNotStigma #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryIsPossible #WorkplaceWellness

I started my podcast to talk about daily life in recovery, and that means showing up even when I’m in a slump. While I don’t feel hopeless, I’m frustrated with no inspiring suggestions for rising out of it. I’m physically and mentally drained, and I just need to say it out loud to acknowledge that I’m in a brief season of poopiness. Even though I know what helps, some days I don’t want to do any of it. I’ve been pulling away from things that hurt my head, limiting screen time, using VoiceOver on my phone, but that creates a sense of isolation. It feels like I’m cutting myself off, but really, I’m leaning in to take care of myself.

I forget I’m living in a body that can’t do what it used to. I’m 51, and I don’t feel like I should be this limited, and that grief bubbles up sometimes. My podcast gives me a place to say the hard things out loud, and I know someone else out there might need to hear it. I’ll keep showing up, because the only way to the other side of the hard stuff is through it.

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Visit my Etsy shop, and join my creative journey at Recovery Upcycling. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

To learn more about vestibular disorders visit https://vestibular.org

#RecoveryJourney #RealRecovery #SobrietyLife #StrokeRecovery #MentalHealthCheckIn #ThroughTheHardStuff #SelfCareInRecovery #OneDayAtATime #HealingJourney #KeepShowingUp

Today’s topic makes me laugh, “It’s Not All About Me”, yet here I am, talking about me again. I share my experience navigating stroke recovery, a vestibular disorder, and sobriety because it’s all I truly know, and I hope it helps someone who is still suffering.

This morning’s meditation was about not taking things personally, which sounds simple, but it’s complex in action. I take everything personally, and practice responding instead of reacting.

Self-focus has always been my default in survival mode. I was told in recovery that alcoholism is a selfish disease, and yet the 12-step program is a selfish one. I must first clean house within myself so I can turn outward in service. In stroke recovery, self-focus is critical, only this time it’s for physical healing, rather than ego.

Faith replaces fear with willingness, control with surrender, and isolation with action. I’m still learning how to let go and stop trying to change other people and instead reflect on what I can change inside of me. I seek to understand rather than be understood.

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Rather listen on Apple Podcasts? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-daily-podcast/id1693924779

Visit my Etsy shop, and join my creative journey at Recovery Upcycling. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

To learn more about vestibular disorders visit https://vestibular.org

#recoveryjourney #emotionalsobriety #strokeawareness #soberliving #faithoverfear #mentalhealthmatters #letgoletgod #healingfromwithin #12steps #vestibularwarrior

Dependence can lead to independence. I’ve been feeling terrible still because I haven’t honored my limitations that worsen my head pain. It’s been several weeks now with no improvements. I decided that I must switch over to 100% dependence on Voiceover for iPhone for at least 4 days. Otherwise, I will get worse. My symptoms have surpassed what is manageable. I’ve been playing with fire. I must take my life seriously. I only get one shot at this. Back when I was drinking, I wasn’t taking life seriously. I didn’t know the root of all my problems was my drinking, and when I began to see that, I ignored it.

I heard someone say today that we don’t get well all at once. First physically, then mentally, emotionally, and finally spiritually. Wellness takes balance, and balance is difficult when you are suddenly thrown into a brand-new body that you don’t quite understand after a stroke. My self-will drives me to do what I want, not the next right thing, and that’s what’s causing me pain.

Turning my will and my life over to something greater than myself gives me freedom. It neutralizes my self-will. That’s Step Three in my sobriety program, and I can practice it in stroke recovery as well. It’s using VoiceOver. It’s taking naps. It’s doing the thing I don’t want to do so I can feel better. It’s taking suggestions from doctors and therapists, and acting upon them. There’s strength in asking for help, whether it is professional, spiritual, or communal. We weren’t meant to do life alone. Dependence on each other builds real independence. The bravest thing I can do is ask for help and follow through. That’s how I move from surviving to living.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube.

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Visit my Etsy shop, and join my creative journey at Recovery Upcycling. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

To learn more about vestibular disorders visit https://vestibular.org

#strokeRecovery #sobrietyjourney #voiceoveraccessibility #emotionalhealing #spiritualgrowth #stepthree #selfwillvswillingness #mentalhealthmatters #recoveryispossible #onebodyonelife