Today's episode takes a look at the question "Do I have a sugar addiction?" Many people admit t o having a sweet tooth, but when they see the consequences of physical health or appearance, they try to "break free from the bondage to food!" Even if you don't have a sweet tooth , I'm sure you'll find things you relate to in this episode. Enjoy.

Dictionaries say being lonely is the same thing as feeling lonesome. But I have found that lonesome is a much deeper feeling of sadness, isolation and melancholy. I hope you enjoy our walkabout through Lonesome Park as we read the signs with quotes about being lonesome and the comments others have written in the journal. I encourage you to journal you're comments as you begin to walk past and away from that lonesome feeling.

In today's episode we look at mirroring, also called mimicry. This behavior often start in our infancy and can become an unconscious aspect of our behavior. But, too often in recovery a pattern of conscious imitation becomes a tool of manipulation used to maintain control of people, conversations and situations. American psychologist Joyce Brothers once said "Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery."

Have people told you "You have an addictive personality"? Do you believe you have an addictive personality because you always go from one addiction to another? Have you substituted a socially acceptable addiction for the drugs, alcohol or porn that got you in trouble? In today's episode we look at these questions and more. Enjoy and share it with your friends.

Today's episode is a group session with my friends in recovery from South Africa, Australia and the USA. The topic for our group discussion is "Happy people have learned to forgive and to give second chances." I know you'll enjoy as each of our six guys share their insight and their personal struggles in the area of forgiveness AND the power of an attitude of gratitude.

In today's episode I'd like to talk about a topic that has come up in a couple of rehabs, homeless shelters and community groups in the past few weeks in South Africa. I'll share comments that I heard from people who said "I may have been their son or daughter (or spouse or boyfriend, etc.) but I was NOT your choice! Many of the group participants also realized that they had given that same wound to their children because their drug of choice was their first choice!

In today's episode we look at the "People, Places and Things" that can trigger a relapse in recovery. It's important to understand that people, places and things are everywhere AND they are not going away! Often early in recovery we are told to control our triggers and we often feel that we need to control our people, places and things. This often leads to frustration as we realize we can't control them. This episode lists a variety of things we CAN do to control our reactions to them so they do not trigger relapse.

William Golding coined the phrase "failure of imagination" in his book The Lord of the Flies in 1954. In today's episode we look at how a failure of our imagination can shape our defeat in recovery. And we'll discuss the positive aspects of imagination: exploring new ideas, birthing creativity and solving problems can be a key to a successful recovery.