When I was newly sober and new to post-stroke life, I thought I’d never recover from either. Years later when someone praises my courage, I find it difficult to respond because it never felt like courage. It felt scary, uncomfortable, and impossible. The people I looked up to back then felt like superheroes, and I couldn’t imagine ever being seen that way. What looks like courage from the outside feels like fearful willingness on the inside.

Willingness was the first building block for me in recovery. I showed up scared, followed suggestions I didn’t understand, stayed when I wanted to run, and asked for help without confidence. That willingness opened the door to faith, and over time, faith quietly built strength. Courage, I’ve realized, is willingness that’s been practiced. Strength is consistently staying.

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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

#RecoveryDailyPodcast #WillingnessInRecovery #SobrietyJourney #StrokeRecovery #EmotionalSobriety #FaithAndRecovery #HealingInProgress #RecoveryCommunity #OneDayAtATime #StrengthThroughWillingness

I live in recovery, and whether we talk about it or not, we’re all recovering from something. I talk a lot about sobriety and stroke recovery, but at its core, my podcast is about living better while managing mental wellness and waking up curious about the day instead of dreading it.

People say the phrase, “I’ve finally arrived.” That’s always impressed me. I was never going to get where I was going with a state of mind where every achievement immediately pointed me toward the next goal. There was always another milestone ahead, another version of myself I thought I needed to become, and very little time spent actually resting in where I was. Arriving.

After my stroke changed my destination without my permission, the future I planned disappeared and so did hope. Sobriety taught me how to live one day at a time, and my stroke taught me how to let the present moment be enough. Spiritual progress is how often I consistently, constantly, and honestly practice acceptance, willingness, and trust. I don’t know where I’m going, and that matters less to me now than being grateful for where I am.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube.

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

#RecoveryDailyPodcast #LivingInRecovery #SpiritualProgress #OneDayAtATime #StrokeRecovery #SobrietyJourney #MentalWellness #AcceptanceAndTrust #HealingInThePresent #RecoveryCommunity

Every day feels like I’ve bought a new ticket on the roller coaster of my life. Yes, each day is a gift, and it’s another chance to learn how to manage all the invisible things happening beneath the surface. Recovery is more than stopping old behaviors or learning new ones. I’m managing the emotions, impulses, and reactions that once ran the show. Emotional hangovers can be just as miserable as physical ones, and my recovery program teaches me to pause, breathe, and respond instead of react. Speaking this stuff out loud keeps the emotional residue from stacking up and feeding my anxiety.

Repetition is powerful. Hearing the tools again and again is what infuses them into my daily life so I can apply them in new ways. Daily inventories and spot checks keep me self-aware and help me show up better. A loved one asked me yesterday if I was easier to anger when I drank, and the answer is yes. Drinking made me impulsive, while sobriety gives me choices. Tolerance, compassion, and humility are gifts of this life. The way I live now, pausing before I respond, admitting when I’m wrong, and practicing acceptance is how I carry the message and illustrate my recovery.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube.

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

#RecoveryDailyPodcast #EmotionalSobriety #SobrietyJourney #AcceptanceInRecovery #DailyInventory #AnxietySupport #SelfAwareness #RecoveryTools #HealingJourney #OneDayAtATime