It’s show-n-tell day! Before I head to the Lake of the Woods Fine Arts Show & Sale tomorrow, I’m giving you a peek at what I’ve been creating, from Christmas ornaments made with vintage jewelry to Spoon & Cup Theory bracelets and my newest obsession of handmade junk journals. Everything at my booth has been created with recycled, repurposed, and vintage materials. Recovery has taught me that everyone and everything can change, be reborn, and become something beautiful.

Come see what I’ve been making, hear the stories behind some of the pieces, and experience my perhaps slightly excessive excitement about my very first art show.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

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

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

After my stroke, there wasn't much room for laughter. My life was consumed by pain, fear, doctors, visual disability, and trying to understand what happened to me and if I’d get better. Over time, thanks to my husband, laughter found its way back in. Laughing at some of the ridiculous moments of life after stroke doesn't minimize what I've lost. I can grieve my limitations and still laugh when my brain plays Mad Libs with my words, I walk into a room with absolutely no idea why I'm there, or my husband and I pull out our favorite excuse for my humorous mistakes: “Well, I had a stroke.”

Humor is another tool in my recovery toolbox. Laughter helps me loosen my grip and stop arguing with reality. It helps me relax. Taking my disability seriously doesn't mean I have to take every moment of my life seriously. My stroke took a lot from me, but it didn't take away my ability to laugh at myself.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

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

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

I wondered what I had left to offer without alcohol in my life. After my stroke, that same fear came back. So much of what I could do had changed that I started questioning what I could still bring to my relationships and my life. I must separate my limitations from my worth, let go of the “I should be able to” thoughts, and stop measuring Rachel 3.0 against the person I was before my stroke. My capacity changes from day to day, and my self-worth can’t change with it.

If I want to be happy, I need to do things that make me happy.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

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

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

Living with a vestibular disorder has changed what being active looks like for me. Movement itself can provoke my symptoms, so exercise isn't as simple as pushing harder, going farther, or trying to get back to what I could do before my stroke. I have to consider what I can do with the brain and body I have today? Sometimes being active is walking my dog. Other times it's gardening, gentle stretching, modified yoga, or simply moving around the house doing chores (which I’m way over due on.) I've learned to adapt, pay attention to my symptoms, and stop measuring today's abilities against an old version of myself.

When I used to run, I challenged myself with how much discomfort I could tolerate. But today I need sustainable participation in my life—movement that allows me to be active today without stealing too much from tomorrow.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

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

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

I’m pretty good at coping once I’m already overwhelmed. The harder part is recognizing what my mind and body are telling me before I get there.

Today I’m talking about proactive coping—recognizing the physical and emotional warning signs before they become emergencies. I look at the difference between coping and avoidance, intentionally visiting my “dark place,” and why even healthy things like hobbies, creativity, and excitement can push me too far when I stop listening to myself.

Recovery is teaching me that I don’t have to wait until I’m hurting, exhausted, isolated, or overwhelmed to respond. My emotions don’t have to make my decisions for me.

What is your mind or body whispering to you today?

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

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

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

Why do I say “I’m fine” when I’m not? Sometimes I hold back because I don’t want to burden anyone, seem dramatic, be misunderstood, or admit that I need help. But what I refuse to talk about doesn’t disappear. It usually finds somewhere else to go.

Sobriety taught me that connection requires my participation, and stroke recovery has taught me the same lesson in a different way. When I live with symptoms other people can’t see, I have to talk about it for others to walk beside me. Sharing what’s wrong isn’t asking someone to rescue me.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

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

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

Boris takes over the podcast today. Don't miss it.

I spend a lot of time paying attention to difficult emotions, like fear, anger, sadness, resentment, anxiety, but the emotion wheel goes both ways. Joy and love have a whole vocabulary of their own, and I deserve to experience those feelings without guilt or waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Recovery has taught me that difficult and pleasant emotions can exist at the same time. I can grieve what my stroke took from me and still love my life. I can live with chronic pain and feel excited, inspired, peaceful, proud, playful, and hopeful. One feeling doesn't cancel out another.

Today I'm looking at the joyful side of the emotion wheel and asking, "What does happiness actually feel like?" Because happiness isn't something I should wait for. I need to participate in it. I need to do happiness.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

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

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling

Humility used to feel a lot like humiliation to me. My recovery program helps me to know what belongs to me, do my part, and trust God with the rest.

In this episode, I talk about how sobriety and stroke recovery have challenged my need for control, how pride can disguise itself as independence, and why asking for and receiving help is part of humility. I can plan, advocate for myself, and participate fully in my recovery without trying to manage the universe. That position is already filled.

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:

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

Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling