Leading by example, especially through the biggest challenges of our lives like sobriety and stroke recovery, offers an incredible opportunity to teach our kids in a way we can’t just by talking to them. Leading by example in these situations show what resilience truly looks like, what growth against the odds looks like, and the human capacity to overcome adversity. Today I want to talk about how to leverage these struggles. Like I said yesterday, I’m trying to squeeze all I can from my suffering. If I’m going to live like this, I’m going to get the biggest bang for my buck…my buck I guess being pain and suffering in this case, but whatevs.
In this episode, I talk about how, by leading by example in recovery, we’re demonstrating to our kids that obstacles are simply stepping stones, that we are bad asses, and that courage can be cultivated; that sharing your story brings solutions and community; that we can help others in the midst of our own suffering; that there is a healthy way to grieve and it can take as long as you need it to take; that its ok to get uncomfortable and support may be discovered in unexpected places; and, that even though life may not be going how you planned it, joy lives there too. We just have to make room for it.
Thank you to all the community support resources that have provided me with seeds to cultivate my courage in recovery over the past several months. I've been on a path of discovery and acceptance, with each of these folks giving me just a little more reason to keep fighting for myself:
https://law.stanford.edu/michelle-m-mello/
https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/
https://www.fightingblindness.org/
https://strokewarriorsinc.org/
Lisa Palmer ODonnell, Esq.
and so many more!
