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By Stacey Kennedy, Renascent Addictions Counsellor Step 4: “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” There was a lot of fear in learning about Steps 4 and 5, in that I would have to share all of the things I had done wrong with another human being. I was full of guilt and … Continued
Rick Morton knew exactly how he wanted to spend his days in retirement. “I’ve seen a number of people retire and do nothing,” shares Rick. “I left with a plan. I wanted to volunteer.” And volunteer is exactly what he did. Rick took on a volunteer role at Renascent Paul J. Sullivan Centre (Sullivan Centre) … Continued
Richards father had a passion for stamp collecting. Over decades and throughout his recovery, the Royal Canadian Navy veteran purchased and stored hundreds of Canadian stamps. So after he passed, Richard and his sister knew they wanted to give the collection – along with many of their father’s other belongings – to those who would … Continued
Addiction recovery often involves dealing with anger. Anger may be directed at oneself, at specific people, at less-specific entities (like law enforcement or institutions), or at society as a whole. Without learning to process anger in a constructive manner, it is difficult for a person with an addiction to move forward toward recovery, as anger … Continued
March 13, 1994 was the date that Russell took his last drink. For 25 years prior to that, Russell drank heavily. “Before to coming to Renascent, I would have never believed that recovery was possible for me,” says Russell candidly. “I was as low as you could get without losing your life.” Russell recalls meeting … Continued
By Colin W., Renascent Alumni & Relief Counsellor Meditation, self-reflection, and physical activity such as, working out or yoga, can be effective tools for managing anger in individuals in recovery from addiction. These practices can help increase self-awareness and regulate emotions, leading to more positive and constructive responses to challenging situations. It’s important to remember … Continued
Growing up in a household characterized by alcoholism and abuse, Suzan felt different from her peers – and totally alone. “I found it hard to be a carefree kid,” she says, “because I was always concerned with what was going on at home. I couldn’t talk to my friends about it; they had ‘normal’ families. … Continued
By Michael G, Renascent Alumni Step 3 of the 12-step recovery program asks us to ‘…turn our will and our lives over to the care of God/our Higher Power, as we understood him/them’. When I initially read through the 12 Steps, I immediately made a mental note that Step 3 was a no-go for me. … Continued
It was the passing of a dear friend to overdose that was the catalyst for Jade Carne’s own recovery. Sitting in a prison cell, unable to attend her friend’s funeral, Jade made a commitment to recovery. “I felt no hope there in prison, but I ultimately chose to get sober to honour my close friend,” … Continued
“Recovery took a guy who was ready to give up and showed me that I have a life worth living,” says Matt. As someone who assumed he’d “die an alcoholic,” he didn’t have much hope for recovery. “I drank heavily for 20 years,” he says. “When I was 42, nothing would stop me. Not my … Continued
