Coping with the Holidays. I was driving through town the other day and. noticed...christmas decorations are going

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1 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 11 HOPE - CHOICE - EMPOWERMENT - RECOVERY CULTURE - SPIRITUALITY December 2014 Quotes of Inspiration When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us. Helen Keller Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible. Richard M. DeVos "I can't do it" never yet accomplished anything; "I will try" has performed wonders. George P. Burnham Community Connections Coping with the Holidays I was driving through town the other day and noticed...christmas decorations are going up! That means the holidays are just around the corner! How did that happen? Every year, it seems like the holidays sneak up on me and the next thing I know it s time to think about buying presents, planning holiday parties, and all of the family events. For me, the holidays are centered around the time with my family and all the traditions that we have. That can be why this time of the year can make me think about how much I miss the people that I ve lost. I go into the kitchen and think about how my grandma should be cooking at the stove while my granddaddy should be in the living room making jokes while he entertains everyone with his unique he-haw laugh. I look around and see fathers with their kids and think about how my own relationship with my dad was so completely different than all those families. All of that can make me sad and depressed during a time of the year when its so easy to go down that hurtful path. So what do I do? I have to remember my Wellness Tools and recall the ways I can cope with the holidays. Here s some of the things that I do that may help you, too. I honor my grandma by looking through her recipes and cooking some of them. It feels like I m honoring her and spreading her love to the people that are still here. I write. Writing is one of the wellness tools that helps me with all of my stressors and triggers throughout the year and can help me cope during this time of the year, too. I talk to my supporters who can help me remember the good times and come up with a plan to cope with holidays this year, too. For other ways to cope with the holidays, call Recovery Innovations at Recovery Innovations extends heartfelt THANKS and APPRECIATION to the organizations that provide class locations, presentations, services and referrals. Our connections with others, provide opportunities and environments that empower people to recover, to succeed in accomplishing their goals, and to reconnect with themselves, others and meaning and purpose in life.

2 2 Wellness City Greenville: Million Dollar Workout Here at the Wellness City in Greenville, we offer classes that are well balanced and focus on each of the Dimensions of Wellness. One way we do that is by offering Million Dollar Workout which is a low impact, boxing-inspired workout to promote physical, social and emotional wellness. And it s fun, too! This class is one of my favorite classes to facilitate. Several of the staff join into the exercise activity. By: Pamela Spence, Wellness City of Greenville CPSS This is a killer workout. ~Jerry Gordon, citizen Helps me get motivated for the day. ~ Gloria Edwards, citizen Loosens them old bones. ~David Cofield, citizen Helps me exercise at least once a week. ~ Mr. Williams, citizen I love to exercise when it is made to be fun. ~ Letrecia Edwards, WC Greenville CPSS This class has shown me that there are fun ways to exercise. ~ Tony Lara, citizen All month long that I ve facilitated this class, I ve been able to increase my mobility after my stroke. ~ Pamela Spence, WC Greenville CPSS By taking this class, I ve been able to control my anger, exercise, help the mind, body and soul. ~by Victor Allsbrook, citizen Taking this class helps me to lift my spirit and my health. It s a wonderful feeling. ~Anthony Gibson, citizen

3 3 Community Building Team Louis Gray, Community Building Participant Jennifer Marshall, Community Building PRC & Louis Gray, Community Building Participant My name is Louis Gray. When I met Jennifer, my Peer Recovery Coach from Recovery Innovation s Community Building Program, I got very excited about the possibility of recovery and regaining my independence. She actually spent time with me and people like us don t get much of that from others. I learned recovery is possible through attending WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) class and using my WRAP helped me to cope better with situations. I learned to have patience in getting my needs met.. I learned to control my behavior. Kisha Darden, my Transition to Care Coordinator from ECBH and Jennifer have helped me move from assisted living into my own home! They took the time to help me move in and to remember how to manage my own medications, my own finances, and now I m in control of my life today! It took someone spending time with me and believing in me and helping me to advocate for myself in a healthy way. I am happy, glad, my neighbors are nice and I m reconnecting with my family too! ~ Louis Gray From the moment I met Mr. Louis, I knew he was going to succeed. Louis is a bright and very kind gentleman. I am truly blessed to be working with him in the Community Building Program, watching him regain his independence and remembering who he is. In working with Louis on his WRAP and WELL classes, I could see the excitement in his face about the wellness tools he was learning. He was so absorbed and excited and he told me that he worked on it and reviewed it every night. Now that Louis has moved into his new home, he is learning to cook foods he s never cooked before, he is maintaining all of his appointments and his own medications. Louis is also paying his own bills and doing his own shopping! I could not be happier with his successful transition into the community. He reminds me every time I visit him why I love this job! ~ Jennifer Marshall, PRC

4 Wellness City of New Bern 4 DECEMBER2014 QUOTE OF THE MONTH: Even if you are on the right track, you ll get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers Dreams do Come True -Robert Johnson Simply put, Wellness City citizen Rob Johnson just would not give up! Since childhood, Rob had a dream of becoming a truck driver! It was a BIG goal, especially for someone with no experience in truck driving, as well as a person with a unique set of personal challenges. Rob came to Wellness City and began to map out his adventure! He started the process of getting his Commercial Driver s License (CDL)! Then he needed to attend a commercial truck driving school somewhere in the United States to become a long haul trucker. This was a huge goal, and some in Rob s life did not have hope that he could make it all the way through. The staff at Wellness City supported Rob, repeatedly telling him they believed he could make his dream come true, and that we would hold the hope for him until it became a reality! Rob remained determined and began to believe in himself! He attended more than four commercial trucking schools across the country, staying in hotel rooms alone with very little money, until he finally graduated from one of the best schools in the country! And that was just the beginning. Rob came home and with the support of everyone at Wellness City, he applied to virtually every trucking company in the US! Rob had some unsuccessful attempts. Each time a company didn t work out, Rob would get on a bus and come back to Wellness City and begin looking again! We all watched this miraculous process of persistence and determination with a sense of awe! Finally, one day, Rob got back on the bus to yet another company in mid-western US, and this time Rob did not come right home! He graduated with distinction, was allowed to enter a worklease purchase of the vehicle you see below, and is now driving across the USA, carrying commercial loads from one depot to another! He reports that he is very happy, that he still uses his wellness tools daily and is doing great! Rob harnessed the power of recovery, of unyielding persistence, and of achieving a life of meaning and purpose! Dreams DO come true!! Congratulations Rob! We are all so proud of you!! CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT: ALAN OPIE OPENSHAW The poem below was written by Opie Openshaw, a long time citizen of Wellness City of New Bern. Opie expresses himself by writing poems and has selfpublished a book of poetry titled, The Works of Alan D. Openshaw in This book of poetry can be found on Amazon.com. LIFE S JOURNEY Children, you need to understand that life is a journey looking for love. All have made and are making the same journey. Learn from the past journeys of others Learn from the mistakes of your brothers and sisters for people have journeyed on this same road for centuries, looking for love. You will have many questions along the way Why does life have to end? Why is there evil? But if you understand that we are made the Spirit of Love and that life is a journey to return to that Spirit Life will not end. For if you search for love, it is because you have love in your heart, and with love in your heart, life cannot end. ~~Alan D. Openshaw~~ COMING IN JANUARY TO NEW BERN PEER EMPLOYMENT TRAINING! SEE PEER STAFF FOR INFORMATION AND APPLICATION!

5 5 Where in the World is Recovery Joe? Recovery Joe joined the East Carolina Outreach Team in December of He was brought on board to travel with the Outreach Team Members throughout our 19 -County Catchment area, and then tell about his experiences in his monthly column in the Wellness City Voice newsletter. Hello North Carolina! I had an amazing month! I got to go to a Recovery Concepts class with my friend Susan Hall! The class covers the Recovery Innovations 9-Dimensions of Wellness: Emotional Wellness; Intellectual Wellness; Occupational Wellness; Physical Wellness; Social Wellness; Financial Wellness; Home and Community Living; Recreation and Leisure and Spiritual Wellness. The class was good, don t get me wrong, but the Very BEST part was meeting the students! They are all very intelligent and class discussions were lively and informative! At one point during the month, Susan was asked if Recovery Innovations could take a month off because the students had an opportunity to take a Community College class for free. Susan offered to switch days if that would help, but the schedules are so packed at PORT Human Services that it didn t look like that would be a possibility. The class got together and wrote letters to PORT saying that they did not want to have a time off from the Recovery Innovations class and delivered them to the management team. What Courage and use of the power of self advocacy! One of the counselors was so impressed at their taking personal responsibility that he graciously gave up one of his time slots so Susan could continue the class! Thanks Marty! I got to know the students very well during my time with them. I asked a few of them to share with me what they get out of the Recovery classes from RI: They really relate to us as individuals and inform us of open doors and opportunities within the Community. ~By Cass Wooten The classes help me not be in denial, accept personal responsibility and live one day at a time. ~By Ashley Jones I am really enjoying being out in the field and meeting the amazing people we serve. It is truly an honor to be part of their Recovery Journey! Til next time! Kindest Regards, Recovery Joe Front with Recovery Joe is Cass Wooten Back row, left to right is Ashley Jones, Mike Moore and Mark Moore.

6 6 Durham Wellness City Walking for Wellness is one of the many positive opportunities for the citizens of Durham Wellness City to spend time together on activities outside of the classroom. Each week a small group decides which destination they want to explore, generally within a one mile radius of Wellness City. We have visited the Durham s main library to check out books and DVD s for the community to enjoy and a smaller library down the street that is central to the African American community. The American Tobacco Campus, which houses restaurants, local NPR radio station, Full frame documentary film theatre and is surrounded by a constantly moving stream, provides us with a chance to cool our feet on hot summer days. Few of us have ever visited these attractions, so this class provides us with an opportunity to explore our community. While the group s numbers ebb and flow, a constant is our enjoyment of having visited some of Durham s treasures while bonding with new and seasoned citizens. By Rick Owen, Peer Support Specialist and Vic Johnson, Citizen of Durham Wellness City Ruddie Allen (left) & Terrance Rhodes (right) Terrance enjoying stream in Durham Terrance Rhodes (left) & Ruddie Allen (right) Leroy Bass Archie Painkey & Shannon Burch Karen Curtis

7 7 RECOVERY RESPONSE CENTER: One Recovery Coach s Story My name is BJ and I am a person in long-term recovery. My first exposure to Recovery Innovations was very positive. A family member was in a crisis that needed immediate help. I called the Recovery Response Center in Henderson, North Carolina. The person I spoke to was polite, attentive, and concerned about the situation. He provided clear instructions of how to proceed. The time I called was near shift change. The staff member informed me that it would be an hour before the potential guest could be assessed; however, we were welcome to come and sit in the lobby and wait. We did this and were immediately greeted and welcomed. While we waited, we were offered refreshments. This gave my wife and me great comfort about bringing our nephew to the facility. In addition, every staff person who walked through the lobby stopped, introduced him or herself, and offered words of encouragement and support. Again, we were comforted. The RRC lobby had a comforting feel to it. The colors were easy and peaceful, the plants gave a sense of concern for life, and the RI mission statement touched both my wife and I in a deep way. After reading it, I said to her, I wouldn t mind working for an organization like this. She agreed with me due to my lived experiences, personal recovery journey, and the current work I was doing at a homeless shelter that offered a long term addictions recovery program, I may be a good fit. When our nephew was escorted to another area for assessment, one of the Recovery Coaches on duty came out and chatted with us. During the conversation, I asked him if this facility used Peer Support. He said yes, and that was his job. He also informed me that there were some positions open, and then he gave me an application. I marveled at how easy that felt. However, I could not imagine being fortunate enough to find a place to help my nephew with his recovery, while gaining employment at the same place. Yet, I accepted the application, and then later at home I created a potential employment package, and delivered it a couple days later. After a week, I followed up with a phone call. Shortly afterwards I was called in to discuss potential employment. The interview process was very comfortable and not intimidating. I was at ease the entire time and felt appreciated for the person I presented. After the interview, the Recovery Coach I had originally spoke with the night we took my nephew to RRC gave me a detailed tour of the facility. When sharing my impressions of the meeting later that evening with my wife, I emphasized what an overall pleasant experience it was, and furthermore, even if I was not offered a position that I enjoyed the entire process immensely. Shortly after this, I received a phone call from an unfamiliar number. It was a person from RI Human Resources offering me a full time Recovery Coach position. I was ecstatic!!! For a moment, I felt as if I were somewhere else watching a movie of someone else s life. Because of some behaviors during a particularly challenging point in my life, I was unable to experience opportunities like this. Therefore, I was especially grateful and humbled at the same time. During subsequent calls with RI staff I learned that I would be attending a weeklong training entitled New Employee Celebration. Wow, I thought, What else can be done to make me feel more special and appreciated? My question was soon answered as I and another new Recovery Coach were treated to a week of intense training on philosophies and methods of RI. Although it was tiring, the facilitator always found a way to liven things up. At the end of the week, I felt confident and qualified to move into the next phase of preparation to be a Recovery Coach. Shadowing other Recovery Coaches was very enlightening. Each person had her/his particular gifts and methods of serving the Guests and achieving the daily tasks. I was impressed at the efficiency each team worked with. During difficult situations, professionalism was exemplified repeatedly. Moreover, the fun, light hearted times of genuine laughter and comradary provided an example to the Guests that a life of recovery is far from a glum existence. Now, I am privileged to be a part of the awesome group at Recovery Response Center in Henderson NC, I get to experience growth in my professional life, as I never knew existed. In addition, my personal recovery is constantly enhanced in deeper ways. It is so empowering to be able to translate personal life challenges into an opportunity to serve others, and be gainfully employed by the process. As Thanksgiving nears, I want to conclude this by offering my gratitude to the Founders of this great organization I am a part of, and everyone else whose dedication, perseverance, and genuine love for people in need have created countless opportunities. Love and Recovery, Bland BJ Hill, NCPSS, RC

8 Wellness City Voice Our Mission To create opportunities and environments that empower people to recover, to succeed in accomplishing their goals, and to reconnect with themselves, others and meaning and purpose in life. Recovery Innovations Is a nonprofit organization offering recovery-based services in Arizona, California, Delaware, North Carolina, Texas, Washington state and New Zealand. Recovery Response Center - RI NC Five County 300 Parkview Drive West Henderson, NC Phone: Joy Brunson-Nsubuga, Clinical Director: Durham Wellness City 401 E. Lakewood Avenue, Suite E1-A Durham, NC Phone: Kim Chansen, Recovery Services Administrator: Wellness City HOPE Station 2407 S. Memorial Drive Greenville, NC Phone: Sonia Tucker, Recovery Services Administrator: Wellness City of New Bern 1311 Health Drive New Bern, NC Phone: Bill Barrow, Recovery Services Administrator: Community Building Team Bill Barrow, Recovery Services Administrator: Jim Harrison, Team Lead: Outreach Wellness City Sonia Tucker, Recovery Services Administrator: Susan Hall, Team Lead: AND Ann Emmerich, Outreach Coordinator: Beaufort, Bertie, Craven, Hyde, Jones, Martin, Pamlico, Pitt, & Washington Counties Ron Lowe, Outreach Coordinator: Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans & Tyrrell Counties Recovery Innovations has earned the Joint Commission s Gold Seal of Approval Find our Wellness City Voice Newsletters, as well as our monthly class Calendars online at