David Bohl is a domestic adoptee directly affected by chemical dependency.  He shares the following philosophy with Adoptees Have Answers:  The power of the narrative–sharing one’s story with others – empowers, inspires, and positively affects all of those involved in the dialogue.  For those of you with 12-Step recovery experience, this message clearly translates into “One alcoholic (addict, etc.) helping another.”

The group will affirm 12 Step principles in its support of members, and much emphasis will be placed on acceptance.  Says Bohl: “Accepting ourselves as we are today – truly loving ourselves – is contingent upon giving up all hope for a better past.”

The group is FREE and open to adult adoptees  18 years and older.   The first support group meeting will be held Monday, December 13th, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.  For additional information, please contact David Bohl.  Or simply stop by – no reservation needed!

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Dear Lindsay,

Please , please, PLEASE ask for help.

You’re quoted in this article as saying “Substance abuse is a disease, which unfortunately doesn’t go away overnight.”

NO, LINDSAY! Substance DEPENDENCE is a DISEASE. There is no generally-agreed upon definition of substance ABUSE, but it’s no disease according to the DSM-IV-TR of the American Phycological Association of Substance Abuse:

A. A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:

1. Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home (e.g., repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions or expulsions from school; neglect of children or household)

2. Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (e.g., driving an automobile or operating a machine when impaired by substance use)

3. Recurrent substance-related legal problems (e.g., arrests for substance-related disorderly conduct

4. Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (e.g., arguments with spouse about consequences of intoxication, physical fights)

B. The symptoms have never met the criteria for Substance Dependence for this class of substance.

SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE (ADDICTION) is defined as:

A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring any time in the same 12-month period:

1. Tolerance, as defined by either of the following:
(a) A need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or the desired effect or
(b) Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance.

2. Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:
(a) The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance or
(b) The same (or closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

3. The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended.

4. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use.

5. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain the substance, use the substance, or recover
from its effects.

6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use.

7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent physical or psychological problem
that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance.

QUITE A DIFFERENCE!

Lindsay, please stop talking about AA.  Please reach out and ask for help.

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Please join me for a recovery meeting every Friday at:

9:00 AM Eastern

8:00 AM Central

7:00 AM Mountain

6:00 AM Pacific

See you at Sober24!

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This from Amazon.com:

Editorial Reviews

“The Power of Slow is a life-changing book. Far from stating the obvious, Christine Hohlbaum provides new insights and persuasive arguments for reshaping our time and changing our lives for the better. A must read in our over-scheduled world!”–Wendy Walker, author of Social Lives, Four Wives, and Chicken Soup for the Soul – Power Moms

“In the fast-paced world of Blackberrys, Iphones, and Twitter, it’s hard to find one’s footing. In an easy-to-read style, Ms. Hohlbaum has described a process of slowing down that is so very important to our wholeness, balance, and well being. She does so in a poetic and sometimes humorous way. She has captured a heavy topic with a light touch and yet we learn many lessons.  I highly recommend this book to help anyone who wants to stay healthy, sane, and enjoy life more fully.”–Bonnie Michaels, work-life balance expert and author of Solving the Work/Family Puzzle and A Journey of Work-Life Renewal

Product Description

Getting to the heart of our hassled and over-scheduled existence, Christine Louise Hohlbaum cheerfully investigates 101 ways to increase our quality of life and productivity by reevalu ating how we perceive and use time. She claims that everyone has their own personal bank account of time. We cannot control time itself, but we can manage the activities within the time we do have. The Power of Slow gives readers practical, concise directions to change the relationship they have with time and debunks the myths of multitasking, speed, and urgency as the only ways to efficiency.

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The following is a guest post from Sharon Richter.

During a workout one burns stored fuel, glycogen, looses water and electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium and Chloride).  The most import thing to replace is lost fluids.  The best way to determine how much your body needs is to weigh yourself before you exercise and after.  For each pound lost, replenish it with 24 oz of water.  Second, you also want to replenish the glycogen within 15 minutes of your activity.  This can be in the form of fruit, juice, or a sports drink.  You want something that is quick and easily absorbed (not high in fiber).  The third element to include in your post workout intake is protein. As you exercise you are creating tiny tears in your muscle. To help repair the muscle, protein is necessary. A good ratio of carbohydrates to protein is a 4:1 ratio.  In addition to helping repair your muscle, protein helps with the absorption of water. An example of what might work are:

• a Code Blue recovery drink (www.drinkcodeblue.com) or
• squeeze pack of Justin Nut butter (www.justinsnutbutter.com) 2 TBSP peanut butter)

Various activities will require different amounts of refueling. For example, if you run hard for 60 minutes you will need to replenish all of the nutrients mentioned (water, electrolytes, carbohydrates and protein).  On the other hand if you lift weights for 30 minutes you might not need the same amount of water, electrolytes and carbohydrates as you did not burn as much.  Start with testing your water lost.

Women usually are looking to lean out while men want to put on muscle.  Because of this men tend to eat or drink in the form of a shake for more protein. It is usually not all necessary and the extra is just excreted.

No one item is perfect for everyone.  Some of the choices I would suggest trying are Code Blue (www.drinkcodeblue.com), coconut water and pedialyte.  They all provide hydration, carbohydrates and electrolytes.

If part of your purpose for exercising is to loose weight be a little more mindful on your post workout intake.  For an hour of moderate to intense exercise look for something that is about 200 calories and low in fat such as a yogurt and piece of fruit. Your hunger may increase as your exercise does, be careful not to over indulge.  One should keep in mind that we are all unique; our bodies will handle various products differently.  While a banana and some nuts might be the perfect post workout snack, another might do best with a recovery drink and some protein such as an egg.

Sharon Richter

www.sharonrichter.com

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What makes these companies so desirable?

In addition to good pay and benefits, the businesses on the top-100 list know how to motivate their employees and give them ownership of their work. You too can get your employees to be accountable by using tactics such as offering incentives, giving them a purpose, letting them create their own goals, and offering them projects that contribute to the greater good.

What’s In It for Me?

Offering incentives to employees is one of the simplest ways of encouraging accountability. Who doesn’t love working for a company that offers excellent perks? Vacation hours and healthcare benefits are common offerings, but to go above and beyond, you have to think outside the box. Google offers its employees free meals. On a full stomach, Google workers are able to think better and work more effectively. eBay set aside spaces at two of its locations for meditation/prayer rooms. Free lunch and leisure space may not be possible in every corporate situation, but the point is that you must analyze the needs and interests of your employees and offer incentives that cater to their desires.

Meaningful Work

Another way to get employees to be accountable is by giving them purpose. When employees feel that they are working on menial tasks without a reason behind them, they lack drive and ambition. Sure, there are bound to be tasks that seem more like chores, but it is important to ensure that each employee has a sense of the effect their contributions have in the bigger picture.

Personal Goal-Setting

While employees need to see how their assigned work fits in with the company’s goals, they also need to be permitted to set goals of their own. Think of work projects as a car ride. The person driving the car feels much more responsible than the passengers for getting to the intended destination safely and on time because he is in control.

Allowing employees to steer their own course will help them to place value in their work and hopefully encourage them to work harder to see things through. Encourage employees to set goals for weekly, monthly, and yearly achievements. The goals can be performance-oriented or geared towards a particular assignment. No matter what the content of the employees’ aims, allowing them to create and follow through on their own ambitions will certainly encourage accountability.

Contribution to the Greater Good

Once employees are able to see how their personal work affects the performance of the company, it is also important for them to feel like they are making a contribution to the greater good. You don’t have to work at a nonprofit organization to be able to offer projects that permit staff members to give back to the global community.

For instance, many corporations run fund-raising campaigns for charitable groups such as The United Way. Human Resources departments are often in charge of planning these types of events, but why not let employees get involved in the planning and execution? Rather than a simple request for a donation, employee participation in the roots of the fund-raiser gives a valuable project they will be able to feel proud of. Furthermore, expand on the idea of a yearly fund-raiser by getting your business involved in the local community. Whether you are employed at a doctor’s office, a retail store, or a factory, there are always ways that businesses can give back. Set a precedent for altruism and your employees will follow suit.

Motivating employees can be one of the trickiest but also one of the most beneficial aspects of running a company. Incentives, meaningful work, personal-goal setting, and contributing to the greater good are all excellent ways to foster employee accountability. And when your employees are accountable for their work, your company will run smoother and more effectively. If you play your cards right, you just may see your business’s name on FORTUNE Magazine’s top-100 list next year!

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Do you ever notice that your life seems to run on automatic? You have routines, you have habits, and you have expectations? After a while, your life lacks vibrance, as you settle into dull routines. Day in and day out, the same things–work, home and family chores, and if there’s any time left over, a little personal time.

My observation is that the majority of people spend so much time on getting their material needs met, that they’re burned out and have lost their sense of wonder in life. True, it does take time to make money, run a business, and handle home and family needs. But these are all outer needs, and the time they take leaves little time to handle our inner needs–for fulfilling our purpose and taking quiet time to reflect.

“Spirit” is often described as essence or energy. I’ve also seen it defined as peace, love, connection, unity, and truth. The word “spirited” means full of life and energy, dynamic and determined. But what do I mean by bringing more Spirit into your life?

When life becomes routine, I think at that point what it’s lacking is meaning. We all want to feel like our work has meaning, that we’re making a difference. We all want to feel that our personal life has space in it for meaningful pursuits like developing a hobby or contributing time to a worthy cause.

If you’re finding you’re busy all the time yet are experiencing less and less satisfaction in your work or personal life, you may want to bring more Spirit into your life. Your busyness may not leave time for meaningful activities, yet I believe if you bring more Spirit into everything you do, you wouldn’t need more time–you just make the most of the time you have.

When you lack Spirit in your life, you may find everything takes more effort. Have you ever bought something from a salesperson because they were so excited about the product they were selling? They were full of Spirit! Have you ever had a waiter or waitress who had a cheerful disposition, no matter how busy the restaurant was? They were full of Spirit and found meaning in their work.

If you were to bring more Spirit to your work, you’ll attract greater success. If you were to bring more Spirit into your life, you would experience greater satisfaction in all you do.

Here are some ideas to bring Spirit into your life:

Play hooky!

Stop your routine for a day and see what awaits you when you are unplanned. Get in touch with what feeds your soul, what you truly love to do. When you remove daily routines and stresses, your true Spirit emerges. You will feel mentally and physically renewed and energized. Lie in your backyard and do nothing, or spend the day at a botanical garden or at the beach. Just break your regular routine and slow down. Start creating new routines that allow you more opportunity to experience your aliveness and excitement with life.

Keep good company.

In our busy lives, I think we miss out on the chance to have close encounters with those we really care about. Take a long lunch or a walk with someone whose company you enjoy but rarely get together with. Call someone you’ve been meaning to connect with, but haven’t had time. Talk about what’s important to you. I think our lives would be a lot more Spirited if we spend quality time with special people. By that, I mean those who are uplifting rather than those who drag us down. Send thank you notes, surprise gifts, and other treats to show people you care. The act of gratitude and acknowledging others lifts their Spirits as well as yours!

Pursue whatever brings you joy.

When I play a favorite sport or indulge in a creative pastime, I’m always energized. If you love to play tennis, dance, or make jewelry but rarely take the time to do so, set aside time weekly to engage in fun pursuits. Also, consider signing up for a class in something you’ve always wanted to pursue but for which you never had the time. Do you want to learn how to cook, or sail, or make baskets? You’ll see your Spirit emerge as you engage in activities that bring you joy.

Whether bringing Spirit into your life means finding deeper meaning or injecting more aliveness and energy into everything you do, you’ll find greater peace and satisfaction in your life.

NEWSFLASH: I’ve added another chapter to my life by joining C.A.S.T. Recovery, a Los Angeles based outpatient drug rehab program which specializes in designing highly individualized recovery plans with appropriate professionals to support a client’s health, accountability, and success.

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Do you hate your job? Hopefully you don’t because about half of our waking hours are spent at work.

Many of us just accept that our job is a necessary evil, but it’s not true. This is America! If you hate your job, then get out there and make a change. There is nobody stopping you except for – you.

We are creatures of habit, and it can seem easier to just stick with the status quo, rather than disrupt your whole life trying something new. Making a career change isn’t hard, you just have to make a plan, and stick with it.

Here are a couple of ideas that can help guide you, and put you in a position to change the direction of your career:

Get out of the red and into the black.

Many of us become indentured to our jobs due to our being in debt. We have too many bills coming in, and we are dependent on our steady income stream to cover them all. We can’t afford to make a career change. We’re stuck!

Don’t be a slave to your debt.

Do something about it. Break out the calculator, sit down, and figure out exactly what your budget is. Find areas to cut back on for a while (meals out, morning bagel and coffee, etc.). Use the money you save to either pay down your debt, or to create a nest egg. You’ll need a little financial security if you’re planning a career change.

Being in too much debt can limit your choices. For example, if you pay $500.00 per month ($6,000.00 per year) towards credit card debt, then that will prevent you from taking a lower paying job that you would otherwise be perfect for. When you are free of debt, your debt to income ratio is improved. This will open up a much larger range of career opportunities to you.

Figure out what you want to do – and do it.

Have you ever had a job that you looked forward to going to in the morning? If you have, it’s probably because you were doing something that you love. If you, for example, are an avid golfer, why not work at a golf course? Love the outdoors? Find a job in a state or national park. You get the idea.

Break out a notebook, and write down a list of your favorite hobbies. Write a list of related fields underneath each hobby. Pretty soon, you’ll have a whole range of new possibilities. You can now begin to scour the local papers, and job search engines for available positions.

Soon you’ll have narrowed your search down to one or two possible fields, and you will have transitioned to the action stage. You will be applying for actual positions and setting up interviews. It all starts with making a plan.

I firmly believe that if you are passionate about a vocation, and even remotely qualified for it, you will win over an interviewer, and land that job. Even if you are not immediately successful, keep trying. At least now you are doing something proactive to improve your life. Time is on your side. You will get there, and it will be worth the effort.

There is no good reason to spend forty or fifty hours every week unhappily. Life is too short for that. Get going and start getting yourself into a position to make a change. If it takes you five years, or ten years, it’s still worth it. Don’t be a victim of your own circumstances. Put yourself in a strong financial position, and make yourself a plan. Take action now, and sooner or later you will be able to say, “I love my job”.

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Well, go ahead and take a big sigh of relief because I have some good news to share with you. Even though we’re going through a bit of a rough spot doesn’t mean you just have to throw up your hands and deal with it. Learn how to build your own wealth in a bad economy–and realize that it’s about more than what shows on your resume. Take matters into your own hands and take action now.

Start a side business

You’ve always dreamed of being your own boss. And while now may not be the time to quit your job and go 100% on your own, it may be the time to start a side business. It’ll allow you to pursue your dream and make a little extra money while you’re doing it. You’re probably thinking, start a new business when so many businesses are failing? Yes, you heard me right. Think about it for a moment. Even in a bad economy, there are opportunities to be had and you have to grab them. It comes down to the basic supply and demand rule, so think about how you may be able to benefit from a bad situation.

Maybe you’re a marketing manager. In this economy, one of the first cutbacks that a company makes tends to be their marketing department. Fortunately for you, these companies still have to market their products and services. They just can’t afford to employ the marketing people full-time, plus benefits, plus, plus, plus. So what about becoming a marketing consultant to these companies? It’s a win-win. They need marketing services and you have marketing services to offer. You may make enough money on the side to put it all into savings and investments. You may even find that it is lucrative enough to take it full-time.

Take a minute to think about your talents. Then take a minute to think about how you can profit from these talents.

Lower your spending

We all spend frivolously at some point in our lives. Do you really need a Starbucks every day? Or is it really necessary to spend $200 a month eating out at restaurants? The answer to both questions is no. One of the easiest ways to build your wealth is to stop spending it all! Keep tracking of your spending for one month. Then go line-by-line on your spending sheet and see where you can cut. You may find a couple hundred extra dollars, a few thousand dollars, or 20 extra dollars. Whatever the amount, start socking that money away instead of wasting it. And don’t mistake cutting back your spending for giving up living, either. There are plenty of free and low cost ways to entertain yourself and fill your coffee fix (or whatever fix you have).

Don’t make your exit from the stock market… stay calm

If you have money invested in the stock market, the odds are good that you’ve seen it decrease in the past year or so. This is not the time to panic, sell off all your investments, and start stashing money under your mattress. Panic sell-offs are just making a bad situation worse. The market is cyclical and goes up and down. Your wealth will go back up when the market goes back up–and eventually it WILL go back up. This is not to say that you should just sit back and watch your money disappear either. Evaluate your investments once a year and make necessary changes to watch your money grow. Now may be the perfect time to invest in a company that was too expensive before. It’s kind of like the stock market is having a sale. You can get into investments at bargain basement prices.

Even when times are rough, you can take action and turn the bad times into good ones for you. It’s not always about running off and getting a new job to increase your income and increase your wealth. Sometimes it’s about creatively thinking of ways that you can take advantage of the bad economy and turn it into a positive for you.

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