Feb
03
Ingrediants:
1lb. of ground sirloin
1 can of stewed tomatoes
1 can of tomato juice
1 can of kidney beans
1 onion round slices(for taste/seasoning)
Directions:
Brown the ground beef in a saute pan,
drain the excess liquid.
Add ingredients, while stirring slowly.
Slice onion on top of chili
Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer for 30 minutes.
Serve with crackers and milk.
Jan
15
I recently watched the film Another Earth. It is about a girl who is accepted to MIT and is interested in astronomy. After a night of partying, she is driving and hears an announcement on the radio that a planet, nearly identical to earth has been discovered. As she is gazing out the window, trying to locate this “spot” in the sky, she crashes into another vehicle, killing a child and an adult. She spends four years in prison, and the movie more or less begins with her release. The accident occurs in the first 10 minutes. While it looks at other things, two of the biggest themes it deals with is grief, and guilt.
I think the reason I found this movie so moving, and relatable, is because in many ways I think the feelings this girl in the movie feels, are many of the feelings I have been trying to cope with since receiving a second DUI in 2007. I ended up with a long stint in jail, and when I was released I struggled with these feelings of guilt and shame. I can’t imagine that I am the only one dealing with these feelings. I am not saying that what I did in anyway equates to what the girl in this movie did, or has to deal with, but the feelings are similar. Figuring out how to wash away the guilt, and feelings of shame is something I have struggled with. There is a scene towards the end, where she visits a janitor she has worked with who is in the hospital. He has lost his hearing and vision due to self-inflicted injuries. She writes into the palm of his hand, “forgive”, which after viewing just once I feel is the moral of the story and an important part of finding sobriety. You must find forgiveness, and learn to forgive yourself.
Jan
15
For the pork
For the Mustard BBQ Sauce
For the pulled pork
Jan
13
In the group meeting on Tuesday there was an interesting discussion on sobriety and the idea of what it means to be self-directed. In the Thursday group this topic was touched on again after an individual brought feeling a little like they were without direction since deciding to make the decision to get sober, and they were afraid that this feeling could ultimately threaten their sobriety. This led to an interesting discussion about what it means to be sober, and the topic of self discovery. While a lot of insightful things were said, the conclusion that many people in Thursday’s group were able to agree upon was that sobriety isn’t just about deciding not to use or abuse drugs or alcohol. The consensus of the group seemed to be that if one is to be happy and content in one’s sobriety, one must look inside one’s self and reflect on the reasons for their own use.
Personally I can attest to the fact that finding sobriety is a long and arduous process. I personally found it to be a lot like being born a new person. When I was finally ready to accept that there was a problem, and that the solution to that problem was sobriety, it was if the person I had been died. I needed to re-learn everything I knew. I couldn’t keep the same friends, and I couldn’t stay on the same path I had been. I suddenly needed to find a new identity. In many ways I don’t even consider myself to be the same person today as I was when I was drinking. In no way has it been easy, and it is an ongoing process, but I am working towards the person I would like to become and each day takes me further and further from the person I was. There have been a lot of days that I question myself, and the decisions I make. I have personally found affirmation and inspiration in the 2005 Stanford University Commencement Speech given by Steve Jobs. I only came across this video after his passing, but I think that there is wisdom in what he said, particularly for someone working at sobriety. It is for this reason that I decided to share it with everyone.
Nov
23
As part of its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) has released a report ranking states on their adoption of proven drunk driving counter measures.
States that earned a top five-star rating included Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska and Utah. Montana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Dakota each received one star. Ratings were based solely on each state’s ability to to pass effective drunk driving legislation, and to employ effective drunk driving countermeasures. Ratings were independent of fatalities linked to drunk driving. The report indicates several reasons for Michigan being ranked among the nation’s worst. Among the reasons, was a low conviction rate for drunk drivings, as many offenders are able to plea to lesser offenses, and the absence of legislation allowing for sobriety checkpoints.
States were rated based on the following criteria
Also included in the report was an estimate outlining the annual costs associated with drunk driving nationwide. The report estimated that drunk driving costs $132 billion dollars annually in both monetary and quality-of-life costs to victims of drunk drivers. Monetary costs accounted for $61 billion, while quality-of-life losses accounted for $71 billion dollars. Of the estimated $132 billion in costs, the federal government paid an estimated $4.5 billion, while state governments shelled out an additional $3.2 billion. Employers footed the largest chunk of the costs, spending an estimated $10.7 billion, which included $3.7 billion in costs related to crashes on work related trips, and an additional $7 billion as a result of crashes occurring away from the workplace involving employees and benefit-eligible dependants.
MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® has effected a change in the use and prevalence of ignition interlocks. Since rolling out the campaign in 2006 the use of ignition interlock systems has nearly doubled. Additionally, the number of states requiring ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders has increased from one to 15, and the number of states requiring ignition interlocks for some first-time offenders has increased from four to 32.
More information regarding the report can be found at MADD.org. Mothers Against Drunk Driving® is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. You can learn more about MADD by visiting www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.
Nov
20
Produced by Ridley Scott and filmed by people all over the world, “Life in a Day” is a documentary which is supposed to serve “…as a time capsule to show future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010″. The feature length Life in a Day can be viewed by all at no charge on YouTube at the link provided. Below you will find the film’s trailer.
Having just watched the film myself, I feel I should be warn that there are a couple of scenes in the full length film that some people may find graphic. I found it to be an interesting look into humanity and just how similar we all are, despite the numerous and vastly different cultures around the world.
Nov
18
Hello Smith Counseling members…
Oct
29
As many already know, Smith Counseling has recently arranged to host a SMART Recovery® support group meeting. The SMART Recovery® group meets at 7pm every Wednesday night at the Berkley office. The group is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Below you’ll find information and resources related to SMART Recover®. If you are interested in finding out more, there is an informative introduction on the SMART Recovery® website.
SMART Recovery® is the leading self-empowering addiction recovery support group. SMART Recovery® participants learn tools for recovery based on the latest scientific research and participate in a world-wide community which includes free, self-empowering, science-based mutual help groups.
The SMART® Recovery approach:
Sep
29
Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace has been charged with drunken driving and unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon after a traffic stop, authorities in suburban Detroit say.A press release states that at about 3 a.m., a Bloomfield Township police officer stopped Wallace’s Cadillac Escalade in the area of Telegraph and Long Lake roads for erratic driving. According to the police report, Wallace told police he had been out at a club with friends and “had about four beers in the previous two hours.” According to police, a search of his vehicle revealed an unloaded handgun, and he has been charged with unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon. Wallce’s next court hearing is Oct. 3 before Judge Kimberly Small.
Sep
26
“Bob and the Monster”, follows the outspoken indie-rock hero Bob Forrest, through his life-threatening struggle with addiction, to his transformation into one of the most influential and controversial drug counselors in the US today. Bob and the Monster crafts contemporary footage, animation and compelling interviews with archival performances and personal videos from Bob’s past to reveal the complex layers of this troubled, but hopeful soul. Testimony from his peers, including Courtney Love, Anthony Kiedis and Flea add texture, but it’s the depth of Bob’s music, interwoven throughout the film, that illuminates this unforgettable and inspirational story.