Note: As part of my Day Program, I contribure to the program’s newsletter. In June 2021, that Newsletter transitoned to a monthly basis as much of the elements of the program are back to a in-person status.
Choosing The Change
There has to be a time in one’s recovery journey that it is understood what is necessary to establish a standard way of living. It can be hard to accept that it has to be the way that it is, but you manage and move forward.
Living in a cycle that continually repeats itself and develops a negative outcome does not only affect you, but those around you and sometimes it might be difficult to save yourself from the damage caused by your actions.
It can take years for you to finally understand that what is necessary to live as close to a normal life can be simple, yet so hard to grasp as a part of reality.
However, when you can see that you only have issues with things or you are less vulnerable to reacting to something, and it could have been prevented by doing
what is necessary, then you have learned what is necessary to succeed in your journey.
Yes, there are times you are going to want to throw a pity party for yourself and think life isn’t fair. But, it is the truth , sometimes we are dealt the hands we are dealt in life to make sure we know what we need to do to live and be successful at what we do. One lesson I can give is that if it works, don’t change it or go off course unless you really have to, I have learned that the hard way but I have also learned that it has made me stronger and that I need to give myself grace from the things I have did in the past to learn those mistakes I made.
All these things are a part of being well that are crucial to overall wellness, not just mental or physical , but everything needs to work in sync and be in harmony to live life despite the many challenges it presents us.
Getting Back into Routine
Over my birthday weekend, my parents gave me the gift of going for a ride into the magnificent Laurel Highlands to see many of the great state parks and the surrounding state forest that makes the great Laurel Ridge.
It was nice to once again leave what I have been so accustomed to for many years because of the pandemic and not being totally able to do the things that I had been used to doing. Yes, I have done some things like going on quilting hops and such with my mother, but those were trips where we mostly remained self-contained eating at only trusted places that take the proper precautions to ensure we did not contract the virus.
Although the virus has not been totally eradicated from the world , I have found that remaining at home or being very selective is not a viable option to protect my mental health and as a result can be very damaging if a normal routine is not maintained.
This includes keeping a regimen of all things prescribed both mental and physical along with steady attendance of programming and work.
Dustin's Dynasty 