Happy Holidays!

Tue 26 Dec 06, 9:32 a.m.

Hi All,

Rex here, founder SRC Secular Recovery Community. First, Don, I was delighted to read in your recent post that you are still alive! Definitely good news!

Secondly, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to Don Phillips, our intrepid reporter, for his invaluable contributions in spearheading our new blog. Honestly, I don't where he finds the time, but Don is relentless in ferreting out interesting, unusual and important news in the fields of addictions and mental health. So, our hat is off to you, Don! Thanks very much from me personally, and I know from all of your readers as well. Look forward a lot more of your insights in the new year!

. . . And to our members, friend and fans (and even our detractors), thanks for reading, participating and your continued interest. Your presence here helps in the important work of making addicts, alcoholics and the general public aware of alternative approaches in recovery and to traditional support groups and recovery programs. Please visit our website http://www.secularrecovery.com/, remember the secular meeting directory when you need to locate non-religious support group in your area, and you are cordially invited to hang out and participate on the SRC Discussion Forum ==>
http://www.freepowerboards.com/secularrecovery/portal.php

For all of us in recovery, this time of year can be very stressful and we can find ourselves bombarded with temptations and triggers, and surrounded by "slippery" people, places and things. Please do not give into the cultural pressure to do too much, to over-extend, over-shop, over-spend, or to socialize and entertain in ways that can be difficult and downright dangerous for us. In short, please don't feel you need live up to unrealistic expectations of frivolity, and don't upset yourself trying to recapture memories of Christmas long-past, which may be more a product of Charles Dickens and Frank Capra than anything that every really happened in your life! Be that as it may, be careful of "HALT", of letting yourself get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired . . . to which I will add stressed out. Have a great holidays season, but please see to your sobriety needs first, make sobriety your Number One Priority, and let the Holiday chips fall where they may. Please . . . Don't drink or use no matter what. This time for year may be a bit uncomfortable for some of us, but thank gawd, we don't need to drink or use over it.

Have a Wonderful Holiday Season
and All The Best in 2007!

Aloha,


Rex
Rex Alexander
rex [at] secularrecovery [dot] com