Update
Hello Drug Class,
It’s been a while since we connected. I thought I’d share a little update with you about my life. When you last saw me I was just freshly sober, what an adventure it has been since then.
I worked really hard at my recovery, attended support groups, connected with lots of sober people and volunteered tons. I found this was very helpful to my recovery, especially working through the 12 steps, that was crucial to my healing process.
After being sober for a year I applied to school and took Youth Care Work through SIAST. Going to school was a new battle for me, for I had struggled with a learning disability for years and I did not think I could do it. I pushed forward, studied hard and graduated in 2010. This was one of the biggest accomplishments so far that I had done. I proved to myself that I was a lot smarter than I thought, and I learned how to deal with different types of stressors and make sober friends in a school atmosphere.
I then proceeded to apply for Addictions Counseling in Prince Albert. I was also in a new stage of my life in recovery, focusing on relationships. I decided that I needed to become my first priority so I took a break from dating and started this new journey. I did work hard on childhood issues I had not dealt with, it was one of the most difficult thing I had done, but in the end it was one of the most rewarding things and the peace I have gotten was even more than when I quit drinking and using drugs. I was accepted into Addiction Counseling at SIAST Prince Albert.
This was a new journey for me as I had always lived in Regina. New town, new school, new friends and figuring out finances so I could attend school was a challenge. At times I almost thought I wasn’t going to get there because of the funding. But I took a leap of faith and a week before school started my funding went through. What a gift from creator!
For two years I basically lived in the books. Wow what an intense program, but I was given the best knowledge and skills!
I just graduated and I am now working and living up North as a Youth/Adult Addiction Counselor. My dream has come true. I love going to work; it doesn’t feel like work to me. My good friend said if you do what you love you will never have to work a day in your life, and that’s exactly how it feels for me.
And the North is beautiful to! I’ve seen tons of bears, it’s now a regular thing for me. There beautiful creatures! Lucky I am! One of my other new things I’m really enjoying is having a laundry room. This may seem silly, but it’s the little things in life that really make each day. I get to have and experience so many firsts and I’m so glad I can because I know if I was using and drinking I wouldn’t have this, or I wouldn’t notice what I did have.
During the time I was in school I found I needed more connection with a higher power then what I had. I was very interested in Native spirituality, so my summer between first and second year was spend going to talking circles, pow wow’s, round dances, sweats and other ceremonies. I found just what I was looking for and loved using the beautiful medicines from the land.
I’ve continued to practice this part of culture and find it very helpful to my recovery. The last thing I would like to share with you is after working hard on myself and keeping the focus on me creator put a special man in my life. We’ve been together for over a year and I couldn’t be happier. Our relationship isn’t perfect, it’s human! We both are committed to our own personal grown so that we can grow as a couple. I can now see that since I love myself I am able to love someone else. It’s important to us to have fun together and learn together. Were having a blast, especially in our new adventure to the north. I’m really glad I never gave up on myself, even during the times I relapsed I new I wasn’t on the right path and that god had different plans for me.
I’m also really glad no one else ever gave up on me to because I needed that support, especially on my darkest days. My life is WAY different than I could of ever imagined and I want to make sure I continue to enjoy the beautify of it and be grateful for what I have. It is important to continue to have recovery in my everyday life if I want to continue to live drug/alcohol free and emotionally happy. Many times we see the stories of horror of addiction, the man or women living on the streets, the youth who over dosed, but today you get to see a story of success, the proof that if you work hard you can heal, and maintain long term recovery.
So never give up, and always keep growing. I hope each one of you can find your path just like I’ve found mine.
Love Kirsten
