The Springfield Recovery Community Center: Hope Starts Here

I have not been writing on here as I should, but that will hopefully be changing soon. I have been extremely busy recently and my writing has not been going as it needs to be. I am dedicated from this day forward to putting out at least one blog a month, on the first Friday of every month. I may on occasion write more than that, but right now I have a ton on my plate. 

Today, though, I have some major news. On May 1st Better Life in Recovery, in partnership with New Beginnings Sanctuary and a non-profit I am not yet at liberty to reveal will be opening up a 3000 square foot Recovery Community Center (RCC), located behind the neighborhood Wal-Mart on South Glenstone. We will be in the strip mall located at 1925 East Bennett. We will start with limited hours.

The Sky is the Limit - My Story as related to Heroes in Recovery

My story was recently put on the Heroes in Recovery website. I would ask that you visit their website (www.heroesinrecovery.com) and check out everything that they are doing to break stigma and share the hope that there is a Better Life in Recovery. Here is the link to my story on their website: http://heroesinrecovery.com/stories/9206/

Here is what they printed:

Podcast done on KLFC

This is a podcast done on KLFC radio, a Christian radio station in Branson, MO. Hopefully can talk more about recovery the next time they have me on, as it was a short segment we did together.

http://klfcradio.podomatic.com/entry/2015-06-19T08_23_52-07_00

Letter to the Editor of the Springfield News-Leader

The city of Springfield is proposing changes to how the city handles group homes with criminal offenders. They do not want transitional housing in any area other than industrial districts.

The Upcoming Ordinance Impacting Recovery in Springfield

I want to draw your attention to something happening in Springfield. It is the mistreatment of a group of people who are trying to rebuild their lives. We are disenfranchising and marginalizing people who have amazing things to offer our community without giving them a chance to reach their full potential, and it is reprehensible.

Question About Future Blogs

I have two blogs, one that is doing really well and then this one. This one has not yet picked up the traction of my other blog. The other blog is lucky if I post once a month, but it has no length limit. This one I post to every Monday, in 500 words or less every time I blog. My question is very simple:

Should I continue to post weekly at 500 words or less or should I publish once a month and not have a word limit?

Since I am asking questions, are there any questions or subjects dealing with recovery, stigma, addictions and mental health issues that you would like me to write about?

Thank you so much for your input!

California's Proposition 47

California recently passed Proposition 47. Proposition 47 made several criminal offenses that were at one time felonies into misdemeanors: shoplifting, writing bad checks and drug possession (methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and hashish). They exclude people who have prior convictions for crimes against people such as rape and pedophiles as well as amounts greater than $950.

I am sure the arguments were heated between supporters for both sides.

RISE UP and Keep Your New Year's Resolution

Almost 2/3 of New Year’s resolutions are not attained. In fact, 25% of those resolutions don’t last a week! As people who have the ability to focus and pursue things we want, pushing all else to the wayside, this is not an issue we should have. The reason so many fail is because they do not set themselves up to be successful. Here are 6 steps to help you RISE UP and achieve your goals:

Better Life in Recovery: Year in Review and Plans for 2015

2014 was a great year for Better Life in Recovery’s (BLiR) mission, Transforming Lives with Recovery. To meet our mission we engaged in community service, education and awareness events that celebrated people in long-term recovery. To see how BLiR has progressed, we will look at 2013 and 2014 events:

2013- 3 Events- 100 People – 5 Sponsors

1.      River Clean Up – We picked up about 100 pounds of trash. 5 attended

2.      Recovery Day at Hammons Field - 22 attended a game

3.      Recovery Month BBQ – FREE games, food, a bounce house and over $500 in door prizes. 75 attended

2014 – 6 Events – 700 People – 25 Sponsors  

The Locker Room: 10 Requirements for Long-Term Recovery

I am big on using analogies; people understand analogies. Today, we are going to talk about everybody's lives using a sport’s themed analogy. Whether you are in long-term recovery, addiction or consider yourself normal (what ever that is), this applies to you! I believe we all have basic needs that must be satisfied to live our lives well. 

"What do we need?"

Glad you asked! First, realize our lives are like a game. In most games when you lose, you start a new game. In Monopoly, when you land on Go to Jail! you do not pass go, you do not collect $200 and you go directly to jail. This game is serious. In this game, when you go to jail, you are in a 5 foot by 9 foot cell and they might keep you for a while. This game is real, it is for keeps. Most of us only get one chance at it, so let’s make the most of it. 

So how do I make the most of my life?

Featured Write Up about Better Life in Recovery from Addiction Professional Magazine's November/December 2014 Issue by Gary Enos

In his role as an addiction counselor, David Stoecker figures he can have an impact on possibly around 100 people a year. As director of the community organization Better Life in Recovery (BLIR) in Springfield, Mo., Stoecker is looking to influence the lives and thoughts of thousands.

The community events that BLIR sponsors might seem modest when looked at in isolation, but Stoecker sees them as building local traditions and putting a public face on recovery. Maybe a river cleanup event will strengthen a recovering person's resolve to continue to give back in her daily life. Maybe seeing an elected leader throw out the first pitch before hundreds of recovering individuals at a ceremony preceding a minor-league baseball game will give a fan in the stands some pause to think about how substance abuse affects his world.

“The idea for BLIR started on a bike ride with my wife,” recalls Stoecker, 42. “I felt that I wasn't doing enough, but I wasn't sure what to do.”