1 . ) T R US T S O M E BO DYWAY S I L IV E D T HR O U GH A ND W IT H DE PR E S S IO N

2 . ) F I N D A R E AS O N T O C O M E B AC K T O L I F E .• I worked with people who are homeless with

Bmore Housing for All in Baltimore, MD. This photo is Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day when we remember those who died on the street or because of inadequate living conditions (such a couch surfing).

• I am not glad that other people suffer and die. But I do live in the undeniable mercy that people who are homeless saved me because I grew into understanding the courage and beauty of survival.

I S H O W YO U E N D U R E . AC C E P T W H AT W O R KS , R E P E AT U N T I L YO U WA N T T O L I V E .

3 . ) H OW YOU EN DUR E

T HE S E , HO W E V E R , AR E FU NN Y. L AU G H. L AU G H. L AU G H. L AU G H.

4 . ) I LOVE UGG BOOT S , GE NERALLY , BECAU SE I AM COLD NAT U RED

A A , S TE P 4 , C A L LS I T A “FE AR L ES S M ORA L I N V EN T ORY. ”

5.) “You can’t bullshit recovery.” - Rev. Beth Cantrell

PEOPL E WH O S U C C EED IN R EC OVERY AR EN ’ T PER F EC T , B U T TH EY ARE GENERAL LY WELL -PRAC T IC ED IN AN HONES T IN VENT ORY OF T HE IR L I VES , AC T I ON S , B I OLOGY , AND F EEL I NG S . I AM N OT S U R E OF AN Y C OM P ON ENT OF R EC OVERY WH IC H IS M OR E S U S TA IN I NG .

I W OU LD ’V E P U T T H I S # 1 , B U T I D I DN ’ T WA NT T O S AY B U L LS H I T T HAT EA RLY I N T H E ES S AY.

A A RE QU I R E S TH E F E ARL E S S MO RAL I NVE N TORY T O B E F OL LOW E D BY S TE P 5 , TE L L I N G A P E R S ON / YOU RS EL F / OR TH E G OD OF ONE ’ S U N DE R S TAN D I N G . HO NE S TY = N O S E C RE T S .

HON ES T Y = VU LN ERAB I L I T Y

P E O P L E D O AM A Z I N G W O RK W HE N TH E Y FE E L LO US Y AL L T HE T I M E . P E O P L E S TAY S O BE R F OR DE C ADE S W HE N TH E Y WAN T TO DR I N K E VE RY DA M N DAY.

6 . ) R E C OV E RY R E Q U I R E S WO R K . I T O FTE N R E QU I R E S W OR K WH E N YO U F E E L LO U S Y.

YOU S A I D I T RE EC E .

“You got into Harvard [Law School]? -Elle Woods’ condescending ex-boyfriend

”Like it was hard?” Elle’s reply

M Y L I F E B E C AM E F R E AKY E AS I E R W HE N I S TA RTE D S AY I N G “ S O W HAT I F I T ’ S HAR D? ” HA R D B E C A M E P E DAG O GY.

7 . ) EMBRACE T H E L EV E L O F D I FF ICU LT Y.

I T ’ S WE IRD BE ING A NE W SE L F , B UT I T ’ S AL SO WE IRD HOW BL E SS I NG S ACCOMPAN Y T HE NE WNE SS .

8 . ) TH I N GS C H ANG E . B I G TH I N GS CH AN GE . YO U C AN CH AN GE , TO O.

U2 “C AL I FOR N I A”

9.) Grieve.“California

The blood orange sunset brings you to your knees

I’ve seen for myself, there’s no end to griefThat’s how I know [Whoa] that’s how I know

That there is no [yeah] there is no end to love.”

1 0 . ) W H AT E V E R HE A L S YOU , D O I T.

• Meds. • Therapy• Journaling• If you choose no meds, you still need a

quality (trustworthy) psychiatrist and a solid general practitioner.

• Exercise.• Support group.• Knowing your symptoms.• WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action

Program) • Having a Peer Support Specialist/

Becoming a Peer Support Specialist

L I F E G O E S O N . YO U W IL L R E D ISC OV E R BL ISS . YO U ’ R E N O T INS U L AT E D F R O M D IS AP P O IN TM E N T O R W O R SE .

SO R RY. A N O T F U N T R U TH.

AL SO T R U E , YO U ’ L L H AV E TH E T O O L S T O E ND U R E B U T I T ’S A W E IR D K IND O F H A R D . I T ’S H A R D TO H AV E B I TT E RN E S S AG A IN B E C AU SE H O PE I S SO M U C H H A R D E R.

11 . ) T H E INE V ITAB I L I TY OF ANOTH ER MA J OR D I S APP O I NT MENT

R E P E AT W H AT W O R K SAC KNO W LE DGE T H E PA IN A ND D I S A P PO IN T ME NT

I T DO E S M E G L AD T O S E E A M A N O N A TRAC T O R T UR N UP N O RTH C A R O L I N A R E D C L AY.T HAT K I N D OF G L AD D I D N O T H AP P E N F O R YE AR S . N O W I S N O T F O R E VE R.

12 . ) YO UR HE A RT R E V I V ES .