Today's episode is about an often overlooked aspect of recovery, Complicated Grief. Specifically we'll be discussing the grief about the things we lost as consequences of our addiction. This includes things like: the loss of your marriage, the ability to see or maintain a relationship with your kids, loss of your career, your house, etc. This grief can settle in as our new core value AFTER we have started recovery. If so the result is relapse!

This is a group session podcast as the guys share what they would plant in their garden that would be a good reminder in their journey of recovery. What trees, bushes, tall grasses, short grasses, teas, herbs and flowers would you plant AND why? Listen as the guys share their thoughts and share this episode with friends.

Let's look at what core values are and why it's so important to know your own personal core values. Many people think they're the same as your beliefs, but I propose that our core values are stronger than our beliefs. And we need to understand what our core values are that were caused by and shaped by childhood trauma and emotional wounds. For a list of 216 for values go to www.scienceofpeople.com/core-values/ and check out the article entitled The Only 216 Values You'll Ever Need by Logan Hailey.

This episode is a group meeting with the guys in recovery from the US, Australia and South Africa. The discussion question is "How do you deal with being hurt by the church (people in your church and other believers) when they judge where you're at in your recovery from the world's perspective? Listen to advice from "stay in your lane" to "draw close to the ones you trust." You'll also hear the journey to becoming unoffendable and the painful walk of hurt from church leadership. We end by saying "I'm not Humpty Dumpty!" Listen to find out why.

In this episode we look at the belief that we have time to change and we can wait until we're ready. But before we know a decade has gone by and we're still caught up in pornography, drugs or alcohol addiction. When asked what's the biggest mistake we make in life the Buddha replied, "The biggest mistake is you think you have time." Yes time is free, but it's priceless. Don't squander your time and waste the hours away until one day you wake up and tell years have gone by and you're still stuck. I like the anonymous quote "You can't give your life more time, do give the time you have left more life."

Are you tempted by forbidden fruit? Is it because you're rebellious? Or maybe you're innocently curious because it's "forbidden". In today's episode we look at why we want to grab ahold of forbidden fruit and how we can get empowered to break free from that temptation. Share it with two friends and chat with each other about your journey in this area.

This is a walkabout episode where I "meet" four people and ask for their thoughts about Father's Day. Listen to how they are handling not seeing dad on Father's Day. One young man never met his dad and now he's deceased. Another who never met his dad is dealing with the fact that now that he's 25 his dad wants to meet him. The third is an elderly man who could never live up to his dad's expectations. The fourth is a mom who will not allow her dad to be part of her childrens' lives. Listen and share with a friend, or maybe your dad.

We take a walkabout on "Motivation Mountain" for today's episode and look at questions like: Are you always trying to take the easy way out? Looking for shortcuts? Sliding through life without facing challenges or handling consequences? If the answer is yes, you may be a day tripper! As we walkabout we look at motivational quotes feeling with adversity, pushing through, believing in yourself, staying optimistic and making every day count. Join me on this walkabout and share with your friends.

In today's episode we look at Xylazine, what it is, what are symptoms of use and health risks. We also give suggestions on what to do if you are a heroin user and not sure if it contains tranq. And we outline the reasons why dealers are bulking up their fentanyl laced heroin with Xylazine. Key resources are: www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/other-drugs/xylazine and the flyer from Philly is at www.substanceusephilly.com

We've heard about the opioid epidemic in the US for years. Are you aware that we're hearing more about it as more overdoses occur? And that the spike in annual overdoses is directly related to the introduction of fentanyl as a profit making additive into many illicit street drugs. In today's episode we'll look at what fentanyl is and why dealers would sell drugs laced with fentanyl if so many people are dying of overdose. This is a "must listen" episode. Please share it with your friends and neighbors.