Sobriety Rocks

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about A Searching and Fearless Moral Inventory

Rumi said, “O, happy the soul that saw its own faults.” 

When I was drinking and using, I avoided looking at any of my faults, even though I had no problem pointing out yours. Then, after landing in recovery and seeing the fourth step for the first time, I was hesitant, afraid, and wanted no part of it.
  
After all, I had anger, fear, pain, people, behavior, thoughts, and feelings I had to drink and use over for years. There was no way I was going to do a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself.
  
Then, I heard people in the rooms who felt just like me. But, they were doing the work, and getting through it unscathed. So, they held my hands, and walked with me through it.
 
Sure enough, I felt better when I was done, and the desire to drink and use left me. To top it off, that difficult, simple process, propelled me to complete the steps, heal my damaged spirit, and find a new, wonderful, clean and sober life.
 
Wherever you are on your path, I hope you take the time to uncover, discover, and discard. If you do, I guarantee, you too will find a new, wonderful life. And maybe even some of the hidden treasures you thought you lost.

Today we close with a brief guided meditation to help fill you with love and light, so please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and join me.

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Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about We're All Stars and We Deserve to Twinkle

My star began to lose its luster long before I started drinking and using drugs. Then, when nothing else worked to bring even the slightest polish to my life, I found the rooms of recovery.
 
Immediately I was surrounded by people who had been right where I was and had successfully faced their demons without having to drink, use, or sabotage their lives.
 
So, I did what they did and got the same freedom and relief they had. I also got a greater understanding of myself, my behaviors, and the underlying causes of my addictions.
 
But the greatest gifts I got were the tools to live a new, successful, drug, alcohol, and addiction free life, and the rebuilding of my spirit so it could shine bright once again. 
 
All these years later, my foundation's stronger than ever, and I use the tools daily to keep my spirit strong, so I can help other people shine too.
 
Wherever you are on your path, I hope you take the time to nurture your spirit, so it can shine as bright as can be. After all, we're all stars, and we deserve to twinkle.

Today we close with a breathing meditation, so please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and join me.

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Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about How Our Actions Reinforce Our Beliefs

Rae Knightly said, “Will you kill the messenger, before you hear the message?”

I heard about AA long before I arrived here. For various reasons, I always disregarded the message, and the ass carrying it.
 
But, when the pain of my addictive life became too much. I was finally able to hear the message, and see that the messenger was a white knight, not a donkey.
 
Over the years, I’ve carried the message of recovery to a lot of different people. I know I've been seen as the ass far more than I'd like to admit. But I've also been viewed as the white knight.
 
So, I’m going to keep carrying a message of hope and transformation. There’s still far too many people struggling, who don’t know there’s a way to be free of their addictions and live an amazing life.
 
No matter what message you’ve been sharing. Know that every day you have an opportunity. You can be the white night, or you can be the ass. All that really matters is that we keep sharing with those who may need it..

Today we close with a grounding meditation, so please get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and join me.

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Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Everyone is a Genius

Aristotle said, “No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.”

I was a genius when I was a child! I had an innate curiosity and an unbridled imagination. I thought outside the box, explored new ideas, absorbed vast amounts of information, and processed it in my own unique way.
 
Unfortunately, I began to lose my genius as I grew up and conformed to societal norms and expectations. This stifled my creativity and limited my potential, leaving me feeling lost and disconnected. So, I began using drugs and alcohol to cushion my discomfort.
 
Thankfully, being in recovery reconnected me to all the wonders of childhood. It sparked my curiosity, my desire to learn, and my ability to think critically and creatively. I began to think outside the box, take calculated risks, embrace failure, and learn from my mistakes.
 
But the biggest thing recovery did for me was, it allowed me to find my heart, uncover my interests and passions, and rediscover my own unique inner genius. What a gift!
 
If you've lost your unique genius, know that you too can find it again, right here in the rooms of recovery. So please, jump in, hold on and get ready for the ride of your life!

Today we close with a brief, relaxation meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about How Our Actions Reinforce Our Beliefs

William Hazlitt said, “Sincerity has to do with the connection between our words and thoughts, and not between our beliefs and actions.” 

When I was young, I took enormous amounts of positive action. That action cultivated in me, positive thoughts, positive feelings, and positive beliefs.
 
But, as I got older and my drinking, using and negative activities progressed. My thoughts, feelings, and beliefs became negative too. When I finally hit bottom, I was consumed by negativity, and no amount of alcohol or drugs could take it away.
 
Thankfully, the people I first met in recovery had been positively transformed, simply by taking the spiritual program of action outlined in recovery. So, I did what they did, and those actions positively transformed me too.
 
All these years later, I continue to rely on the same spiritual program of action I learned in my first year of recovery. Miraculously, it's allowed me to stay clean, sober, sane, rational, and have a positive outlook, no matter what the world has thrown at me.
 
Whatever challenges you may be going through, please, stay in the middle of us. I guarantee, if you take the same spiritual program of action, you'll stay positive, and be able to successfully get through anything life throws at you, just like me. 

Today we close with a simple breathing meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Aiming at the Right Targets

Lois McMaster Bujold said, “Aim high. You may still miss the target, but at least you won't shoot your foot off.”

When I was young, I wanted to make a difference. I had big goals, big dreams, and aimed high. But, as I grew up, I was influenced by societal expectations and external pressures, and began to pursue things that weren’t aligned with my authentic self. 

That led to feelings of emptiness, frustration, and a lack of fulfillment. The perfect recipe to drink, use drugs, and spin out of control.  Thankfully, when I finally made it to the rooms of recovery, I met people who were aiming at the right targets and living lives that were truly meaningful.

So, I did what they did, and as I began to work the steps, my true values, passions, and purpose began to emerge. I began aiming at the right targets and started to experience a real sense of satisfaction. 

I didn’t know it at the time, but addiction recovery turned out to be a great compass for navigating life. It’s allowed me to successfully face challenges and embrace everything life has thrown at me without having to drink, use, or behave in the negative ways I used to.

So, wherever you are along your path, remember, it is far better to be in the rooms, aiming at the right targets, than out of the rooms, aiming at the wrong ones.

Today we close with a brief guided meditation for success. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Independent, Codependent and Interdependent

Mitch Albom said, "The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we're alone.” 

When I was young, I was emotionally independent. self-reliant and self-sufficient. I was able to take care of myself without overly relying on others for support. I was also confident, assertive, and able to make decisions on my own without being influenced by the people around me.
 
But, as my addiction grew, I became overly reliant on other people for my sense of self-worth and identity. I even began to prioritize the needs and desires of others over my own, and often had difficulty setting boundaries and making decisions independently.
 
Thankfully, when I finally found the rooms of recovery, I found people who had a healthy and balanced way of relating to others, maintaining their independence, and working with others interdependently.
 
At first, I didn’t think I would ever be quite so well rounded. But the further I progressed in the program, the more I was able to communicate effectively, set boundaries, and work collaboratively towards our shared goals.
 
All these years later, it’s wonderful having a community where each person contributes to the well-being of others, we grow and thrive together, we have our own value, and we all contribute to the worth of each other.
 
Thank you for being part of my community!

Today we close with a brief gratitude meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about The Unexpected Rewards of Recovery

Confucius said, “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.”

Those last years of my active addiction, as I increased the number of harmful things I was doing, I slowly stopped participating in many of the positive activities I loved so much.

When I finally made it to the rooms of recovery, I saw people not only doing the recovery work, but also many of the wonderful things I used to do. Their lives were productive, full, and they were reaping the rewards of recovery.
 
So, I selfishly did what they were doing, so I could reap the rewards too. It wasn’t long before I got the things I expected from recovery like, some clean and sober time under my belt, improved relationships, and I started feeling better physical and mentally
 
But, I also began getting things I hadn’t expected. Like greater emotional stability, increased self-esteem, strength of spirit back and building a new spiritual connection, and I even got a new sense of purpose in life. Those were all unexpected rewards of recovery, that I still have to this day.
 
Wherever you are on your journey, I hope you dive in the middle of us, so you too can reap the wonderful rewards of recovery. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised, and get much more than you expected.

Today we close with a brief peace meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Giving Up Insanity

Narcotics Anonymous says “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” 

Yesterday’s AA Daily Reflections was titled, “Giving Up Sanity”. I hadn’t thought about it before, but I crossed the line into insane drinking and using, somewhere in my teens.
 
By the time I was a young adult, I was completely out of control, and couldn’t stop, no matter how hard I tried. Thankfully, when alcohol and drugs no longer made being insane okay, I ended up in the rooms of 12-step recovery.
 
Here I found people who had given up their insanity and were living great lives! So, I gave up also, and mimicked what they were doing. Sure enough, my insanity was replaced with reasonable, rational, positive thoughts, and I too, was restored to sanity.
  
All these years later, I see that by simply giving up the insanity of my party life, a doorway opened to an amazing, new life. A life of meaning and purpose, filled with peace, joy, abundance, unlimited possibilities, and a sanity I never knew I wanted.
  
If you have too much insanity in your life, I hope you give it up, and join us! Because there’s an amazing, wonderful, sane life, waiting just for you too. 

Today we close with a brief courage meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

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Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Is Relapse More Common Today Than 25 Years Ago 

An anonymous person in recovery said, ““Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” 

Someone asked me why relapse is more common today than it was when we first got clean and sober. I’m not sure it is, but there may be a perception that relapse is more common today.
 
First, addiction treatment and recovery has evolved and become much more mainstream than it used to be. And, with the population being significantly higher, relapse percentages may be the same, but overall numbers have increased.
 
Second, with the opioid epidemic having such a profound impact these last few years, many people addicted to prescribed opioids may relapse when trying to taper and reduce the amount they take.
 
Third, people today are much more connected to one another than they were 25 years ago. With social media being a powerful tool for sharing stories of relapse and recovery, there may be a perception that relapse is more common today.
 
Also, let's not forget that recovery is difficult and can be very discouraging. Therefore, setbacks and relapses are to be expected.
 
But, the most important thing to remember is, if we help, encourage and support each other, we reduce the risk of relapse, and increase our chance to achieve and maintain long-term recovery.

Today we close with a gratitude meditation. So please, get comfortable, close your eyes, take a few slow deep breaths, and join me.

Find Treatment Centers

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