Hope Empower Connect Faith & Action: Clergy As Allies People Like Us Live Like This the Family Restored
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FOR MAINE’S RECOVERY COMMUNITY ISSUE 4 SEPT/OCT 2019 FREE Creative Recovery The Family Restored People Like Us Live Like This Faith & Action: Clergy as Allies hope empower connect SHARINGPAID ADVERTISEMENT THE We treat each person as a unique individual. Creating a solid foundation TOOLS TO HELP in recovery and achieving a life of peace & purpose! There is hope for men seeking recovery from drug & alcohol LIFT UP OTHERS addiction! When someone misuses substances to Beautiful surroundings in Hollis 28-day treatment program self-medicate unaddressed mental health Spiritually based program of conditions, support from a loved one can help. Recovery Study & practice as outlined in the Big Book The Maine Chapter of the National Alliance Structured program to start on Mental Illness – a partner of the Rx Abuse building a 12-step way of life Leadership Initiative of Maine – empowers people to intervene and share resources. www.providenceretreat.org (207) 298-9130 Working together, we’ll help address the opioid epidemic. Learn more at rali-me.org. * Providence Retreat is not affiliated with AA PAID FOR BY RX ABUSE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE FOR MAINE’S RECOVERY COMMUNITY PUBLISHER Carolyn Delaney EDITOR Patricia McCarthy CREATIVE DIRECTOR Michael Geneseo CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alison Jones Webb Amy Paradysz Casey McClurkin David Lee Kimble Greene Lara Santoro Catherine Berce Patricia McCarthy Sarah Kelly Sarah Siegel JOURNEY TEAM Barbara Connor Brenda Briggs Brian Delaney Carolanne Sullivan Carole Fontaine Deborah Train Kathy Potter Keagan Delaney Lisa Twombly Mary Atwood Mickie Kucinkas Nancy Wolach Niki Curtis Sue Dancil Sarah Lunt [email protected] (207) 679-5005 533 Congress St. Portland, ME 04101 www.recovery-journey.com CONNECT WITH US /recovery.journey.in.maine From left - David Lee, Nancy Wolach, Sue Dancil, Mary Atwood, Linda Riddell, On the cover: Glenn Simpson in Niki Curtis, Lisa Twombly, Carolyn Delaney, Sarah Lunt, Mickie Kucinkas, Patty front of Portland’s East End grafitti McCarthy. Sitting – Kimble Greene and Carole Fontaine wall | Photo by Brian Delaney SEPT/OCT 2019 3 A letter from the publisher Whether you use The Creative Type a pen, a camera, a paintbrush, a musical Big deep breaths! instrument, your vocal cords, physical As I sit here in East End’s gazebo staring at Casco movement or any of Bay, trying to get this letter written, I’m reminded the many, many other of how important breathing is. With about 48 hours means, using our until we print, I’m almost out of time and now just “voice” to share our have to do it. Maybe you can relate? self with others is not only how we connect but also how we amplify. This issue about creativity is full of inspiring ways to unveil, unleash and let unfold that piece inside This issue includes many wonderful stories about of you that allows for an expression of yourself to how people are using their voices to help connect either be seen by others or celebrated personally. and amplify hope – from sock monkeys to beautiful jewelry to colorful trucks – their “voices” are being We all have it within us, as Sarah Kelly’s article tells heard and shared. us. How we access creativity for ourselves is as different for each of us We have no idea how as our own fingerprints, much we impact others and my work is to – we can’t know the full uncover those ways for extent of each ripple myself. effect of each expression of ourselves. I believe our I find that I can access work isn’t to know … but that part of me in to just do. different ways on different days. I can Recovery is possible! feel creative by shining We say it over and over what God gave me and because the entire cleaning my kitchen. I Journey team believes can feel creative energy it – strongly! Our goal when I do geeky things is to amplify hope and with data analysis. And celebrate freedom from sometimes, on days addiction. We creatively like this, that energy is express ourselves here all around me and all I – in writing, through need to do is sit, breathe and let the freshness of the ideas, via photographs, in print, And we provide an air in and the incredible view feed my soul as I type. opportunity for you to do the same! Visit our website and click on Share Your Journey to see the various People who use creative expression to share a piece ways you can share in the magazine. of themselves externally have always fascinated me, partly because I didn’t consider myself “the creative I may not know the ripple effect created each time type” for much of my life. I do know today that I was these Journey pages head to the printer, but I do pretty harshly judging myself based on what I saw know that I’m responsible for what I amplify. others capable of in their expressions. Today, I choose to amplify hope. Today, I can appreciate my own brand of creativity. Sober sister hugs, I can accept that the goal isn’t necessarily to produce something but rather to allow myself that expression of who I am as a human being – and either celebrate it quietly with myself or share with others. And how that becomes visible to others is possible in so many ways. Carolyn Delaney, Publisher 4 SEPT/OCT 2019 inside In This Issue Making Connections ............................................6 Transformed: Eric Sorensen ............................10 Creative Recovery .............................................. 12 Foster Creativity, Grow Your Career .............16 Wings for the Soul ..............................................18 12. Bridging the Brain ............................................. 20 In Every Issue Readers Share ........................................................9 On The Journey ..................................................19 Recovery Allies ...................................................22 Employer Profile .................................................24 This Recovery Life .............................................27 28. People Like Us Live Like This ........................ 28 Wellness Recovery ...........................................30 Financial Recovery ........................................... 32 Nonprofit Showcase ......................................... 33 Many Paths .........................................................34 Resources ............................................................ 36 24. A core value for Journey is inclusivity. We respect and value humans … …period. MAGAZINE SEPT/OCT 2019 5 Making ConnectionsFrom altered journals to sock monkeys, creativity can be a piece of the recovery puzzle PHOTO BRIAN BY DELANEY By Amy Paradysz squeeze clay, not really making you’re breaking a ‘rule’ by writing something, but connecting with in a book,” Neumann said. “And the material and then being better there’s something freeing about reativity is therapeutic, and able to not starting with a blank page.” certainly not just for artists. engage in CStitching sock monkeys, That same dialogue. painting on canvas with pre- That’s how sense of drawn images or making an simple this starting with altered journal in an art therapy can be.” something session – these sorts of activities other than can lighten the mood, forge Her a blank community or tease out buried outpatient slate can be thoughts and feelings. clients observed in often enjoy the creative “Addiction is about disconnect working efforts led and avoidance, while attachment on altered by artist Alex and connection are the root of books, Crowcroft our existence,” said Rebecca starting at Milestone Neumann, a licensed clinical with an An example of an altered book Recovery counselor and registered art existing Provided by Rebecca Neumann detox therapist with SMART Child & book and programs Family Services in Windham. being encouraged to transform and fabric artist Maggie Muth at “Cooking, gardening, pottery, fine it into something new, changing McAuley Residence, a women’s arts, movement, music – there its cover, adding to pages, taking recovery program in Portland run is healing in working with the pages out. They can collage, paint, by Mercy Hospital. earth and the hands, and we are cut, bend and fold. designed to have that sort of “Creativity drives all of us,” said connection. Some clients simply “It’s healthy risk-taking because Crowcroft, a Portland-based 6 SEPT/OCT 2019 painter, photographer and digital Crowcroft has taken the time to made a few paintings here and there.” artist who has been sober for about pre-draw canvases, transforming The fabric artist behind the annual a year. “Recovery doesn’t just have a group painting session into Sock Monkey Saturday day at to be stopping drugs and alcohol something as relaxing as coloring – Mayo Street Arts in Portland each but about doing all the things but with more novelty. February has brought stitching you love that you stopped doing projects, including sock monkey that you convinced yourself you materials, to the women at couldn’t do.” Attachment and McAuley Residence. A grandmotherly influence at “Being able to stitch, even if they’re Crowcroft’s meditation group at connection are only sewing on a pocket, has given Portland Recovery Community some of the women a real sense of Center suggested that he share the root of our accomplishment,” Muth said. “One painting with people in detox at woman held up a sock monkey and Milestone Recovery. existence. said, ‘This is the first thing I’ve made in my life!’” “People in detox are hurting, and “By the end, we’re having they’re thinking about all the conversations not only about There’s no plan, no pattern. Just things they think they should be recovery but about being human,” the invitation to make something doing,” Crowcroft said. “They’re Crowcroft said. “It’s about bringing for their children with their hands. afraid of making another mistake. art to people who have been where I can help in easing that burden I’ve been and showing them that “Everybody’s stitching develops with art, with something we there’s a glimmer of hope. We are its own personality. With a sock forgot about but enjoyed in the able to connect over there being monkey, because it has a face, past.