Happy April!
This season has been blooming with all types of pollen and crazy weather. I hope you are all staying healthy and safe. April and Spring often make me think of the cycle in the seasons. Transitioning into Spring and Summer reminding us of starting new and fresh. One of my favorite podcasters/writers Glennon Doyle Melton says “first the pain, then the waiting, then the rising” about Easter. Many things in life are like that including addiction and recovery. First the pain of the addiction and realizing someone we love is suffering. Then the waiting for them to get better or for relief to come. Then the rising from the ashes into someone new and better. I am hopeful this will be our story as a nation regarding this pandemic as well. I think we are in the waiting phase. Waiting to see what will happen next. Waiting to see if it is truly going away or if another strand is coming. Waiting to see what the long term effects of these past two years will be. What we do know is that rates of substance use and mental health concerns are up. We know that the job market is in constant change with “the great resignation.” We know the economy and housing market are fluctuating and changing. And I haven’t even brought up the global issues. So what do we do during this waiting time?
When the seasons transition from Winter to Spring there is a time of waiting – and based on recent events, sometimes that waiting can be full of storms. What do we do during this time? Maybe we grieve for the losses we have experienced. Maybe we pray/meditate/focus on the greater plan and bigger picture. Maybe we clean house and focus on self-care. If we are applying this message to recovery – let us grieve for the ideas we had about our family that are not reality. Let us reflect on the changes and challenges we have faced as a family in this disease. And most of all, let us remain hopeful for the rebirth/new beginning that is to come. I have to believe that we will come out of this better on the other side because in my life I have seen that true time and time again. Our moments of greatest spiritual growth come after pain. So if we can just hang on and trust the process, hopefully one day we will look back at this time and realize how true that is.
I am here for all of you and your families. If I can help in any way, please reach out to me. We are hoping to bring back more family programming soon. For now, please remember our alumni/friends and family A-Day tailgate brunch at the office on Saturday, April 16th at 10:30 am. If you are in town, please come by and get some breakfast and say hello before you head to the stadium.
Thanks for reading,
Kelly
Kelly Miller, LMFT
205-348-5644
Kelly.miller@ua.edu
Links:
Department website: https://cris.sa.ua.edu/
Alanon Website: https://al-anon.org/
Alcoholics Anonymous: http://aa-intergroup.org/directory.php?fbclid=IwAR3VhrUFkP1GUX9c2AI2m2fbfqWcS87E2HikazrC_wgBAxYbIKJLkDaINZ0
Narcotics Anonymous: https://virtual-na.org/?fbclid=IwAR3zHcTICgRhqn1xkJubIwbvVOLuqrd2of95QsJSCaDkCiaxIah7cHnHaL0
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