Hello friends,
With Thanksgiving coming up, November is a month to reflect on all the things we are thankful for. Even in the harshest of times, we have many things to be thankful for. We can be thankful for the friends we have found, who help us through and uplift us. We must also be thankful for the spirit within ourselves that empowers us to choose what is right, and that gives us the will to move forward in our lives. Remember that in both joy and sadness we can be grateful for all the forces that enrich our lives and give us strength and happiness.
Highlights from Last Month:
Last month was a blast for everyone here at NCADD. We participated in the crossroads annual chili cook off. Everyone had a great time and we all hope you got to attend.
In addition, we had the first annual NCADD staff picnic. It was a great opportunity for us to share time with each other and get to know each other better.
Coming Up This Month:
We have the holiday season coming up! Starting with Thanksgiving and ending with New Years we have quite a festive time coming up. As for NCADD Festivities, next month we are having our annual open house
Get to Know NCADD
Karen Mullan My husband and I relocated to Phoenix in 1997 a year after our eighteen year old son passed away from an accidental drug overdose. Our son, Christian suffered from depression, alcoholism and addiction and found the sobriety he came to know living in a halfway house. The disease of addiction transformed our loving, intelligent, compassionate, caring son into someone we didn’t know. He spent time in residential treatment for both disorders and was in active counseling until his death. Our entire family suffered as our son did for the disease of addiction is a family disease. I learned first hand about the stigma of addiction through watching the judgments placed on my son. I came to Phoenix and began looking through the United Way Volunteer Service Directory and to find a place to volunteer my services. I found the National Council On Alcoholism and Addiction in March of 1998. I was interviewed by the Executive Director, Sally Lara who hired me as a volunteer office assistant and receptionist. Several months later I was hired as a paid employee and I have been at the agency now for fourteen years. I have true passion and compassion for the families and individuals the agency services. I am in awe by the strength and courage of those who come through our doors in search of recovery and a better life. I now work as a case manager, benefits specialist assisting our clients with community resources, medical assistance and whatever may be a barrier to their recovery. My son has always been my guiding light, he taught our family many lessons in his short eighteen years of life. I am reminded daily that miracles do happen and I am privileged to work at the agency whom has never turned anyone away for their inability to pay for treatment. Addicts and Alcoholics are not “those people” they all belong to a family. I consider it an honor to be part of the NCADD family and thank all those who have come through our doors for allowing me to be a part of their journey. I will be with the agency fifteen years in March and I am thankful everyday to be able to work at this magical place where dreams do come true and people are cherished and where hope thrives. |
Inspiration of the Month
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Client Story: Gratitude by Mellisa I was in my addiction for 23 years. I was in a very abusive relationship for a little over 20 years. I lived in despair. I lived in bitterness and anger. I hated myself. Today I have 18 months clean and sober. I don’t have any of that anger or resentment. I don’t live in despair today. I’m actually starting to love myself. I have a new appreciation in life. I have a new appreciation for everything. Everything is clear today and pretty. I can actually look at myself in the mirror, I can actually look in my eyes and say I’m okay, I can look into my eyes and tell myself I love you. I’m 42 today. It’s taken me 41 years to get here, but today I can love; I’m not filled with hatred. I’m very grateful for that. |
Closing Notes
The holiday season is coming and it’s time to give to those who need it. To assist with this, NCADD has set up a gift registry at Walmart. You can find the wish list here: http://www.walmart.com/giftregistry/gr_detail.do?registryId=80513191046. We would be very grateful if you would take some time to give to people in need.
Remember to check out our website (http://www.ncadd-phx.org/) and our Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ncadd-Phoenix/206424812727198) for more information throughout the month.
Thank you again for your support and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Have a wonderful month,
Ruthie Allen
