Friends

Day 41, Aug 9, Eads, CO.

Heang Uy came out to join me for a day. One of the toughest and most humble, grace-filled men I know he was inspirational to have along for part of this day, especially as I get started back. Thanks Heang!

Later in the afternoon I decided to continue a bit more to hit 101 miles in 101 degrees to Eads, CO and (supposedly) more services. Camping searches are a daily challenge, and tonight we got permission to park in a motel parking lot with the truckers. Appropriate as Joel may have done the same.

Starting back on any effort after a break can be hard. This has been. It’s hard to lose and have to recreate momentum and worse to be knocked down again feeling you have failed. Consider recovery.

Yet the group organized by Lisa Dierks at PERCS in Canon City and now Heang in Pueblo have been energizing and motivating. The recovery road often includes relapses along the way. It can be part of that journey. But you have to start back again to succeed. And community, connections, that support, is powerful- such as your support. Thank you all!

Addiction is a brain disease.

It disables sound decision-making.

It is treatable.

Community matters.

A Video talk on IJS

August 7, Salida, CO.

Expectations

Day 37, Aug 5, Salida.

I was reflecting on the crossing of the country so far. I had ridden in the city traffic of San Francisco and Sacramento, climbed the Sierras, through the isolating barrenness and oppressive heat of the Nevada desert, up and down skirting the steep canyons of Utah, and over the Rockies of Colorado. Now with almost 1500 miles and 80,000’ climbing under my belt, the journey should be easier I thought. Flat until the Appalachians, right?

Then I looked at the maps and read the descriptions of the roads to come. In succession I was warned about the eastern CO dust storms, the western KS thorns known as tire-puncturing “Texas tacks”, the winds of the plains, the narrow roads and large farm equipment of the Midwest, the sharp rollercoaster hills of Missouri’s Ozarks, the narrow winding roads and large coal trucks in KY, and the abundance of loose dogs. All before the climbing in the Appalachian mountains and increased traffic. Now I don’t feel as confident. I think I’m going back to one day at a time, one mile at a time.

Expectations have a large impact on the our perceptions of experiences, don’t they? In a conversation with a lawyer in drug court in Montross, CO, I asked what she would most like to communicate to the public about what she has learned. She answered by saying that the recovery process is not linear, that relapses and set-backs are common. And yet progress and healing happen if the system works with the person, if people will not give up on them.

If I expect an easier journey through the middle of the country, yet struggle as I encounter challenges, I am likely to become discouraged or feel defeated. If I either withhold judgement or expect difficulties then I won’t be surprised and will be more likely to succeed. Our hopeful aim remains unchanged while acknowledging reality.

Our expectations can drive our perceptions and interpretations of the journey, and thus impact the the end result. So it is in recovery.

SUD is a treatable brain disease that disables decision-making.

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