Category Archives: Recovery

Your Recovered Life Series with Elizabeth Edwards, Singer & Songwriter

Elizabeth Edwards, Singer & Songwriter

I first met Elizabeth Edwards, an amazing singer and songwriter, at a gala benefit celebrating recovery – fancy hotel, fancy food, fancy clothes and no-bullshit conversation.

We ended up seated next to each other and it was a highlight of the evening!

We talked about everything from recovery to passion and purpose and love with lots of emphatic nodding and laughter.

I was intrigued by her story of having had a calling when she was young and walking away from it and even resisting it in sobriety. I wanted all the details…especially how she returned to honor it seven years into recovery. Continue reading →

Your Recovered Life Series with Noah Levine, Buddhist Teacher & Author

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Noah Levine is the founder of the “Against The Stream Buddhist Meditation Society” with centers in Los Angeles and San Francisco and over 20 affiliated groups in North America and Europe. He teaches meditation groups, gives workshops and leads retreats internationally. Noah has created a process of addiction recovery based on the teachings of the Buddha called Refuge Recovery. He is the author of “Dharma Punx”, “Against the Stream”, “Heart of the Revolution” and “Refuge Recovery” – he’s also a super cool and nice guy.

I’m honored to share this conversation and am speaking from personal experience when I say that this one can change your life.

It did mine.

I always walk away from Your Recovered Life Series conversations with a new way of looking at things, hope and inspiration. How lucky am I, right?

Here’s what happened for me… Continue reading →

Your Recovered Life Series with Ross Remien, Director/Founder of Rebos

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Ross Remien, Director/Founder of Rebos

I first met Ross Remien two years ago. He had just opened a new treatment center, Rebos in Los Angeles, and I was struck by his fierce passion, unshakable conviction and most sincere desire to make a difference for people who were struggling as he had to get sober and find a life of purpose and passion.

During his 16 years of active addiction he had experienced a wide sampling of rehabs and somehow felt something was missing in the paradigm. Continue reading →

Your Recovered Life Series with Tim Harrington, Intervention Specialist & Recovery Advocate

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Tim Harrington, Intervention Specialist & Recovery Advocate

Tim Harrington is fiercely committed to the world of recovery. He helps people get and stay sober – in whatever way works best for them AND takes daily actions aimed at reducing the shame and stigma of addiction.

The first time I saw Tim in action was at a big conference on addiction treatment. It was during a panel discussion that he raised his hand and asked a simple question.

He referenced how we, who understood addiction and treatment, were all there to learn more…but what about all the people ‘out there’ who weren’t in the know? Especially those whose lives addiction crashed into and who hadn’t a clue about the disease and even LESS about recovery. What if we had a conference for THOSE people? Continue reading →

Your Recovered Life Series with Tonya Meeks, LMFT, Performer

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Tonya Meeks, LMFT, Performer

Tonya Meeks is a renegade. She’s a respected therapist AND a rock star performer.

She says ‘YES!’ to bold opportunities – I’ve watched her do it.

And she tells the truth…She can’t help it.

I look to her as an example and inspiration of going after what you really want, doing it YOUR way and figuring it out as you go.

I went to see Tonya’s one-woman show, Flying Standby, which tells the story of her childhood with an alcoholic mother, a turbulent ride of addiction, lost love, and a final desperate flight toward reconciliation. YIKES!

One-person shows are the definition of brave.

Or crazy… Continue reading →

Your Recovered Life Series with Greg Williams, Filmmaker

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Greg Williams, Filmmaker

Last spring I was minding my own business on Facebook ( 😉 ) when I happened upon a kickstarter video that rocked my world.

Greg Williams, was talking about a film he was making called The Anonymous People (see description below). I sat at my kitchen table with my little boy on my lap and was riveted. By the time my husband had come over to see what was making me so excited, I was crying the best kind of tears. It was so inspiring.

I was raised to believe that one person’s voice can make a difference and here was this new fact for me: 23 Million Americans are living in long-term recovery.

WTF?!?!

What if WE used OUR voices to start defining the conversation? The options for treatment? Put an end to the shame and stigma that, even if we don’t personally feel, exists in the world and certainly in the media? And how about this one: That living in recovery isn’t a slog but a joy and a spring board for an amazing life?

Continue reading →

Your Recovered Life Series with Ro Rowan, Musician

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Ro Rowan, Musician

I’m so excited to share this powerful conversation with the incomparable Ro Rowan as the next installment of Your Recovered Life Series: True Stories From The Future.

Ro is a gifted cellist, songwriter, composer, photographer and videographer.

She’s the quintuple threat 😉

She’s currently rocking her dream at the Berklee School of Music in Boston where she is enjoying huge success, performing with and for a who’s who of the music industry and winning more accolades and scholarships than I can list here. (Go here to read more or see her official bio below…)

And oh yeah, she’s REALLY happy!

Along the way to owning her calling she was a collegiate athlete, worked as a video editor and was the owner of her own fitness business.

I had the opportunity to hear her story and was inspired by her honesty, passion and willingness to walk through the fear in order to live a life of connection, authenticity and joy.

Continue reading →

Your Recovered Life Series with Robyn Cruze, Author

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Robyn Cruze, Author

I am thrilled to share an inspiring conversation with Robyn Cruze, a trailblazer in the world of eating disorder recovery and co-author of Making Peace with Your Plate: Eating Disorder Recovery.

We had a chance meeting at the Barnes and Noble on the 3^rd Street Promenade when I was chaperoning my son’s field trip. In the calm of the storm when the kids were being read a story I told her about this project and she immediately raised her hand to share her story. It is one of persistence, courage and hope.

Continue reading →

Your Recovered Life Series with Ellie Schoenberger, Recovery Advocate

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Ellie Schoenberger, Recovery Advocate

HERE IT IS!

The first conversation for Your Recovered Life Series: True Stories from the Future is with the inspiring and inimitable Ellie Schoenberger.

Ellie wears many hats (see bio below) but I think of her most as a woman who takes a stand for bringing alcoholism and recovery out of the shadows – Letting us know that recovery is not only possible but phenomenal and that no matter where you are in the process, you are not alone.

I have admired her work from afar for years and personally known many women whose lives she has touched with her advocacy for telling the truth and taking the shame and stigma out of our addictions. I was thrilled to talk to her for this project and am now honored to call her a friend.

Continue reading →

Your Recovered Life Series: True Stories from The Future

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What it’s about!

I’ve been working on this project for a while now and it’s time to start sharing.

I am beyond lucky to be able to bring these amazing stories of experience, strength and HOPE to you.

I will be posting videos of these conversations starting tomorrow.

I will keep posting them here on my site AND it’s a podcast you can subscribe to on iTunes.

You can also see the videos at the Your Recovered Life YouTube channel here!

ENJOY!

Courtney