Sarah climbs mountains and runs marathons
In less than two weeks Sarah will run the Yakima Canyon Marathon. Yes, you heard that right, she will run 26.2 miles, all at once. This isn't her first marathon either, nor will it be her last. She has actually committed to a 50k run in the future. It seems running 26.2 miles all at once isn't quite enough for her. She epitomizes commitment and dedication to all she sets her mind to do.
On this day, March 20th, 2019, Sarah celebrates 12 years as a person in recovery. I can tell you, from first hand experience with Sarah, throughout my knowing her for nearly 20 years, she has propelled herself from a life of chaos, to, a life of amazing adventures. Sarah and I, on this day twelve years ago, stood in the doorway of my tiny duplex on 3rd avenue in Ellensburg and said we had to change things. The roads we had been down to that point with our use of drugs and alcohol were not pretty. We knew if we continued they were just going to get even uglier than what they already were. It was on that day that we both begin our journey. The joke we run with now is this, because I smoked pot after that date, Sarah will always have five days more than me. This is her day, today, March 20th, 2019. She has twelve years!!!
Sarah is an amazing, bright and shining example of a life well lived in recovery. Her path is unique to her. Sarah has never been one to follow typical norms or crowds. For her health and over all well being she uses exercise. As I stated in the beginning she runs marathons. She has a highly structured training regime she follows through support and guidance from those who have went before her. She started with a 5k, then 10k's, and then her first half marathon. I remember well each step of the way for her on her journey. She has had fear about running that far, but, she never let it stop her. She struggled with the need to train, but she never stopped. Sarah, each step of the way has persevered. This new found hobby and life style has helped keep her strong in her recovery.
Sarah has climbed mountains....literally, she has climbed to the top of Mt. Rainier and looked down from above.. She now has the memory of climbing multiple peaks on the west coast with other mountaineers. There is a lot to be said for her commitment and perseverance in each of these quests. Sarah has used the knowledge from other mountaineers to be able to get to the top of mountains and know the accomplishment of that experience. Through this work she has solidified a way to stay steadfast in her desire to never return to the use of drugs and alcohol.
Sarah is not without struggle. A life well lived is never without peaks and valleys. Sarah recently lost her grandmother. This was someone in her family who she was very close to and spoke to by phone everyday, and visited regularly. This was a difficult time for her. She used her strong support system of friends and family, and, her exercise to manage this tough time. I have witnessed first hand Sarah's willingness, even in the toughest of times, to be real about the world around her even when that world is throwing things at her she didn't ask for. Sarah has always maintained a strong network of people to support her as a person in recovery.
I am passionate in my work advocating for a multi-pronged approach to helping people find a path to a life in recovery. I am steadfast in my belief that there are multiple ways to sustain a life in recovery. My mantra of "there is no one way to get to, and, stay in recovery" is confirmed everyday in Sarah's life. In talks I give on this subject I readily bring up Sarah as an amazing example of this belief.
On this day I celebrate my best friend Sarah's life in recovery. Happy 12yrs Sarah!!!!
On this day, March 20th, 2019, Sarah celebrates 12 years as a person in recovery. I can tell you, from first hand experience with Sarah, throughout my knowing her for nearly 20 years, she has propelled herself from a life of chaos, to, a life of amazing adventures. Sarah and I, on this day twelve years ago, stood in the doorway of my tiny duplex on 3rd avenue in Ellensburg and said we had to change things. The roads we had been down to that point with our use of drugs and alcohol were not pretty. We knew if we continued they were just going to get even uglier than what they already were. It was on that day that we both begin our journey. The joke we run with now is this, because I smoked pot after that date, Sarah will always have five days more than me. This is her day, today, March 20th, 2019. She has twelve years!!!
Sarah is an amazing, bright and shining example of a life well lived in recovery. Her path is unique to her. Sarah has never been one to follow typical norms or crowds. For her health and over all well being she uses exercise. As I stated in the beginning she runs marathons. She has a highly structured training regime she follows through support and guidance from those who have went before her. She started with a 5k, then 10k's, and then her first half marathon. I remember well each step of the way for her on her journey. She has had fear about running that far, but, she never let it stop her. She struggled with the need to train, but she never stopped. Sarah, each step of the way has persevered. This new found hobby and life style has helped keep her strong in her recovery.
Sarah has climbed mountains....literally, she has climbed to the top of Mt. Rainier and looked down from above.. She now has the memory of climbing multiple peaks on the west coast with other mountaineers. There is a lot to be said for her commitment and perseverance in each of these quests. Sarah has used the knowledge from other mountaineers to be able to get to the top of mountains and know the accomplishment of that experience. Through this work she has solidified a way to stay steadfast in her desire to never return to the use of drugs and alcohol.
Sarah is not without struggle. A life well lived is never without peaks and valleys. Sarah recently lost her grandmother. This was someone in her family who she was very close to and spoke to by phone everyday, and visited regularly. This was a difficult time for her. She used her strong support system of friends and family, and, her exercise to manage this tough time. I have witnessed first hand Sarah's willingness, even in the toughest of times, to be real about the world around her even when that world is throwing things at her she didn't ask for. Sarah has always maintained a strong network of people to support her as a person in recovery.
I am passionate in my work advocating for a multi-pronged approach to helping people find a path to a life in recovery. I am steadfast in my belief that there are multiple ways to sustain a life in recovery. My mantra of "there is no one way to get to, and, stay in recovery" is confirmed everyday in Sarah's life. In talks I give on this subject I readily bring up Sarah as an amazing example of this belief.
On this day I celebrate my best friend Sarah's life in recovery. Happy 12yrs Sarah!!!!
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