Here is another short excerpt from my recently published book Transforming Pain Into Power: The Story of North Wales Recovery Communities (NRWC).
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Some of the people who are with, or have been part of NWRC, are Recovery Carriers. Bill White first used this term for ‘people, usually in recovery, who make recovery infectious to those around them by their openness about their recovery experiences, their quality of life and character, and the compassion for and service to people still suffering from alcohol and other drug problems.’ He went on to say that:
‘What they share in common is three observable traits: 1) people are almost magnetically drawn to them—even those needing but not actively seeking recovery, 2) they exude a kinetic energy that elicits confidence and readiness for action in those around them, and 3) people who spend time with them and stay connected to them seem to recover and achieve a high quality of life in recovery.’
Bill White points out that the magnetic energy of such people is not something acquired through education or a professional training programme.
It is not so much about what one knows or does. It is more about who one is, and how one relates to others. And you don’t need to be in recovery to be a Recovery Carrier. Ernie Kurtz points out that some people who are not in recovery from addiction have experienced ‘their own dark night of the soul.’ Bill White’s powerful words below are well worth serious reflection:
‘… I think it is quite possible that conditions could be set within a community and within communities of recovery (the image of community petri dishes with a rich growing medium comes to mind) within which recovery carriers can rise. I suspect a major breakthrough of the future will lie not in the further isolation of addicted individuals within institutional environments but in seeding their natural community environments with recovery carriers. How might this be achieved?’
North Wales Recovery Communities have been ‘feeding’ the community ‘petri dish’ with charismatic Recovery Carriers. Each one of these individuals is helping change the lives of other people in the wider community, both in terms of the present, but also the future. They are creating a ripple effect of recovery. I have always been moved by the words of Native American Don Coyhis:
‘We learned the laws of change—that change must start within. And we learned how change ripples—how a dad’s sobriety changes his attitude toward his wife and changes their relationship and how that changed relationship alters the past violence in the home and how children sleep better when domestic violence leaves the home and how better sleep changes school attendance and school performance and on and on.’
We know that addiction and trauma can be transmitted across generations, but we can also have transgenerational healing or recovery. Positive change can ripple into the future.
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Just to let you know I will only be periodically posting on this website for a while now, as I am heading off tonight to the UK to see family and friends. Whilst there, I will be spending time in North Wales engaged in recovery-related activities, including talking at an event in Bwyd Da Bangor to celebrate the publication of the two NWRC books I wrote.
I’ll also be spending six days in Derry/Londonderry with ARC Fitness and will attend the Recovery Walk there on Saturday, 26th September. I am really looking forward to seeing old friends in both places. I will of course post some news from both of these inspiring recovery communities whilst I am there.
