I am a firm believer that there is a reason for “random thoughts” that just pop into our minds. And if we act on them, we or someone else can be greatly strengthened and blessed by those actions. I am very excited to kick off the year 2020 with a very special 12 week series of the Journey Through Life Podcast. This series is called Journey In Recovery. I have interviewed many different people from many different locations and many different backgrounds on one of each of the 12 steps of recovery as laid out originally in the Book Alcoholics Anonymous. Now, before you shut this off and say, “this doesn’t apply to me”, I am asking you to please give it a shot. Whether you or I are an actual addict or not, I KNOW that we all have weaknesses in our lives that we may be the only one that knows about it, but we really wish we could move past them. But try as we will, we have not been able to leave them behind. I have come to learn that learning of and applying the 12 Steps of recovery can and is beneficial to any human being who goes into it with real intent and applies the principles of these steps into their lives will be able to move through any addiction, any habit, any self-destructive or unwanted behavior. This can include full-blown drug and alcohol addiction, or something as seemingly dumb, but just as gripping as putting lip balm on compulsively or popping ones knuckles. This week, being week 1, we will be talking about Step 1 of the 12 Steps. I will be interviewing a woman who is the spouse of an alcoholic. Her story, even though she is not seemingly the one with the problem, is POWERFUL. So, you, may not be an addict yourself, but chances are that you are married to one, a parent to one, a child to one, or a co-worker to one. This episode will, IF you allow it, give you amazing tools so that your life can become more manageable, even if your loved one does or does not seek help for his or her addiction. You may be introduced to concepts that you have never before considered, or may even seem contradictory to what you have considered truth for perhaps your whole life, but these concepts are shared as honestly and openly as possible, using real experiences that cannot be denied as being true.

So there you have it. If you have felt something in your heart or mind that is motivating you to act on it – whether that be to share this episode with a loved one, or to start taking some steps yourself to get a personal shortfall strengthened, please, I ask you, act on it. It can and will make all the difference in your life. Once again, go and check us out on Facebook and Instagram at @JTL Podcast. Check us out online at www.jtlpod.com. Drop us a note at [email protected]. Visit our sponsors who I purposely did not put at the beginning of this episode or any other for the next 12 weeks. But they are helping this podcast continue forward. They are www.alifeuntold.com, www.sheppardbrackets.com, and www.radfordpineshomedecor.com . Use promo code JUSTIN with A Life Untold and JTLPOD5 at Sheppard Brackets and Radford Pines to save some money on your orders.

Resources: Alcoholics Anonymous: https://aa.orgAl-Anon (support for loved ones of alcoholics): https://al-anon.orgResources for many different fellowships:http://www.reneweveryday.com/resources/the-lists/http://www.reneweveryday.com/resources/family-and-friends/