Category: Grateful Heart Monday

Welcome to Grateful Heart Monday, a time for being thankful for someone or something in my life that has truly given me gratitude, which for today is for a server from an IHOP here in Toledo who provided me a wonderful blessing I really needed to hear.

I don’t go to IHOP all that often, and usually when I do it’s to get some of their harvest grain and nut pancakes, which are my favorite type of pancakes anywhere. Upon arriving there a few weeks ago, the server who sat us was super friendly and allowed my friend and I to sit in a room that technically was closed for the evening, but upon me asking for privacy, he allowed it. As I sat there looking over the menu, I noticed him occasionally staring at me. When I finally made eye contact, he asked if I had once worked for Rescue Crisis, which is a detox center here in Toledo. I told him that I’ve been volunteering there on Wednesday’s and run a 12 Step recovery meeting for addiction for the past four years. He then said, “I thought it was you and I want you to know that what you deeply affected me, so much so, that it was because of it I finally got sober and have remained that way ever since for 20 months now.”

After hearing that, I thought I was going to cry. So many times, I have told my story to those in addiction crisis, in jails and institutions and many other places too, but rarely have I ever gotten to see what happens to each of those recovery seeds after I’ve planted them. Most often actually, I get to see the same people coming back again and again with one relapse after another, never quite getting it. Yet this server totally got it…and it came through simply by sharing my experience, strength, and hope with him like I’ve done countless times over the life of my recovery work.

So, I am so thankful to God for bringing me this invaluable reminder that even when I see next to no results from my day to day recovery work and instead, more often than not, see one relapse and death after another, that indeed there is a seed I planted somewhere that has beautifully sprouted, all because of continuing to do this work one day at a time and leaving the rest up to God.

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson

 

Welcome to Grateful Heart Monday where each week begins with a slice of gratitude, which for today is for the three years I got to spend with my cat Smokey and all the great memories I have of him before his sudden passing a week ago.

As I mentioned in my last article, my cat Smokey abruptly passed recently when a urinary issue he’s had ever since birth caused a complication that led to his bladder bursting. While I am saddened by the unexpected loss of what I feel to be the most unconditionally loving animal I’ve ever been around, I have much to be grateful for from the brief time I had with Smokey.

From the onset, Smokey bonded with me, and on many levels, kind of acted like a dog. He always wanted a sample of anything I consumed (especially whipped cream and blue cheese!), would chase after these small little furry balls wherever I’d throw them and then return them at my feet waiting for me to throw them again, he’d consistently roll over on his back when I called him this silly name, “Klitty Klaty”, at the top of my lungs, he’d race after me around the house any time I exploded down the hallway making whooshing noises, he liked me giving him belly rubs on my lap facing me, and loved going up to every guest in our house to get some ear scratches. It’s funny how they say dogs are the most loyal companions, but Smokey, in my opinion, proved that maybe cats can be too.

Smokey was a great healer in many ways too. He constantly knew when I was having a high pain-filled day, as he’d follow me around until I laid down somewhere, at which point he’d then curl up between my legs, begin purring, and fall asleep, which generally did help me to feel better. He also did his best to distract me with playtime as well whenever I hurt, which usually led to me laughing and feeling much better because of it. And I mustn’t forget how he was a great mirror for some of my character defects like my OCD, as for example when I was staring in the bathroom mirror too long, he’d remain outside the door incessantly grooming himself almost as if showing me how silly I was being.

Another unique trait that I became very grateful for as well with Smokey was him sitting in our bedroom window waiting until I got home each night, at which point he’d race to the front door and meow as soon as I walked in. And whenever I did any type of outside work, he’d remain standing by one of the opened doors watching me until I came back in. Smokey also loved sunning himself on either my partner Chris’s lap or mine in the driveway, which is the one thing I know Chris is going to miss the most, as they usually spent hours doing that in the warmer months.

Smokey also loved to be flown around the house in the laundry basket while I yelled “Super Kitty” and liked swatting in fun at my hand while I pretended to be a bee buzzing around him. Oddly enough, I could also pick up his small tufts of hair anywhere around the house and hold it way high up in the air, where he’d meow repeatedly until I let it go, at which point he’d jump up to catch it and promptly consume it! And something I know my partner was extremely grateful for, as was I, was our house remaining free from most spiders and other insects because of Smokey enjoying eating them whenever he saw them. Oh, and I can’t forget that Smokey even liked to play hide and go seek with me from time to time as well.

While it’s painful to think he’s really gone in such a short period of time, I have so much to be grateful for when it comes to Smokey. A trusted companion who constantly remained by my side and taught me how important it is to show unconditional love to everyone and to balance that with taking care of oneself, especially when hurting.

I truly will miss peaking around those corners in my house, barely making eye contact with Smokey, hearing him let out a few small squeaks almost as if saying “I see you!” I miss you plenty already and thank God for the gift I had with you for those three beautiful years. You definitely left me with much to be grateful for when it comes to you Smokey and know I will always love you.

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson

Time for another Grateful Heart Monday entry where sharing gratitude is always the name of the game, which for today is for Phi Kappa Psi, Kappa Delta, and Alpha Xi Delta from the University of Toledo, three Greek organizations that put forth an incredible effort to bring about a speaking engagement for me on addiction and recovery that ended up being a great success on a number of levels.

How this came about began almost two years ago now, when I started providing alcohol and drug recovery education to all the nursing classes of a teacher from the University of Toledo (UT). During one of them, I had the pleasure of meeting the then president (Casey) of a sorority named Kappa Delta. While she was on the tail end of her schooling to get her degree, she was so impressed with my 12 Step recovery lead that she asked me to do another presentation for her fellow sisters at her chapter house. That in turn later led to me meeting the president of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at UT where I’d eventually also do a lead for their brothers as well. Somewhere along the way, both Greek chapters asked how open I’d be to doing a speaking engagement for the rest of the Greek organizations on campus, as well as for the rest of the campus in general, which of course I was more than open to doing. For me, any way I can ever get the message of recovery out there, especially for alcohol and drugs, is a huge plus.

So, for a good year, much planning went into putting together this speaking engagement and thanks to Matt from Phi Kappa Psi, Alex from Kappa Delta, and Shelby from Alpha Xi Delta, it all came together on Friday October 25^that the Snyder Memorial Auditorium on UT’s campus at 12pm. During the course of two hours, I shared my story from addiction to recovery, had a Q&A session, was interviewed by a member of the staff from the UT television station, and listened to a few Kappa Delta sisters share some valuable alcohol and drug statistics. The response for those in attendance was more than favorable. Many asked for my contact information afterwards and were interested in me doing 12 Step leads for their organizations in the future.

I was blessed that day to see my therapist (Linda) show up to support me, as well as the boyfriend (David) of one of my sponsees (Tricia). Blessed that each of those in attendance paid attention the entire time and didn’t spend it immersed in their cell phones. Blessed that a few personally spoke to me about the pain of family members in their lives who are struggling with addiction. Blessed for the monetary donation I received for all my efforts. And blessed that God continues to use me to share my story of experience, strength, and hope for others to benefit. Because I know that I am planting a seed in each and every person each time I share my journey from addiction to recovery, and in the process, hopefully doing my part to bringing greater light and hope into this world in an area that most definitely needs it.

So, thank you God and thank you Matt, Alex, and Shelby, Linda and David, Phi Kappa Psi, Kappa Delta, and Alpha Xi Delta, for making all this possible and for helping me to continue doing something that I love doing because in the end, there was plenty to be grateful for from doing this presentation!

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson