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Accountability in Addiction Recovery | Passages Holistic Rehab

How to Have Accountability in Addiction Recovery

By Jennifer McDougall

“Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.” – Sigmund Freud

Give a person freedom and see what they do with it. You can tell a lot about a person’s habits, beliefs, and priorities when you hand them freedom. This, of course, comes with great responsibility, especially for someone in addiction recovery.

Most people who have struggled with substance abuse related issues know how important it is to have someone help them be accountable for their actions so that they can stay on the right path. Accountability helps us reach our goals and be the successful individual we hope and work hard to be. Knowing that you have to show up for that meeting or appointment in the morning will help you be less tempted to get in trouble the night before. You will most likely be more motivated to have a relaxing, drug, and alcohol-free evening so you can wake up and feel healthy and energized in the morning.

For many people in recovery, the fear of going back to old ways, and unhealthy habits keep them pushing forward to grow and develop new and improved lifestyle choices they can feel happy about. Having a carefully laid out course of action to stay accountable is the best way to be clear and focused on your sobriety. Here are 7 helpful tips.

Let your friends and family know about your sobriety.
Find an accountability partner to check in with as often as you need.
Keep a physical and mental list of what you have to lose.
Stay closely connected to those who support your sobriety.
Be consistent in your routine and responsibilities.
Set weekly and daily goals for yourself and cross them off as you go.
Schedule social, fitness, and business appointments for the morning to keep you from being tempted to stray off course in the evening hours.

Call (888) 397-0112 today. Most insurance is accepted.

How to Contact Passages Addiction Treatment Centers:

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

Passages Malibu Addiction Treatment Philosophy

by Passages Malibu

How to Stay Sober While Social Distancing

By Jennifer McDougall

“Patience is not the ability to wait. Patience is to be calm no matter what happens, constantly take action to turn it to positive growth opportunities, and have faith to believe that it will all work out in the end while you are waiting.”
― Roy T. Bennett

For those of you who are now having to work from home, recently got laid off, trying to homeschool your children, or are still going to work every day and coping with the stress from the current economic and health pandemic, this one is for you.

We understand that this is a difficult time, and there may be days you feel a wave of temptation to reach for substances to cope with the discomfort and dreaded sense of boredom. Every one of you has the power within yourself to conquer even the most challenging obstacles, even staying sober while social distancing. We don’t want you to slip back into old habits, to relapse, or lose hope in your goals, future, and purpose for your life. If you or a loved one is struggling with a substance abuse-related issue, please call Passages today at (888) 397-0112.

If you are currently away from friends and family, it’s important to stay connected through texting, emailing, FaceTiming, social media so that you don’t feel so lonely. Communicating daily with loved ones is a great way to share laugher in times of difficulty and talk about your day and what you’re up to. This is also helpful in keeping you accountable and on track in sobriety.

To properly self-quarantine, you must practice social distancing, take bigger measures to stay healthy, and change your normal lifestyle so that you can safely protect yourself from illnesses. This requires a new level of isolation you might not be used to. If you’re now working from home, you may find that you have a lot more time on your hands. The best way to make the most out of this time during self-quarantine is to spend more time on things that help you grow, learn, and become an even better version of yourself than you are right now.

This is a great time to start reading a new book, practice some fun recipes, FaceTime with your friends and family, do a puzzle, or write that book you’ve been talking about writing. Investing your downtime into things that are productive but that also provides your mind, body, and spirit with the uplifting healing it needs can be a great way to benefit from this time of change.

Here are several things you can do during self-quarantine while stuck inside.

Start a journal or blog about a specific interest.
Pick up that guitar sitting in your living room that’s been decor for years; dust it off and start playing.
Complete a puzzle after your workday to help you relax and ease anxiety.
Make TikTok videos and jump on the dance bandwagon.
Have a daily workout routine such as yoga, free weights, or shadowboxing.
Evening meditation with calming background music to help you unwind from the day.
Spend more time on your skincare routine.
Declutter and organize your closet and living spaces.
Clean your house as you have never cleaned it before. Disinfect your surfaces, floors, door handles, etc.
Learn new skills with the help of Skillshare or MasterClass.
Create a vision board on Pinterest.
Get crafty and pick up knitting, painting, pottery, or gardening.
Interview your parents or Grandparents. Record the audio and save it or make a little documentary out of the storylines.
Go through your camera roll and create a photo book for the coffee table or as a gift to give when you get out of self-quarantine.
Make a list of everything you are grateful for.
Review your budget and finances and eliminate any subscriptions you don’t need so you can save money.
Make a list of all the places you want to visit and things you want to do when things reopen.
Rearrange your furniture to mix things up and change your indoor scenery. This could also shake up some static energy that has been stuck in place for a while.
Watch a documentary.
Deep condition your hair and put a face mask on.
Whiten your teeth.
Add content to Hootsuite or Buffer to automate your social media posts.
Try on makeup you don’t usually wear.
Dress up for yourself and have a mini photoshoot.
Wash your sheets, blankets, and pillowcases.
Fill up your to-do list for the next day.
Write a letter to your younger self.
Write a letter to your future self.
Listen to a podcast.
Create a new playlist.

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

by Passages Malibu

5 Healthy Ways to Express and Release Emotions

By Jennifer McDougall

Drugs and alcohol suppress the way you feel authentically, causing you to have midstride and confused thoughts or feelings of your emotions and reactions to situations or symptoms in your life. When you get sober, you will most likely discover a wave of freedom to fully feel everything for exactly how it truly is. This is oftentimes overwhelming for new individuals in recovery because they are not used to feeling all the natural highs and lows people who don’t numb their pain with drugs and alcohol feel. It’s a new and different way of experiencing life and there is nothing better than feeling completely connected with your mind, body, and spirit.

The number of emotions we feel is limitless. From anxiety, sadness, fear, happiness, anger, frustration, irritability, loneliness, discomfort, confusion, excitement, nervousness, worry, and the list goes on. It’s important we keep our emotions balanced so we can remain clear-minded and focused.

Dealing with all these emotions in a healthy and constructive way is important in making the most of our ability to grow in sobriety and become our most authentic self. Here are five helpful ways to express yourself in a positive way and release any pain, tension, or over-excitement.

Pause for a full minute. Close your eyes and take three long deep breaths. Exhale and push all the air out of your lungs after each breath. Then gravitate back to the center in your core. Imagine your heart-centered balance recalibrated.
Identify what emotion you are feeling. Point out where in your body the emotion is affecting. Take into consideration the root cause of this emotion. What brought it on and why your reaction to the feeling is what it is.
Accept what you feel. Be real with how you feel. Talk it out or write it down. Be truly honest in what you are experiencing, emotionally and then set it free. Let the feeling fly free and release it after you have felt it all the way through. Do not bottle things up or hold on to them. Let it go.
Embrace creative your creative side to express emotions. Get our your painting supplies, your journal, your computer, your basket of crafting materials, and start creating. Using art, writing, pottery, poetry, gardening, design, or scrapbooking as creative outlets is a great way to express your internal mayhem.
Break a sweat. As I mention in most of my blog posts, working out is one of the best ways to let out all of the funkiness you’re feeling. Whether you are happy, sad, mad, or overly excited, working out helps release endorphins to not only help keep you in shape but it forces you to BREATHE. Breathing helping provide more oxygen to your brain and pushes your blood flow to help you think clearly and make smarter choices.

Start living a healthy, sober, and happy life.

How to Contact Passages Addiction Treatment Centers:

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

by Passages Malibu

7 Ways to Create Your Personal Philosophy

By Jennifer McDougall

“A strong personal philosophy does more than sustain us through the tragedies of life. It also stains us daily in everything we think and do. It gives us optimism and hope.”
― Chris Prentiss, Zen and the Art of Happiness

When you think about the way you view the world, what you value, your own moral compass, and perspective, what do you see? Creating a personal philosophy helps guide us into the direction that is aligned with our core principles. How you react and respond to situations that happen to and around you is part of your personal philosophy.

Introspection. Look within your soul to discover a new light of clarity that gives you hope and makes you feel empowered.
Study other philosophies such as religion and spiritual beliefs.
Discuss your values and core beliefs with other people.
Practice making choices that are aligned with your beliefs.
Reframe your beliefs so they work for you and not against you.
Find a therapist, life coach, or mentor that can help guide and support you in creating and practicing your personal philosophy.
Be patient. Allow your personal philosophy to evolve and develop over time through various experiences and enlightenment.

The reason it’s important to have a strong personal philosophy is that it helps us make decisions and live an authentic life where you can be true to yourself and honest with others you interact with.

10 Questions to Ask Yourself

What is the purpose or meaning of your life? What are you most passionate about? What do you value the most in life?
Which beliefs resonate with you and which ones do not?
What do you want to contribute to the world? What would you like your legacy to be? What are the most important things for you to accomplish in your life?
What type of working, living, and social environments are best suitable for achieving your goals?
What physical and mental state should you aim to reach in order to achieve your goals and be successful?
What do you need every day to live a life that honors your morals, values, and goals?
What do you need to release from your life or daily habits to achieve your goals and live a life you feel proud of?
What type of music, art, and literature resonate best with you?
How do you view conflicts when they arise? In what way do you approach issues in your life?
What type of attitude do you have in the general theme of your life?

“Don’t Just

Don’t just learn, experience.
Don’t just read, absorb.
Don’t just change, transform.
Don’t just relate, advocate.
Don’t just promise, prove.
Don’t just criticize, encourage.
Don’t just think, ponder.
Don’t just take, give.
Don’t just see, feel.
Don’t just dream, do.
Don’t just hear, listen.
Don’t just talk, act.
Don’t just tell, show.
Don’t just exist, live.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

How to Contact Passages Addiction Treatment Centers:

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

by Passages Malibu

7 Common Challenges in Early Days of Sobriety

By Jennifer McDougall

Getting sober is one of the bravest and at times a very challenging journey. In the early days of sobriety, many people may feel uncomfortable when being invited out, at social events, coping with triggering events, telling people they no longer drink, in intimate settings, or while being present in a scenario where there may be drugs or alcohol being offered. Taking an honest look at potential situations that could test your sobriety is an important task while ensuring you have a plan and feel prepared to take on any challenge that comes your way.

Getting sober is one thing; staying sober is another. Your new drug and alcohol-free lifestyle will require you to put your foot down more often, feeling confident when saying, “No” and having no guilt in declining offers to participate in risky behavior that could lead to relapse. It is understandable the struggle that many people face in newfound sobriety during an epidemic of alcohol addiction and drug abuse– the temptation when life throws you a curveball or when you’ve had a tough day. These are still no excuses to go back to your old ways.

Practicing new and healthy coping mechanisms is an essential component in maintaining stability and strength building techniques for lasting sobriety. Here are 7 common challenges people experience in early sobriety.

BOREDOM. Finding things can do may seem challenging in the early stages of sobriety. Luckily for you, we have compiled a list of 30 fun things you can do alone or with friends and family to enjoy sober.
SAYING NO TO PEER PRESSURE. Often times when a person gets sober it can feel difficult dealing with pressure from others to join them in drinking or using drugs. One thing to remember is that this is an opportunity to be reminded that you need to focus on your sober journey. If you are surrounded by people who do not support your sobriety, it’s time to find yourself a new group of friends. Anyone who continues to pressure you into using isn’t someone you need in your life.
DATING. Whether it is a new relationship or someone you have been seeing for a while, it’s important to be clear to them that you are sober. If it is the first date and you don’t feel comfortable discussing why you got sober, etc it’s okay to just have a non-alcoholic beverage, tell him/her that you don’t drink, and move on to asking questions about the other person. This way it takes the pressure off you while you continue to be true to your sobriety and get to know the person you’re out with. Another aspect is keeping a watch on co-dependency behavior. Read: The Connection Between Codependent Relationships and Addiction
Coping with emotions. Long-term drug and alcohol abuse cause damage to the brain and other bodily organs. You may experience emotions that you haven’t felt in many years and could feel overwhelming at times. These emotions commonly include anger, sadness, and irritation. As you begin rebalancing your mind, body, and spirit through holistic healing and healthy coping techniques such as yoga, meditation, massage therapy, psychotherapy, and physical fitness training, you will gain strength to get through difficulties that arise more easily.
Increased energy and insomnia. Trouble sleeping is common in many people who are in early recovery from substance abuse related issues. Without medicating yourself, there are many healthy remedies to get a good night sleep such as exercise, journaling, essential oils, and creating a calm atmosphere. Read: 5 Things to do Before Bed to Get the Best Sleep of Your Life
Managing stress. One of the best ways to manage stress is to maintain a healthy diet, exercise, and breathing techniques. Many people find comfort and peace when connecting to creative outlets such as photography, writing, painting, sculpturing, or gardening. Read: The Best 5 Ways to Reduce Stress From Your Life Today
Financial setbacks. Budging your finances is important no matter if the money is flowing in or if you’ve recently experienced a setback. Impulse buying or retail therapy is a common and unhealthy coping mechanism for people in early recovery. Be mindful of your sudden urges to buy a new outfit or big purchase that you either don’t need or is out of your current budget.

How to Contact Passages Addiction Treatment Centers:

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

by Passages Malibu

How to Living in Alignment with Your Souls Purpose

How to Live in Alignment of Your Soul’s Purpose

By Jennifer McDougall

It’s not uncommon to feel a sense of discontentment in your life as you are constantly changing and growing in and out of each phase of your life. You may find yourself seeking deeper meaning and purpose on your journey through your quest to Be Who You Want and Have What You Want. This is a sign that it is time to refocus your energy and shift gears so that you can reach your full potential and be the best version of yourself.

While you begin to make subtle changes to align yourself with your soul’s purpose, you may experience moments of fear or discomfort but these are growing pains and will soon pass. Your inner strength should become more noticeable as you grow into the person you are meant to be.

Live in Alignment of Your Soul’s Purpose

Listen Closely to Your Intuition

Take a deep breath and trust your gut feeling. When something does not feel right, do not ignore it! Pay attention to how your body reacts during conversations and situations. If you feel uneasy, short of breath, or nausuous this is a major sign something is not right.

Connect with People who Share Common Interests as You

The internet is a wonderful place to connect with like-minded people or local social groups in your areas such as a book club, sports league, cooking class, or painting group. When we surround ourselves with people who enjoy the same sort of activities and think similar to how we do, our potential expands as the healthy reinforcements received from likeminded people are very beneficial. This is a great way to upgrade your inner circled and support system.

Pause – Take a Break

Time to yourself is a necessity. Quiet the mind and allow yourself space to recharge with a 90-minute massage. The act of self-care will help you recenter your vision on your perfect self– being and having what you want.

Read: Be Who You Want Have What You Want

Daily Visual Meditation

Many of us struggle with the doubt that lives inside our mind blocking our ability to reach our full potential. When you take time to meditate 10-20 minutes per day, you open yourself up to new perspectives and ideas that go beyond the stagnant day-to-day mindset. Meditate on the Perfect You by purchasing a copy of Chris Prentiss’ guided meditation.

Evaluate Whether or Not Your Values & Beliefs Are Serving You in a Positive Way

Look around you for a second. Look inside yourself for a minute. How does all of this feel? Are you happy with what you see? If not, it’s time to make a change. Aligning yourself to your soul’s purpose will force you to shed any belief that does not serve you. Our beliefs take hold on many of the choices we make and how we live our lives. If your beliefs are not in accordance with what is true within you, then you are living off course. Once you are free of negative beliefs, you will begin to feel the weight lifted as you move forward into a more positive way of life.

Come Face to Face with Your Fears

What are you afraid of? What scares you? Close your eyes and imagine for a minute those fears are in the shape of a cloud. Watch them drift off and away. Free yourself from your greatest fears by facing them and letting them go. You are strong and courageous. You are far more powerful than you realize and can conquer incredible things once you release these fears from your subconscious. Good Luck!

Act on Your Inner Strengths

Find what it is that you are great at and put that into your work. It shouldn’t be too difficult but once you begin acting on your strengths you will see changes in the way you operate your career and daily routine.

Ask Yourself the Question of “Why” More Often

Realizing why you do or say or feel a certain way will help you better understand yourself and your ultimate motive in every area of your life.

Increase Your Energy Vibration

When we have a low vibrating energy field we feel low, unmotivated, tired, and irritable. That is simply no way to live! Life is too short to be anything but happy. So if you want to liven things up, increase your energy vibration. You can do this by exercising more regularly, eating a healthy diet, and turning up the feel-good music.

Read: 10 Ways to Raise Your Vibration and Attract Positive Energy

Take a Leap of Faith

Do you have the urge to take a leap and go after your dreams? What is holding you back? If there is a goal you have in mind, a change in your life you want to make, the longer you wait the more and more it is going to eat away at you. Why not just go for it!? It’s time we drop the fear that is holding us back and begin living out our dreams.

How to Contact Passages Addiction Treatment Centers:

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

by Passages Malibu

Surprising Benefits of Sobriety

By Jennifer McDougall

Imagine for a second the perfect life. Imagine yourself living as your most healthy, stable, and spiritual self. This reality is possible when being healing from the underlying causes of your drug and alcohol addiction related issues. At Passages, we provide holistic therapy for substance abuse related issues that have helped save and change the lives of thousands of people from all over the world.

Getting sober is one of the best and healthiest choices you may ever make in your life. Many people don’t how much sobriety can help improve the quality of your life and your overall health. For those who are living in denial of a drug or alcohol addiction, it will take a lot of convincing but we have seen people of all walks of life finally come to their senses and decide to get the help they need. The transformations are incredible. You too can experience great transformation.

At Passages Addiction Treatment Centers, we focus on healing the mind, body, and spirit. When someone is addicted to substances, their destructive patterns deeply affect relationships, career, finances, physical appearance and so much more. If you have ever had to witness someone you love suffer from a drug or alcohol addiction you know how painful it is- to see someone you care about destroy their body and their life. If you are that person who is self-destructing through the use of drugs and alcohol, we want to encourage you to call Passages today at (888) 397-0112.

Rather than labeling you an addict or an alcoholic, at Passages we choose to encourage and empower you. Our team of professional addiction specialists are trained and certified in utilizing the most effective methods of therapy to help treat and heal the underlying conditions causing a person to use and abuse addictive substances.

Here are 10 of the biggest changes you may notice when you decide to get clean and sober:

Ability to save more money and spend smarter without the disruption of intoxicated decision making and financial hangovers.
Improved interpersonal relationships and the ability to make stronger connections to others on a deeper and more meaningful level than before.
Stable career thanks to the lack of a physical, mental, and emotional hangover brought on previously from drugs and alcohol.
Increased energy and motivation to take better care of yourself.
Skin complexion drastically improves without the consumption of harmful chemicals found in drug and alcohol products.
Cleaner and more respectable living spaces thanks to the lack of a mess that is typically created when a person is drunk or high. Also, when you are sober and living a healthy lifestyle, you may take up new decor or decide to rearrange your furniture.
Enjoyment in things you are actually passionate about rather than going out and drinking and not making good use of your time and abilities. You may notice yourself having even more fun than you did before when you were drinking and using drugs.
Discovery of mental clarity and inner peace.
Get a better night sleep, every night.
Long term health improvements that will have you living a healthy life without the use of drugs and alcohol.

How to Contact Passages Addiction Treatment Centers:

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

by Passages Malibu

5 Tips for Self-Care in Addiction Recovery

By Jennifer McDougall

Self-care is an essential practice in addiction recovery. When you don’t have a self-care routine, it can throw you off balance and make you feel a little uneasy at times. Many people who relapse in recovery lose focus on what’s important and forget to take care of the needs of their mind, body, and spirit. That is why we created this list of helpful tips for you to feel your best and treat yourself with nourishing care. At Passages Addiction Treatment Centers, we want you to succeed and live a healthy life, free from drug and alcohol abuse.

Surround Yourself With Positive Influences

Often times, it’s those closest to us that influence us the most. It’s important that you take a look at who is best influencing your life in a positive way and who is bringing you down. To stay healthy and maintain and stable lifestyle, you must be consciously aware of those you surround yourself with.

2. Practice Daily Meditation

There are many powerful benefits to mindful meditation. Some of which include: reduced stress, improved emotional health, the ability to break addictive patterns, control pain and anxiety, and decrease blood pressure. Meditating requires practice but there are many apps such as Headspace and Calm to help walk you through mastering this life-changing self-care tool.

3. Establish a Daily Exercise Routine

Get your body moving! Whether that is at the gym, outside, or at home. Physical fitness is key to looking and feeling your best. When we workout we are able to sweat out toxins our bodies have accumulated and can help improve our mental health as well. If you don’t currently have a solid exercise routine, start one today. Find something that you enjoy doing such as yoga, kick-boxing, swimming, hiking, or running and make it a habit to do every day. You will feel happier and improve your overall health!

4. Fuel Your Body With Nutritious Foods

This one I can’t emphasize enough! Our bodies react to what we consume and when we eat healthily, we are able to function at our optimal capabilities. If you are constantly eating junk food and loading up on unhealthy snacks or sugary beverages, you may notice how sluggish you feel. You may notice an increase in anxiety and depression related symptoms because you’re not giving your body the nutrition it needs to thrive. There are many healthy recipes we have listed on our Pinterest and invite you to try them out!

5. Weekly Deep Tissue Massage

Did you know that massage therapy can help strengthen your immune system and lower blood pressure? Massages are a great way to decompress and unwind from your busy week. There are many benefits to this therapy method and it is one that we utilize at Passages Addiction Treatment Centers. Those who have battled addiction and are focused on healing their mind, body, and spirit, massage therapy is exactly what you need for your self-care regiment. Studies have known it to help with anxiety, muscle tension, relieve headaches, and improve quality of sleep. Search your local guide to book a massage appointment near you today.

How to Contact Passages Addiction Treatment Centers:

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

by Passages Malibu

Rewriting the Story of Addiction

By Dr. Kerri Heath

It’s always much easier to believe negative messages we receive about ourselves than the positive ones. When given a choice between positive and negative solutions, we tend to be more skeptical about the positive and lean into the negative aspects of life. It is much easier to believe the story that “you’re an addict” or “you’re a loser” or “you’ve thrown your life away” because the positive alternatives just seem too hard to conceive. It does not seem possible to change or transform… to become what you’ve always imagined was possible.

There is a powerful dialogue between Richard Gere (Edward) and Julia Roberts (Vivian) in the movie Pretty Woman that depicts this same type of thinking. As Edwards inquires about how a bright, intelligent, resourceful woman could end up in prostitution and Vivian shares the power of messaging from others:

Edward: You could be so much more.

Vivian: People put you down enough, you start to believe it.

Edward: I think you are a very bright, very special woman.

Vivian: The bad stuff is easier to believe. You ever notice that?

If you find yourself powerless over drugs, alcohol, technology, sex or other addictions, you have two choices. You can believe that you are powerless as an addict, or you can see that your addictive behaviors are only part of your story. At Passages in Malibu, you will find a philosophy that addictions are just a small part of your hero’s journey and you will begin to re-write your story based on the positive. Every hero faces a point in life where the pressures build to a point that force a transformation. Let your addiction be a starting point for you in your journey towards making a difference. And if you’re ready for the passage, make a call today!

Dr. Kerri Heath is the former Assistant Vice Chancellor at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology. She is a lecturer, researcher, and published author. Dr. Heath is a Life Coach at Inspired Life Consulting and a Producer at Inspired Life Films. She is certified in Mastering Emotional Connection by Level Five Executive and an editor for the Journal of Leadership Education.

How to Contact Passages Addiction Treatment Centers:

Passages, Where Addiction Ends and Life Begins™

by Passages Malibu

How to be authentic with the help of Passages Malibu

10 Ways to Live As Your Most Authentic Self

By: Jennifer McDougall

There is a weight that is carried when you know you are not being true to yourself or living a life that is not aligned with what your core beliefs are. The cost of wearing a mask and hiding behind who you truly are can be not only exhausting, it will eventually backfire when tested costing you the good fortune of trust. No one appreciates being lied to. No one likes to be played a fool. No one wants to be loved for something they are not. No one wants to have to put up a front to impress other people. So why do it to yourself? Life is short.

Why live your life in disguise as something you’re not when you can be living a righteous story that can help inspire others while providing a positive contribution to a world in need of people who are pure and honest?

When you decide to be authentic in the way you carry yourself, present yourself, and share things about your life on social media, you will discover a newfound freedom, especially through self-expression. Before you begin living authentically, you must have the courage to get to know who you really are, what you truly believe in, your strengths and weaknesses, as well as understanding compassion and self-respect. Perhaps the best way to discover all of the above is to look at who you are when you are alone and take that with you no matter where you go or who you are with– never losing sight of your true colors.

Those who live authentically radiant a different glow. They shine in a different light. Their efforts are pure and their heart is one with great integrity. A person who chooses to live this way is also one who is respected as a confident risk taker who has little to no-self doubt because they truly believe in who they are as a person and not who the world tells them to be. Many of the characteristics of an authentic person are as follows:

Mindful
Compassionate
Focused on their goals
Good listeners
Self-Reflective
Consistent
Honest
Not materialistic
Confident in their own skin
Acknowledge their own faults
Not out to please everyone
Consciously aware of how they feel
Value the art of giving to others
Connected to their intuition

Photo by: Ben Duchac

Living authentically will help you build trust not only with others but with yourself. This new lifestyle you’re creating will lead you to stable relationships, confident business negotiations, and clear boundaries when dealing with people who tend to push your buttons. Learning to be open and honest can be difficult and it certainly requires some practice but the pay off is well worth it! If you are ready to take the leap and begin living your life in most authentic way possible, here are 10 astonishing tips to help you transform your life from being in the dark to living purely in the light, fearlessly.

Spend time alone doing things you enjoy that are of course aligned with your sobriety and increase your awareness of who you are as a spiritual being. A few ideas of things to do alone include: meditating, swimming, reading, painting, writing, going for a therapeutic drive on outskirts of town where it is calm mellow, roam around a record store, collect moments at the beach, see a movie, volunteer in your local community, visit a bookstore, or go on a photo adventure where you take all kinds of fun photos to share on social media or to have printed and hung in your home.
Pay attention to people. Whether they are speaking to you, walking across a busy intersection, admiring a view they find intriguing, or even if they are consuming your energy and you need to limit the space they take up in your life. Pay attention to how they treat one another, what they tell you, what they confide in you about, and see if there is anything you can do to help them.
Be genuinely kind. Even if you don’t particularly like someone or agree with the choices they make, always revert back to kindness and keep your ego out of it.
Keep a journal and write in it daily. First thing in the morning or before going to sleep, are two of the best times to sit down and write out your thoughts, feelings, ideas, and experiences. Doing this will help you reflect on your ambitions, beliefs, traumas, adventures. Getting all these things down on paper is a wonderful form of therapy to help you heal from the past and blossom into your most authentic self.
Ask yourself more questions such as, “If I wasn’t afraid, what would I actually do or say?” Be in tune with how your internal and external pressures affect the way you act and the hesitation stopping you from getting out there and being the person you truly are– unafraid and full of courage.
Take long walks outdoors in nature. Walking can inspire mindfulness as you obverse animals, plants, and other people. This is also a great form of light exercise which is stimulating for the mind and releases endorphins to relieve stress.
Visit your family. Observe who you are when they are around. Our families remind us where we come from and even though they can be challenging to see eye to eye with and raise frustration at times, they help us understand love too.
Reflect back on want you wanted to be as a child. Take some time to think back on what you were like as a kid to better understand what shaped to be the person you wanted to be as an adult. This is always a good way to notice what might be missing from your life today.
Learn something new. Take up a class either online or at your local community college to challenge yourself in a subject matter you’re interested in.
Get involved in a workout routine that helps you express your authentic nature. Do you like to play basketball but afraid to get out there and shoot some hoops? Have you been wanting to try yoga but that afraid you’re not flexible enough? Are you anxious to try that hot new dance studio in town but scared you don’t have what it takes move with rhythm and grace? Now is your chance to exercise your truest passions while getting in shape and toning up.

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” ― Brené Brown

Photo by: Jeremy Bishop

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5 Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency

By Jennifer McDougall

There are many of us who have vitamin deficiencies that we are completely unaware of, but need to recognize. One of the most common vitamin deficiencies is Vitamin D. Have you ever noticed how much better you feel on vacation- when you are out in the sun for a while and soaking up the rays? That’s because your body is taking in vitamin D. This is something we don’t get when we are cooped up inside and feel increasingly bloated, tired, depressed, unmotivated, and uninspired.

There are so many benefits of vitamin D. Research has shown that vitamin D has the power to improve your mood, strengthen your bones, assist with weight loss, regulate blood pressure, and increase your endurance. So in order to prevent you from being part of the 35% of Americans who are vitamin D deficient, here are 5 things you need to look out for as signs that it’s time to get out in the sun and take vitamin D supplements.

You feel sad, lost, confused, or lonely when you are generally happy and stable.
Your muscles seem smaller than usual, but you work out on a regular basis.
Your body is incredibly sensitive to pain and you feel aching in your bones.
You have little energy throughout the day and often times reach for the 2pm cup of coffee.
You have lost color in your face and your skin is anything but glowing at the moment.

Here are several suggestions for supplements and ways to get the vitamin D that you need in order to feel your best.

Supplements: NatureWise Vitamin D3
Spend 20-30 minutes outside every day, unless weather conditions do not permit.
Eat more salmon, tuna, trout, and eel.
Eat egg yolks regularly.
Use ultraviolet lamps occasionally, but in moderation.

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

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The Connection Between Codependent Relationships and Addiction

By Jennifer McDougall

The Merriam- Webster Dictionary defines codependency as, “a psychological condition or a relationship in which a person is controlled or manipulated by another who is affected with a pathological condition (as an addiction to alcohol or heroin); broadly : dependence on the needs of or control by another.”

The dependency on anything is the feeling that you can’t live without a person or substance. That in order to survive you must have this one thing or this one person in your life. You need it to be happy. The truth is that you have subconsciously connected deeply to this particular person or substance without realizing it until the grip has already been fastened. That is the scary part, because most of us don’t realize we are dependent until we realize we have to figure out a way to break free from the weight it tugs on us. One minute we have a crush on someone, the next we can’t seem to bear the thought of doing anything without them.

What causes this to happen?

In many cases, those who find themselves in codependent relationships have many insecurities, low standards, unhealthy habits and behavior traits, and unstable moods.

10 Signs you are in a codependent relationship:

You are more focused on the needs of your partner rather than caring for your own personal needs.
You and your partner disrespect each other causing you both to feel devalued and unappreciated regardless of the work you put into the relationship.
You can’t make any plans without feeling the need to involve your partner even when it’s an “all women’s” or “all men’s” outing.
You feel ashamed to talk to your friends and family about the details of your relationship, because you’re afraid of what they will think of you.
You are unable to have fun and enjoy time away from your partner.
You support your partner at the cost of your own wellbeing (financially, emotionally, physically, mentally, and socially).
Anxiety is one of the more common emotions you have in this relationship. You no longer feel much joy or happiness because you are so busy second guessing everything that goes on from one day to the next.
You feel burnt out, tired, unfocused, unhappy, lonely, and/or confused about the direction on this relationship, because it seems to be headed in no other direction than south, and it’s taking a toll on you.
You or your partner begins drinking more or using drugs to cope with their discomfort this relationship is bringing.
You walk on eggshells and live in defensive mode every time your partner is around or you have a conversation.

How to change the course of your codependent relationship and break the addiction

In life, it’s important to be able to stand on your own two feet, to have fun, enjoy life; be your own person without relying on others to bring you happiness. We must practice doing things alone and being comfortable in our skin in order to have a healthy and well-balanced relationship with anyone.

When we latch on to other people or substances to keep up “happy”, we lose sight on our purpose in life; we get sidetracked and our mind becomes a fog. This is an unhealthy way to live, so what can you do to break-free from codependency and balance out your life so you can feel lighter, more energized, and more fulfilled? Well, here are a few ideas:

Spend more time with friends and family. Keep your connections with those who you can relax and have a good time with without getting yourself into any type of trouble or complicating matters with your partner.
Talk to your partner about your relationship goals and where the two of you would like to see things go within the next couple years.
Spend more time alone doing things that help you become a better person. Get rest, read a new book, sign up for a local gym, pick up a new hobby such as photography or tennis.

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Sober Super Bowl Sunday

By Jennifer McDougall

Grab the nachos and prepare to enjoy the game of all games. It’s almost kickoff time for the most watched sporting event of the year. The Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos will go head to head this Sunday, February 7, 2016 in the city of Santa Clara at the Levi’s Stadium to compete for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Super Bowl 50 can be watched on CBS at 3:30PM Pacific Standard Time.

Super Bowl Sunday is also one of the biggest days in advertising, and sales for alcoholic beverages, not to mention the second largest day of food consumption besides Thanksgiving. According to 247WallSt.com, on Super Bowl Sunday in 2014, “roughly 325 million gallons of beer were consumed.”

If at a super bowl party this weekend and alcohol is available, do not let temptation get the best of you. The best thing to do is decline any offers and bring your own non-alcoholic beverages to the party with you. Just remember these 5 Simple Tips for a Safe and Sober Holiday Weekend.

Here at Passages Addiction Treatment Center, we will be watching the game with a variety of gourmet snacks and a healthy beverage selection for the enjoyment of all of our clients. Stay updated with us on Instagram and Twitter by following us today.

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20 Fun Sober Date Ideas

By Jennifer McDougall

Are you and your sweetheart looking for something fun to do, and would prefer not to be in an alcohol or drug infused environment? Well, that’s simple. Here are 20 ideas for the two of you love birds to enjoy some precious time together.

1. Take a hike

Get outside and enjoy the great outdoors together. Hiking is a wonderful form of exercise that the two of you can enjoy together and take photos along the way. Just don’t forget to bring a bottle of water with you!

2. Grab a cup of coffee together

Find a unique little coffee shop nearby to sit down at, and enjoy a nice cup of coffee together. This is a good way to talk about what is on your mind and share a few good laughs.

3. Lunch or Dinner Date

Who doesn’t love to eat? Go grab a bite somewhere neither of you have ever been before. This will be a fun experience for both of you and when you think about the place again you will think of each other, and remember the great time you shared, hopefully. Visit Eater to see all the best places to check out near you.

4. Be tourists for a day

Who cares if you’ve lived in the same city for the past 5 years; you probably have not explored everything the city has to offer! This is the time to go roam around and check out some of the places on your list you’ve been wanting to visit, but “haven’t had the time.” Visit Things To Do to see what there is to see and do in your city.

5. Go bowling

You may be surprised to see how much better your game is without blurred vision and feeling off-balanced. There’s a much less chance you’ll slip and fall on the alley too. #ThanksSobriety

6. Dance Lessons

Whether you are a beginner or a skilled dancer, check out your local dance studios for you and your honey to swing in some fun on the dance floor. Don’t be shy! Get out there.

7. Ice Skating

Many cities have an indoor ice skating rink where you and your sweetheart can go ice skating all year round.

8. Go out for brunch

Switch things up and take your loved one out to a nice brunch. Get dressed up and take photos of one another while you dive into your favorite breakfast or lunch item.

9. Take a fitness class together

Break a sweat and shed some calories by getting involved in a fun fitness class. Look at available classes at the gym or local fitness studios. Groupon is a great place to find some local fitness deals.

10. Photography adventure

Plan a day for you and your sweetheart to get out visit a variety of fun and beautiful places in your city. Bring your camera and begin capturing priceless moments together.

11. Go for a boat ride

If you don’t have a boat of your own, visit a local marina and inquire information on renting a small boat for a couple hours. Get out on the open water and enjoy the tranquil scenery.

12. Improv show

Laugh the night away at a local improv show. These shows are usually inexpensive and a lot of fun.

13. Wander a bookstore

Go into a local bookstore and wander around. Browse through the store and pick out the books that spark your interest. Take about the different book titles, covers, and content with your loved one.

14. Visit a local fair or amusement park

Connect with your inner-child and ride some of your favorite childhood rides.

15. Take a cooking class together

Those who cook together, stay together. Right? Well, maybe, but its certainly worth trying.

16. Take a mini vacation or road trip

Nothing like the feeling of freedom out on the open road. Enjoy some time away from your day to day routine and explore new places and new horizons with the one you love. Don’t forget the music and of course your camera too.

17. Have a nature picnic

Plan a nice little picnic lunch out in the fresh air. Go to a local park, beach, or even your backyard.

18. Get out the old board games

Who doesn’t love a game of Monopoly, or Life? How about Guess Who? There are so many fun board games we might have forgotten about over the years. Maybe its time to break them out and have a game night.

19. Spa day

Spa days are not just for women. Men deserve a spa day from time to time too. Call up a local day spa and reserve a spot for 2, where you and your boo can relax, de-stress, and recharge.

20. Stargaze

Grab a blanket and head outside when the sky is perfectly dark and the stars twinkle bright. Watch for shooting stars and point out the Big Dipper. Men: don’t forget to bring an extra jacket for your lady in case its chilly outside!

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10 Ideas for a Fun and Sober New Year’s Eve

By Jennifer McDougall

The end of the year has come and now is the perfect time to reflect back on all the experiences, lessons learned, and memorable moments you had throughout the year. As you begin to plan your New Year’s Eve festivities, you may be searching for a list of ideas and pondering how you will spend this special evening to welcome in a brand new year! If you are someone who is in sobriety and would prefer a mellow night away from any toxic temptations or rowdy crowds, here are 10 fun ideas to spend this New Year’s Eve sober with your friends and family.

Sober Los Angeles | NYE

Enjoy a nice dinner out on the town with someone whose company you enjoy having around and is a positive influence on your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
Have some laughs at a local comedy show then go grab dessert and coffee before heading back home.
Pamper yourself with a spa night in the comfort of your own home.
Volunteer your time to serve others in your community.
Ice skating with friends, family, or your significant other.
Go on a 3-4 day vacation to a place you either enjoy most or a place you’ve never been before. Traveling helps broaden your horizons and open your mind up to new perspectives and ideas.
Take an afternoon hike with friends or family members. Enjoy the fresh air and take fun photos to share on social media of your outdoor adventures.
Meditate on your New Year’s Resolutions and consciously focus on the positive changes you wish to make in the coming year.
Stay at home or go to a friend’s house to have a movie marathon accompanied by hot tea or sparkling cider and buttery popcorn.
Host a game night with tasty appetizers and a few non-alcoholic beverage selections for your guests to enjoy.

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Heal Anxiety Without Prescription Drugs

By Jennifer McDougall

You can feel it explode from your very core and spread through your entire body. Your heart is racing at an excessive rate and that tightness in the center of your belly sends several waves of discomfort making it hard for you to concentrate. Some people experience anxiety because of their own worries and fears. This can include a wide range of reasons, but no matter what that reasons are the truth is that anxiety is stealing your happiness and life is too short to be anything but happy!

What can you do to stop this dreadful feeling? The first thing you need to know is you don’t need prescription medicines to ease any of this tension; anxiety can be healed through natural remedies such as essential oils, breathing exercises, natural herbs, as well as many other techniques. Here are 10 ways you can naturally heal anxiety and live life more comfortable and breathe freely.

1. Meditation

2. Avoid drugs and alcohol

3. Take a break every now and then and cut yourself some slack from the overwhelming emotions of stress

4. Be sure you’re getting enough sleep

5. Limit your coffee/caffeine intake

6. Exercise for at least 30 minutes per day

7. Welcome good humor and laugh your day through the day

8. Eat well-balanced meals to maintain proper nutrition

9. Close your eyes for 10 seconds and take three deep breaths

10. Talk to a professional who can help you manage your stress and anxiety to avoid it becoming a life threatening problem

Also see: Anxiety Disorders and Substance Abuse

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Signs someone is enabling you to use and abuse drugs and alcohol

What to Know About Enablers

By Jennifer McDougall

When someone you know is battling an addiction and desperately needs help changing their current conditions and lifestyle the last thing they need is to be influenced by an enabler. If you are not careful, that enabler could be you.

Do you have a loved one who wants to quit drinking or using drugs, but on the weekends you try to persuade them to loosen up and have some fun by encouraging them to indulge? If so, you are not helping this person get to where they want and need to be. You are enabling them.

Sometimes a person who is trying to come off drugs or alcohol has a difficult time communicating the problem. They may even have difficulty saying no to you. Maybe they have not realized yet why they are using drugs and alcohol; all they know is they want to stop, because it is creating a mess out of their life.

If someone you know has talked to you about making a positive change such as quitting smoking, drinking, or using drugs please listen to them carefully. In many cases, there is a lot more to it than the substance abuse itself. Persuading them to do something they actually don’t want to do could reside in anger quickly down the road. They may wake up with a hangover the next morning and yell at you asking you why you don’t take the situation seriously and respect their wishes to get sober. Surprisingly enough this happens a lot within families, circles of friends, even co-workers who do not understand the sincerity of one’s wishes.

Here are 10 ways to stop being an enabler to a friend or loved one battling an addition:

Remove all temptation. Do not encourage or provoke drug or alcohol use at any time.
Motivate and support the positive changes the person is making.
Allow them to take responsibility for their daily life (finances, job, rent, etc.) while offering help when things become too overwhelming.
Help provide the skills and resources needed for the abuser to become the best version of themselves that they can reasonably achieve.
Do not try to sugarcoat the truth. Be real with them, but be ready to listen to their confessions and questions.
Keep a close watch on what you say around your loved one. Don’t entice them of stories about partying and reminiscing about times when you would get wasted.
Make sobriety fun (see: 23 Fun Sober Activities).
Stop coming to the person’s rescue every single time they fail. Failure can actually be a good thing if you allow it to work in the way that teaches the abuser a valuable lesson. Coming to their every call with a solution of your own does not actually help this person.
Do not punish the person for their actions. Be open to listening to them. Be there to hear them express themselves without you getting angry at them.
Do not be ashamed of your loved one for their behaviors. Do not tell them how they have embarrassed you or made you look bad in some way. It is important to be stable and compassionate in any disheartening situation your loved one may endure with you. Your shame towards your loved one will leave them feeling depressed and withdrawn.
Reward them sporadically with gifts, notes, and a listening ear.

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5 Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays

By Jennifer McDougall

1. PLAN THE DAY/NIGHT

There is no need to feel obligated to attend every party that you’re invited to. Find the crowd who is most sympathetic to the healthier choices you’ve made and stick with those friends. Attend the party with someone you trust.

2. CONNECT WITH FAMILY

Supportive family members can offer positive reinforcement at difficult times. Remember that just because someone is related to you, doesn’t necessarily make them supportive. Surround yourself with people who bring out your best self and never judge you for the choices you’ve made.

3. PRACTICE THE PHRASE, “NO, THANK YOU.”

Sometimes those who are unaware of our sobriety put pressure on us to use addictive substances, thinking it will help us “have more fun”. You already know that you don’t need drugs or alcohol to have a better time. The best way to feel more comfortable in these types of situations is to practice saying, “No, thank you.” Don’t think twice about what anyone is going to think of you or say about you for turning down an offer to use addictive substances. Choosing to live a life free of addictive substances is a wise choice and you will feel stronger the more comfortable you feel saying “No, thank you.”

4. HAVE AN EXIT STRATEGY

It helps to drive yourself to wherever it is that you’re going. If you are going to attend an event with a friend or family member be sure to talk to them beforehand and agree to leave if and when the other person is ready to leave. You will need a backup plan just in case the other person bails on you. Keep a clever excuse, or escape route in your back pocket to get out of an escalating situation. Talk to a close friend who is not attending that event and will be nearby and let them know where you will be in case you need a close contact to come to your rescue. Also, keep your phone and phone charger with you throughout the night.

5. START A NEW TRADITION

Allow yourself to celebrate the holidays in ways that distance you from your old habits. It’s your life, remember that. Live it in a way that allows you to thrive, grow, and feel free of anything and everything holding you back from living the life you’ve always imagined.

Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.

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10 Creative Ideas for a Fun Sober Nightlife

By Jennifer McDougall

It is possible to still have a nightlife even though you are sober. When the sun goes down and the night sky begins to settle in you may start to wonder, though, what in the world could you possibly do now that you’re clean and sober?

We have 10 ideas right here for you to help bring some excitement to your sober nightlife.

1. Bowling

You may find that you are a terrific bowler without drugs and alcohol messing up your game.

2. Coffee & dessert with friends

Did someone say cheesecake and a latte under the stars? Count me in!

3. Throw a dinner party

Invite your closest sober friends over for a fun-filled night of food, games, and music at your house.

4. Live music

Check www.livenation.com to see the upcoming events and live shows that are coming to a venue near you and invite some of your sober friends to join you.

5. Movie night

Either go out to see a movie or enjoy a night in with your friends and family, or that special someone in your life.

6. Meetup.com

This website provides a great way to help you connect with people in your area who share the same interests as you. There are also several (non-12 Step) sober groups and activities you can join in on.

7. Take dance lessons

Get your groove on at a local dance studio! Drag one of your friends or romantic partner to join you.

8. Attend a fitness class

Most gyms hold classes in the evening so check their schedule and pick a class that best interests you and GO! Grab a smoothie with a pal after class.

9. Play a game of cards with friends

Put a stack of cards in front of me and I will have you locked into a game of Swedish Rummy in no time. There are so many fun card games you can play with your sober friends, and hey you might even win a few games thanks to a toxic-free mind that is no longer polluted with drugs and alcohol!

10. Miniature golf

Remember how much fun you used to have to play miniature golf as a kid? Well, you can relive those fun times by getting a couple of your sober buddies together and putt-putting the night away.

For information about receiving treatment for a drug or alcohol related addiction please call us today at (888) 397-0112.

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10 Ways to Build Courage

By Jennifer McDougall

Wouldn’t it be great if fear would just get out of the way so that we could make the moves we spend hours daydreaming about? Well, I have 10 suggestions that will help you overcome the fear and anxiety that is holding you back from living a courageous life.

1. Identify what is you are afraid of.

2. Practice doing things you haven’t done before. This will help you become more bold in your actions and will open you up to new ideas and perspectives.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”- Neale Donald Walsch

3. Visit somewhere you have never been before. Take a different route home from work.

4. Speak from the heart.

5. Stand up for someone. It could be a total stranger or your best friend.

6. Express yourself with your style. Dress how you feel. Wear what you want. Use your personal style as a form of art to express yourself.

7. Trust yourself.

8. Know that no matter the outcome, what happens is exactly what is meant to happen. The universe makes no mistakes.

9. Try out new restaurants you don’t usually go to.

10. Admit when you are wrong.

Call us today at: (888) 397-0112.

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Older Posts

sobriety

Edward: You could be so much more.

Vivian: People put you down enough, you start to believe it.

Edward: I think you are a very bright, very special woman.

Vivian: The bad stuff is easier to believe. You ever notice that?

Mindful

Compassionate

Focused on their goals

Good listeners

Self-Reflective

Consistent

Honest

Not materialistic

Confident in their own skin

Acknowledge their own faults

Not out to please everyone

Consciously aware of how they feel

Value the art of giving to others

Connected to their intuition

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” ― Brené Brown

1. Take a hike

2. Grab a cup of coffee together

3. Lunch or Dinner Date

4. Be tourists for a day

5. Go bowling

6. Dance Lessons

7. Ice Skating

8. Go out for brunch

9. Take a fitness class together

10. Photography adventure

11. Go for a boat ride

12. Improv show

13. Wander a bookstore

14. Visit a local fair or amusement park

15. Take a cooking class together

16. Take a mini vacation or road trip

17. Have a nature picnic

18. Get out the old board games

19. Spa day

20. Stargaze