The Path with Least Resistance

Kelly Kettle is an amazingly kind and enthusiastic staff member who writes often about his experience working in the field of addiction treatment.

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From the beginning, take away every opportunity to defocus- it is common for new people to go into treatment and start picking everything apart.  This concept is to make everything so appealing that the people receiving treatment want to make changes in their lives because they they are enjoying their surroundings and life in a way they had never experienced it before.  Ideally, they would think to themselves, "Wow staying clean and sober can be a exciting and new, I want this thing and eventually I must have it."

If I was asked to try and describe the ultimate rehab this is how I would describe it?

It would have to be at the beach or very close to the beach. It would be Co Ed.

I would want to feel like I am in a safe environment, there would have to be structure, though at the same time, I would like to have a lot of freedom to go to the beach by myself or with friends or go out with my wife or go to lunch or dinner.
I would have some responsibilities so that I would get in the habit of making the right decisions on my own. I would like it to be where the rules and the staff are not so strict that I get in to trouble for every little thing and I would want to be treated like an adult.  I would like to be treated with dignity and respect at all times and expected to treat others the same way.

I enjoy eating what ever I am in the mood to eat so I would like to be able to do my own shopping at the market. It would be nice to ride beach cruisers all around - even to meetings and such. I would be able to watch the sun set into the ocean every evening.

The rehab would have meetings on the beach, and be staffed primarily with people that are in recovery that I could identify with. I would want around $150.00 a week to buy groceries and coffee and lunch, and be taken shopping if I really needed something big like a surf board or clothes.

There would be private rooms available and no more then two people in a room. If for any reason I wanted to take a day off (mental or sick) I could with permission from my case manager. I would want to be able to go to the gym at least 5 days a week and maybe even golfing or surfing and go to the movies and other activities even get a message or go tan.

These are a lot of things I feel that normal people get to do and I want to recover from alcohol and drug addiction though at the same time I want to feel normal.

It blows my mind on a Dailey Basis that I get to work at a treatment center that in my mind is the ultimate rehab:

Sober Living by the Sea – 23 years of developing a daily routine that has strategically placed:

• Structure
• Freedom
• Activities
• Therapy 

in a way that is healthy and attractive – for a new and lasting lifestyle – clean and sober!

 - Kelly T. Kettle

No "Buts..." by Vince Jones

        Having taught spiritual principles for a significant portion of my life, today there is no more painful word to hear from a student than "but..." 

       It matters not whether the student has been on the path 10 weeks, 10 months or 10 years; this word is a nearly impenetrable barrier to progress.
     
          The new student will listen and then when an opportunity to speak presents its self they begin their comment with "yeah, but…" Which demonstrates their lack of willingness, they are still looking for loopholes, not convinced.

         The student who has been on the path for a time, faced with something uncomfortable attempts to make their case for avoidance with "yeah but, you don’t understand…"They acknowledge the problem but fear grips them, hoping to avoid an imagined punishment they filibuster. Guilty with an explanation your Honor, if you would just let me explain…

        Finally, those who have traveled the path for a significant period are attacked by but obliquely, in the quiet moments. Having persevered and done much work spiritually, Living on the Spiritual Basis, they “believe” but doubt has crept in. They are attempting to come to terms with some seeming inconsistency and are looking for answers, some action to take for specific relief. One of the most difficult spiritual lessons to take to heart is when to stop. When you have consulted with those whose spiritual counsel you value, have taken all the secular action indicated, have prayed and meditated on the difficulty or fear, stop, let God work. Be still and know that I am God.  Living on the Spiritual Basis does not mean we will always be inspired, engaged in non-stop action and activity. If truth is true, there are no buts.

       You have mixed all the right ingredients, in the correct proportions, placed them in a baking pan, now the cake needs to bake. While it bakes, leave the oven closed. Every time you open the door to see how things are progressing, you upset the balance. Let God do His work, just as the oven will do it’s once set. No action or activity is required by us, except patience. The cake batter has its job, the oven its task and neither requires our assistance. You have put together the ingredients for healing and placed them in His hands; give Him the time to cook. Good cake and faith require patience, neither have buts in them.


 - Vince Jones
Vince Jones lectures to Sober Living by the Sea's clients about recovery from addiction and the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous

THE KINDLING OF GOD by Vince Jones

When considering our relationship with God, one of the simplest and best-known metaphors defining that relationship is man is the spark from a great fire.

When you touch a piece of kindling to a roaring blaze, it sparks to life. The spark transferred to the kindling has the same composition of the blaze and can be used to start more kindling or even become the start of a new blaze, if sufficient fuel is available. Unlike the blaze, however the spark is extinguished easily if mishandled and will in fact burn out if new fuel is not added.

Living on the Spiritual Basis we are the spark, daily prayer, meditation and service the fuel to keep our fire burning. The good news is that if we have failed for any reason to keep our spiritual fire lit, the great fire, God, being eternal and inextinguishable, is always available to rekindle our spark. The only requirement is that we ask.  

- Vince Jones
Lecturer, Sober Living by the Sea Treatment Centers
Vince is an inspirational teacher of AA and 12-Step philosophy.

Addiction Concepts - Depression by Steven East

Depression resulting from the condition of chronic pain can bring self defeating cognitions to a head. Over a long period of time unmanaged stress or distress can lead to what’s now become known as anhedonia. Although this condition more common to substance dependent individuals, it is also found to be a contributing factor in compulsive disorders such as sex addiction and compulsive gambling. This plays a factor in chronic pain in much the same way emotional and physical pain work can over time become enmeshed together.

- Steven East, CADAC II
Addiction Specialist
The Landing of Newport Beach - Men's Treatment in Orange County

Addiction Concepts - Chronic Pain by Steven East

Chronic pain is a by-product of various afflictions that occur within the body. These afflictions can be brought on by a variety of events. Some are from outside sources and some come from within. The main function of the sensation known as pain is to make the brain aware that attention needs to be given to the affected body area.

- Steven East, CADAC II
Addiction Specialist
The Landing of Newport Beach - Exclusive and Private Treatment for Men

Life (Zombies, Recovery, and Other Musings) by Vince Jones

Having life in the spiritual sense is different from just being alive.

We have met spiritual “zombies” as we have moved through life. Possibly at some point in our own lives we lived as zombies for a time.

What is a Spiritual "Zombie?"


This state is arrived at when we close our minds to new information, refuse out of stubbornness (actually fear) to recognize a different point of view or even the possibility that we may be mistaken, we close our minds to growth and mount the sacred cow of arrogance and contempt.

All zombies ride sacred cows. Now there is an interesting visual.

The good news is that once we dismount the cow -  life returns.

“There is a principle which is a bar against all arguments, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance; that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”

Stay young at heart by a willingness to investigate everything that interests you. By remaining open minded and willing to learn, we open ourselves to the sunlight of the Spirit where we find our connection to the eternal and “experience life when you feel yourself to be free and useful and joyous, unconscious of either fear or doubt.”

- Vince Jones

Vince Jones is an esteemed lecturer at our treatment facilities -  for both men and women.  Check back often for more of his thoughts on recovery and living on a Spiritual life.