27 Sep Peers Catching Recovery
It’s been a few weeks since a bunch of us from La Peer House went on a fishing trip out of Marina Del Rey and I’ve got a couple of reflections.
Getting By With a Little Help From My Friends
La Peer House Crew on a Boat!
Do you believe in coincidences?
When we chose a name for our sober living, we kept it simple. We called it La Peer House after the street that it’s on. Our little haven of SUD recovery is smack in middle of La Peer Drive, a pleasant street that winds its way through Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. But was something deeper at work?
The essential role that peers play in recovery from substance abuse is well-documented. Humans are social animals. We crave belonging and without cooperation and the support of others, the decks are stacked against us. A human wandering around alone out on the savanna was an easy and tasty meal for a saber toothed tiger.
The peril of a recovering addict wandering out in the world alone is just as real. Some of the most important recovery work we do is done while just chilling with our fellow addicts. It’s during these informal times, outside of meetings and explicit recovery work, that life without drugs really begins to take hold.
La Peer House is a sober living that promotes independence but not solitude. Part of fostering a connected home environment is doing activities together. This is especially important in a house that encourages independent lives where everyone may have different schedules.
Life on Life’s Terms
The second thought I had relates to fishing specifically. When the fish aren’t biting it’s common to hear “that’s why it’s called fishing and not catching!” A lot of addicts turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with life. Living life on life’s terms is not easy. That’s doubly true when don’t accept the things that are not in our control. That’s an easy lesson to take from fishing. We can do everything right: right rig, right bait, right location, etc but if the fish don’t wanna bite, well that’s out of our control. Accepting that is the difference between a pleasant day fishing and a frustrating day “catching.”
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