Dawn Harper’s Post

After putting some clean time together, some of us have a tendency to forget what our most important priority is. Once a week or less we say, "I've gotta get to a meeting tonight. It's been.. " We've been caught up in other things, important for sure, but no more so than our continued participation in Narcotics Anonymous. It happens gradually. We get jobs. We reunite with our families. We're raising children, the dog is sick, or we're going to school at night. The house needs to be cleaned. The lawn needs to be mowed. We have to work late. We're tired. There's a good show at the theater tonight. And all of a sudden, we notice that we haven't called our sponsor, been to a meeting, spoken to a newcomer, or even talked to God in quite a while. What do we do at this point? Well, we either renew our commitment to our recovery, or we continue being too busy to recover until something happens and our lives become unmanageable. Quite a choice! Our best bet is to put more of our energy into maintaining the foundation of recovery on which our lives are built. That foundation makes everything else possible, and it will surely crumble if we get too busy with everything else. Just for today: I can't afford to be too busy to recover. I will do something today that sustains my recovery. We are here to help. Call us at 336-553-6596 #fellowshiphallnc #positivechange #treatmentworks #recovery #hopeandhealing #makingadifference #impactinglives #EndtheStigma #recoverymatters #treatment #strongertogether #wedorecover #recoveryjourney #12stepprogram #soberlife #drugrecovery #alcoholrecovery #hopeandhealing #supportandempowerment #addictiontreatment #AlcoholicsAnonymous #NarcoticsAnonymous #onedayatatime #RecoveryNC #SoberLiving #RecoveryResources #RecoveryIsPossible #RecoveryInspiration #SoberLifeNC #LifelongRecovery

After putting some clean time together, some of us have a tendency to forget what our most important priority is. Once a week or less we say, "I've gotta get to a meeting tonight. It's been.. " We've been caught up in other things, important for sure, but no more so than our continued participation in Narcotics Anonymous. It happens gradually. We get jobs. We reunite with our families. We're raising children, the dog is sick, or we're going to school at night. The house needs to be cleaned. The lawn needs to be mowed. We have to work late. We're tired. There's a good show at the theater tonight. And all of a sudden, we notice that we haven't called our sponsor, been to a meeting, spoken to a newcomer, or even talked to God in quite a while. What do we do at this point? Well, we either renew our commitment to our recovery, or we continue being too busy to recover until something happens and our lives become unmanageable. Quite a choice! Our best bet is to put more of our energy into maintaining the foundation of recovery on which our lives are built. That foundation makes everything else possible, and it will surely crumble if we get too busy with everything else. Just for today: I can't afford to be too busy to recover. I will do something today that sustains my recovery. We are here to help. Call us at 336-553-6596 #fellowshiphallnc #positivechange #treatmentworks #recovery #hopeandhealing #makingadifference #impactinglives #EndtheStigma #recoverymatters #treatment #strongertogether #wedorecover #recoveryjourney #12stepprogram #soberlife #drugrecovery #alcoholrecovery #hopeandhealing #supportandempowerment #addictiontreatment #AlcoholicsAnonymous #NarcoticsAnonymous #onedayatatime #RecoveryNC #SoberLiving #RecoveryResources #RecoveryIsPossible #RecoveryInspiration #SoberLifeNC #LifelongRecovery

I really do some really amazing work with some really great people and wonderful organisations. Demelza are a childrens hospice who run a fantastic festive event called Festive Wishes. Yes, it runs at Christmas, but to be as inclusive as possible they rebranded so families who don't celebrate still feel welcomed. The efforts they go to to include not only children-with-life-limiting-conditions from every background but also their siblings and families at these events, is really impressive. When we held a review of their events to see where we could shift the dial towards including even more people, there wasn't far to go with Festive Wishes. Here are some of the things they do at this event, where children get to take a festive light tour, to make it inclusive:- 🕯️ Seeing Santa in his grotto is optional 🕯️All children receive a present - of their choosing! 🕯️Children that can't make it to the site, can have a gift delivered 🕯️The gift can be wrapped in Christmas paper or plain gift wrap 🕯️The gift can be delivered either by a festive elf OR a Demelza Volunteer 🕯️Gifts for children with sensory needs are often targeted at babies, but Demelza staff make sure that the toys don't feature babies on them 🕯️Families can be taxied to the site if they have transport issues 🕯️They prioritize children who haven't been able to attend before and those who sadly might not make it to next year. When you think of Children's hospices, you might think of them as being sad places where children die and they do, that does happen but Demelza is a joyful place, full of dedicated people who care attentively to the children and the families that get to benefit from their services. If you want to splurge some money this Black Friday, why not make a donation to a wonderful charity like Demelza (link below). The work I did for Demelza was around creating a new Equality Impact Assessment tool, reviewing policies using the tool and recently, using the EIA to assess four of their thirty charity shops. It has involved an analysis of the inclusive design of the shops as well as the retail processes and how the affect the customers and the workers. It's important work, but really a tambourine shake to the wonderful chorus of activity aimed at supporting families who need it. [OK, that was a naff analogy to say that I'm happy to have had the opportunity to add something to such a wonderful charity]. #Donate #Demelza #EqIA #EIA #EqualityImpactAssessments Demelza Charity Claire Ellis-Waghorn https://lnkd.in/e7Dhx3HK

On this National Stress Awareness Day, let’s take a moment to reflect on the power of giving back. The simple act of helping others can significantly ease the holiday stress for families in need. By supporting Marine Toys for Tots, you’re not just spreading joy to children; you’re also lightening the holiday burden for many. This season, instead of stressing over gift lists, let’s focus on making a difference. Find out how you can help: https://lnkd.in/gbQkvrnr

‘Tis the season of giving and festive joy. Have you given any thought to what you want to give to your children or grandchildren, and not just for Christmas? Whilst you might get away with panic-buying presents on Christmas Eve, or just putting cash inside a Christmas card, deciding who gets what when you die is not something you should leave to the last minute. Online Wills are not designed to accommodate blended families, step children, extended family or special requests, but a bespoke Will can cover a myriad of circumstances, and make sure that your exact wishes are being met. If you want to learn more about bespoke Wills, please get in touch and I’ll be happy to help. #Seasonofgiving #Bespokewills #Personalestateplanning

"Every Child Deserves a Better Tomorrow" We often witness heartbreaking scenes where orphaned children, filled with hope and hunger, search for leftover food to survive. This is a harsh reality that none of us should ignore. Imagine the difference we can make if we step up to provide fresh, nutritious meals to these children instead of letting them rely on discarded scraps. Small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact on their lives, ensuring they grow up with dignity and health. Let us take a moment to reflect on our responsibilities as a society. If we have the ability to help, let’s act! Support an orphanage, volunteer, or simply share a meal with a child in need. Together, we can bring a positive change. Let’s nurture a world where no child goes hungry or feels abandoned. #OrphanCare #SocialResponsibility #EndChildHunger

This post highlights the upcoming All-Star Giveback event at Eastern Market Shed 5 on November 26. Now in its 27th year, this event serves as a symbol of unity in addressing food insecurity, especially crucial during the Thanksgiving season. It emphasizes the importance of coming together to support vulnerable communities, showcasing the impact of solidarity in fighting hunger. In a world where disparities exist, where abundance and scarcity coexist, collaborative efforts like the All-Star Giveback can bring about significant change. By joining forces with this initiative, we not only acknowledge food insecurity but actively work towards solutions, ensuring crucial assistance reaches those in need, particularly during critical times like the holidays. Let's unite and create a positive impact by supporting initiatives like the All-Star Giveback, fostering a society built on justice and compassion for all. Together, we can make a difference and contribute to a community that stands strong against hunger. #FightHunger #CommunitySupport #HolidayGiving

Do you have 90 seconds. Great! Sign up with CareForward. Nat’s Top 10 Reasons to Sign Up! 1. Registration is free 2. Easy to sign up 3. There’s no obligation to volunteer. 4. Studies show volunteering is good for your health. 5. Self Care is Other Care 6. Kindness is contagious. Who doesn’t want a kinder community? 7. The “after feeling” you experience feels great. 8. It’s the right thing to do. You never know when you’ll need help. 9. You help reduce strain on the system. Increasing service availability. 10. You don’t have to live in Virginia to enroll. Anyone, Anywhere can Care! Pay it Forward = CareForward Sign up TODAY. CareForward.io #hypewomen

Creating Awareness: Supporting Children and Families with our Services Discover how we can improve outcomes for the community by raising awareness about the services we offer. Learn how we can support children and families, making their lives easier. #CreatingAwareness #SupportingChildren #SupportingFamilies #CommunityOutreach #ImprovingOutcomes #ServicesForChildren #ServicesForFamilies #CommunitySupport #MakingLivesEasier #BuildingCommunity

Creating Awareness: Supporting Children and Families with our Services Discover how we can improve outcomes for the community by raising awareness about the services we offer. Learn how we can support children and families, making their lives easier. #CreatingAwareness #SupportingChildren #SupportingFamilies #CommunityOutreach #ImprovingOutcomes #ServicesForChildren #ServicesForFamilies #CommunitySupport #MakingLivesEasier #BuildingCommunity