OUT OF THE ASHES
One Day at a Time
BECAUSE EVERY DAY IS A CHANCE TO START ANEW
About
Join our supportive community to share your experiences, celebrate your wins, and have a little fun along the way.
If you’re seeking a fun, sober lifestyle, you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re in recovery, have been sober for decades, or are simply “sober curious,” Out of the Ashes (OOTA) offers a chance to come together and make connections with likeminded people at various stages of recovery.
We understand the frustration that comes with life’s reality that many social engagements revolve around alcohol and drugs. This can often lead to feelings of isolation for us recovering folks. At OOTA, we believe that people in recovery should also have an opportunity to create a rich and vibrant social life. We celebrate the fact that recovery offers a bright, colourful future that is full of possibility.
Because we know that quitting alcohol or drugs doesn’t mean quitting fun, I want us to plan local social events from golfing, to hiking, to skating, to card games – you name it! Lets fill up the calendar with activities inspired by you.
The recovery journey is both painful and sweet. We know this because we’re in it ourselves. But we want you to know that dealing with life on life’s terms can get a little easier when we do it together.
Belonging to a recovery community fosters connection, supports social and spiritual growth, and allows us to thrive in our journey, as we share our common experiences and have a little fun along the way!
As Johann Hari said: “the opposite of addiction is connection.”
We look forward to meeting you. Visit our contact page to get in touch and check out our list of upcoming events.
The Inspiration behind oota
Connection is the beauty behind all 12 step programs. One person helping another, both keeping each other safe and supported. So many people have come into my life since I started a 12 program, and that’s how this website came to fruition.
Let me tell you a little story, for 35 years I drove a pickup truck full of tools. So when I decided to buy a truck this time it was for fun. A Jeep Gladiator and it has become more then just a truck. It became an inspiration.
Then I hear that there are jeep clubs all over town, so I join a club. I start to go to meet-ups and everyone seems to have a cool name for their jeep. Another thing I noticed is that everyone seems to have many things in common and started to really connect. Sound familiar?
So, in my head, I started going over all these corny names for my jeep. My sponsor once said "you’re like a phoenix being born out of the ashes" and it clicked. Out of the Ashes and a very mean looking phoenix became my jeeps’ new brand.
But these meet-ups also got me thinking about something else. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were social events for people in recovery beyond 12 step meetings?
Out in the wild, I limit myself to activities like Jeep ice cream runs and AA shinny hockey, but I realize a weekend away may not be a good idea just yet. On our recovery journeys, we all need to recognize possible triggers, and plan events that work for us.
Out of the Ashes was designed with this in mind. To provide opportunities for connection around drug and alcohol-free events. Golf tournaments, hockey, baseball, hiking, yoga, card games, knitting, swimming, movie nights, game night, the possibilities are endless.
Let’s get together and enjoy events that we will actually remember! Let’s share our stories and support each other in our own unique recovery journeys. Let’s have a little fun long the way!
Events
Welcome to Out of the Ashes first ever live event. I couldn't have done it without all of my friends in recovery. Everyone touched me in a special way. My first job was working at a resort at 13 years of age. Most of the staff stayed in cabins so we got very close over the course of the 7 summers. That is what I felt working and living with all of you. That is why we need to stick together. Life is worth living and without our family in sobriety we are sitting ducks. Now hears where it gets real. And I said hear for a reason. Listen! I don't want to walk up to paver and cry. And I truly don't want you to go back to mine and do the same. Even if this idea saves one of us it was all worth it but I wouldn't mind ramping the number up a bit more. So with that we will always leave an empty chair at every campfire. This chair is for the addict who still suffers. Not my idea, I just stole it from the NA leaving the two chairs in the middle. I have no idea how many are coming so if everyone could text me or tell someone else they are coming I will make sure there are enough burgers to go around. I will supply burgers, buns, condiments, onions, tomatoes, bring your own damn hot sauce, And trust me if you want me to have hot sauce I will find special one. F.... Kelvin forgot to put the hot sauce out again. Most of the time it was because we weren't eating anything that hot sauce should go on. I guess that old commercial was right. "I put that SH** on everything". lol Ok I think I am finally done rambling. Love you guys.
If we do this I will sing Unchained Melody.
This group is for openminded individuals who want a place to discuss their spirituality. To be in this group you have to be openminded and free of judgement. This is a learning platform where we all grow off of each other interests and doubts.
John Travolta reborn. You can put anything in this space. All broken bones are the owners responsibly.
There's just something about this my brain would not understand. But man I would love to trick it. Once in the air there's no turning back.
Start an event and I will add it to the calendar once we get some rules in place. The only cost is your time to host and monitor it, be accountable or have a backup plan. Lat minute event cancellations without mother nature being involved is not an option. There was nothing worse then gong to a meeting during covid and seeing were full on a door. The only good thing about it was we were following rules we had no control over. So as much as it sucked I realized that the risk which was complete shutdown if we broke the rule helped me make it through most. We just can't have an event shutdown other then a 100% legitimate reason. And that is why we need each event to have multiple backup plans and people. Were playing with peoples lives. You know how I know this is because I feel it today because I planned an event that was 100% on my ass. If it goes astray I could hurt a lot of people. That is too much to bare for an alcoholic with hardly any sobriety or is this the ultimate test. Are you in or are you out. One day at a Time I will keep you at bay. Or one hour, one minute or second. Wednesday August 17, 2022. I just realized this is the first blog or story of the beginning of Out of the Ashes. As you noted before I really messed up. I broke every rule that I could have put up there. I put myself first because I am selfish. Today I passed by 5 LCBO ;s and I almost caved so many times. Like truly I was 100 percent I was drinking tonight. And I said a little prayer that was God, I need you now or something like that. And then I said to myself there is no way God can help me now as I'm drinking, I want to, I'm not upset, I'm disappointed but that is ok, I feel happier then today so a drink would be a good thing not a bad thing. Play the tape forward. That's what I kept doing, playing the tape forward. I was truly doing this every minute at first but the disease was always on my tail. Then I would get distracted by a friends text of encouragement and the beast would back off slightly.. This literally happened all day and by 5:30 I was exhausted. The cravings were not as bad anymore so I decided to sleep and get to a meeting at 8. Wokeup at 8 cravings were bad. Sponsor was keeping an eye on me from time to time, reminding me over and over again why I got this. Just before I got home he reminded me of the meeting at 8. I slept right until meeting time. I slept soundly, not a fucking chance it was just about hating this fucking disease. I got some shut eye but my demon didn't. It was back in full force with so much more ammunition. so here I am again playing the tape forward playing the tape forward asking for help that never ever comes. Fighting as the DOC is so much better then what I am feeling right now. Play the tape forward play the tape get to a meeting get to a meeting GET TO A MEETING. And you get in your car and you feel like you are heading to a meeting but it truly never seems that easy as letting your guard down it has you, and boom life punches you right in the nose. A text that you are so afraid to read, and you need courage to open it but you can't, and boom you snap out and say my life is more important then a text, And you go to that meeting well about 15 mins of it. But there he is your sponsor who was the seed I needed to have planted. Just a don't forget about the meeting at 8. Whatever I'm going to drink today because my higher power doesn't know how my brain thinks. Wait a minute its 1:19 AM Thursday. And once you realize that Your ask your higher power for help and please do not forget to thank your higher power at night. Your higher power is in all of us including You.Thank your fucking self,s sorry I picked that up about 3 weeks ago. And that is when it occurred to me. I made it, I went through hell and I made it to another 24 hours. Well done my higher power. By thanking myself I'm thanking you. Love yourself like you would love your Mom, Dad and family, I have a fairly large family, I truly can't remember all of your names. Everyone who has touched my heart. . . Love yourself first so you can rise Out of The Ashes like a Phoenix.
Contact
- St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
Do you have an inspiration for an event you would like to host. Send us your idea and lets make it happen.