09/13/2024
White Bison is excited to announce the launch of the Wellbriety Talking Circle Starter Kits. As a thank you to our supporters, we are giving away four Special Edition Wellbriety Talking Circle Starter Kits! Each Special Edition Kit includes all of the items available in the regular kit, in addition to a talking stick, handmade by artist Joan Dacus.
This week’s winner is Maria B., and this is their story:
Ya'át'ééh, My name is Maria and am honored to share my personal recovery story. My story entails trauma, sadness, grief, loneliness, uncertainty, joy, happiness and freedom.
I had a 20 year relationship which began with its highs and ultimately ended up in the most tragic end. I started drinking at a young age, living on the Navajo Nation reservation and surrounded by alcoholism growing up. As I entered high school and into adulthood it became a part of my life. Being a mother and trying to be in a relationship with the father of my children, I lacked so many skills it affected my relationships. I continued to choose alcohol and eventually it became a part of my daily life, and my quality of life was affected. I couldn't stop drinking - not even at the pleading of my family. I've tried numerous times to stop, but I couldn't. I would get sober for little lengths of time only when the probation courts were involved and once off probation..there I go again, drinking alcohol.
Not until my late 30's I hit my "rock bottom " and I was sick and tired of where my life was headed, I knew I had to stop! I was exhausted and filled with depression and low self esteem..I surrendered and called out to Creator, "Please help me!" After that prayer I encountered a life changing experience I was not expecting to walk through for the next 3 years. I ended up in a motor vehicle accident and had to relearn to walk, heal from broken bones and mental anguish. I was sent to federal pre-trial for being a passenger in the accident and was wrongfully accused and I fought for my innocence for that 3 years awaiting federal pre-trial. I lived in a federal halfway house and went through 2 federal jail.
At the last jail I was at was when I submitted to my Creator. One day while on lock down, I'm called out of my cell that my lawyer wants to talk to me. I'm escorted to the sergeant’s office and my lawyer tells me, "Your 3 federal charges have been dropped! We're working on your release papers!" For the past 3 years I hung on to the words, "Expect a miracle." I was finally able to go home!
When I got home I continued to work on my recovery. Currently I'm 13 years in recovery, my recovery date is 03-05-2011. I work in the emergency department as a Certified Peer Support Specialist and support patients coming in for any substance use disorders. I am giving back to the community and share about the beautiful life in recovery. I have my family and life back. I'm grateful for this gift of sobriety. Wellbriety is amazing and walking the Red Road is a blessing! Ahéhee
Thank you so much for sharing, Maria, and to everyone who sent in their stories!
There are still 2 more kits available for the giveaway. For your chance to receive one of these kits, please go to tinyurl.com/talkingcirclekitgiveaway to send in your personal recovery story to be shared.
Each entry should be between 100 and 500 words. Winners will be announced on September 20, and 27. To be considered for the week's giveaway, responses must be uploaded no later than 10:00 AM MDT on Thursdays. These responses will be shared on Facebook and Instagram as part of our Wellbriety Month social media campaign, so please make sure not to share any information in your response that you aren't comfortable with others seeing. Please note, responses generated with AI will be disqualified from selection.
For questions, please contact the White Bison office at 719-548-1000, or by e-mail at [email protected].
