Redefining Recovery

Shared Wisdom
"The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice." — Peggy O'Mara

Pocket Reminder
The voice you use toward yourself was learned. That means it can also be unlearned.

- Daily Wellness

What you experienced is a very human response to a very real threat.

When severe weather strikes close to home, especially when it impacts the communities where we live and the people we love, our brains don't experience it as "just a storm." We experience uncertainty, danger, and a loss of control all at once. Hearing tornado warnings, tracking storm paths, wondering whether family members are safe, and seeing reports of damage can trigger intense emotions—including fear, anxiety, helplessness, grief, and even guilt when others are affected more severely than we are.

For many in Northwest Indiana and Illinois, this outbreak was not a distant news story. It moved through familiar roads, neighborhoods, schools, churches, and businesses. When tornadoes threaten places like Portage, Burns Harbor, Chesterton, and surrounding communities, it is natural to think, "What if it hits someone I love?" or "What if people are hurt?" That concern reflects connection and compassion, not weakness.

You may also notice lingering reactions after the immediate danger has passed:

* Replaying weather alerts or radar images in your mind
* Feeling jumpy when hearing thunder, sirens, or heavy rain
* Constantly checking weather updates
* Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
* Feeling emotionally drained, tearful, or irritable
* A strong urge to help affected communities

These reactions are common after experiencing or witnessing a potentially traumatic event. They are often the nervous system's way of processing what happened and regaining a sense of safety.

At the same time, there is another side to this story: people paid attention to warnings, sought shelter, checked on neighbors, and communities immediately began helping one another. Amid fear and uncertainty, there were also resilience, preparedness, and compassion.

As you process the events of the past few days, it may help to:

* Acknowledge your emotions rather than dismissing them.
* Limit doom-scrolling while staying informed through trusted sources.
* Connect with family, friends, or community members about your experience.
* Engage in grounding activities that help your body recognize that the immediate threat has passed.
* Channel concern into action, whether through volunteering, donating, or supporting affected neighbors.

Fear during a tornado outbreak is not an overreaction. It is an appropriate response to a genuine threat. The fact that you felt concern not only for yourself but also for your family and community speaks to the depth of your care for the people and places you call home. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do after a disaster is simply recognize: "That was scary, and it affected me."

And for many people across Northwest Indiana and Illinois, it truly did. ❤️

As Mental Health Awareness Month concludes and Men’s Mental Health Month continues, it is important to remember that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Individuals and families affected by su***de loss often face a unique grief journey that can benefit from connection with others who understand. The Portage Recovery Association is offering a free Su***de Bereavement Support Group for adults (18+) on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 5:30–7:00 PM in Portage.

Community support can be a meaningful part of the healing process.

Please share this resource with anyone who may benefit.

💜 Together, we can reduce stigma, increase connection, and support mental wellness in our community.

***deBereavement

🩵💙 Woman’s Club Wednesday 💙🩵
Join us monthly in learning about the history of the Valparaiso Woman’s Association through information from the 100th Anniversary book of the club compiled in 1995!

In the spring of 1965, Mrs. Carroll Sievers was installed as president, the first daughter of a past president (Mrs. George Harrison) to be so honored. Bus trips to Chicago and special events such as the flower show in Chicago and Brown County in the fall, etc, were begun in 1965. With substantial help from Mrs. Hattie Pierce, the Woman's Club sent a high school student, Carol Reuter, on the Students Affairs Tour to the United Nations and Washington, DC. Two new silver coffee pots were acquired with trading stamps, the kitchen drastically remodeled, and a new automatic gas furnace installed. If any one accomplishment of the year 1966-67 can be singled out, it would be the newly organized Community Improvement Committee with Mrs. Paul Johnson as chairman. This committee met many times with leaders from other organizations to plan for a better community. The first tangible evidence of its work was the beautification of the strip along West Lincolnway. The Woman's Club donated $100 to this along with other personal donations from members. More ideas have been presented and will be followed closely.
The Memorial Opera House was completely remodeled and the Woman's Club gave $100 towards the purchase of new seats. Mrs. Grover Hinkle was made a fifty-year honorary member at the Anniversary in 1966 and Mrs. Lorenzo Smith in 1967.
Mrs. Bruce Zimmerman and Mrs. Alice Clifton cleaned the paintings and rehung them and Mrs. Hinkle compiled the history and other information relative to them and this was put in plastic holders on the back of the paintings.
The ghosts of many years (and the dust) were thoroughly disturbed when Mrs. Herman Hesse, house chairman, and Mrs. Sievers cleaned the attic. A truck load of junk was hauled away.
New carpeting was laid in the upstairs hall. A new kitchen stove was purchased with profits from the bus trips. Mrs. Sievers donated good dining room furniture to the club. Mrs. E. G. Osborne, a fifty-year member, and six other valued members were lost by death.

Today marks the anniversary of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935 and honors cofounder Dr. Bob Smith, whose last drink on June 10, 1935, is widely recognized as the beginning of AA.

Dr. Bob remained sober for more than 15 years and devoted his life to helping others find recovery. Through his work at Akron City Hospital, he carried a message of hope to thousands of individuals and families affected by alcoholism.

This weekend, thousands of AA members from around the world will gather in Akron, Ohio, for Founders Day Weekend. The annual event includes speakers, historical tours, fellowship, and a celebration of the recovery message that continues to help people one day at a time.

If you're interested in learning more about the history of recovery and Alcoholics Anonymous, visit aa.org and read "Dr. Bob's Nightmare" from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Recovery is possible. Hope is real.

Note: This photo was taken at the Akron Intergroup Office during a recent visit to Akron. The stained-glass window depicts Dr. Bob and Bill W. visiting "Alcoholic Number Three"—the person often recognized as the first to achieve sobriety through the AA program. The piece was created by AA members and hangs in front of a window at the Akron Intergroup Office, serving as a beautiful reminder of the principles of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love that helped shape the early fellowship.