I have been so swamped lately at work, working on obtaining a NLP Practitioner License, my website, and other odd adventures... that at times I need a little poke from my HP to remind me that I am doing well. Last week I got one of those pokes... a totally unexpected one... a very pleasant one but totally unexpected.

Last year at this time, I mentioned that I was asked to speak during "National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month," at a recovery facility in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I was so excited by it... and yes fearful as well... but this has been part of my dream... to speak about my life, my experiences, and to spread the word of recovery.

As the summer rolled along and the date drew closer, I hadn't heard from the organization and it started to worry me. I told them up front that I just couldn't take off work on an assumption and that I needed to have a firm confirmation and money in hand one month before the date. That one month deadline came and went and I never heard from them. Then when it dropped down within three weeks, I contacted them and told them that I couldn't commit to this project. It really tore me up... I so much wanted to do it... it was a dream of mine that was so close to becoming a reality.

Well, after that contact... they came out of hiding and tried everything to get me to go down and speak for them. I had the check in my hand within 72 hours... but I couldn't do it... I had to stand by my own personal boundaries and my self-respect. I mailed back their money and told them that I wished them well with their event but I just couldn't drop everything and be there.

Well... guess what? Last week they contacted me again and asked if I would please consider speaking at their event this time. I e-mailed them back and said that I didn't want to sound cocky or arrogant but this time I didn't want anything left to assumptions.

So I wrote, in detail, what needed to be done and the dates it needed to be done by... and they agreed. They really want me to speak at their event... it floored me. I know I have a heck of a story (I say that humbly) but except for minor speaking engagements around here, I have never spoken to a large group that is paying me a fair amount of money to tell my story.

In our conversations it came up that their facility and the recovery community in Hot Springs is excited to see me... they learned about me by some folks who have read my books... it is all been a very humbling experience... now hopefully, I won't fall flat on my face. LOL ( I think )

The miracles of recovery continue to fill me with gratitude as well as amazement... the journey has no end if we just keep moving along....

Dave