Ron’s Recovery Story (As It Progresses)

With some frequency, followers of Progressive Recovery ask where to go to hear Ron’s Recovery Story. Truth be told, as more continues to be revealed, his understanding of himself and his recovery continues to evolve. The audio items that follow represent that evolution. He shares his experience, strength and hope starting most recently in 2024 at a conference as a Sunday Speaker and telling his story, as well as his understanding of Emotionally Sober Relationships in a workshop. Prior to that you’ll see a 2020 conference workshop on Emotional Sobriety, then another conference workshop on Meditation from 2016, and finally his full recovery story, also from 2016.  

As always, take what you like, and pass it on to others.

Ron’s Story (2024)

During thirty-eight years immersed in the Twelve Steps, and in more recent years adding a more expansive recovery and spirituality foundation, I realized it was time to really emphasize hope. Especially because of all the incredible potential and possibilities I've seen blossoming in others who have been on Progressive Recovery journeys. At a state convention, I began with the backstory to recovery, but much of what then follows focuses on the ways in which thriving has become a new normal in recovery. I’ve never been more enthused by the way of recovery, and as the benefits continue to mount and the promises become more and more fulfilled, it seems all the more useful to talk others through the Twelve Steps in ways that allow them to take their recovery still further.

Emotionally Sober Relationships Workshop (2024)

In 1957, Bill W published a piece called “The Next Frontier”. In that writing, the co-founder of AA proposed the idea of Emotional Sobriety as an aspirational future for the program and for recovery. Central to this idea is guidance to look to what Bill called “crippling dependencies." With the help of excellent sponsorship and spiritual advisors, I was able to use Expectations Inventory to get to the causes and conditions of a wide range of relationship difficulties. Over the years, it has proven to be so powerful for many in recovery, that it has become a routine practice. This workshop covers the essentials of emotional sobriety while weaving in the Twelve Steps as well as an approach to inventorying expectations to aid us in healing relationships. Please note there are a few segments where the sound system fades, but it returns to normal after a few minutes.

Workshop on Emotional Sobriety (2020)

In 2020, I was asked to share my recovery story with emotional sobriety at the Oceanfront Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It gave me an opportunity to talk about much of what happened after I got physically sober. Especially to focus on being emotionally and psychologically well after more than thirty-five years in sobriety. More importantly, to explain how emotional sobriety can come to anyone through working the Twelve Steps progressively and at greater and greater depth.

Meditation Workshop (2016)

All the way back in 1985 at the beginning of my sobriety, my first sponsor told me something unusual. Patrick said, “Since our problem is lack of power, and the 11th Step is to improve our conscious contact with that power, you can start working with meditation just as soon as you want.” Because of all the practice that resulted, around 2008 I started getting invitations to lead meditation workshops. In 2016, I was asked to share my recovery story with meditation at the Oceanfront Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was an excellent opportunity to pass on to others what had become so valuable to me in my recovery.

Ron’s Story (2016)

At thirty years in recovery, I realized I could no longer talk about myself as a broken alcoholic. I knew I was still powerless over alcohol, but three decades of progressive practice of the Twelve Steps had really healed much of what had been damaged within me and in my life. It became necessary to begin to tell my story as a long-time-sober and reasonably-well older man. The opportunity to do so came about at this Oceanfront Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It made me uncomfortable to talk about being emotionally and psychologically well, yet it was so very important to do so … not just for me, but for a number of those in attendance.