The Joy of Sponsorship

BRC Recovery I was told that the key to happiness in sobriety was helping others. The way I understood that statement was this: As soon as I discharged from BRC Recovery I was going to get at least 8 men to sponsor and all of them were going to remain sober because of me. I could not have been more wrong! I was sober for more than a year before another man asked me to take him through the 12 steps. At first I despaired over the fact that no one was approaching me to get some of what I […]

The Power of Surrender

I sat through a lecture at an addiction treatment conference As I sat through a lecture at an addiction treatment conference last year, I listened to a respected professional in the field speak about empowerment. She stated that the primary goal of the treatment center at which she worked was to empower clients. I often hear this language used to describe part of the mission and vision of a recovery program. I spoke with one clinician who told me that empowerment and choice were two of the main principles that every treatment program should promote. If by empowerment we are […]

There is a Solution

Growing Up In A Town Growing up in a town right outside of Boston, MA, I always felt like I was shielded from the most dangerous elements of society and safe from harm. Warm summers, cool falls, snowy winters and crisp springs made New England one of the best places to live. Leaving home and heading to college at 18, I was about to embark on a journey that would eventually land me in Austin, TX at BRC Recovery. “Did you see the paper this morning? Seven more deaths due to overdoses.” This question, followed by harsh news, became my […]

2015 BRC Alumni Reunion Recap

October 10, 2015 We are grateful to all of our alumni, family, and friends that joined us on October 10, 2015 for an unforgettable evening, full of fun and fellowship, as we celebrated recovery together with our first ever alumni group photo. If you were one of the few that unfortunately missed this jubilee here’s a quick rundown of events… Guests enjoyed mouthwatering Pappasito’s fajitas, create-your-own cupcakes by The Cupcake Bar, a mechanical bull, the infamous photobooth, a bouncy house, and face painting. Marsha Stone, CEO, gave her annual “State of the Union” address during the opening ceremony which included […]

Finding Stillness

The mind is a marvelous mechanism “The mind is a marvelous mechanism,” to quote a friend Bill W. It can be a useful tool or a nagging liability, depending on the degree of inner stillness I am experiencing. Through the spiritual path outlined by the 12 Steps, I have learned that in order for me to be able to trust and use my mind effectively, there are certain actions that have to be taken and attitudes adopted. Once I have cleaned house (meaning taken the necessary actions to be freed of the destructive power of resentment, fear, and made amends) […]

It’s Hard to Hate Up Close

My name is Marsha Stone, and I am a person in long term recovery. I am gratefully sober and serene today, but this was not always the case. For years I was in and out of rehabilitation facilities, desperately trying to arrest my illness, all the while, hurting friends and families alike with the collateral damage associated with alcoholism. There are so many misconceptions in this country and throughout the world about what addiction means, and further about what recovery means. Many see alcoholism and addiction as an illness of the weak willed, a moral failing of some sort, and […]

Anniversaries and Old T-Shirts

Mark Houston Recovery I was cleaning out my closet the other day and my eyes rested on all the work shirts I have. Short sleeves, long sleeves, button downs, hoodies, even tie dyes- all with Mark Houston Recovery or Benchmark Recovery Center monogrammed smartly on them. When I look at those shirts I am reminded of years of hard work, love and sacrifice. Tears of joy and tears of sorrow have been cried in those shirts. August 2009 I was pulling into the HEB on Hwy 620 in Round Rock. I received a text from Mark Houston inquiring whether I […]

A Parent’s Perspective: Raising Your Children is Never Easy

Raising your children is never an easy task, but when you know they are in trouble and you can’t fix things, your heart shatters. I remember clearly the day my son said, “I need help Mom and I am ready for rehab.” I can’t begin to express all the thought’s going on in my mind at that time. Being a nurse I immediately started “the research project”…calling rehabs everywhere sometimes late at night with tears running down my face. Nothing felt right until I called BRC Recovery, formerly Mark Houston Recovery, and the voice on the other end of the […]