Alexis Chapman

The Civil Wars

Alexis Chapman — Sat, 21 May 2011 21:12:04 +0000

I haven’t been blogging here in a little while – it may be time to close this blog down. I haven’t decided yet. For the moment ~ I can be found here:

WomanInRecovery

Music For The Moment

Eminem “Cleanin’ Out My Closet”

Alexis Chapman — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:33:51 +0000

Again – his reality spelled out for the word to see. We all have skeletons. Note: this is no reflection on my personal experience with my parents – my Mom & Dad have been supportive of my Recovery from Day 1.

Eminem “When I’m Gone”

Alexis Chapman — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:28:01 +0000

He’s hard core at times, misunderstood the majority of the time but he speaks his truth & that’s what comes through.

Katy Perry E.T.

Alexis Chapman — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 07:39:12 +0000

I find that a little Katy Perry puts an extra spring in my step for the day.

Awakening

Alexis Chapman — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 05:44:02 +0000

Wow, it has been a long time since I have paid this poor blog any attention. I feel like a neglectful parent. To say that life has been amazingly busy is an understatement. It’s not unusual for personal things to be set aside when professional things are on the upswing. My career (Holy Crap! does that make an adult?) has become exactly that – a career.

I have had many jobs over the course of my life but the work that i am doing now is, hands-down, the most fulfilling I’ve ever done. I have been given the means to educate myself about the Recovery field, while under the guidance of an amazing Mentor. It isn’t usual for individuals to work in an environment where they are understood and cared about as a human being. For example, my computer was having tech issues and my emails did not go through to my client for a few days. She went out of her way to email my sister to make sure that I was o.k. She didn’t inquire about updates on projects not being sent or why status updates on ongoing projects weren’t sent in – she was concerned about my overall well being. How amazing is that!

So all in all life is pretty good. The family pack is still making forward motion towards our homestead in Arizona, a move that can’t happen quickly enough for all parties that are involved. Being witness to the evolution of my pack, watching all of the members become more empowered, is a true blessing.

For now that is all – but I won’t leave you without a song – the artist Adele has the most amazing voice. She has become a household favorite. This song speaks to me – of what love will be like when the Power’s That Be decide that I am ready. Sappy – yes, honest- yes, sincere – yes. It is the first day of Spring, a time for blossoming, awakening and feeling the power and majesty of Mother Nature. The moon last night was testament to the beauty this world has to offer.

New Venture For Recovery

Alexis Chapman — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 23:09:40 +0000

I decided to start a blog totally devoted to recovery:

www.womaninrecovery.wordpress.com

Because I Think It’s Funny Eddie Izzard Cake Or Death!

Alexis Chapman — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 19:14:55 +0000

Just For The Sake Of Having A Lil’ Joan Baez

Alexis Chapman — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 03:34:06 +0000

Progress Not Perfection

Alexis Chapman — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 03:28:46 +0000

The saying “we practice progress, not perfection” can be heard at almost any recovery meeting. What does this saying mean? To me it means that I continue forward motion. This past week hasn’t been an easy one, I have felt tore up from the floor up in regards to my work. I have felt undervalued and disrespected and all around rather shitty. In the past, my reaction to not being treated how I thought I should have been treated would have resulted in using. Any excuse to use was welcomed and doesn’t it make perfect sense to use when you have been “fired” or “let go”? I just couldn’t seem to make anyone happy this past week, literally for one week, Tuesday till Tuesday. I didn’t use. That was more of an accomplishment then I gave myself credit for.

Those three words are a life saver for me, literally. If I use, I will die. Therefore I prevented my untimely demise this past week by practicing progress not perfection. I wasn’t perfect, but I did have forward motion. I didn’t cry, didn’t flip out, didn’t destroy anything and didn’t let the rage that sits inside like a sleeping beast have a party and rage till the cows came home. Nope, I acted like a *gasp* adult. I sat and contemplated what had occurred… realized it wasn’t the end of the world… and decided that even though it was a wrench thrown in the cogs of my machine I would survive.

I may not be the next Hemingway of blogging…. and I’m o.k. with that. I am one half of TooBusyGals.com and my work is of value… and I didn’t use today.

Progress not perfection… my mantra for the moment!

But For The Grace Of God Go I

Alexis Chapman — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 05:41:08 +0000

I saw a man today begging for change at an intersection. I witnessed the looks that people gave him, or I should say the way that most people attempted to avoid looking in his general direction. As he stood there, with his head held up to ask the cars passing by for change, with his cup held in his hand you could see the pride. Not everyone has what it takes to ask someone to spare a dime. It was when the cars continued to pass him by that you could see his face start to fall, knowing that at that moment society was ignoring him.

How easy it is to ignore those that stand on the corners of our society. As long as they aren’t in our neighborhoods and as long as we don’t have to interact with these individuals then we, the civilized people, are safe. Interesting concept. I would like to think that we are just a few bad decisions away from becoming exactly like those individuals.

Being in recovery, I use the phrase “but for the grace of God go I” a great deal. I made so many choices that landed me in places that were not pretty. That is why I consider this life to be such a blessing, even the dark parts of it. But I am hardly a Saint; because, even I did not stop to give this gentleman some spare change.

Maybe he will be at the same corner tomorrow…