My niece is getting married a few days before Christmas and both of a friend’s twin sons are tying the knot within days of each other shortly after Christmas. I’m happy to share in celebrating these new couples as they start a new chapter of life with each other.
The new groups that have graduated from Bartholomew County’s drug recovery programs WRAP (Women Recovering with a Purpose), REALM (Recovery Enables a Life for Men) and BART (Begin, Accept, Reveal, Transform) are also starting a new chapter in their lives and deserve to be celebrated too.
When a couple gets married, we give gifts and advice to help them make this transition successfully. My niece and my friend’s sons are all in their early 20s, so they are not only beginning life with a spouse but are also moving more fully into adulthood with so much of life ahead of them.
The drug recovery program graduates are all at different stages of life, but they are all ready to move on to a life without drugs. These programs have provided support and advice to help the graduates make this change and both the WRAP and REALM programs continue to provide assistance to the participants to help them maintain their new way of life. Not only do the graduates get to start a new life, but their families do also.
You may not be getting married or recovering from a drug addiction, but you can create your own new beginning — big or small, serious or lighthearted. 2022 is coming to a close, and the opening of a new year is a good time to consider where you would like a fresh start. Is there something you would like to start doing or something you want to change?
Perhaps you want to try new recipes or different types of cuisine. You could look for recipes online, check out cookbooks from the library, or go to new restaurants. Maybe you want to find ways to travel and visit new places or just explore closer to home. You could sign up for one of the architecture tours here in Columbus or go to one of Indiana’s state parks.
Other fresh starts could involve cleaning out a closet and donating items you no longer use.
You’ll end up with more space and your items will find a new home. How about starting a gratitude jar? Every day write down something you are thankful for and put it in a jar. At the end of the year, read through all the things you wrote down to remember those bright points in your days.
Maybe it’s time to reexamine your patterns of behavior. Do you need to cut down on your use of social media and spend more time connecting with people in person? Is there someone you need to forgive? You could follow the example of the recovery graduates and reach out for help with your challenges. Perhaps you need help with your physical or mental health, your home or yard, or managing your money. Asking for help may give you the push to make a needed change.
Whatever situation you are in, I encourage you to find one way to have a new beginning this coming year and start a new chapter in your own life.
Susan Cox is one of The Republic’s community columnists, and all opinions expressed are those of the writer. She is an avid reader, an outdoor enthusiast, a mother, a grandmother, and an adjunct instructor of English at IUPUC. She can be reached at [email protected].
