Background

In 2010, Dick found himself trapped in a decades-long struggle with alcoholism, keeping his addiction hidden from loved ones, including his wife Bonnie. Overcoming shame, Dick decided to seek help, entering detox voluntarily. Initially resistant to traditional twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), he and Bonnie discovered the Recovery Group, which embraced mindfulness practices and meditation as an alternative approach.

Despite a typographical error indicating it was an eleven-step meeting, Dick attended the local mindfulness center, where he found solace in the 11th step of a twelve-step program. The supportive community, meditation sessions, and reflective silence resonated with him, and he felt a connection with “his people.” Excitedly, he shared the discovery with Bonnie, who remembered a positive experience with a mindfulness workshop a year prior.

Bonnie, familiar with the close connection between Buddhism, particularly Thich Nhat Hanh style, and Unitarian Universalists, eagerly joined Dick in exploring the mindfulness center. The center’s leader, Paul Norden, had previously conducted a workshop that resonated with Bonnie, creating a 70% overlap between their beliefs.

The following Sunday, Dick and Bonnie attended the two-hour program at the mindfulness center, involving sitting and walking meditation, as well as engaging with text passages. The comfortable atmosphere and the model of the program instantly appealed to both of them, marking the beginning of their journey towards recovery and mindfulness.