630 days sober: The Trini Foundation

Flo and Butler in Piedmont Park

This picture was taken a year ago today. On that afternoon Flo held a donation class for the Trini Foundation in Atlanta's Piedmont Park. We raised $400

"Trini Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the life-changing practice of Ashtanga yoga to those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. It's our mission to provide yoga as a tool to aide in the recovery process and help those who are suffering maintain long-term sobriety."

Flo and I both support the Trini Foundation because we know the power a disciplined yoga practice can have in supporting sobriety. She and I met when we both were struggling with alcohol addiction. Our sobriety and our practice has changed not only our bodies and brains, but our hearts.

For me, my practice led me to complete sobriety. I thought after getting help for my drug addiction I could continue to drink. In fact I believed drinking was the only way I could have a social life and friends. The truth was I was destroying my body, my mind and my relationships.
The care of loving teachers, a regular yoga practice and a stranger from afar led me out of my self afflicted darkness.

I was recently reminded the depth to which I hurt some people before I was sober. It hurts to remember how poorly I treated another human; its seems like a memory of another person. An addict's selfishness knows no bounds. I doubt I'll ever be able to mend all the wounds, but I do hope I can become a light in someone else's darkness and offer the love my teachers and community modeled for me. And like Taylor Hunt, be someone who can help at home and from afar.

September is National Recovery Month, and I'm raising $1000 for The Trini Foundation. I hope you'll consider giving.