I look forward to seeing some of the photos from the travel wrestling cup. Which other countries will be participating this year?
There is news on the paper on our smoking cessation study in Congress 60. The editor informed me yesterday that our paper will be published in the next issue which will be out in early 2016. His email noted that there may be minor revisions he will request but he has not let me know what kind of revisions he has in mind. I will keep you informed when I hear from him again.
Our minds are in close sync on the need to focus on solutions. In the addictions arena, you can describe the darkness (addiction pathology) or the light (addiction recovery). We are kindred spirits in our choice of the latter. At this point in my life, I have little interest in theories of addiction or the endless detailing of addiction’s destructive effects. And you are right about the role addiction treatment organizations, for their own financial benefit, have played in focusing on these negative images of addiction to support their funding. What interests me now are not these negative images but how people are freeing themselves and going on to live fulfilled lives of service to their families and communities. Congress 60 is built on that vision—a vision that thousands have now achieved across Iran. That is what we must carry to the rest of the world.
I would be happy to offer what help I can in helping you write up a manual on how others could replicate some of the core activities within Congress 60. That could be quite a legacy for you to leave the world. As for the idea of an international addiction
recovery academy, I would be happy to discuss this with you and to help link you to people from other countries who might be potential collaborators.
I also wanted to let you know that I hope to write one of my weekly recovery blogs on Congress 60. I assume you will be fine with that, but wanted to mention it to you before I begin work on it.
Rita and I continue to plan our driving trip north to help celebrate my mother’s 93rd birthday. It will be a great joy for us to be with her for this milestone.
My very best to you, your family, and all members of Congress 60.
Friends and Brothers Forever,
Bill