Donna Atkinson: Trying One Day at a Time

#60: Seven years ago, a therapist challenged Donna Atkinson to "try one day:" Try to not drink for one day and don't worry too much about the rest. At the time, Donna couldn't imagine a life without alcohol, but she made it through that first day, and that first night, and every subsequent day after that. One of her tools to stay sober was registering for CrossFit classes, which she started going to 3 times a week. Donna knew she couldn't show up hungover or be a no-show and waste the money she had already invested. Now as a CrossFit instructor and Phoenix volunteer herself, Donna is able to fill her own cup and create the joyous, welcoming spaces that she desperately needed in early sobriety. Tune into the episode to hear more of our conversation with Donna, including:

- Her higher power: relatedness and connectivity, and where she finds those spaces.
- How Donna's own experience of walking into spaces and not feeling safe or welcomed has made it her mission create spaces, specifically in CrossFit gyms, where everyone feels safe and included.
- The importance of recovering out loud.
- In recovery, Donna feels joyous, even on the hard days and when feeling painful emotions. That's her recovery in action.
- The hardest part of starting anything is getting through the door. That's why she makes her CrossFit classes fun and approachable, where everybody cheers each other on.
- Sobriety does not have to look a certain way to call yourself sober. It's unique to each person and that's what makes our community so special.
- You don't have to hit rock bottom to decide to be sober. For Donna, she didn't give up drinking until 1.5 years after her 'rock bottom.' It was when she realized that life was too short.

If you're in the Ithaca, NY area, check out Donna's Phoenix CrossFit classes: https://thephoenix.org/find-a-class/in-person/

Follow Donna on Instagram @fitsober

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If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health or substance use related crisis, the following resources can provide immediate help.*

If you are experiencing a medical/mental health emergency, dial 911.

• Dial 988 for the SAMSHA Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.  Available 24/7
• Text “HOME” to 741-741 for the NAMI Crisis Text Line.  Available 24/7
• Dial 1-800-622-2255 to connect with a nearby treatment center & community resources through NCADD Hope Line. Available 24/7
• Call/text 1-844-326-5400 for The GSCA CARES Warm Line.  Answered by Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialists with lived experience of SUD.  Available any day of the year, 8:30am-11pm EST

*Note: The resources listed are provided for informational purposes only.  This list is not comprehensive and does not constitute an endorsement by The Phoenix or the Rise Re

Join the Phoenix community & sign up for classes with a single click by downloading The NewForm app! In the app, you can connect with Liz, Bryce and other listeners in The Rise Recover Live Podcast Group. Let us know what you thought about today's episode, and what you'd like to hear in future shows! We can't wait to chat with you there.

Learn more about The Phoenix, sign up for classes, or become a volunteer at https://thephoenix.org/ .

Find us on Instagram at @riserecoverlive