New Directions for Women Challenges You to a Conversation

Of the many lessons learned from the November 8th US Presidential Election, the nationand the worldlearned that the best of choices can be extremely difficult to make, and not automatically better. When the Surgeon General released his November 17th Report Facing Addiction in America on Alcohol, Drugs, and Healthinteresting that those are listed in that order - we also learned that more than one aspect of our great America is definitely not working. The results of these two November occurrences helped the United Statesand the worldfurther solidify the splash in the face realization that a massive change is needed, and long overdue.

But what kind of change? We are America, the melting pot of the world, proud of the label that promotes freedom of speech and free choice, endowing its citizens the innate right to home, health, peace, prosperity, liberty and justice for all. We are an increasingly diverse and complex population of ethnicities, viewpoints, backgrounds, religions, beliefs, experiences, desiresand ideas of what changes need to be made. Change is typically not comfortable, smooth, or easy. But without it, we stay stuck. We remain in the same place. That is, until some unexpected, unexplained, beyond our control event happens to rock us, rattle our core, shake us off our complacent cushions, and force us to lift our heads out from under the sand.

We are living in one of those times. A time of addiction, suffering, outrage, shock, and unforeseeable futures. Our nation is facing an epidemic of addiction on multiple levels. Weve reached an opiate epidemic unseen in the history of mankind. And its not just an addiction to opiates; its not just an overdose epidemic. Its a Substance Use Disorder epidemic affecting millions of men, women, and children. So, why are we in an epidemic? Have we become addicted to suffering? Have we created a hole in the soul of America?

If we can agree on one outcome of November 2016, it is that in order to see a better day, we have to identify what it is that we want. We have to use our voice. We have to show up. We have to pay attention. We have to take care of our neighbor. We have to be willing to come together. And we have to be ready to have a conversation.

In the early 1800s, if you were invited to dine at the White House with President Thomas Jefferson, you were in the company of thought leaders and influencers from a variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds, fields, and contradictory beliefs. In the dining room, you would have found a round tableso that there would be no one at its head (and) without an assigned seat, in a careful attempt to avoid the parade of rank and hierarchy so typical of the European monarchy to which (Jefferson) so strenuously objected. (You) came to work in a spirit of avowed misunderstanding, without the smallest wish to agree. While engaging in a single conversation, with only one person speaking at a time, Jefferson and his guests were able to unlock the power of their collective wisdom.

Jeffersons dinner conversations are credited with saving our nations early republic. New Directions for Women, a world renowned Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Center in Costa Mesa, California, is willing to continue the conversation. And we challenge you to join us at New Directions for Womens Jeffersonian Dinners, a new cause-centered community committed to hosting bi-monthly round table conversations that are all inclusive, thought provoking, and forward moving. Topics will include: general addiction, chronic pain, medication, abstinence based care, best practices, and more. We want you, the decision makers, health providers, the US Surgeon General, fellow care partners and providers, industry leaders, thought leaders, holistic providers, therapists, government officials, Eastern and Western professionals and experts, physicians, ASAM certified doctors, Orange County Womens Health Initiative, authors, health insurance companies, and those you would like to invite. All perspectives are welcome.

So, are you willing and ready to speak up? Are you willing to come together? Its time. Its time to awaken. Its time to speak up. Its time to engage. Its time to come to the table and have a conversation. Well provide refreshments. You provide a voice, an ear, and an open mind with the intention to find the commonality in our humanity, to create the country you want America to become, to heal the hole in the soul of America. Feel free to reach out to me at rflood@newdirectionsforwomen.org for more information.

All Tyranny needs to gain a foothold, is for people of good conscience to remain silent. ~ Thomas Jefferson