One of the most useful tools for someone recovering from addiction is developing an attitude of gratitude.

Which is why, this week, our clients and counsellors have been out in nature collecting branches to create beautiful trees for everyone to hang messages of gratitude in celebration of World Mental Health Day.

Here are just some of the messages…

I’m grateful for my peace, my health and my life.

I’m grateful for my babies.

I’m grateful for being grateful.

I’m grateful for my recovery, my health, my dog, music and my family.

We believe being grateful is a super-power available to everyone. It represents a mindset of thankfulness and appreciation, which can powerfully and positively affect our health and well-being.

By using real branches to represent trees, we are connecting with nature and symbolising growth, resilience, and the beauty that emerges from small, simple things—just like the recovery process itself.

There is so much to be grateful for. Perhaps you already practice gratitude by writing a daily list. Perhaps you thank a higher power or the universe for the things you have, like loved ones, friends, family, food, heating, or a roof over your head.

Speaking of the roof over our head, there is still time to sign up for St Albans Sleepout, which is a fun and amazing opportunity to raise money for us.  

Participants are sleeping outside to fight homelessness and its causes on Friday, 8^th November at Oaklands College, and we’d love you to sign up too.

We take part every year alongside four homeless charities because addiction and homelessness often go hand-in-hand and become a vicious circle.

Join in the fun by wrapping up warm for a night of music, entertainment, workshops… and a bit of a reality check. This will be the most memorable thing you do all winter.

We are grateful to everyone who has signed up already and there is still time if you would like to join in too. Taking part raises vital money that goes straight into our counselling rooms to provide professional help to adults and their families who are living with addiction.

These very same people may have once been homeless due to a life-threatening addiction, but thanks to your support and donations, they are now our wonderful clients harbouring an attitude of gratitude on World Mental Health Day.