Hey Chris,

It"s one of your Montana graduates. I just got "homesick" for you all and visited the website. I hope you are all fine. I was glad to see Audrey is still with you. She remains to this day, one of my favorite people, and always will be. What a joy she is, and what joy she gives. I am alive, happy, and in a good recovery pattern. I attend four twelve-step meetings a week, and find that I am finally learning the skills to live my own truth in this world. My husband and my 2 boys are wonderful. The last two years since I graduated from Passages have been very eventful; not easy, but I"ve certainly become a student of recovery. I just wanted you all to know, Gert, Anna, Ranjit, Pax, and the rest of your staff as well as yourself, that I consider my time at Passages to be irreplaceable. I found I wanted to stay alive while there, and that there was a place for me in this world. My spirituality has grown into the foundation on which I stand, and my intuition, empathy, and understanding towards others and myself is truly a gift that I enjoy now. It helps me feel joy, instead of wounding me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Continue to do your good works. I believe I will return just to visit someday. If you can share this with Audrey, please tell her I can feel her from here!

With Much Love and Gratitude,
XXXXXX


Dear Chris & Pax,

If everything happens for a reason, then I'm glad God made this happen. After only thirty days, 1 month, I can say that I have done more growing then I have ever done prior to Passages entering my life. I have gone through a change personally, mentally, and spiritually, and I can say that I have a freedom I have never possessed before, I have learned so much here and I have taken another step towards the person who I really am. Inside myself, I am grateful, not just for being here, but for knowing all of you. And becoming part of a family, which is something a tad strange to me. Not to sound as if I have never had a family, but this type of family where there are so many different people and no names for them. There is no mother, father, brother or sister, just friends becoming one unified group of people under one roof. This is, as AA knows it, a fellowship of men and women, and it is an incredible thing. It is amazing how loyal we have become to each other, and no matter what problem presented itself, every one of us in our own ways, had an answer and a way to get by the obstacle in front of us. I have overcome many obstacles going through here, one being my addiction, which is completely gone and I am not dependant on drugs any more. The other was my anger problem. I have never really got angry here, not to a point where it was a problem. My yelling on the tennis court is one thing, but I find it as normal. Even though anger is a natural feeling, with assertiveness and expressions of it through words, nobody will have to see me blow up anymore. I am very excited to get back to normal life, but this is also a sad and scary time. I am sad because I must leave my newfound family, but I will be in touch with every individual here as I want to keep this alive just as I hope all you do. The scary portion is that I must get back to normality and realize that I do have a life outside of it, but that I also need to realize where I am going with it and how to travel the road of the future. I can say one thing, though, heading off to college in a few months will not be as hard for me anymore because I learned so much here, the most important being independence. I learned to fend for myself and not depend on others to do things for me. I also learned the importance of communication. If a problem arose, I want to different people each time and asked what they thought I should do. Unfortunately, tough lessons were learned here too. I learned one of the toughest which is trust and the betrayal. But it also taught me how to cope with certain situations. There is so much to be said about Passages and what I learned, but I just want to say thank you, because without Passages I'd probably still be in a major fight with numerous people, including my parents. I am extremely grateful to have come here and wish all of you the best of luck in the future, even though I know we will all do great. Thank you for giving me this time and this graduation. And, in my own words, " I will keep coming back, because It worked when I worked it."

Love,
Brandon


Hello Chris!

I have been meaning to write you to let you know how I have been since I left Passages. You weren’t there the night I graduated to thank personally. My sincere apologies for not writing sooner. Gosh...where do I start? To say my life has changed is an understatement!! I am NOT the same person who walked through your doors Feb. 6th. I feel different, think different, and look different!

I knew when I was preparing to come there that a major shift was coming. I’m sure you know what I am talking about when I say I just KNEW. One doesn’t always know how or why, they just KNOW. I might have told you this; I shared it with Pax the night I graduated. It was as if Passages manifested into my life!

I have been sober for awhile (12 years) and have always been active in A.A. & N.A. during that time, but something seemed to be missing over the last few years. That deep connection to "All there is". The drugs prescribed after the surgeries (Totaling 12 in 6 years) were seriously affecting me. I felt lost. Physically, mentally and most importantly spiritually! So one day last fall, I sat down to have a "Heart to Heart" with God. Determined to go to any length as they say in the Big Book. I poured my heart out in prayer & waited for the answers in meditation. What I heard was: "Get CLEAR on what it is you are looking for"! So... I sat down with a legal pad & wrote exactly what I wanted! I wrote 6 pages, describing in detail what I needed. I wrote of counselors, nutritionists, hypnotherapy, metaphysical counselors and healers. Being a body/mind integration therapist myself, I also threw in massage as part of the program! When I was finished I said: "O.K. universe, this is what I need". Shortly thereafter I "found" Passages. A place exactly as I had envisioned!!!

After meeting you and reading your books, and listening to your CD (still do it every morning), I know this is perfectly normal to you. I just wanted you to know the profound shift in consciousness that had occurred while I was there. It continues today. I see people on a daily basis whose mouths drop open when they see me. They say; "What happened? You look awesome! It still blows me away. When I ask them what exactly is different, their response is always; EVERYTHING! Since I know physically I look pretty much the same, they must be responding to my vibrational pattern which is definitely NOT the same! I am so grateful to you, to Pax, and to all the staff at Passages for creating a very special healing environment. It has been a very precious gift to me. As I’m sure it has & continues to be to others. If someone had told me less than a year ago, that I would have been even considering going into a treatment facility with 12 years of sobriety I would have said "are you nuts"? But Passages isn’t your ordinary treatment facility is it? What I received there cannot even be measured! My sobriety is stronger & means more to me now than ever before. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! How I miss you all!

Namaste


Hi Chris and Pax:

Today marks my 30th day since graduation - a milestone of sorts. I started with a rigorous 60 minutes in a spin class (stationary bike), enjoyed a fabulous lunch at a beachfront restaurant with Monica, and finished a great book...I"d call that a perfect day!

I"ve been 100% clean and sober now for almost three months, the last two include the benefit of time well spent at Passages. I am so grateful that I found you, importantly, that you would open your doors to me and my family. I was able to completely trust your program and your staff because I felt safe, well cared for, and welcome.

I have my life back, maybe for the first time... I can take what life gives and I can find the value in the moment. I am truly free of an overwhelming childhood and a misunderstood past. Everyone is seeing a real difference in me. Thank you seems so inadequate, but it is all I have to offer. Please forward this note along to the entire staff, as they too deserve my deepest thanks.


Dear Chris,

Thank you! Thank you to you and your entire addiction treatment staff at Passages for having "saved J***'s life." I really believe that. First of all, about his spells, it has now been approximately a full month that J*** has been "spell free." For about the last several years, since J*** was in 8th grade, or a freshman at Military Academy, has he ever had even several days together without having spells, even while being in varsity wrestling and football. In the last year it has been many times a day, every day. Again, thank you for helping to provide a miracle to J*** and the entire family.

When I arrived at Passages a week ago Friday, I really was not a believer (yet). I was told that J*** wasn't having spells, but I really doubted that was true. I knew you had a "Country Club" atmosphere for all the patients and staff, but I didn't really know if Passages was for real. I came in with a bad attitude. J*** pointed that out to me right away. I was still MAD at J***, and I really didn't know if he had made any progress at all. All of your staff totally impressed me. They all really care. Two of your staff that made such an immediate impression on me were Pei Ju and Dr. Tim.

It was only after seeing and hearing how they interacted with J*** (and myself) and how much they really cared about J*** was I a true believer. Pei Ju helped to provide a miracle of J*** being "spell free" and beyond. She loves J*** and it really shows. I sat in on the two-hour session with Dr. Tim and J*** and found it incredible. I couldn't believe some of the answers and feelings that came out of my son. J*** convinced me that he really wants it and wants to change, is changing, and will continue to change. I believe J*** is truly an amazing young man, and I am so proud that he is my son - I always have been.
Passages is truly an amazing place and is "for real." Chris, thank you.

Best Wishes,
(Jxxx"s Dad)


Dear Chris,

Thank You for the quick response. It was so genuine and warm. I will definitely read your book. I'm sure you have read all the books written!

I am trying to finance the treatment and I am certain Passages is the best place for me, (probably every other living person with an addiction as well) I can"t even find a drug treatment center that is a close second. You are head and shoulders above the other treatment centers. I will hopefully be in touch with you soon if I am able to do the ($$$) part of it. Cross your fingers and concentrate really hard on a positive outcome.

I am sending along an attachment that struck a chord with me and have read a lot of info along these lines. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge on the subject. Your wisdom is priceless to someone like me. I’m a late bloomer and my problem began at age 40! The "why" part of it seems obvious to me but I"d like an educated professional’s assessment to have a greater chance of permanent success.

Thank You Chris for giving me so much of your time. Clearly, your heart and soul is devoted to helping people: and that in and of itself is a true inspiration.

Thanks again,
Kxxx


Dear Chris and Pax,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for creating the place that saved my life. I went from wanting to die for the last 13 years, to loving every aspect of my life in just about 3 weeks. I would never have believed that to be possible with the hell I was in before I found you guys, but now I am living proof! How many people get out of drug rehab and can"t wait to go back for a reunion? Only at Passages. You and all the staff are truly doing God"s work, and I want to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for giving me that greatest gift I have ever gotten, a happy life without dependency.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Rxxx