Lenni & Chris Garin

The entire project, Soul of an Addict, was initially inspired by a book I am currently writing.  The book is being written from two perspectives; first, from the perspective of someone who has loved an addict, and secondly, as someone who has been an addict.  I put them in this order because I have been sober for the past 22 years.  I was an alcoholic and a drug addict.  My journey, as the addict, is not second in priority; it’s just second in my focus.  Loving an addict has been a long journey that is constantly evolving and never finished, for there seems to be a divine magnet that continuously brings addicts into our lives; addicts we can’t help loving because there is something special that radiates through their addiction.

As with many addicts and alcoholics I can share endless stories of devastation, depression, failure, and experiences that almost lead to my death.  I do believe in Divine Intervention and without the inspiration of my 3 year old daughter, Lisha, who is now 26, I’m not sure I would have survived.  All I know is that she was the catalyst for me to seek the much needed help to overcome my addictions 22 years ago.  

The Divine Intervention that lead to my sobriety, also lead to a series of events that started my path of working with addicts and alcoholics.  Shortly after graduating from treatment I started to create guided imagery meditations that initially were created for addicts.  I was a “crazy thinker” and becoming mentally quiet was almost impossible.  Creating a peaceful state of mind was nothing I could do without great effort, and I rarely succeeded at stopping the mental dialogue that lead to inevitable chaos.  Traditional meditation was impossible for me.  Through the inspiration and guidance of my CD counselor, I began creating guided imagery meditations.  The last 21 years I have used guided imagery meditations to help people in treatment facilities as well as individual counseling sessions.  The topics and content of the meditations are used to help people overcome a myriad of challenges that lead to many difficulties in life, including addiction.

I was ordained several years ago and started speaking on diverse spiritual subjects.  Although I have spent several years counseling with people in need of individual help, our primary mission has been to reach alcoholics and addicts, as well as people who are intimately involved in the lives of addicts and alcoholics. 

Chris has been sober for over 18 years.  Although he graduated with honors, with a degree in psychology, the wisdom he has gained through life experiences as a recovered drug addict and alcoholic is more valuable than his degree.  He has worked in a more intimate setting with alcoholics and addicts by helping them find work while they were in their recovery programs.  It’s difficult for an addict/alcoholic to get any type of work when they are in the infant stages of recovery.  In some cases they have lost their license and cannot drive to work, court dates are pending due to the negative ramifications of using, and rarely will a healthy sober person feel comfortable giving an addict a job.  Chris has repeatedly put himself in an environment of working side by side with young men who not only need his guidance to stay employed, but his wisdom to stay sober.

Chris’ philosophy is not all about work.  He has also created a very important bond with individuals in recovery sharing the peace and satisfaction of a great day of fishing on one of the many wonderful lakes in Minnesota.  It would be an understatement to say that Chris has taught the simplicity of meditation at the end of a fishing pole.

Chris is Lisha’s stepfather and the father of our severely handicapped 15 year old son Taylor.  Taylor is legally blind, medically fragile, in a wheelchair, cannot speak or care for himself in any way.  Our lives are incredibly difficult because Taylor has constant medical challenges.  However, our lives are also incredibly blessed because Taylor is the greatest teacher we have ever known.  He communicates through a beautiful smile, a gentle touch, and an amazing aura of unconditional love.  There is no doubt that if we were both still using Taylor would not have survived the years of life and death challenges he has faced.  

Sadly, we have worked with addicts that have failed, which, like John, cost them their lives.  We have also worked with addicts who have made it; those who have applied positive spiritual life principals to their lives and are now living successful, meaningful lives.

We have faced many obstacles and challenges during our 21 plus years of sobriety.  Our dedication to helping addicts, and those involved in the lives of addicts continues to be one of our primary missions as human beings, and spiritual beings.  Nothing was as painful as losing John.  However, through his death a new and powerful inspiration emerged pushing us to finish writing the Soul of an Addict, and to design Soul of an Addict recovery programs, reading materials, support groups and other tools for addicts, alcoholics, and those involved in the lives of addicted individuals.

It is our mission to give a spiritual home to those who are seeking wisdom that cannot be defined in orthodox traditional terms; either through religion or old structured treatment models.  It is not our goal, or desire to convert anyone to our way of thinking, or to challenge religion or traditional treatment programs that work for those who are doing those programs.  It IS our mission to reach out to those who cannot find peace by following old traditional beliefs.  It IS our mission to hopefully inspire a new generation of recovering individuals with a message of empowerment; the spiritual empowerment to embrace and change their lives forever.