Lived experience plus Learned experience combined with Life experience do not make me unique
but have prepared me for my role helping those with Addictions and Mental Health concerns.
As an Addiction and Mental Health Professional, I recognize that addiction and poor mental health often lead to a degenerative state. Thereby negatively affecting a person's physical, psychological, social, and spiritual condition. The impact of alcohol and substance misuse, and mental health challenges on people and society, have inspired my desire to choose to be aligned with folks who practice evidence-based, spiritually informed approaches.
Authenticity
If one wishes to live authentically which is important to a holistic sense of well-being and encourages contentment, fulfillment, and positive self-esteem; align your actions with your true nature, and core beliefs and by doing so you are more likely to feel confident in your positions and self worth, which leads to feeling empowered to then pursue your passions.
Nuance of Agency
Oftentimes when in quiet contemplation one can manifest unanticipated insight and bestow upon oneself a more nuanced sense of agency; paired with action musings shift from a meditation providing better focus to achieve what might otherwise have previously been considered such a lofty goal so as to be unattainable.
Journeys vs Voyages
According to an ancient Chinese proverb "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Whereas a voyage begins in one port of call and with luck, the grace of God, and a fine ship & crew to help weather squalls, monsters, rocks and low tides, we find our way to a safe harbour, to then reprovision and head out once more in seek of new discoveries that may lead to contentment and perhaps even joy...
stuff
A recurring space called "the interviews". and some of my stuff, including some people and firms I have worked creatively with and for.
The Interviews
Session One
The Interviews
Session Two | Coming Soon
The Interviews
Session Three | Coming Soon
Dafydd Rwsel
Story Telling
David James Elliott
Digital Marketing and Consulting
Art? and Stuff...
Digital Art and Writings
Joy Berkson
Digital Marketing
Amanda Kirkland
Consulting
Jennifer Lynne Kennard
Graphic Design
About
Life is a voyage, here is a peek at my current and past ports of call..
Me in March of 1966
Toronto ON About Me
I was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, then, following the path of many, migrated west to Toronto.
One might think it an ambitious undertaking for a boy of three, but to be fair, I was chaperoned and not all alone.
An ambiguous childhood followed by several years toiling in the retail world of Footlocker, kneeling at the feet of folks in search of the latest pair of Nike, Reebok, and Asics Tigers.
Later, finding my way or stumbling, some might say, into sales and marketing, thinking,
Ahh... I have arrived. I have found my calling.
In its infancy, the Internet was ripe for all manner of pitches, albeit filled with many pitfalls.
Notwithstanding, soon enough, armed and ready with a repertoire to rival those of even the slickest of pitchmen, now it was me who hit the ground running. A concept was born, then nurtured, eventually blossoming into a boutique agency representing fortune 500 companies like Hewlett Packard, IMAX, and Internationally recognized organizations like The Smithsonian in Washington DC.
With success came dinner parties, and corporate events, plus lots of travel, a fast boat, even faster cars, and a taste of the good life.
Success may breed contempt for some; for me, those trappings led to susceptibility.
Then, an epiphany almost, the looking glass had exposed some truths leading me to some honest reflection about a face unrecognized staring back.
Where better, I thought to further investigate this revelation than where it all began, so I pointed my little red convertible east and headed for the Maritimes.
It’s true when you hear it said,
“you can’t go home”.
Still, after a visit with family and some quiet contemplation, I turned myself around to face a harsh easterly headwind finding myself Toronto-bound once more.
Upon my return, I began the work of reclamation in earnest and thus arrived here today.
David Russell, Addiction and Mental Health Professional, who for the past three years has focused my career path and academic pursuits on learning and developing those all-important skills required for this role. I aspire to empower others and improve clients' and their family's understanding of their circumstances and options, so they may better navigate their path to recovery.
After twenty-five-plus years in the marketing and advertising sector, I now seek more from life, one with perhaps more meaning.
Paying it forward, some say...
A funny thing about callings and destiny, oftentimes it seems we are unaware of them until we find ourselves in the thick of it.
After multiple layovers in Saint John, Vancouver and Montreal, today you can find me back in Toronto at Renascent, where, in the role of Family and Continuing Care Counsellor, I assist families and individuals who are navigating their voyages of recovery and reclamation, or you might catch up with me in my concurrent new role as Residential Relief Counsellor at Transition House.
Full circle, others might say...
David Russell • RSSW • AMHW • Addiction and Mental Health Professional + Indigenous Knowledge Seeker
The Story
Begins!
A Few Thoughts
david russell
"There it is... That Zen moment when the light goes on and a client's eyes light up, and you know you are doing exactly what you were meant to be doing and you smile."
― david russell, Thoughts from a session.
Bessel van der Kolk
"Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives." ― Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps The Score
Garth Stein
"That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves."
― Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain
Ocean Vuong
"Because the sunset, like survival, exists only on the verge of its own disappearing. To be gorgeous, you must first be seen, but to be seen allows you to be hunted."
― Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous.
"breathe in, breath out, repeat and focus." thank you! your welcome.
Have you ever questioned people who say different modalities of recovery are mutually exclusive of each other and the reason Harm Reduction and 12-Step can't work together? I asked Renascent's own David Elliott and Jake Nemett what they thought about that and more, in what I hope to be a recurring space called "the interviews". Have a read and see what we fleshed out.
Interviewees:
David Elliott and Jake Nemett
Category:
Addiction and Mental Health
•Blue is the New Black, Album Cover and Liner Notes Design.
Singer/songwriter and friend Jennifer Kennard, Canadian songstress who has made a wonderful and successfull life in Nashville, TN.
I have known Jennifer since her early days when she was just starting out on her now blossoming career.
Today with a publishing contract with Martina McBride's publishing company, Little Champion Music. Jennifer has had songs recorded on projects such as: Miranda Lambert's platinum album, Revolution ("Virginia Bluebell"), Nashville Star Season 5 Winner, Angela Hacker ("Emotionless", "It Takes One to Know One").
A few years ago Jennifer was kind enough to think of me when she needed a couple of CD/Album cover and liner notes designed for her break out CD Blue is the new Black.
Currently This "Jill of all Trades - Master of Mom", is also an award winning and critically acclaimed writer who unabashedly and proudly shows off her children's handmade Crayola-created accolades under a multitude of colored plastic alphabet magnets on her "scratch and dent" Frigidaire.
Sweet Annie See, Sweet Annie Do, is Jennifer's first children book and a story inspired by her 6 year old daughter Annie.
Sweet Annie See, Sweet Annie Do illustrates how parents, teachers, neighbors and adults, have a responsibility to teach and influence our children to be thoughtful and caring individuals, starting at a young age. In this book, Sweet Annie sees the grown-ups in her life acting kind and polite, and she in turn, wants to do the same.
Joy Berkson's friends knew she was going to be an artist even before she did. "She was always the most creative kid on the street. Equal parts rebellious, innovative and gentle – the friend with the old soul and wisdom beyond her years" * By the time she was 10 years old, Joy had developed an awareness of the cultures and flavours of city life well beyond her own neighbourhood – traveling by bus downtown to take classes at the Musée de Beaux Arts.
* Hal Newman, EMT & Director Stanstead House Concerts Network & childhood friend.
I have known Joy my entire life. How you might ask? Because as her cousin I have been fortunate enough to have her in my life, for my whole life.
While it may be often said that a lifetime gift is one of guilt, because as we know, gilt is the gift that keeps on giving.
How is that pertinent to the conversation? I have always consided having Joy and her art in my life a guilty pleasure that I know will keep on giving, and one I accept graciously.
Joy and I have collaborated on a couple of websites and as always I look forward to any future project that may come our way.
To learn more about Joy and the wonder that is her art, please visit her website. Joy Berkson
Client:
Varied
Category:
Graphic Design
Amanda Kirkland, is a Personal Development Coach and friend for more years than either of us wishes to mention. Her passion is helping professionals create positive change and transformation in their lives without traditional hours spent in therapy.
Amanda is a certified as a Transformation coach in Evolved NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and QTR (Quantum Time Release).
Her goal is to aid people in discovering their worries, anger, anxieties, conflicts, stressors, and pains.
Amanda's coaching business was created so that she can be there to assist those who wish to overcome what's been breaking you down and begin healing you inside and out.
Here's the thing – Amanda believes people can live with integrity and strive to be the best and highest versions of themselves with every fibre of their beings.
She is there to help people take action and get results in life.
Drop by her website to learn more about how working with Amanda can help you to succeed and become the best version of you Amanda Kirkland.
Client:
Amanda Kirkland
Category:
Identity
A short novel coming one day.
To his friends, he is almost always David, to some he might be more "Definitely David", to a few he is "Oh David", but he is never ever "Dave" or "Davey". He is a character based on someone I know well but is not me.
Dafydd Rwsel is Welsh, he grew up not too far from St Davids Cathedral located on the western edge of Wales in the county of Pembrokeshire in what is the smallest city in Britain. Dafydd and his family were not religious, making his relationship with the old church less parishioner and more that of tour guide for visitors and friends. Sometimes in his youth, he toiled in the garden by tending to the weed he had tucked away from prying eyes, concealed behind the ruins of the stone wall that protected the church and his stash.
He might be someone I would like to be or at least be more like. Dafydd has his struggles yet often lives an effervescent life with less angst and rumination, at least on those few sunlit days when he feels blessed with smatterings of clarity.
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, the Irish poet and playwright whom Dafydd's Old English Sheepdog Fingal is named for. Together these two enjoy fun, mischief, and mayhem with a little chaos all in equal measure.
A Writer and a Sheepdog... (a taste, an excerpt, a tease)
Things that make you go hmmm... When they go bump in the night.
Dostoevsky vs Schulz.
It's 3:00 am again and Dafydd's thoughts and fears return. What thoughts you may ask? Why the ones wrought from pondering existential crisis, dread, and anxiety in the face of what he perceives to be his absurd world, as well as doubts about authenticity, courage, and his core values… Yet time and again he incessantly contemplates these nagging questions.
Who am I, why am I, and will I ever discover my true meaning, where is love, what is truth, will I awake to find it's all a dream and I am still in a prison of my own making because I cannot or will not turn the unlocked door knob and leave?
Step out in the sunshine Chuck but don't forget the SPF... Dr. Van Pelt might say, but then again being a child of the 1960s, she is more likely to scold and tell him to "Stop this bullshit and pull yourself together" like her parents, his and Dafydd's might have said.
No therapeutic kindness from the likes of her; Lucy is no Dr Spock who treated mistakes as learning opportunities and who dreamed of a world in which children would be "inspired by their opportunities for being helpful and loving". Nope, Dr Van Pelt has been known for her gaslighting of clients like Chuck, just ask the dog with the big nose cause he always knows the real story.
Perhaps this is Dafydd's true meaning, to just be helpful and loving and remember to always be truthful.
But to be that to others, one must first be so to themselves.
So instead he again turns to Dostoevsky… not Schulz.
Feeling much better now knowing he is sick but not so sick as he once was... Emily, the doctor from Cape Breton is fond of saying "Well, you're weller than ya was when we met", which is something he hangs onto and holds dear on nights like these.
On the bright side. Truth and Love may carry the day but only if we heed this warning...
"Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love." ― Fyodor Dostoevsky
With that he rests, tomorrow is a big day of book signing and glad-handing and he will need all his courage and wits to get through the day.
Without realizing it Dafydd has been daydreaming, which given his most recent hypomanic episode feels dissonant but welcome. He is snapped back to reality when his publisher and confidant Hélène gently strokes the back of his hand, refocusing his attention on the throng, or as Fingal calls them, "That Herd". She would like nothing more than to cull those she sees as a threat and nip the other unruly sheep in their hindquarters while steering them into a pen where she may better protect Dafydd.
Oh my god, Dafydd Fucking Rwsel, I am so excited to meet you! I'm Lois, I'm your biggest fan… I can't believe I'm finally getting to meet you in person. Say, you're even cuter than your photo on the book jacket, younger, and so tanned. Oh shit, there I go getting all scattered and distracted... Silly you, almost making me forget all about your book, I really loved it, it's FAB and kept me on the edge of my seat just waiting for the next twist and turn kind of like the moon waxing and waning right? You and Finny are a hoot! Would you be a dear and make this copy out to my sister Lisa? She is the one who turned me onto you in the first place but she could not be here herself so I promised I would get her a signed copy as a thank you, this copy is for me and if you could make it out to "Lois, my adoring biggest fan, With Love Dafydd Rwsel that would be just grand, wouldn't it? I mean of course it would, after all, you're him, the one I fall asleep reading, the man of my dreams, and you will write anything I say!
All that, a smack on the lips with her ruby red lippy and there you have it Dafydd's first and apparently biggest fan. Well certainly his most exuberant, at least so far, but there is still a whole day of who knows what to come... mayhem, chaos, merriment, only time and tide will tell and as they wait for no one let us move on.
Bowled over by Lois's gushing patter, Dafydd's first instinct was to laugh and suggest Lois take a breath between sentences. However, he instead bit his lip and silently repeated his mantra Breath in and Out, Repeat, and Focus. Now calm and centred, he flashed a smile, signed the two books, thanked Lois, and wished her and her absent sister well. Immediately, or at least just as quickly as he could politely manage, he turned and began searching the line for a familiar, less-spirited admirer.
Client:
Dafydd Rwsel
Category:
Creative Writing
Punanai a series of five novels.
These five novels are grounded in the way that addiction treatment was practiced in twelve step institutions at the turn of the century. The methods, personalities, conflicts and stories in the book are as realistic as I can make them without impinging on anyone's expectation of privacy. I am a superb listener gifted with an incredible set of ears. I have reproduced the opinions I was privy to in my career as faithfully as I could. Delighting most in the extreme ones.
The Valedictorian
The method of this book is derived from an observation made by Robert Alter. He argues that the original rules for Hebrew poetry can be glimpsed in an often misunderstood passage from Genesis. The original Hebrew audience was not looking for the rhymes and metrical patterns that we expect to find in poetry. What they expected to see were lines of similar length and content, lines that contrasted each other and invited comparison and comment.
So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:27)
Not Proven
At thirty-five, Channing Hart was starting to reap the rewards of hard work and sound investing. He revelled in sitting around the big table at Clancy's Tavern. Talk radio without the microphones. The last place you could mouth o without being scolded. Weekends revolved around matching wits and trading barbs over drinks on Friday night and then reassembling for steak and eggs on Saturday morning before putting a few bets down. Hart gloried in taking on the experts and calling them out on their nonsense — until he woke up bruised and hungover in a police holding cell.
So "I asked a policeman for some water and he gave me a Dixie cup. I asked for another and he told me to shut up. So I ask him, 'When do I get out? Why am I here?' I was hoping for a smart answer, but this guy looked grim. He said, 'Don't you remember?'"
A thought of Poe flashed past my mind when earlier today I found myself sat alone in my park under a canopy of maple leaves and dared to dream of a future bright with the promise of love and joyfulness; feeling wondrously contented albeit a little excited, I exhaled.
"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." • Edgar Allan Poe
A solitary figure with a book of poems, alone but with his sheepdog Fingal sat by his side and a smile as wide as the canopy above and the sun setting behind.
Daydreams...
Digital art, pen to parchment, plane to wood, acrylic on canvas... I have worked in many mediums over the years and still make time each day to do something creative.
"I have always done my sketches, as people would say, for the fun of it... I have worked to amuse myself, and if it has amused the public as well, so much the better for me."
Aubrey Beardsley (1896).
As for me, I spent years creating in the hope I would be paid or at least praised; Today I have no expectations of either and feel better for it.
Silhouette in the Snow
I miss my sheepdog…
Sometimes in a snowstorm, I can almost make out her silhouette bounding over and through the drifts.
Then like the falling flakes, she fades into the background once more.
I miss my sheepdog…
I pray for spring…
It's harder for my mind's eye to manifest her pureness in a field of green.
Hope
I think Frankl, when discussing tragic optimism said it best when he stated: "To maintain hope in spite of tragic experiences, one must learn the courage and tenacity to strive for a future goal, no matter how bleak."
I have faith that while we may not all be destined to write a great poem, captivating novel or moving concerto, perhaps our story is our great triumph and just to be the best authentic, good and decent person who chooses to not cause harm to ourself and others is our magnum opus.
I have hope that all will turn out as it should and that our strength and courage will carry the day as we continue to write our story.
