Rev Rachel’s Son Bodhi: Choosing Sobriety and Finding Connection and Purpose

In this deeply personal and heartfelt episode of Recover Your Soul, I have the absolute joy of sitting down with my son, Bodhi, to talk about his journey of choosing sobriety and what that has meant for his life. Many of you know the challenges that come with loving someone who struggles with addiction—I’ve walked this path with both of my sons. Bodhi, now 26, has been navigating his own Soul Recovery, learning what it means to live a full and meaningful life without substances.  I couldn’t be prouder of how is is showing up for himself.

In our conversation, Bodhi shares the pivotal moments that led him to this decision. He opens up about the tools that keep him grounded—his faith and the power of community. He talks about what it’s like to stay social in a world where partying is the norm, how he still attends festivals, DJs, and embraces adventure—all while staying sober. 

@BodhiHarrison on all social media platforms or his Patreon 

Join me IN PERSON on April 13th in Sacramento California for an all day retreat to deepen your Soul Recovery Process. Learn more on the website! 

Join Rev. Rachel for an upcoming Soul Recovery workshop or retreat—an opportunity to deepen your healing, release old patterns, and reconnect with your true self. Learn more and register at https://www.recoveryoursoul.net/inperson

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not allied or representative of any organizations or religions, but is based on the opinions and experience of Rev. Rachel Harrison. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein. Take what you need and leave the rest.

Chapters

• 0:00 Family Addiction Journey Introduction
• 4:01 Bodhi's Path to Sobriety
• 9:46 The Turning Point
• 14:31 Finding Joy in Sobriety
• 22:44 Faith as a Recovery Foundation
• 26:43 Healthy Alternatives to Substance Use
• 29:10 Join the Soul Recovery Community

Transcript

Rev Rachel Harrison: 1:02

Many of you have found the Recovery Soul podcast because you have someone in your life that's an addict, and many of you, like me, have adult children who are addicts. As you know, I have two sons, 26 and 28 years old, and they've both been dealing with addiction since they were in middle school. One of them is in a season of sobriety and the other one is still working it out, and it's been this journey as a family to heal the dynamics of addiction. They came from a family of addiction, but my son, bodhi, who's 26, has been on a sobriety journey and I sat with him in this episode when we were in Sacramento, openly about this journey that he's on, where he's choosing to be sober, the reasons why he's choosing to be sober, what tools is he using and what are his awarenesses. I thought it was a really beautiful conversation where he's really sharing these parts of him that are learning how to live a life that is fun, that is with friends, that is connection and to choose sobriety. Enjoy the episode. That is connection and to choose sobriety. Enjoy the episode.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 2:09

Welcome to the Recover your Soul podcast a spiritual path to a happy and healthy life. My name is Reverend Rachel Harrison. I started Recover your Soul. After having profound changes in my life from my recovery of alcoholism, codependency and control addiction, I was guided to share the tools and principles of spirituality and soul recovery to help others transform their lives as mine was transformed. For us to overcome external circumstances, we need to turn the attention to ourselves, focusing on our inner change and healing. Positive results in our lives will follow. Welcome to Recover your Soul. I'm Rev Rachel and I'm excited to have a special, special guest on the podcast today. I have my son, bodhi, with me.

Bodhi Harrison: 2:58

Hello.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 2:59

You've heard Bodhi in podcasts before. We have talked many a time over the years around his journey and I wanted to bring him back to continue to share his sobriety story, his soul recovery journey and just where he's at in his life right now. So thanks for coming on.

Bodhi Harrison: 3:19

Of course, happy to be here.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 3:21

So we are in Sacramento, california, at the time of this recording. We are at a little Airbnb, so the sound is probably a little wonkier than what you're used to. And we're here as a family because our oldest son, alex, and his partner just had their first baby and we have a little bit of time before we go see them at the hospital. So thanks for taking some time out, my pleasure them at the hospital.

Bodhi Harrison: 3:45

So thanks for taking some time out, my pleasure.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 3:46

The last time you came on, bode, we talked about this particular sobriety chapter that you're in, and I just wanted you to be able to share a little bit about what that is. And so, so, so many of our listeners and community members are in the boat of having somebody in their life who's an addict, having adult kids who are addicts, and I continue to be over the moon that you are on a sobriety chapter, but I wanted you just to lean in a little bit and talk about how that's going for you and how you're feeling.

Bodhi Harrison: 4:17

Well, at this point I'm about seven months sober, kind of because I allowed myself to drink on my birthday. But when I started, that was always my plan was okay, I need to stop. I need to collect myself here and get my things in order. I was getting in trouble a little bit with work, partied a little too hard at one of my a little bit with work, partied a little too hard at one of my one wheel events and my work was actually very supportive about it, which was good. But they definitely asked me to not party at one wheel events and save that for festivals and parties of my own.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 5:01

They were supportive. In what regard? When you say that my company was supportive of what? What regard?

Bodhi Harrison: 5:05

when you say that my company was supportive of what. When they talked to me about it, it wasn't like yo, what the heck dude, you're screwing up Like are we going to need to fire you? Like there was no threats or no anything. It was like, hey, are you okay? You know like we heard some things and it sounds like you're in a lot of pain and we just want to make sure you're okay and know, like how we can support you and help you.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 5:34

Come, you know, make it through whatever you're going through right now and if people listen to the last episode, just to recap, bodhi had two people in particular who really reflected for him in this moment where it was kind of starting to go off the rails a little bit. And so do you want to just give a little quick recap of that about you know, having work, talk to you and then having these two people?

Bodhi Harrison: 5:59

in case someone didn't hear that last episode, yeah, I've been in and out of trying to be sober and trying to moderate and I had a serious injury a couple years ago and then, right as I was coming out of that, I re-injured it worse than the first time and it sent me into a bit of an injury, depression, depression. I'm very much an adrenaline junkie, so when I can't skateboard or one wheel or do those kinds of things, I end up going a little dark. That's how I process my anger and how I let out my energy. I'm very ADHD. I have a lot of pent up energy and that's my way of processing it and moving it through my body Doing sports, doing sports and scaring the absolute piss out of myself.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 6:57

Testing the limits.

Bodhi Harrison: 6:58

Yeah, testing the limits, conquering fear.

Bodhi Harrison: 7:00

So I was in a bit of a dark period with this injury and partying a little hard and kind of letting my life fall apart a little bit.

Bodhi Harrison: 7:11

And at the event that I got in a bit of trouble, for I had a friend of mine, homie, check me and let me know that he could see the pain I was in and he could see how I was dealing with it and that he was worried about me, which was definitely needed and helpful because I knew in my own mind that I was spiraling, but you know, the inner addict was winning the internal battle at that point. And then that same person told my bosses what was going on with me because out of care, you know, we wanted to rope them in. But that honestly, like made me really angry at first and I had to work through that because I think it could have just stayed between us. But it was still helpful and everybody was in the loop and we all came together and brought me back up. I think I didn't go fully sober at that point. I think it took me another month or two to realize I just need to be sober.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 8:12

You know I was going to try to moderate.

Bodhi Harrison: 8:14

Yeah, at first I was like, oh well, I'll just party when I go to festivals. But I've tried this moderation thing for so long and I can't do it and I think I ripe age of 26.

Bodhi Harrison: 8:28

Yeah, I think I. Just it took me a long time to try and fail and try and fail and just realize on a deep level that I'm an addict and I'm either in or I'm out. And I could probably do okay with my life using, because luckily I'm not the kind of addict where once I start I can't stop. It's more like I do it more than I want to and sometimes overdo it. But what really got me to stop is just realizing what I have in terms of like opportunity and like what's in front of me and what came behind me. Like I've put in a lot of work to get where I'm at in my career since a very young age I've spent a lot of time learning and growing and practicing and networking and I was at this point where I basically was either about to throw it all away or about to half-ass it for a really long time because my priorities were messed up. So I sobered up and my plan was to go sober to the end of the year and then I would allow myself to have a couple of margaritas on my birthday, because my birthday is January 15th, so it's like beginning of the year and I did that and it's been really good the clarity I've felt, the motivation I've felt the stability of my moods. You know, I used to get just these random anxiety swings and random depression swings and I really just don't anymore Like at times I'll feel overwhelmed and stressed, but since I've started to feel my feelings and not run from them and numb, like why am I feeling this way? Can I solve that now? Can I not solve that now? And like go to God for my peace instead of, you know, smoking a bowl or drinking a beer or whatever. And I did drink on my birthday. But the reason I did was is because I didn't really want to, and what I mean by that is I wasn't like counting down the days and super excited and like, oh, I can't, freaking wait. Like, oh, it's going to be so good, oh, are we there? Yet? I got 26 hours until it's the day. You know I almost didn't and that I was like, okay, since I don't really want to, that's a good sign to me that I'm in a healthier place. So I'm going to allow myself to have a couple margaritas.

Bodhi Harrison: 11:15

And I was on a snowboarding trip for my birthday with a friend of mine and I had a few margaritas and it was good to taste it. But ultimately, like I got a little buzz and was just kind of laughing to myself. I was like this doesn't appeal to me anymore. It's like there's no need for me to do this, Like I'm not having any more fun than I would have. I'm tired. I spent $30 I didn't need to spend and so it was kind of reassuring because you know, when you go sober, there's that little part of you that kind of misses the old ways and you're like, yeah, it's better now. But there's that tiny little inner addict that's like, yeah, but you know it would be nice to have a little buzz right now. That little friggin demon in there, yeah, you're still young.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 12:02

I mean it's interesting. I just saw a post about David Bowie who said when he took drugs and alcohol out of his life, every relationship in his life changed for the better.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 12:14

You know like everything just got better. And yet one of the things that I think is so inspiring about what's going on for you right now that I'm witnessing is it's not like you've turned into a 50-year-old woman like me. You know who's sober, who stays at home 99% of the time and you still have a social life. You went to Burning man sober. You've gone to festivals sober you've gone to. You know events. You found new ways to socialize, new things that you are interested in. So, as a as a 26 year old, you're a DJ. You know, in addition to your one wheeling, talk a little bit about that piece of being able to still be in your social life on the drugs than the music and the connections with people and being goofy, telling jokes, petting animals.

Bodhi Harrison: 13:16

You know there's all these things outside of drugs that are the things that give us natural dopamine and serotonin.

Bodhi Harrison: 13:24

And once you get too tuned in to the, the weed and the molly and the alcohol and the LSD and like all these stupid party drugs, then all the other stuff doesn't make you feel anything Because you've tuned your brain into such like a high dose of instant drugs and me I was doing a few of them at a time and the music didn't make me feel the way it used to make me feel and I wasn't connecting with the people around me and I wasn't in my body.

Bodhi Harrison: 13:58

I was just partying and checking out and that started to worry me and was something that really helped motivate me. Because when you're sober and your system is balanced, a good song makes you feel incredible and meeting a new person makes you feel good, or having a conversation with somebody you care about makes you feel good. And going and pursuing side quests and adventures and goofing around and climbing on stuff and telling jokes and finding animals and loving on animals and all these kinds of things making art, looking at art, like those dancing. Those things make me feel good, and maybe it's not at the same extreme of drugs, but drugs they come at a cost, because when you go up you go down and you go down equal to how you went up.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 14:53

Or further.

Bodhi Harrison: 14:54

Or further with a lot of them, especially if they're bad drugs. So you know, when you're doing it in a more natural way, it's not as extreme of a spike but it's basically no down spike, you know, because it's the natural way. It's your brain's functioning how it's supposed to. So that's what's helped me, you know. And there's still that tiny little part of me that sees people doing certain drugs and I miss it a little bit. But I think about how you told me how you quit smoking cigarettes, like 30 years ago or something. And there's still from time to time that tiny little voice that's like, wouldn't that be nice? But it has no power over me and I know what I want for myself.

Bodhi Harrison: 15:40

I want clarity, I want peace, I want emotional stability, I want connection, I want motivation, I want creativity and I also want to be a leader and a good example, because that was one of the main reasons why my buddy talked to me, because I'm a person in my community that a lot of people are looking at kids all the way up to adults.

Bodhi Harrison: 16:01

You know, people are looking at me and they respect me for what I've accomplished, in the way that I move through life, and so I have an influence over people to a certain extent.

Bodhi Harrison: 16:14

So if I'm out here doing dumb stuff and being all messed up, the kids are gonna be seeing that and people are gonna be seeing that, and whether that just changes people's amount of respect for me or that influences their own decisions in their life, I would much rather be somebody that inspires people to be sober and pursue knowledge and take care of their body and all these good, healthy things over partying and not caring about all those other things.

Bodhi Harrison: 16:41

So I think that's what keeps me going and keeps me happy and stoked. And my homegirl posted this video the other day where she's talking about how she parties sober. And I think one of the biggest things is like you got to know when the party's over, because when you're drinking and you're doing blow or whatever drugs are going on, you know a lot of times it's going to keep you up until the wee hours of the morning and at the end of the day like not a whole lot of times it's going to keep you up until the wee hours of the morning and at the end of the day like not a whole lot of good stuff happens after like one or two in the morning Basically none.

Bodhi Harrison: 17:15

Yeah, sometimes the vibes are right and the music's great and it's worth staying up till sunrise. I had an amazing couple of sunrise nights at Burning man waiting for the sun to come up. But that was like me and my homie Dylan riding around the playa on one wheels, jumping in art cars and dancing and hearing music and adventuring. It wasn't sitting around in a basement doing more drugs or having meaningless conversations because everyone's just all twacked out.

Bodhi Harrison: 17:43

So it's like, when you're sober, get there. When you get there, connect with people, tune yourself into the music, make new friends, drink a lot of water. And then, when you're sober, get there. When you get there, connect with people, tune yourself into the music, make new friends, drink a lot of water. And then, when you're pulling your phone out this is what she said she's like, if you're pulling your phone out or your conversations are getting stupid and you're not feeling it, leave time to go. That's time to go. You had.

Bodhi Harrison: 18:05

You had the fun go home, go to bed and I'll see you in the morning for hot yoga.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 18:09

Right.

Bodhi Harrison: 18:10

And I thought that was cool because that's true. It's like we have these fun parties and I think we have that little bit of FOMO in us that wants to keep that fun going, and so we keep doing more drugs and we keep justifying reasons to stay there, and then you end up being done at 4 or 5am and then the whole next day is just toast because you're going to sleep half the day and then feel like crap. So I think that's in my own life. That's just what I've been doing is paying more attention to the things that truly bring me joy.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 19:49

Are you ready to step into your soul recovery? Visit the website recover your soulnet to learn more about the nine step soul recovery process. I hope that you'll join us the first Monday of every month for the free soul recovery support group on zoom, where we learn more about soul recovery and connect with each other. If you'd like to work directly with me to move through the nine step soul recovery process, I'm here for you, but you can also choose to work the steps on your own, with individual modules intended to support you to work at your own pace and on your own time. And if you want even more soul recovery, join us for the Recover your Soul bonus podcast for Patreon members and Apple podcast subscribers, where I interview amazing people sharing soul recovery tips for us and also do spiritual book studies. You can also find daily inspiration on Facebook and Instagram and join our private Facebook community. Visit the website for more information, links and registration for everything. Back to the episode.

Bodhi Harrison: 20:49

And I think what's been most important to me, what's been the rock, the foundation, the way I've been able to do all this, is my faith and the strength that I get through Jesus and through the Holy Spirit and through God. You know, at Burning man I would read my Bible every night and I found actually a cross with Jesus on it, on a gift tree.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 21:16

Oh really.

Bodhi Harrison: 21:17

Where you like, take a gift, leave a gift and at first I was carrying my Bible around me because there's like a lot of neo-paganism at Burning man. There's also a lot of spirituality and positivity, but there's a lot of like gnarly dark energy there, and so I was just going to my faith for strength and praying and when I would get those moments of oh man, all the homies are doing this one drug and I want to do it, I would just pray and I would be like Jesus, help me, feel happy and full of energy and good in this moment and like I'm not missing anything. And you know, in my personal life, outside of that, almost every night I make time to read my Bible and I go to church as much as I can. When I can't, I'll usually watch like an online sermon.

Bodhi Harrison: 22:04

But you know, I think the higher power aspect, I think is probably the most important part of recovery in the rooms. I think the community aspect is major. Being able to relate to people is really important. Working the steps is important because it's like a guideline of going into yourself. But I believe very heavily in my faith and I believe that's the only reason I've been able to do this. I've tried to do it on my own and I can't. And when I do it with spirit, with God, with Jesus by my side, it's actually not that hard.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 22:43

That's the beauty of a spiritual journey. I mean, I think originally that's what AA was all about, was your higher power will do for you what you can't do for yourself. And soul recovery is a spiritual path, Whether you're dealing with your own addiction to a substance or addictions to people. It's learning how to step into your spiritual center, because life is hard. You know it's tough. It's like what are you going to choose other than a checkout from an addictive substance?

Bodhi Harrison: 23:08

Well, those things are. I have a buddy that's trying to sober up right now and he's been trying and trying and trying and every time he talks to me I give him basically the same advice, but I try to word it differently. But it's like to answer your question. What are you going to choose? Exercise, healthy food, walks outside, new hobbies, picking up old hobbies, connecting with friends, meeting new people, reading books, drawing, painting, making music?

Bodhi Harrison: 23:37

Living life yeah painting, making music, living life. Yeah, it's like there's so many things we can do nowadays that are either creative or active and good for our bodies or ways to connect with people, and that's really what we're searching for in these drugs is love and connection and peace, because a lot of times especially especially with my generation we're eating bad food, we're watching bad tv, we're watching bad stuff online, we're hanging around around bad people drinking bad water and we're like why am I so sad?

Bodhi Harrison: 24:13

because you're filling yourself up with, I'm gonna go smoke, weed, I'm gonna go do this drug, I'm gonna go do that drug and it's like get out what you put in. So if you're, if you're drinking good water, if you're eating good food, if you're and you don't even have to go to the gym, everyone thinks like working out is going to the gym. Really going to the gym is for like bulking up. If you want to be active, go walk for 20 minutes, do some body weight workouts, maybe grab some bands and do some band stuff. But just if you're moving your body, your body's going to feel better. It's getting that stored up energy out. It's keeping things nimble.

Bodhi Harrison: 24:51

Connecting with friends you know, I think that intimidates a lot of people, but there's a lot of ways to connect with people. But there's a lot of ways to connect with people. There's tons of sober events, different kinds of AA, na, al-anon, all these places where you don't have to go to that all the time. Do your best to gently nudge them towards different kinds of physical activities, different kinds of creative outlets, different kinds of communities and ways to connect with people.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 25:29

It's like encourage without being in control.

Bodhi Harrison: 25:32

Right, and that's the secret, because nobody wants to be told what to do.

Bodhi Harrison: 25:35

Right wants to be told what to do. I'm telling you right now and that's kind of the secret sauce to good parenting or good leadership to those around you is like very carefully nudging people in the right direction, suggesting things lovingly, finding things you think they would want to do. Be like hey, you know I'm going to go. Do I want to go do this with you? Do you want to do? Be like hey, you know I'm gonna go. Do I want to go do this with you?

Bodhi Harrison: 26:00

do you want to come with me, instead of like you should go do that right you should go to the, to the rec center and work out by yourself right because you look like shit right you know, it's like, hey, I'm gonna go for a little workout, you want to come hang out with me?

Bodhi Harrison: 26:13

it's like we don't got to do anything crazy, let's just go walk on the treadmill for a little bit. Or like, hey, I was looking around at these like local clubs and there's this local chess club. You used to love playing chess. Do you want to go play chess? And I know that could be hard for some people with however their schedule is, but I think that's a good way to encourage people to do certain things is to do them with them yeah get them started.

Bodhi Harrison: 26:37

You know, light that fire so that they can meet other people that are doing it. I think if I had a message to give people that have somebody in their life that is in and out or they themselves are, is just to be patient and have grace for yourself or for that person. Can't change until we're ready, but do your best to be a positive influence to them, a make the best decisions you can make in your life and just do your best to gently lead them in the direction of healthy mind, body and spirit activities and ways to spend time. Do whatever you can to make sure that they feel safe around you.

Bodhi Harrison: 27:21

You know the more that we attack people or try to control them, the less they feel safe around us.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 27:28

I always say that you want to see the wholeness in them. You know, to witness their wholeness, so they can witness their own wholeness.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 27:35

And you, you know you are such an inspiration to me right now, but you also have said I'm an inspiration to you, so it's you know, it's been a journey of allowing you to have your seasons and and to to tell you when I'm concerned, but not shame you, but I definitely am giving you praise for where you're at right now. I try to reward you for for your good behavior and your changed life. Thank you, Bodhi, for being here with us today. I appreciate it and I know that people listen to our stories and your story is important, so I appreciate you being here. Of course, If you are interested in Bodhi, you can always find him at Bodhi Harrison at all social medias or check him out on YouTube for One Wheel, and now he has music on SoundCloud. There's all kinds of good things going on in your life.

Bodhi Harrison: 28:24

Subscribe to the Patreon if you want to learn about content creation and One Wheel Tricks, that's right, we both have our Patreons.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 28:30

Subscribe on Patreon. Thank you so much, buddy, I love you.

Bodhi Harrison: 28:34

I love you too mom Until next time. Namaste.

Rev Rachel Harrison: 28:40

Thank you for listening and I hope that that helps support your soul recovery process. Just a reminder that every Friday is the Recover your Soul bonus podcast. This podcast is for Patreon members and Apple podcast subscribers, and not only do you get an incredible interview or book study that comes with being part of that community, but your subscribing helps support this podcast and the Recover your Soul community. If you want to listen to those bonus episodes but can't subscribe right now, do know that you can be a free Patreon member and have access for limited time to new episodes. Visit the website RecoverYourSoulnet or check out the show links below for coupons and information for upcoming events. I thank you for sharing this podcast with your friends and family. I thank you for giving it five stars and the reviews that are left to bring tears to my eyes. I am honored to be part of your life. Together we can do the work that will recover your soul.