by Kayla Myers, Peer Support Coordinator

August 19, 2025

As we navigate the challenges of today's world, from political tensions to economic struggles, it’s easy to forget that the most essential part of our humanity is a simple act of kindness. On Be Kind to Humankind Week, we are gifted an opportunity not only to reflect on the value of kindness but to practice and advocate for it in our everyday lives consistently. As someone who wears multiple hats, from a peer supporter role to an advocate for social change, this week holds deeper significance.

In the role of a peer supporter, I have witnessed the ripple effect of kindness. Whether I was helping a family navigate a mental health crisis, providing emotional support to a caregiver, or simply lending a listening ear to someone in need, the power of kindness is undeniable. It’s in the small gestures. A comforting word, a shared cup of coffee, a reassuring message can make all the difference. For human beings who are fighting silent battles or going through the toughest times, these moments of human connection can be a lifeline.

However, the real challenge we face is extending that kindness beyond our immediate circles, especially in times when it feels like the world is divided. Right now, as a country, we are experiencing deep social and political division, an ongoing public health crisis, and economic instability. We are struggling to keep our heads above water, and many are feeling the weight of uncertainty and fear.

In my eyes, this is precisely the time when kindness is most needed.

As an advocate for mental health and social change, I often find myself pushing for policy shifts and societal reforms that prioritize the well-being of all people. But advocacy doesn’t stop in the halls of government or on social media platforms. It starts with each of us, in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. The most significant change often begins with small, personal acts of kindness.

We are seeing what can feel like an overwhelming number of issues in the world right now: injustices, scrutiny for speaking out about the wrong that is being done daily, the rise of mental health struggles, and more. But I can only hope, in these moments of chaos, that kindness can act as a beacon of hope, a reminder that there is good in the world despite the noise. With life experience and with my work as a peer supporter, I’ve seen how simple acts can spark real, tangible change.

Kindness isn’t just about being nice; it’s about advocating for justice, lifting others up, and standing together in the face of adversity. It’s about showing up for the people who need us most. And right now, as a country, we need each other more than ever.

What can be done? What can you do? How do you get started? I am so glad you asked! Here is a simple list of ideas that I hope will help spark something within you so you can keep implementing small acts of kindness every day:

1. Listen Without Judgment
   Sometimes, the most powerful form of advocacy is simply being a compassionate listener. When we listen to each other’s stories without judgment or preconceived notions, we validate people’s experiences. Listening is the first step in offering support and understanding.
2. Support Mental Health Initiatives
   Mental health is at the forefront of our collective struggles today. As a peer supporter, I know the importance of advocating for more accessible, equitable, and compassionate mental health services. Kindness means standing with those who need help and fighting for resources that can change their lives.
3. Create Safe Spaces for Dialogue
   In a divided world, we need spaces where people can discuss their differences with respect and empathy. Organizing community discussions or engaging in open dialogues about current events can foster understanding, dissolve fears, and build bridges where walls once stood.
4. Leading with Empathy in Policy
   Whether advocating for healthcare, education, or economic support, it's critical to approach these issues with empathy. Policies that impact human beings should be crafted with a deep understanding of the diverse challenges people face. A kinder, more equitable society requires us to work from a place of care and compassion, not just statistics and numbers.
5. Model the Change You Want to See
   One of the most powerful ways we can spread kindness is by modeling it in our own actions. Whether it's in our families, at work, or in our communities, showing kindness in the way we interact with others sets the tone for those around us. Kindness is contagious. The more we practice it, the more it will spread.

 We are all living through trying times, but these times do not define us. What will define us is how we respond. As individuals and as a collective society, we can choose kindness, not just on Be Kind to Humankind week, but every day. Kindness in the face of adversity can heal wounds, build communities, and drive us toward a more just and compassionate world.

As someone who has walked alongside my peers in their most vulnerable moments, I can attest to the transformative power of kindness. It is the glue that holds us together when everything else feels like it's falling apart. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that we are all capable of spreading kindness in ways that create lasting change.

So, this Be Kind to Humankind week, I encourage you to reach out. Reach out to a neighbor, a friend, a stranger, or a family member. Let them know they’re seen, heard, and valued. Advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of ALL people. And, perhaps most importantly, remember that kindness doesn’t just change the world, it heals it.

Kindness is not just a gesture, it’s a movement. As a peer supporter, as an advocate, and as a human being, I believe in the power of kindness to heal, unite, and empower us to create a better tomorrow. Let's make this Be Kind to Humankind week the start of something bigger. Let's make it a reminder that, no matter how dark the world may seem, kindness will always be the light that guides us home.

(Edited and enhanced using ChatGPT)

by Ty LaFountain, Recovery Support Coordinator

December 3, 2024

We all know that the Holiday season can be one of the hardest and most vulnerable times for people in recovery. It may remind us of our pasts and how different our lives are today. I believe this is also a great opportunity to take the time to be grateful for the changes we have made and how different our lives are today. Holidays may hold negative experiences for some or remind us of better times. We may not be able to spend the Holidays with the people we yearn to spend them with and in some cases may have to spend them with people we don’t want to spend them with today. As people in recovery we have learned different ways of coping in different situations and  will share some of my tips and secrets for Holiday recovery.

My second Thanksgiving out of prison was when I was invited to a family member’s house. I was given a verbal travel permit by my Parole Officer to travel from Lewistown to Great Falls. When I showed up to my family’s house everyone was already about four or five drinks in, at about 1pm. I instantly knew this was going to be a common LaFountain holiday filled with alcohol and most likely some sort of drama. We made it through dinner, of course by this time everyone is starting to really feel the effects of the alcohol. The couple whose house we are at start to fight, and I mean fight. I looked at my phone and notice there is an AA meeting in about 15 minutes. I go to the meeting, get grounded and am feeling comfortable with going back to my family’s house. As I round the corner to their street, I notice flashing lights and about three cop cars on the two streets intersecting the house I am headed to. I instantly get nervous, and I just drive by without stopping, as I am really not wanting to have any interaction with law enforcement. First, I am a person with a felony on the violent offender registry. Second, as I have already mentioned, I am only on a verbal travel permit; meaning that I have no proof that I am even supposed to be out of Fergus County, let alone at a place where there is alcohol and people drinking and fighting. Last, I have never had a good experience with law enforcement.

I finally get up the courage to go see what is going on inside the house. All I know is that my family is in there, with I am not sure how many police and who knows what is happening. As the only sober person in the family, I may be able to be the peacekeeper here, a role I have never in my life had the opportunity to play. I knock on the door and walk in. I instantly see my one family member, hardly able to talk or stand up straight, telling the cops “This is my house!” They of course ask who I am, I tell them and ask what is going on. They tell me the wife called the cops and wanted the husband removed from the home; however, he has really done nothing wrong. From what they can tell, she may have hit him but have no proof of that either. So, in reality, there is no crime and all they can do is ask for him to go downstairs and her to stay upstairs. I am absolutely baffled at this point and say, “So all he needs to do is go downstairs? He’s not in trouble and isn’t under arrest or anything?” They respond “No, we are just asking him to go downstairs for the rest of the night and for her to leave.” Still in awe of this situation, I am able to talk him into going downstairs with me so the police can leave, she leaves for the night, situation handled. Except, now I am stuck in the basement of this house with an extremely intoxicated relative who insists on continuing to drink, asking me to take a shot with him every time he takes a one.

We make it through the night, I head back to Lewistown the next day, and this has been the last Holiday I have spent with family that was not at my own house. I learned a valuable lesson from this experience. That I must always guard the most valuable thing in my life today, my recovery. The following is a list of tips that I have learned from other people in recovery and tips that I have incorporated into my own life to safeguard my recovery, because chances are, no one else is going to do it for me. These tips are mainly relevant to people in recovery from substances but if adjusted may also apply to people with mental health conditions as well.

1. Know before you go: Know what you are headed into before you get there. Find out details of the event. Is there going to be alcohol? Will there be non-alcoholic drinks there? Are there going to be other people in recovery there? Do the people know that you are in recovery? These are some of the things that you should know before you go to any kind of family/friend holiday event. Alcohol tends to be a very common part of the Holidays, and for people who don’t have a problem with alcohol they often don’t understand what it is like for a person who has a substance use disorder. If you don’t feel comfortable don’t go!
2. Have an accountabilibuddy (accountability buddy): This is a person that you will help you be accountable and that supports your recovery. This may be a person in recovery or not. The only thing that matters is that they should be sober with you and should be willing to support your setting of boundaries and should be willing to stand up for you and to you if needed. There should be a general understanding set by the two, or more, of you as to what is expected throughout the night. Set these expectations before you get there, not after, and make sure they are agreed on by all parties involved. This may also be someone that you just call and check in with periodically throughout the night.
3. Take your own vehicle (if you have one): If you have your own vehicle, make sure that you take it to the event; this way if you start to feel uncomfortable at any point you can leave. Now, I know that not everyone has their own vehicle. Maybe have a ride set up, a person you came with (your accountabilibuddy) that you can tell you are feeling uncomfortable and need to leave. If this is unavailable, make sure that you have $20-$30 in your wallet or credit card to order a taxi or an Uber. If you need to save money prior to the event or borrow money from a family member or friend before you go, do it. Sometimes it is hard to ask for help, ego says I shouldn’t need to ask for help, but at this point, my recovery is the most important thing in my life, and I must act accordingly.
4. Always have a drink in your hand (non-alcoholic): One of the best tricks I have learned from other people in recovery is to always have a drink in my hand. Whether this is a coke, water, tea, Red Bull, or whatever you drink. It is also sometimes best if you have it in a red solo cup, so people don’t see you are drinking water, it just looks like you are drinking what everyone else is. I have learned that if you have a drink in your hand, people are less likely to ask if they can get you drink. And if they do, you can just say, “No thanks, I still have this one!” And that is usually the end of that conversation. No need to explain that you are in recovery and explain why you aren’t drinking alcohol (unless you choose to).
5. Practice saying no: One of the best ways to get in the habit of saying no is to practice. This is just like anything else in life, muscle memory. The more you say no the easier it gets. One of my favorite things to do with people is “role play.” It always sounds weird and feels weird at first, but I promise, it is helpful and proven to work. Have someone play the role of a family member or friend that may try to “peer” pressure you into having a drink. This role play should be more than one minute. The person playing the role really needs to push the boundaries. This is not just; you say no, and they say okay. This should be realistic, and the person should really pull out all the stops trying to pressure you into having a drink. Someone that is drinking alcohol is most likely not just going to stop after one no.
6. Surround yourself with people who truly care about your recovery: You may or may not know who these people are in your life yet. But you will figure it out and sometimes it takes a holiday event to find out. My experience showed me the people that I was around were people who didn’t care about my recovery, and I learned these are the people I choose not be around today. The people I surround myself with today, even if they aren’t in recovery, respect my recovery and ask me if I am comfortable if they drink around me or not. I have had people not drink at an event because they didn’t feel comfortable drinking around me. Not that I asked them not to drink, they just chose to not drink. These are the people that I surround myself with today. These are the same people that now know that I am at the point in my recovery that I am okay with people drinking around me, so they may drink around me, but they are not going to try to pressure me into drinking. These are the same people who saw me at my worst and see the person I am today and like the person I am today.

Whether you are new in recovery or a person in long-term recovery, I hope this is helpful for you. You may have your own tips and tricks that you use for maintaining your recovery through the holidays. These are just a few suggestions and tricks that I have found that work for me. It is important to find what works for you and put it into practice. The number one suggestion that I give to people and that I also use for myself is, if I don’t feel comfortable going into a situation that I feel may put my recovery at risk, I don’t go. Yes, it is true, there may be many holiday traditions that we used to take part in that we can no longer take part in as people in recovery; yet there is also an opportunity here to start new, healthier traditions. Have a Happy Holiday season and I look forward to seeing you all on the other side of the Holidays in recovery.