Barbara Nicholson Brown is the owner of Together AZ Newspaper, published monthly in Arizona, focusing on addiction recovery and behavioral health resources for the community. She is the coordinator of CARE, Celebrate the Art of Recovery Expo during National Recovery month as well as the coordinator of the Bill Brown Memorial Golf Tournament each September.

TogetherAZ.com

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. Alcohol was my choice. Sobriety date June 17, 1990, it was Father’s Day – there is a special meaning there.

Q. What do you like most about 12-step meetings?

A. The fellowship of people from all walks of life, I call my friends. These are people I would never have known if I wasn’t in the rooms. Going to meetings is a good reminder that no matter how much sober time I have, every day I get 24 hours to do it right. And I am truly grateful for that.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. In my humble opinion it’s a disease.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. Since I live in the desert, anywhere with water, ocean, lake river, stream.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. Morning prayer, meditation and reading. I have to remind myself I am not running the show.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. It’s not about money or power, those were never my goals. Success is knowing I do my best each day, stay humble and be of service.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. We need more kindness toward our fellows.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. I have to split it between two non-profit organizations. Arizona Women’s Recovery Center (https://azwomensrecoverycenter.org) and Hushabye Nursery.(https://www.hushabyenursery.org) Both are very dear to my heart.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. A special aunt and uncle and my siblings.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, now in Scottsdale, AZ.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. John Steinbeck, Harry Mark Petrakis, Hemingway.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Pisces.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. It’s a spirit, an ether, a presence I cannot see but know is there– always looking out for me or I do not think I would be here today.

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. The Big Book.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. Casablanca.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. Martin Scorsese.

Q. What surprised you most about living sober?

A. That I love it!!

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. That I don’t need to compare myself to anyone else. Don’t take life for granted.

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Seeing Jimi Hendrix is something I will never forget!!

Q. What is your favorite musician and or band?

A. Eric Clapton.

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Honest.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. Rome, Italy.

Q. What sport(s) do you like to play or watch?

A. Play golf.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

A. Authentic Italian.

Q. What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?

A. God didn’t bring me this far to drop me on my head. That someone was my late husband, Bill Brown.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. Don’t believe everything you think.

Q. What is one thing that always makes you smile?

A. Spending time with family and dear friends.

Q. What was the proudest moment in your life?

A. Getting and staying sober and marrying Bill.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. My smile.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?

A. Heart shaped rock, eye drops, Pepto, contact lens case, loose change.

Q. What is your biggest fear?

A. Life is going by too fast.

Q. What is the hardest amends you’ve ever had to make?

A. To my dad. Grateful I was able to before he died.

Q. How important is human connection?

A. I cannot imagine life without it. We need each other to grow, love, laugh, hug … the list could go on.