Q&A with Lisa Hower of Hower Lodge
Lisa Hower, CEO
I am so Grateful to be Clean and Sober! Through the darkness of my addictions I finally found the Surrender that has allowed me to access a Power outside of myself that gives my life purpose, direction, and passion!
My dream of helping those that suffer from addiction started 20 plus years ago when I was working with the indigenous people in the villages of Alaska. I feel blessed to have come Full Circle through God’s Divine Intervention. My husband and I opened Hower Lodge in August of 2017. We stand front line in the battles and beside the Warriors. The incredible reality is this: The worst experiences in my past are now my greatest strengths. We are uniquely qualified to help the sufferer because we have been to the Abyss.
We look forward to meeting new friends on our journey!
Q. If you are in recovery, what was your Drug of Choice? and when did you stop using?
A. My DOC was Alcohol and Heroin. I stopped using Heroin May 1, 1995. I stopped using everything August 15, 2013.
Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice or a wicked twist of fate.
A. Hahaha – wicked twist of fate! I believe it is a disease following many years of research.
Q. Do you log on to ZOOM 12-step meetings? How often? Do you share?
A. At the beginning of Covid I did a Zoom every night. I fell off and now I don’t do any Zoom. I am back to attending live meetings.
Q. Have you added anything to your Tool-kit to help keep you sober during the pandemic?
A. Yes, I ride horses and I compete in Mounted Shooting on horseback, which was not shut down. I also go boating and meditate.
Q. Where did you grow up?
A. San Diego, CA
Q. From what school or teacher did you learn the most?
A. Valhalla HS. I can’t remember any teachers, I drank my way through HS and I don’t remember any teachers from middle or elementary.
Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?
A. I would donate to Hower Lodge, Inc. Treatment Center for Women.
Q. Do you have any children?
A. I have 1 daughter.
Q. Have you started any new projects because of the quarantine?
A. YES! I have started making jewelry again. I also started painting.
Q. If you ever retire would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop or penthouse?
A. I would prefer a ranch in the middle of nowhere, with no neighbors, HAHA.
Q. What is your favorite hotel or resort?
A. Palm Springs.
Q. What is your biggest or littlest pet peeve?
A. Biggest- Cleanliness & Arguing. Littlest- Watching TV.
Q. Who has had the biggest influence on you throughout your life?
A. Of course, my Father “ Johnnie Concho” the Legendary Cowboy.
Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be? (choose 4 if you think one might be too drunk or stoned to attend.)
A. Augusten Borroughs, Anne Rice and Nicholas Sparks
Q. What books are you reading now?
A. Bible
Q. What is your FAVORITE Radio show, news show, podcast?
A. I don’t listen to any – weird, I know.
Q. What is your FAVORITE APP?
A. Etsy, E-bay and Amazon
Q. Are you bingeing on any TV series? If so which ones.?
A. Yellowstone
Q. Which film have you watched the most?
A. Gone with the Wind
Q. Who is your FAVORITE Director?
A. Martin Scorsese
Q. Who is your favorite sober celebrity?
A. Bradley Cooper
Q. What is your FAVORITE Band/composer/musical artist?
A. Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac and Janice Joplin
Q. What is your FAVORITE Broadway musical/play?
A. Phantom of the Opera
Q. What is your FAVORITE City?
A. San Diego
Q. What is your FAVORITE Museum? A. Historical- Oklahoma Cowboy/ Indian Hall of Fame
Q. What is your FAVORITE Restaurant?
A. The Cheesecake Factory
Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A. From my dad: “get sober pal, I can’t do this anymore” and “Own land they don’t make it anymore”
Q. What is the best piece of advice YOU’VE given?
A. “Stay connected to your Higher Power”
Q. What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?
A. Put every penny I had into owning my own Rehab center. It is year 4 and we are still going, but it is a challenge. I had a little bit of money to buy a home for me and my child. I decided to spend it on a home to help people recover. I now rent a home. One day I will have my own home.
Q. What is your biggest regret?
A. Not getting sober at a younger age. And not being able to talk to my dad the last year of his life.
Q. Have you ever been arrested and if so, for what?
A. Hahaha, yes, I have been arrested for drunk driving. I’m too cute to be in jail. Blahahaha
Q. What is the proudest moment in your life?
A. Opening my own rehab center for women. My dream was to help women recover for free. I am almost there; I am working on getting Medi-cal approved. Also, having my daughter.
Q. What is your favorite Weekly News Bulletin?
A. Facebook – Hahaha, I don’t watch much TV. I am too busy all the time.