10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS LIVING ARCHIVE DECEMBER 26, 2025 Resolutions, recovery and growth As I’ve progressed in life, my annual goal or New Year’s resolution always seems to get harder and harder to accomplish. The first New Year’s resolution I ever remember doing was three years ago, and that was that I could stay sober throughout the coming year (2016). That was hard at first, but I did it. On Jan. 5, 2017, I celebrated my first year sober with a oneyear coin from Alcoholics Anonymous. My New Year’s resolution to start 2017 was about as much as I could handle at the time — that I could maintain the sobriety I had achieved for that first year. I added that I could start working out and overall paying better attention to my physical health and eating habits. And so it happened. I celebrated the coming of 2018 with two years clean and sober, and the workout routine and better dieting had started happening. I felt I had to challenge myself harder the following year. So my resolution then was that I would start helping others with the same struggles I had experienced before getting sober. That’s supposed to be really helpful to someone new to recovery. A person new to recovery is usually overwhelmed by all sorts of problems, like losing their driver’s license from a DUI, losing their jobs or housing, Groundcover Vendor Code While Groundcover is a non-profit, and paper vendors are self-employed contractors, we still have expectations of how vendors should conduct themselves while selling and representing the paper. The following is our Vendor Code of Conduct, which every vendor reads and signs before receiving a badge and papers. We request that if you discover a vendor violating any tenets of the Code, please contact us and provide as many details as possible. Our paper and our vendors should be positively impacting our County. • Groundcover will be distributed volunteered at a few different places that focus on people trying to better their lives. And I even gave a few big donations to some charities, fundraisers and the homeless shelter. I was homeless too at some point SANDRA SABATINI Groundcover vendor No. 233 losing custody of their kids and other legal issues. So, helping someone new to recovery is really good for them because they get to better focus on putting the drink or dope down. At the moment, it can seem insurmountable for them. If they don’t have the smaller battles to fight or worry about, they can better focus on what recovery is or looks like. They feel cared for and next thing you know, you see them caring for themselves too, at least enough to stay sober for another 24 hours. I feel I did pretty good throughout 2018 doing that. I helped many people newly in recovery, giving them rides to meetings, fellowshipping with them, meeting with them for coffee and talking with them. I even temporarily sponsored a few individuals for a few months. I showed them the recovery literature and the 12 Steps. I also for a voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for more than the cover price or solicit donations by any other means. • When selling Groundcover, I will always have the current biweekly issue of Groundcover available for customer purchase. • I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling the paper or to panhandle, including panhandling with only one paper or selling an issue more than 4 weeks old. • I will wear and display my badge when selling papers and refrain from wearing it or other Groundcover gear when engaged in other activities. • I will only purchase the paper from Groundcover Staff and will not before getting sober, so I know what it is to be out there in the cold. So, it meant a lot to me to be able to give forward to others what at some point had been given to me by strangers. I have helped a lot and it worked both ways. It helped me get out of myself, and overall, out of the thoughts that linger in my mind to the point they drive me nuts sometimes. I was able to worry less in my everyday concerns by showing up for others and their worries. However, to start 2019 on the right foot, I want to focus more on me now for my annual goal. I want to experience growth. I wasted so many years of my life. I wasted a third of my life, honestly. I thought I was getting or trying to get a career at some point, but all I did after all was become a loser. I lost everything. What didn’t I lose? I could go on and on about what it was that I lost, but now I want to focus on the opposite. I want to gain. I want to gain experience. I want to gain faith. I want to gain friends and fellowship. I want to gain a caring and honest heart. Mostly, I want to gain confidence, and the ability to be good at something for sell to or buy papers from other Groundcover vendors, especially vendors who have been suspended or terminated. • I agree to treat all customers, staff, and other vendors respectfully. I will not “hard sell,” threaten, harass or pressure customers, staff, or other vendors verbally or physically. • I will not sell Groundcover under - the influence of drugs or alcohol. • I understand that I am not a legal employee of Groundcover but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. • I understand that my badge is property of Groundcover and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers. • I agree to stay off private propthe first time. So, I have a few projects in mind that I want to put my focus and attention on this coming year. But I can’t share those details now because “it’ll make them unachievable,” or so my mind tells me. Maybe in my next article I’ll write about one of them, at least. And maybe right now I’ll just say what that is about. It is about my wanting to get more involved with Groundcover News, mostly publishing many articles. Anyways, I wish all the Groundcover readers a happy new year. Thanks for your support, and I hope you, too, achieved your 2018 annual goals and that you have set a realistic 2019 goal to accomplish. Originally published in the January 2019 edition of Groundcover News. erty when selling Groundcover. • I understand to refrain from selling on public buses, federal property or stores unless there is permission from the owner. • I agree to stay at least one block away from another vendor in downtown areas. I will also abide by the Vendor Corner Policy. • I understand that Groundcover strives to be a paper that covers topics of homelessness and poverty while providing sources of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. If you would like to report a violation of the Vendor Code or leave positive review of a Vendor experience please email contact@ groundcovernews.com or fill out the contact form on our website.
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