Even though the holidays haven’t always been easy for me in the past, each and every year they get better and better. This year, I can’t wait to dive in to all the festivities with my wife and our families, but first, I get to take some time to give back to my community, which I am thrilled about!
Northbound has teamed up with Santa Letters, a program put in place by the Costa Mesa Fire Department that rallies up donations such as food, clothing, and basic necessities for those who need it most. First established after a Costa Mesa firefighter heard that there were many letters addressed to Santa asking for basic needs at the local post office, the fire department worked quickly to get the community on board to help make some of those wishes come true. This year, Northbound and myself are participating in this event and are more than excited to be of service to our community.
The day before Christmas Eve, I will ride on one of the fire trucks through the streets and be able to hand out gifts to those families in need. I am so excited to see the looks on their faces, especially because giving back is such a major part of my life. It is going to be the perfect way to kick off the holidays!
Shortly after I hop off the Santa Letters fire truck, my wife and I will head down to L.A. to spend Christmas Eve with her family. Since we are married now, we split up our holidays so we can see both sides of our families, so we will jet up to Lake Arrowhead for Christmas day with my family.
The one thing I am most excited about in Lake Arrowhead is that there will finally be some snow! We are planning on going snowboarding on Christmas day, which is something I am overly happy about. What is truly going to make the day though is having all of my family under one roof – we are expecting upwards of 18 people! It will be great to spend that time with my four nephews and experience the magic of Christmas all over again with them, as well as get a chance to sit down for a huge meal with the people I love the most and just relax.
For me, the holidays are now about spending time with my wife and my family, and taking the time to sit back and truly be grateful for where I am today. I hope that you are able to do the same this year, and wish you the most amazing holiday season and a happy New Year!
Author
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Paul Alexander is the CEO, President & Founder of Northbound Treatment Network in Newport Beach, California. He believes wholeheartedly in transformational leadership, organizational health and effective, fully integrated substance use disorder and mental health treatment. With over 27 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Paul has extensive knowledge of “in vivo” treatment modalities, clinical development, operations, strategy, marketing and financial planning. He has been widely recognized for his development of collegiate-based residential treatment programs for students in recovery and authored a research study at The University of California confirming this modality’s effectiveness.
Paul’s comprehensive professional experience, willingness to innovate, and emphasis on organizational health are vital factors in Northbound’s continued success. Paul received his Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist training at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, and was awarded Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2002. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society, Summa Cum Laude, from University of California, Irvine, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. Paul currently serves on The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) board. In addition, he serves on The Family Recovery Foundation board and The CarePossible board in Orange County; both organizations are committed to raising funds for family recovery and treatment for former military personnel. Paul is in recovery himself and lives in Orange County with his wife Silvana and his two young sons, Noah and Dean.
