Category Archives: Conflict

“Circumstances Make Us Willing”

by admin Posted on May 15, 2013

My old sponsor and I used to meet for walk and talks. She had much wisdom to impart upon me. And for a time, I listened. And I was happy. Then I put on ear muffs and stopped hearing. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Conflict, Emotional Sobriety, Gratitude, Happiness, Self-Care, Spirituality, Suffering | Tagged addiction, alcoholism, grief, negativity, pain, pause, recovery, relationships, self pity, sobriety, willingness | Leave a comment

I’ve Learned in the Past Almost 11 Months…

by admin Posted on May 10, 2013

… That people don’t change. Maybe on the surface. Maybe a different face for a special occasion. But at their core, and absent what most people would consider a compelling reason, people don’t change. … That people can’t be changed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Conflict, Emotional Sobriety, Family, Gratitude, Help, Honesty, Relationships, Self-Care, Spirituality, Suffering | Leave a comment

Man Did That Unpack My Shit

by admin Posted on October 6, 2012

Yesterday I saw an alcoholic in his disease. Active. Drunk. Incoherent. Struggling to keep his eyes open. I also witnessed a pretty typical response from the community: fearful and laden with mean-spirited, judgey, inappropriate suppositions. Disheartening but also an important reminder of my own alcoholism. It takes me to dark, stinky, soulless places. Continue reading →

Posted in Conflict, Fear, Suffering | Tagged addiction, alcoholism, chemical dependency, drinking, fear, God, grateful, gratitude, Higher power, service, sobriety, spirituality | Leave a comment

Finding Gratitude In Garbage

by admin Posted on August 13, 2012

While listening to others in recovery talk Friday night, I was reminded that I need to actively participate in creating joy in my life. That there will always be times that are less than. Less than fun. Less than ideal. Less than happy. And of course, less than perfect. Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Conflict, Emotional Sobriety, Fear, Gratitude, Mindfulness, Spirituality, Suffering | Tagged addiction, alcoholism, appreciation, change, chemical dependency, drinking, fear, fun, grateful, gratitude, joy, love, mindfulness, pain, recovery, self pity, sobriety, spirituality, substance abuse, willingness | Leave a comment

Temper, Temper

by admin Posted on May 1, 2012

I am mad. Not pissy. Not grouchy. Not even crabby. Mad. Not mad as in mad about kittens. Or mad as in crazy (although I do dabble in that from time to time). No. I am raising my voice, shaking “fists of rage” (as my awesome sister would say) mad. Continue reading →

Posted in Conflict, Emotional Sobriety, Mindfulness, Negativity, Problem Solving, Relationships, Spirituality | Tagged anger, attitude, mindfulness, relationships, spirituality, willingness | Leave a comment

That’s When He Will Start to Feel Better

by admin Posted on March 23, 2012

When I first sobered up, I was told several things that I had a hard time grasping: 1) It will be okay. Everything will be okay; 2) Letting go makes everything easier; and 3) Service work helps. Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Conflict, Depression, Emotional Sobriety, Family, Fear, Mental Illness, Negativity, Openness, Relationships, Socializing, Spirituality, Suffering | Tagged addiction, alcoholism, attitude, chemical dependency, family, fear, grateful, gratitude, joy, loss, love, positive thinking, recovery, relationships, self medicating, self pity, service, sobriety, spirituality, substance abuse, willingness | 2 Comments

Detaching with Love

by admin Posted on February 27, 2012

I’ve had the opportunity to have many conversations about that alien creature– detachment– over the past few days. I believe that in their very nature, relationships between humans fall on some spectrum of attachment. But attachment can give way to pathology, codependence, and a whole host of gnarly harms… How and when does this happen? Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Conflict, Emotional Sobriety, Family, Fear, Gratitude, Mindfulness, Relationships, Self-Care, Spirituality, Suffering | Tagged addiction, alcoholism, attachment, attitude, Buddhism, change, chemical dependency, detachment, family, fear, God, grateful, gratitude, Higher power, joy, loss, love, mindfulness, pain, recovery, relationships, self-care, spirituality, substance abuse, willingness | Leave a comment

Going All Jung on My Own Ass

by admin Posted on February 22, 2012

‘ve been chewing on some of Jung’s material for the past 24 hours. Specifically, his belief that we all go through a process he calls “individuation.” Individuation is, in my opinion, another way to talk about another process I spend a great deal of time pondering– integration. Jung believed that individuation is the path we all take to our own private, individual destinies; the journey through which we form as “whole selves;” a merging of the conscious and the unconscious. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Conflict, Depression, Emotional Sobriety, Family, Fear, Openness, Self-Care, Spirituality, Suffering | Tagged addiction, alcoholism, attitude, change, drinking, emotional sobriety, family, fear, God, Higher power, joy, loss, love, mindfulness, negativity, pain, positive thinking, recovery, self pity, self-talk, sobriety, spirituality, story, substance abuse, willingness | 2 Comments

Borrowing a Bit of the Honey Badger

by admin Posted on February 4, 2012

Allow me to be more specific. And first, this requires of me a brief confession: I lied earlier this week. I’ve not been uninspired or unable to blog. Sure, I’ve had the sniffles and felt clogged and snotty, but not so terrible I can’t function. Truthfully, I have been dying to blog. But I felt as though I could not. You see, this past week, my blog became fodder for a certain person’s continual beat-down of someone I care about. A means by which to get to him, shame him. Continue reading →

Posted in Antidepressants, Conflict, Depression, Emotional Sobriety, Gratitude, Help, Mental Illness, My Story, Negativity, Openness, Relationships, Spirituality | Tagged addiction, alcoholism, antidepressants, appreciation, attitude, change, chemical dependency, drinking, God, grateful, gratitude, love, negativity, positive thinking, recovery, relationships, self pity, self-care, service, sobriety, spirituality, story, substance abuse | Leave a comment

Love, Love, Love

by admin Posted on February 1, 2012

I haven’t blogged much this past week. I’ve felt a bit uninspired. I’ve also been balancing a cold, a tooth (abscess take two) and work. Not to worry– I am still here and working my program and will write more soon. In the meantime, I leave you with the following sentiment: “All You Need Is Love.” Thank you, Beatles. Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Conflict, Emotional Sobriety, Gratitude, My Story, Negativity, Self-Care, Spirituality | Tagged addiction, alcoholism, appreciation, attitude, change, chemical dependency, drinking, grateful, gratitude, love, positive thinking, recovery, relationships, self pity, self-care, self-talk, sobriety, spirituality, substance abuse | 2 Comments