It was Tuesday, October 11, 2011. I slept in a little late that morning as it was my day off. One of my room mates woke me to let me know I was wanted in the office. I got up and dressed, let some people know where I was going and headed up the walk.Continue reading “The Gift of Desperation”
Tag Archives: freedom
Boredom VS Busyness
A common complaint I hear on a regular basis is, “I’m so bored”. This complaint is common for many people but is especially common in recovery circles. Boredom can be a normal part of life, but it can contribute to several issues. People that struggle with boredom run a higher rate of depression and anxiety.Continue reading “Boredom VS Busyness”
The Ditch
Someone asked me recently about my experience with long term recovery. My first thought was why are you asking me about this? When I think of long-term recovery, I think of guys I know that have been walking this road for twenty or thirty years or more. I have been in recovery more than aContinue reading “The Ditch”
Recovery
September is National Recovery Month. I often find myself struggling with the word recovery. I’ve been to the dictionary for a definition. It talks of a return to a normal state or the process of regaining something stolen or lost. I guess my struggle with the word is that it assumes that I was onceContinue reading “Recovery”
Hey, have you got a minute?
I’m thinking about two different interactions I had with friends recently. Both took place as we met at different times over coffee. The first conversation was with a friend about the same age that I am. It began with talk about politics, local news and sports. As we talked, I began to sense that thereContinue reading “Hey, have you got a minute?”
What’s your plan?
I was listening to a podcast recently and the speaker shared a quote from Chris Voss, an FBI hostage negotiator. “When the pressure is on, we do not rise to the occasion. We fall to the preparation.” Wow! I wish I could think of a saying like that. If you ever hear me say somethingContinue reading “What’s your plan?”
Step – 12
In 1935, Bill W, the founder of AA, made a business trip to Akron, OH. The business venture didn’t go well, and Bill found himself returning to his hotel without enough money to pay the bill or to pay for the trip home to his wife. As he passed the hotel bar he heard theContinue reading “Step – 12”
Step 11 – Part 2
I am coming back to Step 11 this week to talk about meditation. I am an older guy in my 60’s, lived most of my life in a rural setting and attended a conservative church. In my younger days when I thought about meditation, I pictured someone sitting on the floor, eyes closed, humming, andContinue reading “Step 11 – Part 2”
Step 11 – Part 1
Step 11 is another of the maintenance Steps. In the first three steps we commit to turning away from our addictive and unhealthy behavior. In Steps 4 through 9 we learn how to deal with our past. In the maintenance steps we are focusing on our present. Most of us have at least an elementaryContinue reading “Step 11 – Part 1”
12 Steps – Step 10
“We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.” Recently, someone told me that they are a big believer in the 12 Steps. They went on to say that they worked through the 12 Steps a few years ago. I would argue that they aren’t really a believer in theContinue reading “12 Steps – Step 10”