My body is ravaged My soul is torn I have smothered my spirit My mind is clouded My heart full of shame And I shake with fear Can I keep trying to start over & begin again & again What must it take for me to get off this ride Will I even be able

In 1971, two events occurred that changed my life forever:  I got married and I became a typesetter. There was also a third event simmering away under the radar that hadn’t quiet manifested, but was waiting to explode.  It will become evident what that event was later in the story. In those days, typesetting was

Like most people, I like to look my best. For me looking my best coincides, or in fact begins with, feeling my best. Pre recovery I’d try to make myself feel good by obsessing over my appearance. Endless buying of clothes, sweating at the gym and purchasing of miracle creams ensued to summon up even

What it used to be like, what happened and what it is like now is the traditional framework for sharing at a meeting. This progression holds true for both my recovery and my yoga practice. At one point my life was consumed by suffering which eventually became overwhelming. I had a life changing experience and

I came into recovery in 1988.  I was miserable, broken, and lonely.  I was pretty much friendless and hopeless.  I felt like I was dropped onto this planet from another universe and didn’t belong there or here. I was smoking a lot of pot, sniffing speed, and drinking until I passed out every night. I

    Dr. Jamie Marich sent me this link today to share with the readers at The Cafe. It discusses whether or not your therapist disclosing some of their own experience is something that hinders or helps. There are differing opinions for sure and it’s something that most people in the therapeutic and life coaching

I am the boat and I am the ocean. The waves are constant, swelling, falling. Doubt, Insecurity, Why? I can’t adjust my sails for they are broken. Once they were full and beautiful, able to catch the breeze, free to travel. Now they are stranded upon a vessel lost on a troubled sea. The tides

“…why shouldn’t we laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others…”  p. 132 Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book Many people think that giving up drugs and alcohol are a sure pathway to becoming some old boring fuddy duddy with no friends, no fun and no laughter in their lives. The truth however,

  I just achieved a recovery milestone. I kind of feel like I am “aging out” of relatability. I have been around for so long that nothing should go wrong, I have amassed a trunk load of tools, I have practiced the principles for a while and, face it, I’m old!  What could possibly be

  There’s a saying that’s so familiar yet one most addicts and alcoholics in recovery continually forget…. ….“Pain is optional”. How many times do we have to hit the same wall before we start doing things differently? The answer varies from one recovering addict to the next. In early recovery, we blindly make choices that