“For me, writing has become prayers that say, `Great Spirit, return to us our freedom, our land, and our lives. We are thankful for the present from which to learn how to be thankful for the past, and how to be hopeful for the future.” –Barney Bush When I began my recovery journey it was … Read more
“There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life.” — Frederico Fellini In August of 2012 I set out on a new venture, My goal was to build a brick and mortar agency that utilized the recovery success principles I had been developing and refining over the course … Read more
I am loyal in my attendance, generous in my giving, kind in my criticism, creative in my suggestions, loving in my attitudes. Twenty-Four Hours a Day. Over the years I have heard so many “Truths,” “Facts,” “Musts,” in our Mutual Support Fellowship and quite frankly, there were times that not only did I believe them, … Read more
Chuck C., a well-known early AA member in California, testified before the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Subcommittee in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 27, 1969. This is his testimony which has been copied from the official hearing records: Present: Senators Hughes, (presiding), Dominick, and Saxbe [members of the Subcommittee]. Also present: Senators Cranston and Murphy … Read more
To consciously manifest life joyously in the present! Aloha I do not remember the show I was watching but a few months back I heard the actor make this statement. I thought, “wow that is wonderful, I want to write about that.” So I jotted it in my notes and well, today is the day. … Read more
Unless you have gone through school with the Common Core system you probably remember the “Multiplication” tables. We needed to memorize those tables and had better learn some shortcuts and not with our fingers to assist in the process. I recently saw a “gif” of the multiples of “10,” it went like this: 10 x … Read more
My response, “My family impressed upon me the need in our lives for community service. Helping others is essential aspect of our lives. Community and family are one!” He responded, “So it was really an internal/natural desire to help people, right?” Me, “Yes coupled with our family belief system.” We live in a complicated world, … Read more
I have read the articles, heard the narrative, and it goes like this. We would never blame a patient with a serious medical condition for their condition the way we blame the addict or alcoholic for addiction or alcoholism. Or would we? How about a diabetic with a sugar relapse, or an overweight smoker after … Read more
There’s something about losing friends, particularly young people, where it’s not something that you get over. I don’t believe there’s a healing process. Chris Cornell Without a doubt, in my mind at least, Chris Cornell was in the top three of all time great vocalists. On top of that his lyrics rank way up there … Read more
At some of these [steps] we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. —Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., pg. 58 One of the biggest misnomers when looking into treatment for addiction is the idea that a treatment center is a “Twelve Step Program.” Truth be told, when it comes … Read more