Developing the Habit of Happiness

I have heard various numbers from 21 days to 90 days as the magic number to develop a habit or turn a bad one to good!  In the recovery aspect of life 90 days seems to work well.  I suggest you build confidence by utilizing 90 day bursts in your life.  I believe that part … Read more

Pain is not Optional

“Pain is a part of being alive, and we need to learn that. Pain does not last forever, nor is it necessarily unbeatable, and we need to be taught that.” – Harold Kushner The idea that we will never be in pain is ludicrous.  Physical pain is the body telling us that something is wrong.  Mental … Read more

Alcoholic?

“But the actual or potential alcoholic, with hardly an exception, will be absolutely unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge.” Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 39 What is an alcoholic?  We received an e-mail regarding a young man that is not sure whether he is alcoholic.  He wonders if maybe he is mentally ill.  I … Read more

Show Up!

“I’ve found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck,  take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often.”  Brian Tracy Showing up is half the battle.  Being present, actually taking an active role in my life is essential.  That may sound ridiculous but as an active alcoholic I could be present … Read more

X is for X-Ray

Having X-Ray vision to trudge towards the horizon each and every day brings with it joy.  Staying focused on keeping the main thing the main thing for me has been a Blessing.  I learned a long time ago that worrying about things only brings fear and fear paralyzes.  I am grateful for the lessons of … Read more

V is for Vision

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and … Read more

O is for Our!

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.  ~Eric Hoffer I am grateful for “Our”.  For “Our” Father, “Our” plight, “Our” fellowships, “Our” lives, “Our” love, for the we in all of us.  We are all in this together.  I am grateful that there is a we.  None of … Read more

M is for Carrying the Message

For me today carrying the message that recovery is life and life is good is what drives me.  It is amazing to me to see folks come from the pits of addiction into a brand new way of living filled with joy and hope.  It brings me back to my early days and the feeling … Read more