To paraphrase the song it is a “long and winding road”. Sometimes we are on the highway/motorway, the traffic is moving fast and freely on both sides. The destinations are clearly signposted and the journey passes quickly. Other times, we are on country roads. There are few signposts and we don’t even have a map! … Read more
“Facing it — always facing it — that’s the way to get through. Face it!” – Joseph Conrad There has been quite a bit of press in the addiction world about the need for the treatment protocol of total abstinence. Recently an article in the LA Times idicated, “You can cut back on alcohol”. Citing: … Read more
“A strong, successful man is not the victim of his environment. He creates favorable conditions. His own inherent force and energy compel things to turn out as he desires.” — Orison Swett Marden Throughout my life I considered myself a victim, a victim of life! I always had an excuse for everything that went wrong. … Read more
“Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.” — Earl Nightingale As a drunk I was the king of excuses. I had to … Read more
“With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.” –Wayne W. Dyer Never sit on the pity pot, the only ting that comes … Read more
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 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
“The question should be, is it worth trying to do, not can it be done.” – Allard Lowenstein An early phase in the recovery process is termed the contemplative phase. It is the stage where we are contemplating whether we can, could, should or would be successful. Honestly it is FEAR rearing it’s ugly head. … Read more
“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” — Peace Pilgrim For over a decade I have been working on my mental attitude. Over the years I have made enormous progress. I went from looking for “Murphy’s Law” to rear it’s ugly head regularly to exactly the opposite, … Read more
“Throw back the shoulders, let the heart sing, let the eyes flash, let the mind be lifted up, look upward and say to yourself… nothing is impossible!” – Norman Vincent Peale Enthusiasm for life is essential. One of my morning affirmations goes like this: Today I will win— Why? I’ll tell you why: Because I … Read more