Meditation and mindfulness are both wildly popular and widely misunderstood. While I am not an expert on the subject, I have personally reaped great benefits from a daily discipline in the past. But I became complacent and wandered away from my practice. For reasons that remain a puzzle to me, I have been slow to …
Solstice greetings to you and yours! On this – the shortest (and darkest?) day of the year – may we look forward with a deep sense of hope about the brighter days ahead. And as nature marks this point in its cycle of seasons, let us seize the season and claim the brightness ahead as …
A Story of Numbers After my eighth serious quit attempt in three years, it finally took. Support from the QuittersWin group and mindful use of NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) helped me finally sever the chains from my 45-year, pack-per-day addiction. I noticed a difference right away! By the end of day two smoke-free, I was …
Maybe Miracles Do Happen? If people can maintain coherence and avoid terrible detox symptoms, they might be able to hold hope long enough for a miracle to occur. I’ve seen the bumper sticker that says “Expect a Miracle.” Some days I might scoff at such unreasonable hope. Some days I might wish that expecting a …
Part One – A Fierce Storm Today Rehab and Detox beds are nowhere to be found. Demand is higher than ever. Resources are more scarce. Staff are harder to hire and keep. Overdose deaths (CDC figures) rose 30% from 2019 to 2020 and another 15% from 2020 to 2021. The system has been broken for …
(even when it’s ten below zero?) I heard myself grumbling about the weather getting cold recently. It made me realize that I hadn’t performed my annual winter magic ritual. So, I looked at the 10 day forecast, picked the coldest morning, and created a calendar event so I wouldn’t forget. I was out on the …
Guilt and shame are NOT the same, at least in my opinion (humble or otherwise.) So, to be clear, I am not even consulting a dictionary on this one. We all have a real internalized understanding of these two words. We know – in our gut – what they feel like. I’d like to challenge …
Here’s a quote that makes me feel good. “What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other?” – George Eliot It makes me feel hopeful. Hope feels good. But I suspect that it also makes me feel good because if I’m thinking about making things less difficult for others, …
Remembering our WHY can help us get back on track or stay on track in pursuit of recovery. Every person’s WHY is as unique as they are, of course. But understanding the different kinds of WHYs may be helpful because not all WHYs are created equal. Yes, there are different kinds of motivators to quit …
To be clear, I don’t own this music or the rights to it. It’s just a great song by Earth , Wind & Fire that seems kinda perfect for TODAY! Movin’ and Groovin’ It’s one of those songs that just makes you want to move! The cool September mornings might have you thinking about going …
According to Mark Twain or Agatha Christie (depending upon who you believe actually said it) “the secret to getting ahead is getting started.” And while the authorship of the quote may be contested, there is no question to its truth. The first step is often the hardest and always required for those who will grow …
9/11 is a day that we will never forget. Janice has a very special reason to remember that day and the truth that silenced the “little voice in my head.”
Balance is vital. Balance is an essential aspect of the universe. In fact, the entirety of the universe attests to balance. The inter-relatedness of the universe necessitates the balance and its unceasing motion seeks balance. Our relationships require balance as well, if they are to be healthy. Two characteristics of healthy relationships which must be …
Some of the groups I facilitate each week are Tobacco Cessation groups. I’ve listened to the voices in the meeting and I’m sometimes surprised by the amount of laughter in our soundtrack. Bear in mind that as I report this, the world is grappling with remnants of a global pandemic. My country is facing some …
I have never accepted what was the conventional wisdom that addicted people needed to “just say no” or choose differently. I didn’t believe it was that simple.
