In March of 2000, I witnessed the greatest hockey game ever played. Well, I may be exaggerating a little but I was a competitive Dad back then. Although unqualified, I was appointed an assistant coach on my son Evan’s House Hockey team. At the end of the season, there were playoffs and the final two teams played in a championship …
Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to be a helper. I helped my mother with my little sisters, I cheeredmy friends up when they were sad by making them laugh, and I went to great lengths to please people,or in my young mind, ‘help’ the situation. Often, those efforts went against my beliefs or desires andbegan to …
Tommy Rosen is the Founder of Recovery 2.0, a global community dedicated to using yoga as a pathwayto long-term recovery. His first book, also titled Recovery 2.0, was published 9 years ago and doesseveral things very well: 1) he tells his own story of addiction and recovery; 2) he articulates the 12 stepsin his own words; and 3) he describes …
Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day, by Amishi JhaIn a world where there are always distractors and stresses that vie for our attention, the title of AmishiJha’s book is alluring. Only 12 minutes a day to find focus? Sign me up! The author does a great job oflisting the compelling evidence that daily …
I was not one of those people who had their first sip of alcohol and thought, “Where have you been all my life!”. My transformation–from a woman who drank wine to have fun, enhance the moment, relax, and take the edge off, to a woman who drank warm vodka alone behind closed doors–happened slowly over time. I do not remember …
Nick deSpoelberch is a therapist, father, facilitator for our weekly parent support meetings, and a man inlong-term recovery. He recently shared his story at our August 30 Vigil. A Second Act in Life is both amemoir and a hopeful guide to recovery and healing. It is meant to encourage all those who aretrapped, lost, or believe they have already lost …
Pema Chodron is an American who grew up to be a Tibetan Buddhist nun who has dedicated her life tomaking meditation accessible to the masses. How to Meditate is an easy-reading guide to how anindividual can develop qualities such as “clear seeing”. First, you talks you through proper posture andlearning to settle into breathing and relaxation. A rewarding practice is …
The quote by Maya Angelou, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give”, is how I can best describe the landscape of my recovery walk. I had always considered myself an alcohol abuser, not an alcoholic. After all, I was able to stop drinking alcohol completely from the age of 27-34. How could I possibly be a person with a …
The book The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: Discovering a Happy, Health, Wealth Alcohol-Free Life is a well-written sobriety memoir (aka “quit lit”) that initially describes how drinking slowly but surely brought the author to her knees. Most of the book, however, is about how sobriety has worked for Catherine including in her mind, body, and spirit. The author gives …
It was a frigid Monday morning on February 6, 2017. I was so afraid to leave my apartment in Brooklyn. Ireached the point where I could not trust myself to stay alive. My addiction had me exactly where itwanted me. I was filled with fear, guilt, shame and–most importantly–loneliness. The last 14 months had been a whirlwind. I had been …
