The August 29, 2024 New Canaan Vigil was a success because of storytelling, specifically through ourline-up of speakers who shared their recovery journeys in a very open and authentic way. They allreceived standing ovations because of what we called “The Power of Story”, or in Ty Bennett’s book ThePower of Storytelling. Neuroscientists have proven long ago that people who hear …
Hi, my name is Cini Shaw, and I am in recovery. I was born and raised in Peter Cooper Village on the lower east side of Manhattan. My mother was orphaned at the age of 7, marrying my father in her early 20’s. My parents divorced when I was 4 yrs old because of my father’s drinking and erratic and …
It was a late summer day, 2006, on Cape Cod where I’ve lived for over 30 years. My third of four sons was supposed to be home with the family car. He had visited his therapist, and three hours later he still had not returned. I was starting to get worried. Suddenly, the phone rang. It was my son, who …
Whether it’s meditation or a walk in nature, reading a sacred text or saying a prayer, there are manyways to tap into a heightened level of awareness of the world around us, according to psychologist,author and researcher Lisa Miller, PhD. This awareness, or spirituality, offers hope to those like herself,who struggled with depression. The belief in the concept we are …
Shauna Shapiro, the author, does a great job of highlighting the importance of self-compassion, which others like Dr. Kristen Neff have advocated for. Like Neff, she has plenty of studies to back her points. This is a self-help book that can be valuable for those who are considering mindfulness and meditation for the first time. There are practical exercises at …
In 1990, living in Westbrook, CT, I was aggressively trying to die. Why may youask? On the surface, my family lived a wonderful life. My dad was a top executiveat an insurance company, and my mom stayed at home taking care of the children.Our house was only a hundred yards from the beach. However, my parents divorced when I was …
A few years ago, I read a fascinating book on the surfing life, Barbarian Days by William Finnegan. WithSurf Therapy, just published by Cash Lambert, I’ve learned about surfing as a emerging, science-basedfield to address mental health and addiction challenges. What a concept: asking humans to worktogether in the outdoors to find their “zone” and structurally change the brain for …
I didn’t just wake up one morning dry heaving into my toilet, needing a drink withinfifteen minutes of awakening – so ashamed that I could not even look at myself in themirror – wondering again how I was going to get through the day (cursing God for nothaving taken me during the night). My spiritual bankruptcy was decades in the …
A warm and pleasantly unexpected wave of relief set in as I was ushered into the back seat of yet another police vehicle. While this type of counterintuitive neurobiological response was not foreign to me, it still surprised me every time. In moments like that you have clarity, something concrete is happening. No need to fear what may come. It …
Another great book on meditation that is especially helpful for those, like me, who struggle with their inner critic. Meditation teacher and author Mark Coleman provides many antidotes for negative thinking and self-talk to help us learn to be more compassionate towards ourselves. Chapters are short withpractical exercises included, mostly meditation based. Mark also describes the scientific foundation, orneuroplasticity, behind …
