Twelve years ago I had become someone I didn’t recognize. After leaving the military I moved to Flagstaff, AZ and I was in party mode. But before long, Mr. Good Time became Mr. Unreliable. When my roommates staged an intervention (ok, multiple interventions) I knew it was time to get sober. I made an appointment […]
Last year I went on vacation with a family friend. I’m an agnostic at best—I believe our human brains can’t possibly know for sure what high power operates in this universe. My friend couldn’t be more different: she’s a Christian with an intense and personal relationship with God. The difference in our approaches to faith […]
The first time I spoke with a therapist, I was 11 years old. My parents divorced when I was 10, and based on my intense anger and depression, they thought it a good idea that I speak to someone. At the time, I wanted no part of talking to a stranger about my feelings. I […]
As I sit to write this essay, leg-shaking and fingers tapping, I’m filled with mild horror at how overwhelmingly qualified I am to share on this topic. Having celebrated eight years in recovery during December ‘21, I’ve lived through a full spectrum of life’s moments sober which have come with varying levels of anxiety. My […]
Wellness, presence and balance: file these under ‘words I didn’t know until I got sober.” When I was living hard, I was unwell, unbalanced, and avoided being in the moment by way of drugs and alcohol. These were the telltale signs that my life had become unmanageable. In recovery, I’ve made a full 180° flip. […]
I was 15 when I saw my first show at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. The Disco Biscuits played, everyone was high, and it felt like home. After living as an outcast in a preppy Long Island town, this was the literal band of misfits I’d hoped to find. That was two decades […]
You have a birthday, right? Of course you do. And chances are good that every year on that day, you and your loved ones celebrate it in some fashion — or at the very least, you take notice of it. Well, for most people in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, the same thing applies […]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…. or is it? For people in recovery (and, let’s admit it, everyone else), the holidays can be fraught, filled with missed expectations and strained relationships rather than just Hallmark holiday cheer. That, in addition to a plethora of parties and social events, can make the next five […]
When you quit drinking, it’s a fresh start. Almost all aspects of your life change. You don’t simply stop consuming alcohol; you change your mindset, your daily habits, and your entire lifestyle. It’s all but impossible for your love life not to feel the effects of your sobriety, especially if you are single. After all, […]
Full disclosure: I was not interested in seeing the most recent version of A Star is Born. I vaguely remember a version with Barbra Streisand, and a shirtless Kris Kristofferson (which was not the original) and had no desire to see the newest version. Same old story told too many times. But I was deeply […]