Dear Husband, I feel like year 11 should have come with a warning label. WARNING: You will be physically separated by 7,000 miles for seven months of this year. Life as you know it will change in big and small ways. You will feel lost, anxious, discouraged and frustrated a majority of the time… But Read More
Month: July 2020
Progress Report: 500 Days
Today marks 500 days into my wellness journey of sobriety and personal growth. I decided to check in with myself and reflect on my progress. We get progress reports in school on our academic journey, and since I’m a teacher my mind thinks like that. Although organic in form, I find it helpful to look Read More
Remembrance of Things Past
Yesterday, I slid down the slippery slope of memory and floundered around at the bottom like a bug on its back. Normally, I don’t allow myself to dwell in the past. Much of it didn’t go as planned, and feelings of guilt and regret are all too happy to pounce, once I arrive. This trip Read More
The Yuck
Disclaimer: This post is not one of my usual hope-filled messages, but I feel the need to be authentic with my readers. Read on to learn more about my current affliction, the Yuck. Last week, the majority of California went back into lockdown due to COVID-19. My district informed me that we will be starting Read More
Life Lessons from my Garden
Let me begin by admitting I am not a master gardener; I consider myself a student of plants, a novice at best. But it brings me satisfaction and pleasure to putter around in the garden, whether it’s tending to my tomato plants or trying to propagate my succulents. I am an observer; maybe that is Read More
What to do? Give Yourself a Break
“What are we going to do today?” This question has no doubt been asked far more often over the past four months. Prior to the arrival of the Virus That Cancelled Everything, schedules used to be packed, trips planned and looked forward to, and staying at home doing nothing was a rare occurrence. Now that Read More
Autopilot: an unfulfilling ride
Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, go to work. Come home, cook dinner, do chores, go to bed. It’s easy to get stuck on autopilot in this life. If you’re caught in the sticky trap of drinking, your life is likely a recurring nightmare of numbing, regret, broken promises and feeling like crap (physically, mentally Read More
Creating Sober Associations
Today is my birthday….I’m celebrating the midpoint between 40 and 50. Celebrating Independence Day, and my personal freedom from alcohol. I’m with my family at Mammoth Lakes, also where I celebrated my 40th Birthday. That birthday trip was filled with booze and its sidekick, regret. At 15 months sober, I still have a lot of Read More