Sunday Meditation: Loving Without an Agenda

Our society runs on agendas. Your day may run on a this type of itemized list. Agendas aid in organization and productivity. But what about the agenda that we don’t write on a page, but compose in our hearts and minds? This type of agenda, sometimes called a “hidden agenda” is often formulated without our Read More

Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice  Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. –Robert Read More

Goodbye to Drinking Island

It’s funny how the brain romanticizes things that no longer serve us. A glass of chilled Chardonnay, the ex-boyfriend, sharing a drag off a cigarette in the crisp fall air, the thrill of moving a pile of plastic chips across a green felt table. We could have said goodbye and made our peace weeks, months Read More

Footprints in Your Heart

This weekend, I went to a new hair stylist for a cut and color, and had lunch with one of my best friends. I haven’t had either of those experiences in about six months. Both gave me a definite mental boost, and connection I didn’t realize I’ve been craving. However it was the lunch that Read More

Smoothing the Path

It’s a dark, drizzly day and I am still in a funk. It strikes me, whenever I’m in a funk, how the responses to all my funks in the past was to drink. Now, how do I handle these off days? Gratitude: Even if it might not be my natural go-to when I’m in a Read More

I Still Struggle

I still struggle. Progress isn’t always linear; in fact, sometimes instead of moving forward we stand still, or even backslide. Lately, it feels I’m losing ground. I am still sober and each day is another pace forward on that front. But the rest of it feels tangled and messy. I’ve completely abandoned my discipline when Read More

The Light that is My Son

A few days ago, I traveled to the Bay Area to a small private college tucked away in the affluent town of Atherton. My son, his dad and I had an appointment to meet the men’s volleyball coach and tour the campus. The coach and my son have been exchanging emails since my son sent Read More

Be the Light

I sit here early on a Saturday morning doing what I love best: reading, praying, reflecting and writing… all in the comfort of coffee and my little white dog. Today I am reflecting on the fact that I’m 23 months sober, how all we need is within us, and the remarkable words of Amanda Gorman’s Read More

When We Know Better, We Do Better

In my previous post, I wrote that we are doing the best we can. That observation, put into words by Maya Angelou is important, but so is her follow-up: When we know better, we do better. “But why,” I found myself thinking. I wrote that post because I am delving into the work of Dr. Read More

Doing the Best We Can

“Not all addictions are rooted in abuse or trauma, but I do believe they can all be traced to painful experience. A hurt is at the centre of all addictive behaviours.” Gabor Mate, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts Dr. Gabor Mate, whose above mentioned book I am about to dive into, believes that addiction Read More