The verdict is in on connection and the general consensus is that it extends your life expectancy, increases your chances of staying sober in recovery and is necessary to thrive spiritually. Good stuff, unless you’re an introvert. Unless being around people wears you out instead of recharges you. I’ve written about my introverted nature before Read More
Tag: mental health
Weekend Book Review: The Glass Castle
The Glass Castle by Jannette Walls Page Length: 288 pages Publisher/Publication Date: Scribner, 2006 Rating: 5 of 5 Stars In the opening scene of Jeannette Walls,’ The Glass Castle, we are invited into an NYC taxi cab with Jeannette on her way to an important business dinner. As we are stuck in traffic, our gaze Read More
Heartbreaks
Yesterday evening my husband and I were watching a National Geographic nature show with my nine-year-old daughter when enjoyment turned to tears. We got to the inevitable point where the bear catches up to the newborn elk, who had fallen behind the herd, and you know the rest. My daughter ran upstairs crying and vowing Read More
April’s Word of the Month: Escapes
As part of my continuing monthly series, my word for April is Escapes. I feel like I need to preface this post with the acknowledgement that there are millions of people in the world who are living the reality of physical escape, and thousands more who are not able to. I know that, sitting across Read More
How Self Care Changes When You’re Sober
Yesterday, I was sick enough to take a day off work. My daughter and I both have a rather nasty cough (but not Covid). I texted my dad that I was home and he didn’t need to come let our dogs out, something he does for us since we work and he’s retired and loves Read More
Sometimes, It’s Nothing
Do you know what I did today? Nothing. To some that may sound boring or unambitious. But for me, it was self-care, and surprisingly satisfying. Life has returned to its busy bustle, and I’m going to take a page from the pandemic playbook and incorporate days of nothing when I can. My week includes working, Read More
Problems to Solve or Processes to Manage?
Two and a half years into my sobriety journey, I am learning problems are not often solved permanently. They can manifest from a variety of sources and are not always alleviated by a single solution. In short, if a problem keeps recurring, it is usually a process to be managed. In my first year of Read More
The Kindness Cure
This morning, my friend Claire’s post spoke to me. It was a short check-in post, but her last sentence read, “this week has lacked the quality of kindness.” I mentally agreed with her, as my week contained worrisome doctor’s appointments, family struggles and my instructional aide hearing the news of her nephew’s death in a Read More
If You’re Drinking on the Daily, That’s Your Underlying Health Condition
I had a brief, socially distanced conversation with a friend the other day that I can’t stop thinking about. The conversation was great, blessed socialization, until the end. Her closing comment, delivered in her best one-liner voice, was, “Well, since you don’t drink, I’m drinking enough for the both of us these days…” Haha. The Read More
Living in a Place of Mystery
Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe what we cannot see, and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty. Brene Brown This year, I have spent a lot of time in a place of mystery, and now I find myself living there yet again. Embracing the Read More