Addictions
Addictions, Mindfulness, Understanding
COMMUNICATION

Communication is really dependant on one question, “How focused are you on Principles?” Do you even know what a Principle is? The Principles I am talking about serve to define behavior and outcomes. In science, a principle would define the physical behavior of an element and how it works in the world. If the behavior is consistent and predictable a Principle can become a law, like the law of gravity. Scientist’s, like Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton, conjured up new… Read More
Sep 19 2013
THE NON-HABIT FORMING HOAX
Have you ever read the back of your over-the-counter medicine bottles or prescription medications and discovered the popular phrase “This is non-habit forming”. Sometimes it’s even in the commercials and advertisements of popular easy-fixes. I’ve been on a long quest for sleep. Most nights my eye-lids and I don’t speak to each other. The people at the Nyquil company must have received a great amount of requests to make a sleep-aid. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one sipping at the… Read More
IT’S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS? NOT REALLY!
My Father was an alcoholic. Like me. The big difference being I knew I was a drunk and he denied it to the end. “I never missed a day of work in my life because of booze.” was his war cry of denial. And he didn’t. Not while he was alive. His drinking eventually killed him. Booze turned my father all sentimental and he’d get me up in the middle of the night to sing. His drinking partner was… Read More
PHARM FASHION

The controversy over the West Hollywood celebrity shop Kitson hawking sweatshirts that have prescription drug slogans splashed on them started a few weeks ago. When I read about it my response was, “this sucks big time”. But I didn’t want to rush to judgment so I thought I would ponder it for awhile, do some research, and see how I felt. After a week, I was still in the it “sucks big time” camp. But I wanted to weigh it… Read More
Aug 29 2013
TRUSTING FOR THE NEXT FIFTEEN

Fifteen minutes. At the height of our son’s active addiction, that’s what my husband and I were down to. One day at a time? I wish. It was too painful to contemplate an entire day, or a half day, or even an hour. We were plugging through fifteen minutes at a time, grateful if we made it through to the next fifteen. More grateful still if we made it through to night time without yet another major crisis, so… Read More
THE OTHER SIDE OF AS IF

A few days ago Tracey wrote a blog that was compelling, instructive and insightful. “As if” dealt with the insanity of treating people as if they were not the addicts, gossips, meddlers, or whatever stripe they actually were. Treating them as if they were not what you know them to be. A great observation about unreasonable expectations and inevitable disappointment. I read the blog and thought, “Now what do I do!’ Because, for years I’d witnessed the other side of… Read More
BANANA SEAT BIKES, BRUISED KNEES AND THE ROAD OF RECOVERY

I’m flipping through photo albums (yes I am that old) and see a picture of my 4 year old self. In the background is my beloved tricycle. Looking at that picture I recall that frustrating, exhilarating process that is learning to ride a big kid’s bike. I needed a lot of help and a lot of patience from others to get me from my three wheeler to my cherished ‘floral-banana-seat -with-fantastic-streamers-and-ape-hanger-handlebars’ bike with training wheels to the coveted ‘no… Read More
“AS IF”

I’m not in recovery but I have been in therapy for many decades: And I can’t see leaving anytime soon. Just when I think I am free to go my therapist says something that is so revelatory I realize I could be a lifer. Last week I was talking about various people in my life and sharing some events, nothing earth shattering, it all veered more into the realm of annoying and he said “You are treating all these… Read More