“Fractured”

She survived.Mostly integrated and whole. Despite the best efforts of parentswho denied her feelings and exhorted her to smile, smile, smile. Despite the best efforts of all the bullieswho saw in her open heart an open woundto cut her in her deepest placebecause they could.

No Rose-Colored Glasses

And no pink cloud recovery either Sometimes, I wish I had a pair of rose-colored glasses. But sadly, the price for wearing them is not worth the cost to my sobriety, abstinence, solvency, and health. My recovery path has been all about facing reality, walking through pain, and getting to the other side. It was never

If You Knew You’d Never Earn Another Penny from Your Writing…

What would you do? Art by Susan B. @HealingDoodle If you knew you’d never earn another penny from your art, Would you still soldier on? Or would it break your heart?

Mistakes are Inevitable

So Why All the Angst Over Making Them? Artwork by Susan B. @HealingDoodle It’s impossible to go through life never making a mistake or a poor decision or overreacting. So why can’t I just forgive myself, learn from the experience, and  move on without first drowning in shame  and self-loathing?

They Say “Hope Springs Eternal”

But does it, really? Artwork by Susan B. @HealingDoodle In my experience, Hope does not spring  nor is it eternal Instead, when least expected, it creeps up and pushes through the darkness like a birth. And my mind can extinguish it as easily as blowing out a candle flame.

The Gap

A Holy Moment Artwork by Susan B. @HealingDoodle For recovering addicts, the holy grail is the pause, the gap. This is the moment where we have  a Choice. But it is only in Recovery that we can Hope to be  Graced with the Ability and Willingness to sit still in that moment.

Sometimes…

Sometimes, chronic illness causesUnrelenting symptomsThat make me want to escape Just for a little while.A toxic recipe for a recovering addict.

The Muse

A Personal Observation Artwork by Susan B. @healingDoodle My MuseBehaves like a recalcitrant employeeBitching and complainingBefore finally doing their job.

From Sidney to Cindy

Finding love again after the death of a pet Sidney a month before we lost him Deep, heaving breaths came from the cancer-riddled lungs of our beloved cocker spaniel. Sidney had been part of our family since he was 11 weeks old. And now, 13 years later, he was helplessly gasping for air. Jay and I knew

Just Move the Trash Can

I recently returned from an amazing trip seeing friends and family. On the last leg of our journey, we stayed with a dear friend of mine who shared a unique perspective on problem-solving that was both funny and amazingly relevant to my own life. So I’d like to pass it on to you. We were