Have you ever had poison ivy? It’s a miserable rash that seethes, oozes, and blisters. It spreads quickly and can even scar. A recent brush with toxic anger affected me in a similar way. Here’s how I’m handling […]

Religion taught me to put God in a box. Recovery teaches me to put my problems in a God Box. Everything I knew about religion I learned in Church, but everything I know about God, I learned in recovery.
God In A […]

When my 39-year old sister died, I couldn’t function. I couldn’t quit crying let alone make it off the couch to cook dinner for my family. I thought I’d never find normal again. Yet life moves on, and I had to go […]

The Peace Corps was wrong. Parenting is the toughest job you’ll ever love.  Many of today’s parents are often more involved than ever. Even healthy parents, who aren’t affected by addiction and the horrible dance […]

We see you out there all across the country. You ARE recovery rock stars who carry the message of hope. You chair meetings, hold your sponsees hands, and make life-long impacts on another person’s life. No mere […]

Detachment redefines hope when you can accept what is and move on. My story stars with a hope that couldn’t be fulfilled. I hoped for a large loving family with happy gatherings and swarms of adoring children, […]

Trusting in God is a barrier for a lot of people who are new to recovery. At the same time, trusting in a “Higher Power” is a roadblock for many people of faith. Struggling with problems is part of the human […]

Approximately 90% of the time, the people who hurt us will never apologize. Let’s say five percent of the time, they do apologize, but it’s incredibly awkward and falls short. So we basically only receive a […]

When you grow up with alcoholism and addiction, family members have only one objective: keep the addiction secret at all costs. This sworn duty to lie, deny, and protect has 14 long-term affects. Many children […]

Mary’s husband Sean had a problem with drinking too much. After years of pleading, he finally went to church with her, only to be turned away by the pastor. Sean’s habit preceded him. Many people like Sean find […]

When I first found recovery, my self-neglect was extreme. Caring for other people left me worn-out, stressed-out, and beyond exhausted. I’ve healed a lot since then, but my self-care often lags behind the rest of […]

For years, if someone was treating me badly, I tried to win them over and make them be nice. To do this, I set out a plate of my freshly baked homemade cookies.  But I refused to let anyone else take care of me. […]

I’m usually really good at keeping secrets, but today, I’m letting you in on two biggies. First, my family has THE best sugar cookie recipe, which you’ll find below. Second, my family has THE worst trouble holding […]

For some, the natural high is found on the top of a cliff, 33 feet in the air, peering over their toes down to the pool of blue water below. Others find their high by thrashing through in the woods searching for […]

Does the idea of forgiveness leave a bitter taste in your mouth? Mine too. The accountant in wants to reconcile the past while the stress eater in me needs to binge. Here’s how my accounting background and a […]

My go-to response is almost always a snap judgement. Yes or No. Now or Never. This type of black and white, all or nothing thinking seems innocent enough, but this pattern has caused me and my family great […]

Brown butter is life changing. I drizzle this butter over steamed butternut squash, broccoli, and mashed potatoes. It is also great on turkey or chicken. It’s so good, that I have been known to eat it plain […]

These days, almost everyone is allergic to something. Gluten free, dairy free, sugar free. Collectively, when we consider everyone’s potential allergies and preferences, green beans are often the only thing left […]

Thanksgiving triggers can cause misery every year. Here’s an example. Eight years ago, my mother-in-law and I had a huge Thanksgiving feud. She said some things, and for the first time ever, I said some things […]