Recovering Out Loud
Over the past few weeks, I've been digging through my house trying to find items to sell in an upcoming rummage sale. Most of the items are my daughters, and as time has passed and she has accumulated more and more things, our home has started to feel slightly claustrophobic. Still, I’m having a hard... Continue Reading →
The longer I stay healthy, the more I recognize there is so much more to recovery than just putting down the substance. I think the easiest part of my journey was probably making the decision to quit. The hardest part has been taking the actions necessary to remain successful. Sometimes, I miss the apathy that... Continue Reading →
I've been having trouble writing lately. Every sentence, every idea. I've had an extremely difficult time finding my words. So I asked myself, "Am I just trying too hard?" I am just going to write today, with no "goal" in mind, other than to let some of these thoughts out of my head. If it... Continue Reading →
Change. I wasn't always the type of mom who took the time to braid her daughters hair, or read her books at bedtime, or paint her fingernails 5 different colors. I wasn't always the type of mom who let her daughter crawl into bed with her after she’d had a nightmare. I wasn’t always prepared... Continue Reading →
I was driving home from the store with my daughter tonight when Demi Lovato's new song Sober came on the radio. I had read that she recently relapsed and wrote about it in a song, but I hadn't heard it yet. Before I knew what was happening, I was overcome with emotion. As I listened... Continue Reading →
When I was a child, I was convinced that adults never cried. I thought that maybe someday I would reach an age where crying would no longer be my emotional response to things like fear, stress or anger. When this change didn't occur, I started to see those who did not cry as strong, and myself... Continue Reading →
I wrote this on a day when I was struggling. I was hurting for a friend who was slowly dying because they were refusing to reach out for help for fear of what their family and friends might think if they admitted they were addicted. My heart was breaking and I was sad. When I... Continue Reading →
Last night I stopped at the gas station on my way home. There was a man walking around asking for change, which is not unusual in Milwaukee. I’ve learned how to say no when necessary. But there was something about this man that caught my eye. He looked strikingly similar to a young man I... Continue Reading →
I’ve been reading a lot of articles lately where individuals have been talking negatively about 12 Step fellowships like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, etc. It sometimes feels as if it is some sort of smear campaign. I can only speak for myself, but I completely disagree with the opinions of those who say Fellowships like AA and... Continue Reading →
