Thomas is trembling forward and looking into the room. It’s a modest space, and chairs are organized in a circle-there’s not a large crowd, as in a large auditorium. People are mingling with each other. Dawn approaches Tom. It’s obvious from his body language that he is anxious. She asks in a gentle voice, ” […]

During my meditation time this morning, I was reading an inspiring story reminding me about Recovery. I came up with a simple motto, “Recovery Alone.” Those two words sum up my entire life’s mission. The twelfth step states, “…We model these steps, making them real in our lives and supporting the growth of our brothers

I have moments when I lose my faith in Recovery. I am hurt by Recovery allowing me to suffer. I stake my life on Recovery, investing all my hopes and dreams. I feel let down when my symptoms return. But I do not give up on Recovery. After five separate mental health episodes, when my

This is the story of a woman named Grace. Grace, from an early age, believed her suffering from a mental health condition served a greater purpose. She was born in Germany in 1964, and as a child, she was anxious and sad most of the time. The condition left her unable to focus on school

Today marks a special day for us. This is post #500. Thank you for subscribing, offering feedback on what you find helpful, and supporting my journey of hope, healing, and health. Here’s to….500 more! In ancient Jewish tradition, tears were considered a profound expression of the soul. Tears acknowledge the value we place on people

Humility in recovery is about letting go of ego and pride, embracing the truth, and adopting a sober view of ourselves and our place in the recovery process. I want to give you a snippet of what is going on with my mental health and mood right now. Seven days ago, I noticed a slight

Imagine we are approaching a cave cut into the side of a mountain. Deep inside the cave is the remedy to counteract our mental health and substance misuse conditions. John crawls out, and we crawl in. Like John, we stood there inside the cave for five minutes. Motionless. Staring at the remedy. Not making a

There will not be a blog post on Friday, July 4, 2025. I will return on Monday, July 7, 2025, with more reflections, devotions, and activities. We are blessed to live in a country where we can freely assemble. I imagine there are locations around the world where people are unable to access a mental

How do we learn to be gentle? Gentleness is kindness, calmness, and softness. We may recline on the breast of a person we love. We may become gentle with ourselves and others if we do likewise. Then we will hear the heartbeats of Recovery, and we will be able to help others listen to them.

Recovery will help us resurrect from darkness into a different life, one full of compassion and kindness for ourselves and others. Susan experienced this sentiment when she began healing from a mental health and substance misuse condition. One day, she was out for a walk in the woods. Suddenly, she stops dead in her tracks