When I committed to Recover when I was 30, it wasn’t easy to find any redeeming qualities about my childhood. My memories consisted of being physically abused by my dad, the peculiar behaviors of my mother when her bipolar symptoms emerged, the emotional abuse of my basketball coach, my substance abuse, and telling myself I […]

Last week my wife and I registered to attend a marriage retreat at our church. A year ago we joined a group of married couples called The Domestic Church. From September through May, we meet one time a month. We have a simple meal together, read from the bible, share how the passage impacts our

I have traveled to Woodbury Minnesota for a medical procedure once a week for the past eight weeks. When I arrive at the doctor’s office they weigh me and take my blood pressure and pulse. I am proud to say the results of my vitals reflect that I am in excellent cardio condition. I do

I participate in a Zoom meeting once per week with authors from around the world. During our time together we commit to being kind toward one another, being specific with our feedback, and being helpful to each other to grow as authors. When I prepare to write I notice defeating thoughts dominating my mind. Examples

I was grocery shopping earlier today. I went early in an attempt to beat the heat. My theory came up short since it was already 85 degrees while the mercury was rising by the time I returned to my car. What a blessing to have an air-conditioned automobile. Reflecting on my shopping experience I made

In childhood, I fell in love with the game of basketball. I would gather friends after school and on weekends to play for hours. I found basketball gave me an escape from the messiness of life and it provided meaning and purpose for me. When I could not gather friends to play I practiced my

Yesterday I celebrated my 59th birthday. My wife asked me how I felt about my day. I don’t remember my exact response. However, I recognized how close to 60 I was. So what has happened during my life on this earth? This is just a partial list. There are others that are not mentioned but

 Support from others who care about us can help us through on our commitment to maintaining our health and well-being, keeping our cloudy days to a minimum. Contrary to Western thought we are an interdependent being that needs others for support rather than the myth you need to be totally independent. A standard message is

Each day I have a routine of activities that I perform that support my Recovery. I like to refer to them as a “Labor of Love”. Let me explain. My daily activities include; taking my medication, preparing a menu of healthy foods, writing my daily blog, two days a week I attend a support group,

John is a member of a local band that play’s several of the hits from the 80s and 90s. He has been Recovering from bipolar for over 30 years. He is open to talking about his journey, connecting people to help, and doing whatever he can to reduce societal stigma about mental illness. Publishers of