Recovery. Sobriety. Living Wise.
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through the the experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. – Helen Keller I’ve often found myself asking, “Am I the real thing?” I’ve wrestled with my shadow self through much of my life, maybe because it’s been easier hyping the image of me than experiencing … Continue reading The Crucible of Character
What constitutes a successful life? We are accustomed to defining success in terms of wealth, power and prestige. But is this what truly makes for a successful life? The word success comes from the Latin succedere, which simply means “make something happen.” So what if the something accrued to the benefit of others rather than oneself? What if success was defined by a person’s value to others? The connection between successful … Continue reading A Successful Life
I’ve been asking myself where exactly does prejudice come from. Inherited insecurities? Superiority complex? Prejudicial teaching? In 1954 Gordon Allport linked prejudice to categorical thinking claiming prejudice was a natural and normal process for humans. According to him, “The human mind must think with the aid of categories…once formed categories become the basis for prejudgement. We can’t possibly avoid the process. … Continue reading Beyond Prejudice
This past holiday season was marked by many things. It was the first holiday shared in the home of our son and his family, the first holiday season in 27 years in the Pacific Northwest, and the first Christmas in decades celebrated in our own home. It was also a rare, but gorgeous, white Christmas in the Seattle area. And yet for all these firsts, … Continue reading Call Your Friends
Are you familiar with the sound of silence? The pain associated with mental anguish in all its forms often feels unspeakable. I’ve come to think of mental health and mental illness as two ends of a continuum on which we all find ourselves. Our place on the continuum may shift throughout the course of our lives, and hopefully, we can become better at nurturing … Continue reading A Sober Thought on Mental Health