Recovery. Sobriety. Living Wise.
What do you do when your life’s been turned upside down? Hard question! Such was the case for me when Marsha and I left Chicago to resettle in the Pacific Northwest. I thought moving back would be cakewalk — wasn’t I just coming home? Apparently not. The years I lived in Chicago had changed me. I first came to Chicago as a 21-year-old scrub-faced kid … Continue reading Turning Right Side Up
“Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their children than the unlived life of the parent.” — Carl Jung “I remember so well the agony of being torn between my love and joy for my child, and my desperation to hang onto a sense of my self. There is something very seductive about being the mom of an infant. All those maternal hormones kick in, and … Continue reading The Unlived Lives of Parents
Carl Jung tells in one of his books of a conversation he had with a Native American chief who pointed out to him that in his perception most white people have “tense faces, staring eyes, and a cruel demeanor.” He said, “They are always seeking something. What are they seeking? The whites always want something. They are always uneasy and restless. We don’t know what … Continue reading What Do You Want?
The other night I had a dream. I was running — from what, I don’t know; to where, I can’t say — but running as fast as I could. The end was hazy. All I know for sure is that I never got away. I never do. I’ve had some version of this dream all my life. But my guess is I’m not alone. If … Continue reading Mending the BIG Memory
“Know thyself.” ~ Socrates In his book on emotional intelligence Daniel Goleman recounts the story of a belligerent samurai who challenges a Zen master to explain the concept of heaven and hell. “The monk replied to him with scorn, ‘You’re nothing but a lout – I can’t waste my time with the likes of you!’ “His very honor attacked, the samurai flew into a rage and, … Continue reading Emotional Intelligence