Recovery. Sobriety. Living Wise.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” ― James Baldwin I, like many of you, have had my world stopped, once again, on the issue of racism. After the horrific murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis I called Jai, my surrogate nephew, to check in on him. Jai, who is both a St. Paul police … Continue reading Changing Our Hearts … And Laws
“It is a wise father that knows his own child.” ~ William Shakespeare On Father’s Day I’m delighted to share a post from Joe Nagy. When Joe’s son, Nate, was in college, Joe wrote him a “Thought For the Week,” each week. What a gift that must have been to Nate — and to Joe. He shares one of these thoughts with us today. Happy … Continue reading Lost Honor (by Joe)
On the 14th of June I will complete my 35th year of sobriety. I thank God for 12,775 sober days and remind myself to focus only on today. I recently had a conversation with a dear friend who’s had a difficult time staying sober. I’ve watched him battle this insidious disease for more than 28 years. He’s stayed with it, and each setback deepened both … Continue reading Addiction Is Like a Snake
I recently heard of the passing of Norma Johnston, a tribal elder of the Swinomish Nation and a friend of mine. Norma helped me get beyond my religious bigotry. Here’s that story. In 1988 I bought a cabin on tribal land that I leased from Norma’s family. The cabin wasn’t far from La Conner, beautifully nestled in a quiet cove on Puget Sound a mile … Continue reading When I Lost My Bigotry
No topic has been of more consequence to me over the years than that of becoming a man. Perhaps it’s because I labored over my own difficult journey into maturity, or maybe it’s because I got to be Erin’s stepfather and uncle to some wonderful nephews. Whatever the reason, I’ve given a lot of thought to how boys grow into men. I’ve come to believe … Continue reading On Becoming a Man (Like Frank)