Recovery. Sobriety. Living Wise.
On November 7, 2016 songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen died. Earlier, before his passing, Joe Nagy, regular contributor to Just a Thought, penned this wonderful tribute. We share it with you again. I have just finished reading a biography of the Canadian poet and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. He has accumulated about every award you can get in his profession: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, … Continue reading Tribute to Leonard Cohen (by Joe)
Life without parole is a sentence we all share. I became aware of this fact in my early days of sobriety. I never fully understood the real meaning of “I have your back” until I learned from those who had been incarcerated the abject necessity of having “back saving” friends. Prison is not the place to be without such friends. Alliances are formed with others … Continue reading Embrace Your Life
I have a friend who has unsuccessfully battled alcoholism for many years. He has spent months in treatment centers, hours upon hours in counselling, and extended stretches in a 12-Step program. All to no avail. Invariably, he returns to the bottle and self-imposed exile, to the despair of friends and family. Addiction is often wrapped in isolation and loneliness. Addiction becomes a monster, cunning, baffling and powerful. When the … Continue reading Borrowing Light From Another
I wonder sometimes what kind of friend I am. Will I show up when it really counts? What effort am I really ready to make to sustain a friendship? Am I just a fair weather friend? Then I came upon this story. Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an … Continue reading Why Is Encouragement So Powerful?
I have been thinking about the importance of storytelling. In her book, Hope in the Dark, Rebbeca Solnit addresses the “untold histories” behind major social change. She says, “Changing the story isn’t enough in itself, but it has often been foundational to real changes.” She goes on to add, “Some activists are afraid that if we acknowledge victory, people will give up the struggle. I’ve … Continue reading The Power of a Story (by Eileen)