Category Archives: Meaning Making

Humility, Love, Meaning Making, Sobriety

Adoptive Sons, Noble Fathers

Noble fathers have noble children. ~ Euripides  I recently attended a meeting where men shared intimate stories about their relationships with their fathers.  Some felt broken and bruised by their fathers, others told of fathers who provided protection and tender loving care. Then there were the stories of “adoptive” fathers, the self-selected fathers who were stand-ins for absent or deceased fathers, or who provided supplemental … Continue reading Adoptive Sons, Noble Fathers »

Love, Meaning Making, Sobriety

Sometimes It’s the Little Stuff that Matters

Originally published December 17, 2016. The other morning as I sat nestled in my easy chair with the New York Times harrumphing at the latest outrageous headline, I heard a high-pitched squeal coming from the dining room.  I bounded out of my chair to see what was going on. There was Marsha, bent over, examining one of her many plants. “Come see my new baby,” … Continue reading Sometimes It’s the Little Stuff that Matters »

Love, Meaning Making, Sobriety

The Power of Ancestors

I recently visited the cemeteries and grave sites of my family.  Each soul is sacred and with each grave stone there is a story.  Taken together they represent my ancestral identity.  I do not inhabit this world alone; my family was assigned to me without my consent.  My ancestral identity surrounds me, and there is no escaping their presence. At Holyrood Cemetery lies my father’s father, … Continue reading The Power of Ancestors »

Meaning Making, Peace of Mind

The Gift of Silence

The following post was originally published February 4, 2017. I worked hard to perpetuate my stupidity for half my life. The other half has been spent gathering up my loose marbles. This marble gathering experience describes my process of recovery.  For me, recovery has been 95% recovering parts of myself that I lost along the way.  This has entailed: Challenging my ingrained biases Harnessing my … Continue reading The Gift of Silence »

Acceptance, Meaning Making, Sobriety, Surrender

Finding Contentment

Try reading Finding Contentment from our home page:  www.justathoughtbypat.com   When Marsha and I arrived back in Seattle last fall I felt a little like Rip Van Winkle waking up to a hometown I no longer recognized. When I first left back in 1971 times were tough. This billboard said it all: As most people know, the town has been booming, fueled by new technology that … Continue reading Finding Contentment »