Recovery. Sobriety. Living Wise.
“Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.” ~ Douglas MacArthur I remember a guys’ retreat awhile back where we took a long hard look at our relationships with our … Continue reading Stand-In Fathers
“The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile…Try your best to make goodness attractive. That’s one of the toughest assignments you’ll ever be given.”― Fred Rogers I suspect with all the madness surrounding our politics and acrimony in the world we all yearn for a quieter more harmonious place — a place … Continue reading Mr. Rogers — An Antidote to What Ails Us
There are times when getting from here to there is no easy matter; when the route is unclear and obstacles seem insurmountable. There’s an old saying: “The only difference between a stepping stone and a stumbling block is how we use them.” Will you walk in between the stones with a mind to missing them, or walk on top of the stones with a … Continue reading Stepping Stones or Stumbling Blocks?
I once thought wisdom was the exclusive domain of old folks but I’ve discovered some of my most important lessons have been taught by the very young. One such lesson came from my nephew Jack when he was all of six years old. I was newly sober and still stinging from a number of painful losses. At the time I kept pretty much to myself as I felt … Continue reading The Practice of Listening
“When you’ve spent two years trying to wiggle just one toe everything else is brought into proportion.” ~ Franklin Roosevelt I have a suggestion when you’re at the end of your rope and feeling: Down and out Paralyzed in fear Questioning the future Imagine yourself taking a short walk down the driveway of Franklin Roosevelt’s Hyde Park home to the Albany Post Road. It’s just … Continue reading The Walk to Albany Post Road