"So, what did the doctor tell you this morning," he asked his wife, struggling to hide an ugly scowl on his thin, dark features. A sudden wave of sadness filled her mind as a single tear tried to fall from one tired eye, but didn't. The room seemed unnaturally quiet as the woman prepared to … Continue reading Causing Pain, That Other, Ugly Coping Skill
Tag: Self Awareness
I want to take a few minutes to say "Good Morning" to those individuals who've struggled with loved ones addicted to drugs or alcohol. The people who have the love and patience to stand by the addicts' side throughout their battle with addiction. So often, we (bloggers) write about the pain and suffering of the … Continue reading Good Morning To Anyone Damaged By Those Who Are Damaged!
Pictured: Fishing with my Son. Following twelve months of planning and preparation, I moved to Texas three weeks ago. Following more than 30 years of Denver residency, I didn't hesitate to surrender my Colorado Driver's License for a Texas Driver's License. That's right, I have become a Texan. I already have my Texas Fishing License … Continue reading It’s Official . . . I’m A Texan! Re-Posted From January, Last Year.
This was one of my first pieces of writing. At the time, I was still in my first year of sobriety. I've had a couple of people ask me about the meaning of 'Damages.' They feel I'm placing addicts on a pedestal. I surely don't set the average drug addict or anyone else on a … Continue reading Damages [Spring 2019]
Quite a few years ago, I arrived at a theory. I realized that no matter how much I learned over the course of one year, I felt as though I hadn't made any progress. Still, I would always look back and think, "wow, I didn't know much last year!" I believe the more we know, … Continue reading The More You Know, The Less You Know: Explained
For Generations, the Dam has been deteriorating. Beneath the surface, dark forces have worked incessantly. Every conceivable weakness has been manipulated and exploited. Nobody has been spared. Fueled by an agenda of madness, time and pressure have been weaponized into something that is never silent, never sleeping, always speaking, and forever casting its craft upon … Continue reading The Dam Is Breaking, An Analogy, Edited & Remastered
Summer evening in Denver, Colorado, about 20 years ago. I was undergoing treatment for drug dependency. My counselor had a way of getting his point across. We piled into a large white van and drove from the treatment center to stop number one. We would visit three locations that night, each time taking enough time … Continue reading The Tour
Just because the car has been washed and waxed doesn't mean the inside is clean. The inside may resemble an ashtray. Just because the lawn is manicured and the curtains are costly doesn't mean they don't have cockroaches. And, even when they come with a smile, he or she may still be concealing an evil, … Continue reading False Advertising & Off-Roading
When I launched this website three years ago, my early writings were emotional rantings, free of unnecessary roadblocks such as editing and the use of acceptable grammar. I remember an early comment referring to my ability to compress multiple paragraphs into one great paragraph. Or was it one giant run-on sentence? Now I can't remember. … Continue reading Seeing The Path
[Thoughts] Now in mid-June, I cannot help but look back at how much has transpired since I wrote this piece. Sober is still power! [Original Post] Twenty-four hours after moving to Texas, I interviewed for and secured employment. This was five weeks ago. During those five weeks, I've had the opportunity to drive and operate … Continue reading Achievement & Avoiding Entanglement [Re-Post]
ShankJoeJoe 