Tag Archives: mental-health

Where’s the Monkey?

Many years ago, when I was just an infant in the AA recovery program, the old-timers would joke about an easy way to treat Alcoholism. Maybe some of you remember that. “If I could only take a pill,” was the … Continue reading

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A Night Out with My Friend Vodka

Published in the Grapevine Magazine, February 2026 After his wife and kids left, all he had was the bar. Now the SWAT team was at his door. Had enough? When I was just 12, alcohol helped me cope with my … Continue reading

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I can’t live my life through others, nor fix anyone but myself.

If Melody Beattie has taught me anything in her book, “Codependence No More,” it is the title of this writing. In the early 90’s, I followed her teachings closely. During that time, recovery was known as “Healing the Inner Child.” … Continue reading

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Ready, SHOOT, Aim

The phrase “ready, shoot, aim” generally refers to taking action immediately without careful planning or thorough consideration of the consequences. Have I ever spoken without thinking? Well, if I’m totally honest, the answer is, definitely YES. I’m embarrassed when I think of … Continue reading

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Where lessons come from?

The Course in Miracles states, “Life is but a series of lessons. We do not get to choose the lesson, but we do get to choose how we react to it.” What a beautiful statement, and so true. I always … Continue reading

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Expectations, good or bad, we all have them

Expectations—they may be good or not so good—but we all have them. They arrive as thoughts without an invitation. What’s important is how I react when an expectation invades my present moment. The method I use for processing expectations has … Continue reading

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How much is enough?

When I think back to those dark days, I can vividly remember thinking, “How much beer would it take to satisfy me?” The first answer was usually, “A full Budweiser trailer truck load.” Then the thought would come, “What happens … Continue reading

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Do I really need a sponsor?

Grapevine Quote of the day for May 7, 2017. “Everyone’s recipe for serenity is different. It’s like vegetable soup — nobody makes it quite the same. “Chestertown, N.Y., January 2006, “Circles of Sobriety,” AA Grapevine. This topic is one of … Continue reading

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Suffering is caused by everything.

When I first read this phrase, some five years ago, I was skeptical that the writer had no experience in real life. I was curious and had to read on, through my closed mind. Gradually the room between my ears … Continue reading

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“Control is the key to happiness.”

If you read this statement and don’t feel rebellious, you may be in trouble and don’t know it. When I first heard an actor on a TV series say this statement, it truly brought the hair on the back of … Continue reading

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