Waking up can be a painful process. When we are deep in sleep, we may feel warm and secure. We don’t have to think or move, and we feel suspended in space and time for a while. When we wake up, we know we have to change our situation, sometimes facing things that we would [...]

This morning, my boyfriend asked me if I would be driving out to his place tonight. I paused, not quite knowing how to respond. I had just stepped off a plane, arriving home from a business trip which had been short, but exhausting. My house was a mess, and I had a list a mile [...]

A few weeks ago, I was sure I was going to die. It would happen – I figured – at some point during a business trip to Montreal. The plan would go down, or my cab would get into an accident. Regardless, my life would be over and my kids would be on their own. [...]

I’ve often said in this blog that when the Universe really wants you to learn a lesson, it will provide you with ample opportunity to learn. Sometimes, infuriatingly ample opportunity. The Universe wishes me to learn two lessons at present, and I’m getting lots of chance for practice. Once again, I find myself at work [...]

It is a common desire to seek out the like-minded or similarly situated in society.  It gives us greater joy to share our passions with those who share them – consider a book club, or a professional association.  And in times of strife, we find comfort in those who understand our misery.      One of [...]

Many of the tips and tricks learned in a good recovery program can follow you around wherever you meet conflict or dysfunction.  Right now, I’m practicing a version of loving detachment at work.  A co-worker is upset for some reason, and I’m a beneficiary of his anger.  He snapped at me last week for no [...]

Many of us, me included, like to start the New Year with a list of  things we would like to accomplish in the coming twelve months.  Over the years, I’ve realized that it is equally important my list also includes desired changes in behaviour and attitude.  It’s not always about adding to your life; sometimes [...]

 “Mirror moments” are those times when the alcoholic in your life says something to you which they really mean for themselves.  Ideally, they’d hold a mirror and say those things to the right person, but don’t have the courage or honesty to go there yet.    Realizing they are mirror moments in the first step [...]

 When we live with an alcoholic, our lives are so unpredictable and chaotic that we search desperately for ways to control what we can.  This  is a legitimate survival mechanism, and often how we ensure that our family is able to make it through each day.   This control can involve everyday risk management such as [...]

While you might not recognize its name, most of us are familiar with the image of a Mobius strip. It’s a circle made of a single ribbon that at some point, twists back on itself – sometimes forming a small loop – before continuing on to complete the circle.  At a quick glance, it can [...]