The concept of loving detachment can be a life-saver for the supporter of an alcoholic, but great reward usually requires great work. Embracing loving detachment means embracing some foundational changes in your own actions and beliefs. The first of this three-post series on loving detachment focussed on the overall concept of loving the addict while [...]

Within the concept of loving detachment, there are two types of detachment to practice: physical and emotional. This blog deals with physical detachment and the next one will deal with emotional detachment. Both are critical to your health and sanity. As I mentioned in my last bog, loving detachment doesn’t require that you physically leave [...]

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 [...]

When I see isms in others around me, I can generally observe with detachment and compassion, creating an emotional space between their behaviours and my own involvement. But when those isms show up in people who are close to me, it’s so much harder to remain purely an observer. This started with the person who [...]

They say that infrants grow at the same rate as the strength of our arm muscles, enabling us to carry them as they age, but only to a point. There reaches a time when the size and weight of our child force us to let them go, so they can walk and run and begin [...]

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 [...]

There is considerable opinion within both the medical and alcoholic treatment communities that alcoholism may be genetically inherited.  I’m not sure if I believe that, but I am open enough to the possibility, I know that I want to teach my children how to avoid behaviours that might lead to or encourage alcoholism.  And whether or not [...]

A man I was dating a while back was constantly telling me I no longer needed my support program.  After we broke up, I realized that there had been many signs that he was probably an (undiagnosed?) alcoholic.  When the rough years of my marriage began, my ex-husband tried to dissuade me from taking classes [...]

Have you ever caught yourself saying or doing something that has made you both ashamed and wonder how you could possibly be acting that way?  Don’t worry, we all have.  Social psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted a controversial experience at Stanford in 1971 called “The Lucifer Effect” during which men were recruited to create a prison [...]