Blog
Sporadic blog posts, written by Becky, full of insights, happenings, homework, and the occasional kick in the pants. Sign up for the newsletter to make sure you never miss an update.
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Translating the Heart to the Page
In yesterday’s noon TLC meeting, we talked about writing as an instrument of healing in sobriety. By “writing” I don’t mean books or scholarly articles or anthology-ready poems, but rather journal entries, lists – anything that takes the words and feelings out of your head and makes some kind of…
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Blessings for a Friend, a Sister, a Daughter, Myself
The other day I was thinking lovey thoughts about a dear friend and shot her a quick text to say, simply, “I hope you have a day that is good for your heart.” But what I wanted to say was so much deeper. Because I have wishes for her. They’re…
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The Power of Saying Real Things
I got to do something brave today, something I don’t normally do, something that felt good and powerful and alive. I got to speak aloud one of my deepest truths. It’s truth I’m not able to share all that often, in part because it’s not mine alone and in part…
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What Is It Like When Time Stands Still?
You ever look at something so vast, so astounding, so important and beautiful and personal that it feels nearly impossible to attach language? Like, how do you describe the thunderous, awesome sound of waves crashing the beach when you’re the only one there? How do you describe first sight of…
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Walking Through the Fires of Other People’s Disappointment
There’s a fear I hear whispered a lot, whether the topic is changing jobs or shifting the dynamics of a relationship or undertaking sobriety – anything that threatens the status quo, really. It goes something like this: “I’m afraid that if I do _______, then they’re gonna _______.” If I…
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What’s Next? Life.
A friend in sobriety, who was feeling down, asked today: “What’s next? What now??” Here are the two cents I offered up, in case anyone else is struggling with the same. “What now, darling? You breathe. You keep stepping forward. You appreciate a snowflake or a warm mug of hot…
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100 Things to Do Instead of Drinking
The early time of sobriety can seem to be, among other things, incredibly boring. Add the early dark of winter and the isolation of COVID and it’s a recipe for thumb twiddling, particularly if all the standard recommendations – try some yoga! meditate! make a cup of tea! – make you…
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We Have A Responsibility to One Another; Don’t Ignore It
The other day I circled through the neighborhood to pick up kiddos after school and noticed 10 or so middle-school kids engaged in a game of football. No social distancing, no masks in sight. Lots of tackling and rolling around on the ground, though. You might imagine my general disappointment…
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The Difference Between Abstinence & Sobriety
I was talking with friends recently about the distinction between abstinence (aka, “putting the plug in the jug”) and sobriety (a longer-term prospect defined, in part, by a sustained period of abstinence)… and what “relapse” means in the context of the process of recovery rather than the counting of abstinent…
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A sporadic love letter from me to you with insights, happenings, homework, and the occasional kick in the pants.
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