30 October 2022

"Addicted to Chaos"?


The Culture of Addiction became a Culture of Chaos, at least for me it did. In the rooms of recovery, one often will hear some proclaim that they are addicted to chaos. It goes with the territory they may have recently left. 

DOING NOTHING TAKES TIME.
It may feel downright uncomfortable at first, this clean and sober living thing, like a new pair of shoes that need some breaking in to become comfortable. 
Living decades in addiction's chaos was like living though a hurricane, seemingly without end. When it is finally over, we survivors survey the damage, salvage what we can and build anew.
There must be time to learn about our addictions and to learn more about our clean and sober selves.
We will find time to take action, to do all we can to move forward, to feel good in our skin.
Action and inaction.
Exercise and relaxation. 
Balance.
Allow yourself the luxury of doing nothing on occasion.
Allow yourself the time to heal.
The days of addicted to chaos have ended.
Breathe.
Just breathe. 
Do nothing but breathe.
*****

Immerse yourself in my Descent into Addiction and eventual Recovery in my Autobiographical Fiction, ALL DRINKING ASIDE: The Destruction, Deconstruction & Reconstruction of an Alcoholic Animal 

(Find it on Amazon. Book it here): https://lnkd.in/esP83n-c

#alcoholism #addiction #recovery #books

Check out my NEW Non-Fiction, BECOMING UNBROKEN: Reflections on Addiction and Recovery 
(Find it on Amazon, Book it here): https://lnkd.in/dkF767RT 

Both Books are Available in Print and Kindle Editions.

28 October 2022

ALL DRINKING ASIDE Reader Review: "A MUST READ" - 5 ***** Stars



Lois Marie writes: "This book is for anyone and everyone. One need not be an alcoholic or recovering alcoholic to benefit from reading this book. Anyone who has or had a family member or friend that is/was an alcoholic can gain insight from this well written book.

The author presents his story in a witty, informative, and unique way that will keep the reader thoroughly engaged. 

I highly recommend this book."

************************

#Read the other 60+ Reader Reviews.

ALL DRINKING ASIDE: The Destruction, Deconstruction & Reconstruction of an Alcoholic Animal  

Book it here: https://www.amazon.com/All-Drinking-Aside-Deconstruction-Reconstruction/dp/149239730X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CFU00EZAMIOG&keywords=all+drinking+aside&qid=1691501849&s=books&sprefix=all+drinking+aside%2Cstripbooks%2C74&sr=1-1

#alcoholism #addiction #recovery #books


10 October 2022

I Learned How to Type Back in the Stone Age

 

Much has changed since my teenage years. 

Much has stayed the same.

Since Humankind crushed grapes, alcohol has been around. Today, fentanyl and even newer drugs have emerged.

Something Old, Something New, Everything Borrowed, Always Blue.

Check out my Autobiographical Fiction on Amazon. Kindle or that Old-Fashioned Thing called Books: 

ALL DRINKING ASIDE: The Destruction, Deconstruction & Reconstruction of an Alcoholic Animal  

Find it on amazon.com or at any other book retailer store or website. #gift

#alcoholism #addiction #recovery #books


07 October 2022

HEATHER Reviews ALL DRINKING ASIDE


5 Stars "Raw truth"
Reviewed October 2, 2022

"Phenomenal read. The raw truth of this book is inspiring. To put yourself out there like he did is commendable and beautiful. It's not easy to show your scare to the world, and by doing so I hope he has helped a lot of people in the same situation. It takes so much to bare the most ugly parts of yourself. Baring those ugly parts is the definition of beauty." 
*****
ALL DRINKING ASIDE: The Destruction, Deconstruction & Reconstruction of an Alcoholic Animal  

Find it on Amazon. Book it here: https://www.amazon.com/All.../dp/149239730X/ref=sr_1_1...

#alcoholism #addiction #recovery #books



04 October 2022

I AM THE CHILD OF MY OWN ADDICTIONS.

 "To live is to suffer. To survive is to find meaning in suffering." - Viktor Frankl

"I am the child of my own addictions." These are the words I reread from a post I wrote in April of 2021. It hits me more deeply now than when I wrote it. The past, no matter how close or far away, can still release us from ourselves and to ourselves. 

"The past is history, tomorrow, a mystery" is oft heard in the rooms of recovery. About the highest grade I can give that is that it rhymes. Yippee-Yi-Yo-Ki-Yay. My reality, my truth, is that I was still a child when I became swept up in my addictions: Peter Pan Syndrome, not a recognized mental health condition, captures some of the straws I'm grabbing at (Swizzle sticks, more accurately). 

ADDICTION: "Peter Pan in Hell" (I would pay to see that movie).

"Pull yourself up by your bootstraps." I was helpless and hopeless when I first got sober. At one point, right before my first period of sobriety, it took me two hours to put on my shoes and tie the laces. No exaggeration. That was my reality. Not too far a stretch from the truth is that 30 years after my first binge drinking episode, I would have to find my way clean and sober and pick up where I left off at 16.

"I am the child of my own addictions."

My recovery would become a major renovation, construction and reconstruction of a 46-year-old edifice (my age when I first got sober). My reward has been an alcohol and drug-free lifestyle. 

Viktor Frankl, from the opening quote here, was a Prisoner of War and a Holocaust Survivor. His Search for Meaning was a Primal Force. Through his writing, I've learned to marvel at the capacity of the children Frankl described. They produced artwork on the prison walls in which they found themselves, despite their suffering. Meaning. found beyond suffering, created almost as a way to survive it.

The Myth of Drugs and Alcohol as Instruments of Creation have proved false. For years I thought my creative abilities would be diminished in a life absent of drugs. I am grateful to have lived beyond addiction and to discover drugs were never necessary to improve or inspire my creativity. All Drinking Aside is proof of that.

My Search for Meaning has become Meaning Found. 

Alcohol is Liquid. My Recovery is on Solid Ground.

I'm coming up on 72. 

"Look at Jimmy. He's all growed up."

Almost. 

Always halfway there.

One damned day at a time.

Yippee-Yi-Yo-Ki-Yay.

I'm a clean and sober cowboy.

Hot damn.

I am the parent of my own recovery and sometimes I am the parent of the recovery of others. They are the parent of their recovery and of mine. And we (Shared Courage) grow stronger, less broken with each passing day. Friend, parent, child, comrade, each to all.

Always halfway to perfection (if you're heading in the right direction).

I was the child of my own addictions.

Life is good.

*****

Immerse yourself in my Descent into Addiction and eventual Recovery in this Autobiographical Fiction. Emerge more fully whole.

ALL DRINKING ASIDE: The Destruction, Deconstruction & Reconstruction of an Alcoholic Animal  

Find it on Amazon. Book it here: https://lnkd.in/esP83n-c

#alcoholism #addiction #recovery #books

All Drinking Aside bookends each of its 90 Chapters with Quotes by the Famous, Infamous & Anonymous.

The Quote by Viktor Frankl opens Chapter 16 (You Are Eve Before the Apple and I Am Adam After the Fallof All Drinking Aside.

Resolve to read it. Explore your own mind within its pages. Check out the 5 Star Reviews on the Amazon page while you're there: http://amzn.to/1bX6JyO Enjoy.

This post is a major overhaul of my 04/11/21 post