Practicing gratitude even when it is really hard

As someone who practices gratitude as a sort of religion - or as close to religion as this gal gets - I have to dig deep to reap that chunky muddy murky ultimately life giving reward. I am not blessed. I reap what I sow and I have sowed some shitty business along with all …

18 Years of Something Like Recovery

I've been sober a long time now. Hell, I've been sober longer than I was drinking. I've been in recovery - true recovery - quite a few years less than those 18 years. I have slipped in and out of true recovery quite often through the years. My recovery looks different than yours and his …

Summering and Mothering without Alcohol

The smell of bug spray permeates the air and the sunscreen bottles are eternally empty. We have to walk out the door 10 minutes before leaving to perform our elaborate spray routine before scooting to camp. Their caps are sweaty and their socks are muddy. The blow up pool has been rotated around he backyard …