A New Way Of Thinking
If I saw an insane person on the street, I would not try to talk sense to that person. Why do I think I can try to talk sense to…
Just For Today
My favorite “Just for Today” saying from the Nar-Anon Blue Booklet is “I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as…
Courage To Change
I find it amazing that the working of Step Four can help dictate how one reacts to life’s challenges. This step made me realize that my reaction to any given circumstance…
Freedom Of Thought
My daughter chooses to keep her distance from me because all I did was worry about her. I worried about where she was, what she was doing and what she was…
Generations Of Martyrs
How did I become such a martyr, sacrificing my own well-being as I tried to change and take care of others? As I listen to the committee in my head, I…
Envy
Some of my Nar-Anon friends who entered the program after I did were already seeing their addicts in recovery. I thought that this was not fair, and I realized that…
Letting Go
I affectionately dubbed my 17-year-old son “rehab boy.” Today, he completed one month at a drug rehab facility with three more months to go. The court mandated this treatment as…
Character Defects
It is my belief that I have every right to ask to be recognized and understood. That is why I always wanted to explain my reasons, opinions, excuses and needs…
Compassion
The other day I took my grandson to the pier to go fishing. I wanted to get away from it all and not think about anything. I needed a clear…
Turning Fantasy Into Reality
I have expectations of myself. Have you ever heard the expression: “Expectations are disappointments waiting to happen”? I used to have expectations of the addict in my life. Those expectations were…