September 3, 2026· also filed here
SUFFER WELL, MY FRIEND
Unfortunately, pain is the great motivator for many of us. For the most part, I didn’t learn much unless there was some pain involved. The suggestions of AA were given to us for a reason. They came from people who had already traveled the road we were attempting to walk.
Read “SUFFER WELL, MY FRIEND” →September 1, 2026· also filed here
THE 500-POUND PHONE
A story about the fear that finally made me willing, the sponsor who hung up, and how a 500-pound telephone became one of the tools that saved my life.
Read “THE 500-POUND PHONE” →August 30, 2026
How to Get Sober and Actually Stay That Way
There is no trick to it. There is a short list of unglamorous actions that work if you do them, and do not if you do not.
Read “How to Get Sober and Actually Stay That Way” →August 28, 2026
SMART Recovery and AA: An Honest Look From an AA Guy
I got sober in Alcoholics Anonymous and stayed there. That does not mean it is the only door. Here is a fair comparison of the two.
Read “SMART Recovery and AA: An Honest Look From an AA Guy” →August 27, 2026· also filed here
DON’T DRINK, GO TO MEETINGS, AND BE A GOOD HUMAN
I haven’t lived perfectly. What I have done perfectly, right up until this second, is stay sober — and that gives me the chance to keep becoming a better human.
Read “DON’T DRINK, GO TO MEETINGS, AND BE A GOOD HUMAN” →August 26, 2026
What Recovery Actually Looks Like on an Ordinary Tuesday
Recovery is not a moment of transformation. It is a set of small, unglamorous actions repeated until they become a life.
Read “What Recovery Actually Looks Like on an Ordinary Tuesday” →August 24, 2026
What Sober Really Means (After 38 Years of Living It)
The dictionary says sober means not drunk. After nearly four decades without a drink, I can tell you it means a whole lot more than that.
Read “What Sober Really Means (After 38 Years of Living It)” →
Keep reading
Get new posts in your inbox
Honest writing on recovery. No fixed schedule—just a note when there's something worth saying.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.