Addiction/Alcholism Category
A “Child’s” Anxieties
Posted on September 7, 2012 5 Comments
School started a few days ago, and there was an air of both excitement and apprehension in my home. My 9-year-old was the excited one, eager to get back to friends, fun, and a familiar routine. My daughter, however, was not feeling so thrilled. When I went to her room to tuck her in the […]
Lost in life? Stop and ask for directions!
Posted on August 14, 2012 2 Comments
We’ve all been in a car with a driver who was clearly lost, but too stubborn or too overwhelmed to admit it. We probably stewed in frustration as he or she drove aimlessly, often in circles, passing the same street corner multiple times. Despite our impatient pleas to just stop and ask for directions, the […]
Beat Head Against Wall. Repeat.
Posted on August 4, 2012 4 Comments
We’ve all heard the saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Why are we so prone to beat our head against the same wall repeatedly before we finally decide to try something different? Very often, the answer to that question lies in our propensity […]
You make me SO mad!
Posted on July 12, 2012 2 Comments
“You make me SO mad!” she screamed at me through crocodile tears, then she turned on her heels and stomped off. My six-year-old’s words hit a nerve with me. Exasperated by her finger-pointing, I followed her and gently– through gritted teeth– reminded her that it was her actions that had brought down her undesired consequences. […]
Focus on the Path, Not the Problem
Posted on July 7, 2012 1 Comment
I remember seeing the images of Ground Zero in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and thinking, There’s no way that they will ever be able to clean that up. It’s too overwhelming, too big, too painful. Where would they even start? Of course, the answer is quite simple… they had to start in the […]
Who’s in control here, anyway?
Posted on July 1, 2012 5 Comments
Some of you have probably heard this story (or a version of it) — I first heard it at a twelve-step recovery meeting, but its lesson is so important, it bears repeating: Jimmy was a young caterpillar who lived in a beautiful, lush garden. One day, a caterpillar friend visited from another garden. “Jimmy!” the […]
Through the Eyes of PTSD (A day in the life…)
Posted on June 27, 2012 9 Comments
In honor of our military families past and present, and in reflection on our upcoming Independence Day, I wrote this as a reminder to myself and to others that the freedoms we enjoy every day are most certainly NOT free. Many people have heard of PTSD, but very few understand the painful daily struggles and […]
When You Weren’t “Parent of the Year”
Posted on June 25, 2012 6 Comments
An old man walked through the park near his house each evening. While the park was beautiful, his truly favorite part of walking there was the chance to meet other people along the way. One particular evening, as the sun began to set, he saw a sad young woman in her early 30’s sitting on a park […]
Keep your raft upright!
Posted on June 21, 2012 8 Comments
I’ve never been whitewater rafting — not quite that adventurous. But I have been on a simple floating raft, and I know one important thing– if you want to keep your raft upright, you need to maintain the proper balance. The weight of the various people on the raft must be distributed evenly. Even a […]
Don’t Settle for the Puddle!
Posted on June 20, 2012 8 Comments
When I am in the middle of difficult circumstances, I want to take the easy path. I want the quick fix, the easy answer, the one-minute cure. I don’t want to work hard — not when I’m hurting so much. And yet, aren’t the greatest rewards in life often behind the highest mountain? When my husband was in […]
Sharlene Prinsen 