I am open about my Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism so that my fellow sufferers of mental illness and/or addiction know that it's possible to keep one's head above water in our 'survival of the fittest' society, even with these extreme challenges. For 52 years and counting. One day at a time, through perseverance, with many … Continue reading →

"True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you … Continue reading True belonging →

Seattle isn't Dying. The Severely Mentally Ill are Suffering A piece of "journalism" recently served to ignite a white hot flame in my gut, nurturing a burning desire to stand here on my little platform and shout at the devil of Ableist privilege. Said catalyst was the "documentary" produced and broadcast by Seattle's local Sinclair … Continue reading Seattle isn’t Dying. The Severely Mentally Ill are Suffering →

Fear Not, The Lions are at Bay "Fear. This short word somehow touches about every aspect of our lives. It is an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of our existence was shot through with it. It set in motion trains of circumstances which brought us misfortune we felt we didn't deserve." - AA's Big … Continue reading Fear Not, The Lions are at Bay →

HANGING ON BY THE THINNEST OF THREADS After spinning around this Big Blue Marble 455,520 times (52 years), I have endured my fair share of trials, tribulations, and challenges. Yet few have required me to summon more spiritual perseverance and to call upon the Higher Power of my understanding for more strength than living as … Continue reading HANGING ON BY THE THINNEST OF THREADS →

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AA! Some swear by it. Some swear at it. Either way, it has saved millions and millions of lives over the years by providing a "welcome to all" spiritual Fellowship for tortured, isolated, last-gasping souls with nowhere else to turn. It saved the life of this cross-addicted Alcoholic with Bipolar Disorder, and along … Continue reading HAPPY BIRTHDAY AA! →

Today I had the privilege of reliving a tragic, painful memory that also stands as a testament to the power of God and my perseverance. In the early 90's, I was active in my Alcoholism and working at A Luster Metal Finishing, a metal plating facility that at that time had many rigorous manual processes, … Continue reading Baptism by Fire →

Happy Survivor's Day! "Whether adult children of toxic parents were beaten when little or left alone too much, sexually abused or treated like fools, overprotected or overburdened by shame, they almost all suffer surprisingly similar symptoms: damaged self-esteem, leading to self-destructive behavior. In one way or another, they almost all feel worthless, unlovable, and inadequate." … Continue reading Happy Survivor’s Day! →

Jeremiad 2.0 "This is the way we fall. First we lose our balance, teetering precariously on the edge of uncertainty, until, mercilessly, gravity takes over. You can’t outshine gravity." ~Cassia Leo, The Way We Fall As I wended my way through the treacherous cyberscape of Facebook today, I stumbled upon one of the many intellectual … Continue reading Jeremiad 2.0 →

The Inane Perpetuation of Unnecessary Suffering [Pure love and passion for my fellow sufferers -who have been unable to scratch and claw their way to "functionality" (AND weren't blessed with breaks, coping tools, and compassionate helpers) like me- in a wretched system that chews us up and spits us out like so much detritus, comprise … Continue reading The Inane Perpetuation of Unnecessary Suffering →