Author: Lawrence Jay Long
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After Desiderata, Without Surrender: Recovery, Truth, and Serving Our Neighbors
A recovery-grounded civic reflection by Lawrence Jay Long When I wrote previously about Desiderata by Max Ehrmann, recovery wisdom on election night, and even transforming fear into freedom in challenging times, I was trying to practice what recovery has taught me: acceptance is not apathy, peace is not denial, and serenity is not the same
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It’s been 13 years
…And too many spent apart. I love you and think of you everyday. I hope for you this day is and all the others are filled with love and joy. -Dad
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A Card From Afar
Happy birthday, JW! It’s crazy to think that it’s been 5 years to the day since we last talked. You were turning 10 and we chatted about your new guitar. A real guitar I had sent you for your special day. I wonder if you still play it–or if you ever did. I imagine you
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Speaking Up: Witnessing the Hands Off Protests in Spokane
Witnessing Democracy in Action: Photos from Spokane’s Hands Off Protest shows citizens peacefully gathering to protect fundamental rights including healthcare, veterans’ benefits, public lands, and democratic processes. This photo essay captures diverse community members standing together against government overreach, demonstrating that active civic participation transcends political divides and remains essential to American values.
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Happy b-day, MT
Today is your special day, son, and another we don’t get to celebrate together. I wish things were different, that I hadn’t made a mess of things all those years ago. Some people just don’t accept that we are greater than our mistakes. They don’t believe in change nor have the heart to forgive. I
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Happy birthday, son
I love you and find it difficult beyond words to miss another of your special days. Know that I am doing my best to resolve the strife that keeps us apart. Know that none of this is your fault. Know that not a day passes I dont grieve for you and all that’s been lost–so
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Desiderata by Max Ehrmann: “Go placidly amid the noise and haste”
The timeless wisdom of “Desiderata” resonates deeply with those of us on the recovery journey, particularly in times of profound change and challenge. Just as I wrote yesterday about transforming fear into freedom and finding serenity amid political uncertainty, Max Ehrmann’s 1927 prose poem offers a gentle reminder that peace and strength can be found…
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From Fear to Freedom: Recovery Principles in Challenging Times
Triumph may become trial, and trial may become triumph. Today, as news of another Trump victory ripples through our community and world, I find acceptance coming with surprising ease. What once triggered desperate feelings of fear and anxiety in 2016 has now become an opportunity to lean in and grow.
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Our Common Ground: Recovery Wisdom for Election Night Unity
Tonight, as Americans await election results, I’m reminded of a profound truth we learn in recovery rooms: our differences dissolve when we focus on what binds us together. Whether in small church basements or community centers (or in the Great Outdoors), people from all walks of life share their stories – stories that, despite their…
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Your Voice Still Matters – Especially When It Feels Like It Doesn’t
Looking at the vibrant mural outside this Vegas Arts District building, I was struck by the joy and hope radiating from that smile. In a time when many of us feel jaded by the noise of politics and the weight of societal challenges, it’s easy to believe our voices don’t matter. But they do. Recovery