Author: Lawrence Jay Long
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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…
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A Father’s Path Forward: From Recovery to Supporting Other Fathers
Seven years can transform a life completely. As I reflect on my journey from 2017 to today, I’m struck by how much can change when you commit fully to personal growth and accept help from others. Today, I want to share my story – not to minimize past actions, but to offer hope to others…
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Variations On The Word Love by Margaret Atwood
This is a word we use to plug holes with. It’s the right size for those warm blanks in speech, for those red heart- shaped vacancies on the page that look nothing like real hearts. Add lace and you can sell it. We insert it also in the one empty space on the printed form…
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Dealing with haters
Thanks to Ryan for this gem. “What if someone despises me? Let them see to it. But I will see to it that I won’t be found doing or saying anything contemptible. What if someone hates me? Let them see to that. But I will see to it that I’m kind and good-natured to all,…
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I Will Rise
Benjamin Tod’s song says it well. Some days land crushing blows to the soul. Today was one of those days for me. Yet…