boozebrain

My favourite poet. The great Persian mystic – Hafiz.

This all still resonates strongly after all these years of reading it. And it makes me 😆

Boozebrain

Sobriety surround me. Keeps me safe from a warmongering world.

The US & Israel are insane.

In days past I would drink to help navigate the war machines reckless and hideous behaviour. Thankfully, today I can sit with the pain and suffering of the world and hold it in my heart.

I Pray for peace.

Boozebrain

Every time you close another door- be it the door of immediate satisfaction, the door of distracting entertainment, the door of busyness, the door of guilt and worry, or the door of self- rejection- you commit yourself to go deeper into your heart and thus deeper into the heart of love.

Henri Nouwen.

Amen to that.

So many doors have wandered into over the years. Always hoping to find meaning, acceptance, peace.

Always hoping to find home.

I never thought alcohol and its many gifts and curses would lead me there.

As St Paul said…It’s when we are weak that we are strong.

Here’s to another month of sobriety.

Boozebrain

8 months sober.

I have sedated myself enough over the years. It’s delightful to be sober and living in a way that takes me closer to being the person I want to be and live a life of meaning and purpose.

Alleluia

Sobriety doesn’t mean the pain and suffering magically goes away.

It means we can now face it more honestly.

It means we feel life a whole lot more.

We notice it now. The good and the bad.

Right now, the bad is loud. The corruption, the greed, the violence, the powers and forces that abuse the world.

Hang in there good people.

The light always shines in the darkness, and can never be extinguished.

🕊️🇵🇸🇨🇺

Boozebrain.

There is much darkness in the world today. Corruption, US militarism, genocide, wars, greed, the growing gap between the rich & the rest of us. Has it always been this way? It seems that in many ways it has.

Sobriety allows us to face these forces, to sit in the darkness, to befriend our sadness and to rest & recover.

Alcohol allowed me to flee. To avoid the darkness. To become self absorbed. I think the forces of greed & power prefer the masses numbed out. Alcohol is their ally.

Today, I briefly rest & have a coffee, pray for guidance, smile at my dog, wonder at the trees I see in the distance and then it’s back to work. Time is ticking. The years are trundling along. May sobriety guide my actions.

The work of peace building & social justice are calling. As always.

Enjoy your day good people. Befriend the darkness.

Boozebrain.

Being able to stand your ground and hold the tensions of life without having to flee into the clutches of alcohol is delightful.

Seven months sober.

Eleven of the last twelve years sober.

Here’s to all of us building a good life one day at a time.

Boozebrain

God’s sunrise will break in upon us

Shining on those in the darkness,

Those sitting in the shadow of death,

Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,

Down the path of peace.

(Luke 2:79)

Sobriety is the way out. The way clear of our self constructed fears.

Unforgiveness seems to rule this world. We struggle to forgive ourselves let alone others.

We cling to our fears. Our dislikes. Our critical, unkind minds. We feverishly look for ‘others’ to blame for our woes. We justify it all with clever ideas and words. We can even create laws to explain our actions. We are trapped in darkness, but we call it light.

Sobriety allows me to take that one step at a time. Yes, some days it’s more like three steps forward & two steps back. That just seems to be the deal with being human. It’s taken me a long time to accept that.

Sobriety unlocks the gates of hell – which is what addiction is – a daily, hourly self made hell. Addiction is a beast. Too big to be tackled alone. Unlocking the gates, requires the help of others. Even strangers in an online recovery group can be a huge help. It takes support to walk free & most importantly, to stay free. Isolation will only lead us back to addiction.

So my friends, be kind today to others, to strangers, for we have no idea what they are struggling with. A smile or kind gesture may be the difference between their ongoing hell or a tiny step towards freedom.

Boozebrain

Tis my birthday. 🎂

Another day sober.

Another month sober.

Here’s to all who are struggling with any type of addiction and hoping to break free. Surround yourself with support as best you can. Don’t be afraid to reach out for professional help.

Addiction is too big to be tackled alone. In my experience, addiction prefers you to be alone. Addiction wants you to be isolated. Thats why many have said that the opposite of addiction is connection.

Boozebrain

Sobriety is not just another competing idea.

It’s more a process than a conclusion.

More a way of relating than a way of explaining.

More a bloody wrestling match than a dull classroom lesson.

Thanks to Richard Rohr for his ongoing wisdom.

Another day sober.

Take care all.

Boozebrain