“Those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” — Carlos Santayana (1863-1952) Like it or not, we’re living in a historic era with all its suffering and promise. And what an era we’re living in! Most of us have feelings of unreality, worry, sadness and disbelief about what is happening, and uncertainty| The Phoenix Spirit
With the Holiday season drawing near, my thoughts are turning to Christmas gift-giving. Who should be on the list? What should I give? Do I have to give a gift to co-workers? Bosses? Mail delivery persons? In the midst of all this mind chatter I like to slow down, think and get clear about the| The Phoenix Spirit
“Hope begins in the dark.” Anne Lamott Throughout my life, that little thing called hope has refused to go away. Even in some of my darkest moments, hope sat there, like a little flame in the darkness, quietly glowing and waiting for me to notice it again. Through blinding tears, I’ve seen it shimmer and| The Phoenix Spirit
Month: January 2020| thephoenixspirit.com
I was in the middle of what I thought was a soulful, honest share when a voice bellowed from the back of the room. I turned to see a crusty old guy, holding an unlit cigar, who looked impatient for me to either finish baring my soul or move on to a different subject. “It’s| The Phoenix Spirit
Addiction — of any kind — is often difficult for many people to understand. But gambling disorder, a compulsion in which no chemicals are actually ingested into the body, can be particularly confounding. Gambling disorder refers to the uncontrollable urge to gamble, despite serious personal consequences. In 2013, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 grouped| The Phoenix Spirit
Treatment for addiction is only the beginning of recovery. Here are four stories of recovering addicts and how they meet their daily challenges while staying sober after treatment.| The Phoenix Spirit
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I left town mid-February, following the Mississippi as it twists and turns to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. A life-long Minnesotan, I have stepped across that river over worn stones at its source in Itasca State| The Phoenix Spirit
I take the subway from Central Park West down to Brooklyn. I’m headed to a party that some old friends from college are having. These are my chique, New York friends who unintentionally make me feel like a country bumpkin. My winter coat didn’t look so boxy, and my boots didn’t seem that scuffed, until| The Phoenix Spirit
We know we can’t save anyone from their pain and suffering. We know trying to rescue or change someone in the throes of addiction drains us to the point of depletion; it becomes a never-ending cycle of feeling hopeless and helpless. We desperately want to maintain hope and feel guilty if we give up. The| The Phoenix Spirit