This is a post about what’s been going on in my life recently. Recovery has brought me to a point where I’m prepared to take a leap of faith in a new direction. I’ve been out of work for a very long time, and had resigned myself to winding down my remaining years scraping by […]
How do we measure our own worth? This is arguably the most important question that underpins everyone’s mental health journey. Most people today are preoccupied by how much they are worth, how much others value them, and how to increase their self-worth not only in their own eyes but also in the eyes of others. […]
I’ve found tremendous satisfaction and purpose in working with other addicts within a secular Twelve Step framework. We’re pioneers, in a sense, embarking into unknown territories together. At every turn, we’re met with a recovery challenge and ask ourselves “How do we interpret this particular Step or spiritual principle from a secular humanist perspective?” Books […]
Gratitude is a core concept in recovery circles. It’s one of those things a sober person is encouraged to demonstrate. For those who work a secular program, the concept of ‘gratitude’ merits closer examination. If you have migrated from a traditional Twelve Step recovery into a secular program, it’s hard to shake some of the […]
How interesting that, in English, we use the verb “to unplug” to describe a type of self-care. I just double-checked and don’t have any power cords dangling from my body. Where did this idiom come from? The OED suggests the term first came into use in the early 1990s to describe a decision to refrain […]
On April 13, 2023, after a nine year absence from peer-supported recovery, I walked through the doors of a secular Twelve Step group and once again admitted I’m an alcoholic. I’d already been ‘dry’ for almost two years, but here’s the thing: not drinking (or using anything) is a necessary but insufficient condition for sobriety. […]
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, and Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav are three works I’ve ready many times. The Alchemist is a novella that is basically an extended parable on following one’s true heart in life. The treasure we seek is often hidden in plain view. The Prophet […]
My name is Eric, I’m an alcoholic, and my community is Secular Alcoholics Anonymous. Almost two years ago, this community saved my life, and I’m engaged in efforts to help it save the lives of others who suffer from alcohol use disorder. AA as a whole is shrinking because it remains stuck in the past, […]
This blog seems to be wandering around a lot, but it’s not lost. I started it as a platform to express my gratitude for Secular 12 Step Recovery, how it saved my life, what I’ve learned about it, how it fills a life-saving demand for a program that’s not God-centered but still incorporates recovery from […]
The Peace of Wild Things 
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