Getting High on Recovery

Thank you for reading, commenting and joining my blog!

___

I have written this blog for over three years. I have edited for the Good Men Project for over two years. So far, I have written over 1000 posts for my blog, for GMP, The Mighty, Babble and Talkspace. I have written when well and written when tormented. I have written some good pieces and other pieces that should have gone back for more editing.

My writing began poorly. I had no credits, no credentials. I just wrote. At first my blog was not really about anything but along the way, I found my voice.

Often that is how life works: At first, we stumble and we drool. Over time, we learn to walk and we learn to limit the drooling to our sleepy time. And then we learn to talk. And if we are lucky, we learn to commune so that we can communicate.

Thank you

Thank you for sticking with me. For reading. For growing alongside. For responding. And if you are new, thank you for joining this blog. Heck, there are millions of blogs so I am honored that you would invest your time in reading a little of my work.

I hope that this blog is more than what I have to say, but that you will add your voice: In the comments and even consider writing a guest piece.

Why I write?

I don’t write for love, but I love to write.

I don’t write for likes, but I am learning to like myself more.

I don’t write because it pays the bills, but instead I hope to pay it forward.

I don’t write for the thrill, but instead I have found that writing is therapeutic.

I don’t write because I can write well. Instead I am writing myself well.

I don’t write for the sheer joy of it all. Most of what you do as a writer is mundane, and no, writing is not sexy. But for me, it gives me joy. And in this life if you can find your joy, hang onto it and never let go.

I don’t write for the perks, because there are no parking stalls and so far, no sick pay. But there are a lot of benefits.

I don’t write for the title. I write because writing pushes me to be a better human being. And that is one of the best titles you can have… (Other than Dad or Mom or Friend or Partner).

I don’t write for virtual “friends” but for my real friends and my family.

I don’t write because I am driven to write or burn up the sky. But because I want to express more of myself to the world.

I don’t write because writing is a dream. Most days writing looks a lot like work: sometimes I sweat and on occasion I swear. But I keep writing.

I don’t write because my writing is great, but it is good. And getting better.

I don’t write because I have something important to say. Writing has become my teacher. When I began, I had a vague dream to be a “Writer.” Over the past three years, I have learned that it takes risk to make a dream into a reality, and honesty to ensure that your dream does not take over your life or your health.

In short, I write for me. And I write for you.

Don’t ever worry about being brilliant, funny, smart or wise. The light bulb does not worry about whether or not it will light up the entire block, it just turns on. It is screwed up but it does what it supposed to do: give light to whoever is paying attention. Don’t worry about trying to be something more, or something less than you are. Be turned on to life as you write, read, collect, think. Go ahead, be a screw up… that is what will make you brilliant when you are ready. Be the bulb.

If you enjoyed this piece, I invite you to check out some of my other writing.

How Your Writing Wants to Change You

What Creativity Can Teach Us About Recovery

Vulnerability is a Risk, But it Will Make You Alive

I write articles that talk about the kind of changes I am trying to make in my own life. I hope that my writing also helps you. My topics include addiction and mental health recovery, relationships, and personal growth. I work as an Addiction Therapist, an Editor for the Good Men Project and freelance writer, and Adjunct Professor at City University, Edmonton. But what is most important is that I have a family and I am in recovery from depression and anxiety. My mental health experiences are part of my personal University degree, but they do not define me.

I hope to inspire you, to inform you and on occasion to entertain you. But most of all, I want to connect with you. Sign up for my blog if you want to receive the latest and best of my writing. If you like what I have to say, please share my work with your friends.

Lastly, if you like my writing, you can click here to vote for my page on Psych Central’s list of mental health blogs.

Keep it Real

Photo by Adikos