I sometimes introduce myself as YodaNinja. "Yoda on the outside, Ninja on the inside." Outside, I seem calm and composed. When I speak (or write), what I say can be profound, perplexing... or both. But my inner world is another story. Deep inside of me is a Ninja battleground where thoughts, emotions, ideas, and utter randomness all fight for my attention. Every once in a while, they actually cooperate and I have to say, I'm deadly. But then they go at it again... and "Everybody is Kung Fu fighting." I'm a dad, a husband and a guy whose mind has a mind of it's own. My recovery from my addiction to numbing myself (with pretty much anything I can get my hands on) is a lifelong journey. I live with depression, anxiety and adhd... and sometimes they don't get along very well with my family, or with the rest of my life. Professionaly, I make my living as a Counselling Therapist in Edmonton, Canada. I teach on addiction and psychopathology at City University, and I have a small counselling practice where I use superheroes and other geeky stuff to help people make peace with their own personal YodaNinja. This blog is part of my healing and writing keeps me grounded. I hope that something I have written may add a little bit to your journey. Keep it Real
I have a love-hate relationship with Religion… but I am beginning to change my mind, thanks to Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber. ___ Nadia Bolz-Weber is a pastor who swears like a trucker, is covered with tattoos and was a Wiccan. She is 6’1”and competes in Crossfit. She calls herself the Minister of the Misfits and she wants … More Nadia Bolz-Weber: The Minister to the Misfit Inside You and I
This week we had three tiny fires on the same day. Keep an eye on the tiny fires, because something big is happening. ___ Three fires in one day. That was a day. Wednesday we had three fires, tiny fires. Tiny fires are easily forgotten but they carry a gift if you are ready for it. Three fires in … More Tiny Fires Can Make You Choose A Big Life
Addiction: Chaotic Neutral Addiction is chaotic neutral. Pick your addiction: drugs, alcohol, food, sex, technology and you will see the chaotic neutral up close and personal Chaotic Addiction is outer chaos that matches the rhythms that we feel inside. Inside is chaos, disorder and no direction. Chaos comes from our word for gum. Addiction is like … More Addiction: A Beautiful Mess
Merry Voldemas and Happy Red Cups to you. Thank God for the Red Cups, because they may just save the world… one sip at a time. ___ Voldemort hates Christmas. His clan, the House of Grinch, has struggled to overthrow Christmas for centuries. The season is just too happy and too hopeful. The first time he tried … More Voldemort and the Destruction of Christmas
When you say “I wonder…” you have already changed, your recovery has begun. ___ “The Spirit of God hovered over the waters.” Before God worked, he hovered. Hovering is the work before the work. Hovering is what happens when the painter looks at her empty canvas, the writer opens an blank screen, and a builder looks into the … More Addiction: Recover the Wonder
I gave away five bucks to a complete stranger. It made me so high that I am still jacked two days later. ___ He was actually the third person that I asked. The first two turned me down. Why did I give away five dollars? It wasn’t because I’m rich or because I was high. … More How to Get High for Just Five Bucks
This Movember, Sean Swaby will not shave any of his hair, not even his pits. His hair will be doing the work to raise awareness, raise funds and to raise eyebrows for men’s health. ___ Not even my pits will get a shave, because a big cause demands big sacrifices. I am a happily bearded man. For … More Movember: Save Your Pits and Your Health
Just mentioning Jesus can get funny looks and rolled eyes. No sermonizing here, just my thoughts along with a few funny bits about healing. ___ I know, the title for this piece is off-putting. Just mentioning Jesus means that some people won’t read what you have to say. That’s okay, everyone needs different things. Jesus was known more for walking … More 6 Thoughts on Healing, Jesus and Yoga Mats.
Other days of the year are important, but Halloween is pure fun, 100% artificial sugar and all silicone. Just like Ozzy Ozbourne. ___ 8 Reasons Why Halloween Will Make You Happy! 1. It is the only time of the year that taking candy from strangers is okay. In fact, I encourage my kids to take as much candy … More 8 Reasons Halloween Will Make You Happy
Shopping for Halloween costumes made me humor-drunk. ___ Humor can save us and it can make us high. When we laugh, our brains secrete what my doctor calls “happy chemicals.” That’s probably what drug dealers say about everything they sell. No, my doctor is not a “doctor of back alley medicine.” Five reasons why laughter … More Five Benefits of Being Humor Drunk
Getting High on Recovery 