The Good Life

The Good Life

There’s a popular Zen saying in the self-awareness circles. “Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood carry water.” As with most Zen concepts, it seems like a simple idea on the surface. And as with most Zen concepts, it isn’t...
It Must Be My Fault

It Must Be My Fault

When I was a child, I was told that everything was my fault. Eventually, I believed it. In reality, none of it was my fault. As an adult in recovery, I intellectually understand that now. But my unconscious parts are still working that out. My unconscious parts are...
No Place Like Home

No Place Like Home

Since coming face to face with my past, my system has been “jacked up”. This is my technical term for “too much going on for me to comprehend using logical thought processes”. Part of my confusion comes from my many parts. My parts come from using dissociation as a...
The Good, The Evil and The Perfect

The Good, The Evil and The Perfect

My mother used to tell me that my memories were just dreams. That was one of her many methods she used to invalidate me. However, there is a fine line between dreams and reality. Our dreams have a way of telling us what is happening in our unconscious. The dream I had...
Death Is Not The Only Choice

Death Is Not The Only Choice

Photograph by Nicholas Kevin Corey (1971-2012) February is not my favorite month … for many reasons.  I don’t like the cold and snow unless I am skiing.  And since I am not yet independently wealthy, I don’t ski for the entire month of February. I don’t love...
All Kids Act That Way?

All Kids Act That Way?

I have yet to meet an honest mother who isn’t completely insecure about motherhood.  It is the hardest job on this planet.  Motherhood targets our triggers.  To put it a different way, it brings up everything that scares us to death.  For some of us, we are scared...