I’d never been to a recovery meeting before and didn’t know what to expect, but the crowded room seemed welcoming enough as I slipped into a chair in the back. The lady in the next seat smiled, said hello, and seemed genuinely glad I was there. The same for Bob
Every week, I talk to many people about addiction and answer any questions they may have. The first part of these talks normally goes quickly, because people understand “Why” we need to do something about addiction. They are aware there are vast numbers of people who are affected, and
There are people you are in position to help. Who are they? The ones all around you! All you have to do is share this article with people you know. You can do that using the “Please share” social media buttons at the bottom of the article. Or you can
I’ve talked with lots of people lately about the issues and problems they face every day. It’s been interesting that one particular observation seems to help many of them feel better about life, and about themselves. That statement is: “It’s okay not to be okay.” The simple assertion that it’s not wrong,
What is now STEPS Ministries began with an epiphany: “Why do we wait until people crash and burn before we teach them the incredible wisdom found in the world of recovery?” Why must people suffer the agony of addiction and a journey of self-destruction, taking those close to them through
Multiple factors may contribute to our feelings of anxiety, depression, or meaninglessness. And it works the same with addiction and other compulsive issues. But there is one thing at the center of most of our problems: us! Our obsession with self is a fundamental problem we have, and it affects every
If there was some behavior that made us feel good, gave us a sense of purpose, and helped us deal with life issues such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, you would think we would do it. And if it also benefited others and was something God has clearly asked us
I just retired after being with one company—IBM—since 1980. For many of those years, I wrestled with alcohol issues until it became unavoidably clear a decade ago that I was an alcoholic. (Which, in the recovery world, means I still am one.) In fact, several members of my family battled
I’ve always read a lot, partly because there is plenty of useful material out there worth reading. The problem is, most of it remains largely unused by the vast majority of people. Therefore, my goal as a writer is not to reinvent the wheel or come up with the
I’ve seen this coming for a couple of years now. In fact, I’ve enjoyed a running joke with God, something like: “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?” Spiritually speaking, financial security is an idol for me, as is my insatiable desire to control my circumstances. My wife
When I was first thinking about writing a book, I had a friend—an author—who tried to convince me not to do it: “It’s really hard, it takes a lot of time, nobody will read it, etc., etc., etc.” Those discussions were disappointing, but after several conversations he made his advice
If you live in the South, you likely know of Jeff Foxworthy and his “You might be a redneck” comedy routine. That was the inspiration for the jokes below that my wife and I enjoyed making up on a walk last week. You see, we’re “friends” of the Foxworthys.
Listen to the 11-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Preventing addiction and related issues by helping people improve their lives is such an important initiative that I felt compelled to leave the business world after 38 years to found STEPS Ministries to help champion the cause. Based on
In 8 weeks, I will come to the end of something I have been doing for 38 years. I will leave the company I have worked at for nearly two-thirds of my life and start a nonprofit that builds off the current STEPS ministry, which includes this blog article you
It’s a tragic fact that people we all know—friends, coworkers, employees, spouses, kids—will suffer from addiction at some point during their lives. Unless they do something about it first. But, sadly, about 90% of those who are in danger don’t get help for their problem. If they do, it’s
Things are not going so well right now. Recently, my son suffered a setback, my wife had trials, I faced disappointment, and our family’s finances took some shots. Even though I am trying to do what God wants, circumstances are not what we had hoped, and it’s tough with so
How do we go about choosing what’s important? Something is important when it has worth, value, or meaning. It may be of huge significance, but simple things can also be important, such as an act of kindness, time with loved ones, or a prayer. Each day, we choose what to
You’ve seen enough TED Talks to know there are things you can do to live more effectively. If fact, you may utilize some of those approaches now, at least the ones aimed at getting more done faster. You’re doing things to get ahead. And help you win. And with all
These days, life seems so complicated. Challenging, often overwhelming, sometimes paralyzing. More than ever before, modern times are besieged by clutter. A debilitating torrent of information and endless options and choices make it easy to lose sight of those things that are most critical. It doesn’t have to be that
In elementary school, we are taught things like reading, writing, and arithmetic. Later, we move on to subjects such as geography, biology, and literature. And in college, we study areas that are meant to get us ready for the world after school. Learning how to learn is good, and some
