June 28th, 2019 What is normal? I think a better question is: what is normalized, and what should or shouldn’t be? Without even realizing it, a lot of us normalize behaviors in how we interact with people and how we present ourselves online. I was talking to a friend yesterday, and it made me thinkContinue reading “The New Normal”
Tag Archives: Sobriety
The Secret Of Change
May 13th, 2019 I’m about to tell you a secret of the universe. It’s one of the big ones, and I’m not going to keep it quiet anymore. I’m about to share with you the secret of change. I know what you’re thinking: “Whoa, Dennis. You can’t do that. If you just go and tellContinue reading “The Secret Of Change”
Damage/Control
April 3rd, 2019 “All art is a kind of confession, more or less oblique. All artists, if they are to survive, are forced, at last, to tell the whole story; to vomit the anguish up.” – James Baldwin Since the anniversary of Them and Us on Monday, I’ve been rereading my work. There are manyContinue reading “Damage/Control”
When Do The Bad Thoughts Stop?
March 19th, 2019 As a recovered/forever recovering person, I think the question I get asked the most is: “So when do the bad feelings and thoughts stop?” I avoid this question. But I think, in the spirit of true transparency, I should answer it, and as honestly as I can: they don’t. I still haveContinue reading “When Do The Bad Thoughts Stop?”
Fifteen Months
March 9th, 2019 For those of you at home keeping score, today I completed 15 months of sobriety. To share how I’ve been progressing, I Googled “15 months” and all of these things accurately describe me and where I’m at: • Walking. Your 15-month-old is probably taking at least a few steps on her own.Continue reading “Fifteen Months”
What Doesn’t Kill You
March 7th, 2019 Why is “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” such a commonly used phrase? I know some of the greats use it (I’m looking at you, Kelly Clarkson), but it is inherently false. What doesn’t kill you rarely makes you stronger. What doesn’t kill you can harm you, hurt you, cut you,Continue reading “What Doesn’t Kill You”
Comic Books Saved My Life
February 26th, 2019 Confession: comic books saved my life. Not in a hyperbolic, overly dramatic way, mind you. It’s just whenever I’ve felt lost and lacking direction, I have always been able to find what I need in the pages of a comic. Like any other human on this planet, I’ve been through stuff. AndContinue reading “Comic Books Saved My Life”
We Are Better People, Despite Claims To The Contrary
February 13th, 2019 No matter how much you progress in life, there will always be people there to remind you of the times you were a piece of crap. This is okay. Unfortunately, this is how the human brain works for some reason. I’ve had a few days like that this week, but instead ofContinue reading “We Are Better People, Despite Claims To The Contrary”
Jimmy Kimmel Saved My Life
February 8th, 2019 I’ve been on-record as someone who is agnostic and wary of organized religion, but who is deeply spiritual regardless. It’s a weird juxtaposition, a multiversal worldview, but it works for me. I preface this story with that statement because I do believe in gifts from gods and messages from the universe. IContinue reading “Jimmy Kimmel Saved My Life”
One Year
December 9th, 2018 One year. This is going to sound stupid, but at first I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to feel again. When I finally started living in my own body full-time again, getting to know rooms and hallways I’d always seen but mostly avoided, I felt a numbness, a void. LikeContinue reading “One Year”
The Den 