Tag Archives: alcoholism

On Dying and Living

Let’s start with the basics. You need death to come into your life to know about mortality. Once you accept your own mortality, then you understand you are dying. And with the knowledge of your own movement toward your final … Continue reading

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More than Nine Lives

In my life, I feel like I have lived more than the nine lives of a cat. When I was two years old, I almost died when I contracted scarlet fever, meningitis, and mumps in a two week span. My … Continue reading

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Paths to Healing Keynote Speech

At this year’s Paths to Healing conference on male survivors of child sex assault I was the keynote speaker. This is the text of the speech I delivered today. Good morning. I’d like to start by thanking Chris Taylor, who … Continue reading

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Bolton Refuge House Fall Gala Speech

I was invited by Bolton Refuge House to be their keynote speaker at their annual Fall Gala. Bolton is the oldest domestic violence shelter in the state and is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They also provide services for sexual … Continue reading

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Courage

I’d like to thank WCASA and all of the wonderful employees there for presenting me with this award. I am deeply honored to be named your Courage Award recipient for 2016. I would also like to thank Angie Rehling of OutReach who nominated … Continue reading

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Survivor Story

Trigger Warning: Parts of this blog post may be triggering. Please take care of yourself and seek out help if you can. A couple months ago I was invited to do a presentation at Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s “Sexual … Continue reading

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Through the Darkness Lightly

After 24 years of sobriety my days of heavy drinking seem like a distant blur and somewhat unreal in certain ways. I spent about eleven years of my life in a pretty much constant drunken haze, self-medicating, hiding, creating masks. … Continue reading

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Not Rock Bottom

The first time I ever got drunk was, appropriately enough, on St. Patrick’s Day, 1978.  It was also the day I turned in the paperwork to quit college.  Prior to that time I was a teetotaler.  I knew family history and … Continue reading

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