Things the recovery industry will not tell you:
1. The drug worked. That is why people use it. Not weakness. Not moral failure.
A neurological event so complete and persuasive that any honest account of addiction has to start there.
The problem is not that the drug fails. The problem is that what it does is unrepeatable, and you will burn your entire life to the ground trying to get back to a place that no longer exists.
2. Shame is not guilt. Guilt says I did something bad. Shame says I am something bad. Guilt is appropriate. Shame is a cell with no windows. Most people use the words interchangeably. That mistake is lethal.
3. You cannot shame someone who has already named the thing you are holding over them. Say it first. Say it in plain light. The weapon drops.
4. Guilt can coexist with self-respect. Shame cannot. You can hold the damage and the dignity at the same time. I know because I live there.
5. Radical honesty does not give you back who you were. It hands you the clean slate of who you always wanted to be. The mask comes off. The cartoon other people drew of you stays on the page.
6. Nobody gets clean on a winning streak.
7. You have to be almost self-delusional in your forgiveness of yourself. (Go watch Chase Hughes)
8. The greatest sin was not the chaos. It was the absence. Being unavailable to the people who needed you.
9. Sustainable recovery starts with one thing: honesty with yourself. If you love an addict and want to help, that is the only door in.
10. I am only an expert on my recovery. Nobody is an expert on anyone elseโs.
I donโt really think itโs about me Karoline. I think itโs about the idea that we all have fallen down and that we all wish we could be a little kinder to each other. And we all hope for a little grace and understanding when we get honest with ourselves and the world. And we all have that friend or brother or parent or son that has fucked up but fought to get back on their feet. Or that may be you. Or it may be the one that lost the battle and we are mourning them every day- and asking why couldnโt he fight for himself. Whatever it is- itโs not about me. Itโs about all of us. So I genuinely ask you to forget about me- and reach out to someone you love who is struggling and tell them youโll fight alongside them if they will fight for themselves.
You caught them. Mom and Dad were going to sell bibles and cell phones, golden sneakers, and NFTs, Chinese watches and cologne but wouldnโt you know someone beat them to the punch. They were left with only one choice write two books like every former First Lady and President has done in modern history.
I gotta level with you folks,
My dad's 1967 Corvette Stingray was a wedding gift from my grandfather.
Just like Melania was a wedding gift to Trump from Jeffery Epstein
Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. He lost California by millions of votes in the 2024 election, and now he's trying to undermine confidence in our elections because heโs a repeat loser here.
Sorry Donald, the voters decide who leads California. Not you.
The historic Sandstone School has sat empty since 2004. Now it's becoming 32 units of housing for families right here in MN-8 and will help address the lack of workforce housing.
We can fix the housing crisis, but Washington has to show up for towns like Sandstone. startribune.com/long-abandonโฆ
Celebrating 38 years of marriage to my incredible wife, Dr. Carolina Reyes. I'm grateful every day for the life we've built, the children we've raised, and the journey we share. You are my wisest advisor and my greatest joy.
Big news โ I'm filed to run for Congress.
I'm running because I believe our community deserves a voice that actually shows up and fights for us. The work is well underway for the August 11th primary, and I want you on our team!
Today, we honor Harvey Milk, who fiercely fought against injustice and who reminds us that "hope will never be silent."
California stands with the LGBTQ community and all who face hate and inequality. We will never back away from the fight for freedom and acceptance for all.