01
The Next Sensible Thing
The useful action in front of you is often smaller than the plan in your head.
Read reflectionTheo Luke Dornan
Reflections
Original personal essays on addiction, recovery, outward success and the thinking underneath drinking. These are reflections on lived experience, not daily readings or explanations of recovery terminology.
Looking for a direct explanation of a recovery phrase or idea? Visit Recovery in Plain English.
This writing is independent and is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous or AA World Services.
All reflections
02
The Meeting After the Meeting
Connection often begins with the sentence you nearly kept to yourself.
Read reflection03
Nothing Happened Today
An uneventful day can contain more recovery than a dramatic one.
Read reflection04
Being Right Was Taking Up Space
Listening while preparing a reply is a familiar trick, though it is not quite listening.
Read reflection05
A Good Reason to Have a Bad Day
Being justified in a feeling does not mean rehearsing it all afternoon will help.
Read reflection06
When the Room Went Quiet
A quiet room leaves you with the thoughts you were trying to outrun.
Read reflection07
The Argument I Could Always Win
A convincing defence of drinking can still leave the most useful question unanswered.
Read reflection08
What Was Alcohol Doing for Me?
The drink made more sense when I stopped looking only at the damage and began looking at the job I had given it.
Read reflection09
Functioning Is Not the Same as Being Well
Success can hide a great deal, particularly from the person producing it.
Read reflection10
When Strength Becomes Control
The same quality can help in one room and create chaos in another.
Read reflection11
The Apology That Changes Tomorrow
Recovery taught me that a useful apology has to survive the following day.
Read reflection12
A Quiet Life Is Not a Small Life
I spent years chasing intensity and discovered that contentment has lower production values.
Read reflection