Don Verona

Entering recovery is so much more than just abstaining from drugs and alcohol. The people who truly excel in recovery treat it like a way of life. The 12-steps are a way of life, not a school you complete and graduate from. One of the most accurate facts I have to remind myself almost daily is that I am powerless ... Read More

Relationships are hard, and the complexities present differently. Whether it’s family, friends, co-workers or an intimate relationship, we are all nuanced as human beings and the dynamic with nearly every person involved in your life is unique in its own way. The most intense relationships we will experience in our ... Read More

For most of us in recovery, we share a common enemy, a little thing called boredom. Boredom has never done me personally any good. It’s something that causes me to get that ‘freight train brain’ which involves about 100 thoughts per minute in my head, none of them too positive. Remember what we are suffering from ... Read More

“Cheugy” is a term that was created by someone on TikTok who had invented it herself and shared with her friends before bringing it to the masses on social media. It caught fire quickly and suddenly we had a new word invented. Following trends or saying things that are now stale and out of style is “cheugy.” If it ... Read More

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in America. This mood disorder can cause one to go through long bouts of grief, low energy, sadness, and isolation. In the past half-century, there has been great improvement in the research and treatment of depression and mental health. The hardest part ... Read More

I often tell people early on and new to recovery that they are entering warfare with their minds. The disease of addiction and alcoholism centers within the mind -- only the most powerful thing in the world if you ask me. No big deal. So, what does untreated addiction look like in the mind? What is 'untreated ... Read More

I have this very odd habit that has developed over the past year or so. I'll be watching something; it can be a YouTube video, a tv show, or just an advertisement. No matter how old it is, when I see people socializing close with each other, it irks me that they are not wearing masks. I could be watching the Fresh ... Read More

As we head into April this year, it is nearly impossible to go through March without reflecting on how it has been a whole year since the Covid-19 pandemic began. I don’t know about anyone else, but it was the single strangest year of my life, and I’ve had some strange ones before! The pandemic has also taken way too ... Read More