Before I Knew I Needed Freedom

A meme of a U-Haul hauling U-Hauls sent me back to my early twenties, driving across Southern Alberta. What I didn’t realize then was that this job quietly planted my lifelong need for freedom.

Addiction Wasn’t My Original Problem

Addiction was not my original problem, it was my first attempt at relief. A reflection on childhood trauma, early addictions and why so many coping strategies start as survival before they become suffering.

The Star Wasn’t the Thing That Hurt

Illustration of a man holding a phone, standing calmly but alert, reflecting on a moment of quiet vigilance and restraint.

A one-star review shouldn’t have landed the way it did. But past disruption has a way of tuning the nervous system to scan for threat. This is a reflection on stewardship, vigilance, and the quiet work of choosing not to react.

No One Heals Alone

Community has been at the core of my recovery, from the rooms of AA to my CSA healing journey. I didn’t heal alone, and I don’t believe anyone is meant to.

When the World Feels Too Loud

When the world feels unstable, my body reacts even when my mind knows I’m safe. This is a reflection on doom-scrolling, nervous system stress, and learning to make the world smaller again, without shame, avoidance, or false calm.

Resilience Isn’t What I Thought It Was

Resilience redefined

Resilience isn’t what I once thought it was. What looked like strength from the outside often felt like survival on the inside. These days, resilience feels quieter, more like returning than enduring.