Most of my adult life and almost half of my whole life—from eighteen to thirty-five—had been intertwined with a university campus. There were the undergraduate years, followed by the years as a graduate student. Upon completion of graduate studies, I secured a postdoctoral appointment and, after three years, a humble professorship. And through those years and all the change that filled them, there were a few constants: drinking, reading, and writing.
Such a powerful, beautiful share, Taishin Michael. I felt myself exhale as you reached the place of setting down the "metaphorical shovel." AA has never been my path - although I greatly respect and appreciate that program and understand what it offers many others. This work - this practice - does not need to be filtered through, made to fit, and contained within AA. Put differently, I guess: AA is not God. AA is one path, one tool, one framework. There are others - including ones far more ancient.
Such a powerful, beautiful share, Taishin Michael. I felt myself exhale as you reached the place of setting down the "metaphorical shovel." AA has never been my path - although I greatly respect and appreciate that program and understand what it offers many others. This work - this practice - does not need to be filtered through, made to fit, and contained within AA. Put differently, I guess: AA is not God. AA is one path, one tool, one framework. There are others - including ones far more ancient.
Beautifully said.
This made me tear up. I see you standing, in the forest, radiating light.