Fear
+3
“The truth is, I have worked hard to not dislike myself so much, but I still worry, sometimes in an acute, frightened, little-kid way, about being too weird and maybe even scary.”
Sobriety
+5
A look back at another year of Sober Oldster questionnaires.
Gratitude
Also: What would it be like to trick-or-treat your own house?
Grief
+2
TSB’s Poet Laureate series returns. This month’s poet: George Bilgere.
TSB Features
The first day of the rest of your life.
Depression
+4
On revenge fantasies and Little Steven Van Zandt. Plus: Pema. Stoics. Ada Limón.
Recovery Go-Bag
+1
“There’s no hope — that’s the hope.”
by Jason Brown
Sober anniversary
+10
October check-ins are here, and we’re just asking for a friend . . .
How to cope when the pink cloud vanishes. Lydia Davis. A cool poem about contentment. Slate stuff.
Expanded Recovery
September stories you may have missed, and a call for October check-ins.
It’s October Check-In Time.
“Once you’ve stopped anesthetizing yourself from reality you’re immediately forced to become present or die trying.”
Sober parenting
+6
What if your kid asks to be an alcoholic when they grow up? Rumi. Wendell Berry with a special appearance by Amanda Petrusich. More Smog on the playlist.
More Men Who Are Afraid: With Ky Henderson, Wilson Sims, Wesley Lowery, and Kevin Koczwara.
What It's Like...
“Plenty of people have a normal relationship with weed. Surely, this time, I can too?”
Can we achieve it by giving up our morning cold brew?
TSB’s Poet Laureate series returns. This month’s poet: Natalie Shapero
“I honestly cannot think of anything about being in recovery that is harder than not being in recovery.”
Death
Why act so crazy when it all ends in sweet, sweet death? Pema. Stoics. A poem for the stressed.
Is that even possible?
And how did it change your life?
About The Small Bow
Too great a wound, too small a bow. It's Recovery Month and TSB's birthday.
Another first-person essay on what it’s like to love an addict.
