Latest Post

Several Voices Out of a Cloud

How you can help me get TSB to more people. Pema! A rebooted essay about kids and meditation. New podcast with the oldest Sober Oldster ever.

A.J. Daulerio

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Aug 9, 2026

Browse Categories

Browse our complete collection of essays, stories, and reflections from the Small Bow community. Filter by topic to find what resonates with you.

AA

Al-Anon

Adult Children of Alcoholics

Cocaine

Shame

Sober Holidays

Sober parenting

bipolar disorder

Gratitude

Depression

Death and Sobriety

Grief

acceptance

Rehab

Meditation

Post Archive

Eulogy

Wish We Could Make Another Run. Perhaps We Will.

Aug 7, 2026

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10 min read

Wish We Could Make Another Run. Perhaps We Will.

The dark humanity and physicality of James Gandolfini

John Saward

Aug 7, 2026

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11 min read

Eulogy: James Gandolfini

“He’s drinking more, not just some rowdy nights but something closer to gone, way out there, disappearing for longer and longer.”

A.J. Daulerio, +1

Nothing Is Wrong and Everything Is Wrong

Aug 4, 2026

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9 min read

Nothing Is Wrong and Everything Is Wrong

It’s August, and TSB has a touch of reverse seasonal depression.

The Small Bow

The Chronicles of August and More Hangdog Disgrace

Aug 2, 2026

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7 min read

The Chronicles of August and More Hangdog Disgrace

Here for the malaise and the adventure! Stoics. Edith draws Glen Hansard. Meeting makers make it. Quotes and songs.

A.J. Daulerio

Jul 31, 2026

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10 min read

How to Not be Anonymous

Do you get kicked out of A.A. if you break your anonymity in the New Yorker?

A.J. Daulerio, +1

Jul 28, 2026

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2 min read

An Ongoing Vision of Thankfulness

Our roundup of TSB’s most popular July posts and podcasts.

The Small Bow

When the Resistance Is Gone, So Are the Demons

Jul 26, 2026

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7 min read

When the Resistance Is Gone, So Are the Demons

ASMR and other remedies for the sleep-phobic. Pema. Tolstoy. New pod with Swamp Dogg. .

A.J. Daulerio

What It's Like to Care for Your Qualifier

Jul 24, 2026

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13 min read

What It's Like to Care for Your Qualifier

TSB readers on caring for the parent who hurt you.

The Small Bow

Interview with a 51-year-old Sober Person: John DeVore

Jul 21, 2026

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9 min read

Interview with a 51-year-old Sober Person: John DeVore

“Before sobriety I was known as a ‘happy drunk,’ but that wasn’t the truth. I was, in fact, what I would call a ‘reverse Pagliacci,’ a visibly distraught depressive who cracked jokes.”

The Small Bow

Jul 19, 2026

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7 min read

Content is King

Ben Gaffaney tries to be receptive to himself

Ben Gaffaney

More Stories From Those Addicted to Weed

Jul 17, 2026

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16 min read

All Things Go

A.J. Daulerio

I Hate This Popcorn Ceiling. I Hate That Lamp. I Hate Myself.

Jul 12, 2026

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6 min read

I Hate This Popcorn Ceiling. I Hate That Lamp. I Hate Myself.

Ben Gaffaney lets us see how he lives.

Ben Gaffaney

Jul 10, 2026

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7 min read

Confessions of a Weed Mom

“It took a long time for me to understand I was addicted to cannabis and wasn’t just a loser who wasn’t trying hard enough to quit.“

Jul 7, 2026

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10 min read

Make the Haunted Train Stop

It’s July. We’re hot, we’re exhausted, we’re happier than we’ve ever been.

The Small Bow

Jul 5, 2026

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6 min read

It's All In Your Head

On Sleep phobias. Negative visualization is the key to happiness. Summer poetry. Quotes and songs.

A.J. Daulerio

Jul 3, 2026

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2 min read

You Will Have to Clean Up This Mess

How do I care for an elderly parent who’s treatment-resistent and fucking up the end of her life?

A.J. Daulerio

Jun 30, 2026

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3 min read

Crushing Waves Can't Keep Me Away

A roundup of TSB's most popular June posts and podcasts.

The Small Bow

Jun 28, 2026

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5 min read

What Does Bad Recovery Look Like?

And will your whole life go to shit? Plus: It's Mary Oliver SZN. Step Six. Mary H.K. Choi. Check-in time for July.

A.J. Daulerio

Jun 26, 2026

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3 min read

Attraction Through Promotion

A rundown of our recent podcast episodes — and a humble request for your participation in a wild idea.

A.J. Daulerio

Jun 23, 2026

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8 min read

How Blue the Sky

TSB readers on what sobriety (etc.) helps them see

The Small Bow

Jun 21, 2026

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7 min read

A Robot to Ease the Pain

Ben Gaffaney on having a dad and being one, too.

Ben Gaffaney

Jun 19, 2026

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4 min read

Time Eats the Sun

Our next “What It’s Like . . . ” prompt is about what it’s like now.

A.J. Daulerio

Interview with a 72-year-old Sober Person: Anne Lamott

Jun 16, 2026

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5 min read

Interview with a 72-year-old Sober Person: Anne Lamott

“When I first got sober, there was somebody, an oldster, who said to me that at the end he was deteriorating faster than he could lower his standards. And that was the point I got to . . .”

The Small Bow

Jun 14, 2026

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5 min read

When You’re the Common Denominator

Ben Gaffaney on being more human than he likes to admit.

Ben Gaffaney

Latest Post

Several Voices Out of a Cloud

Browse Categories

AA

Al-Anon

Adult Children of Alcoholics

Cocaine

Shame

Sober Holidays

Sober parenting

bipolar disorder

Gratitude

Depression

Death and Sobriety

Grief

acceptance

Rehab

Meditation

Post Archive

Wish We Could Make Another Run. Perhaps We Will.

Eulogy: James Gandolfini

Nothing Is Wrong and Everything Is Wrong

The Chronicles of August and More Hangdog Disgrace

How to Not be Anonymous

An Ongoing Vision of Thankfulness

When the Resistance Is Gone, So Are the Demons

What It's Like to Care for Your Qualifier

Interview with a 51-year-old Sober Person: John DeVore

Content is King

More Stories From Those Addicted to Weed

All Things Go

I Hate This Popcorn Ceiling. I Hate That Lamp. I Hate Myself.

Confessions of a Weed Mom

Make the Haunted Train Stop

It's All In Your Head

You Will Have to Clean Up This Mess

Crushing Waves Can't Keep Me Away

What Does Bad Recovery Look Like?

Attraction Through Promotion

How Blue the Sky

A Robot to Ease the Pain

Time Eats the Sun

Interview with a 72-year-old Sober Person: Anne Lamott

When You’re the Common Denominator

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