There’s a moment before every support meeting that still gets me. Hand on the door. Heart beating a little too loud. Part of me thinking, You don’t really need this. You’re fine. Go home. And then I walk in anyway. The chairs are in a circle. People are laughing a little too loud or staringContinue reading “Why Support Meetings Matter More Than You Think – Walking Into the Room That Saved My Life”
Category Archives: Mental health
Remembering Charlie Kirk: Courage, Conversation, and Conviction
There are some voices you don’t just hear—you feel them. For me, Charlie Kirk was one of those. What drew me most wasn’t only what he believed, but how he showed up for it: with courage in his faith, a love for this country, and a willingness to let people speak—even the ones who cameContinue reading “Remembering Charlie Kirk: Courage, Conversation, and Conviction”
Family & Communication: Learning to Listen Through the Storm
Every family argues. Every family disagrees. But what separates families that grow stronger from those that drift apart is one simple thing — communication. It’s easy to love people when everything’s peaceful, when opinions match, and no one’s feelings are bruised. The real test of love shows up in those tense, uncomfortable moments — theContinue reading “Family & Communication: Learning to Listen Through the Storm”
Veterans Day: Showing Up Matters
Veterans Day looks simple from the outside—flags, parades, sales, “thank you for your service” posts. For a lot of veterans, it’s not that simple. It can be a day that stirs up pride and pain. Memories they don’t talk about. Faces they still see. Questions that never really got answers. If you’re a veteran andContinue reading “Veterans Day: Showing Up Matters”
Showing Up: Why Presence Beats Perfect Advice When Someone’s Hurting
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is nothing at all—just be there. Not with a speech prepared. Not with the “right” answers. Not with a five-step plan to fix their life. Just you. Breathing the same air. Sharing the same space. Letting them know, I’m not going anywhere. When someone’s hurting, presence beats perfectContinue reading “Showing Up: Why Presence Beats Perfect Advice When Someone’s Hurting”
Forgiveness Isn’t Weak – It’s Warfare
I went to Bible study last night and walked out realizing something big: forgiveness isn’t just a “nice” thing to do – it’s a fight. We read Mark 11:22–25, where Jesus says to pray, believe, receive… and forgive. If we don’t forgive, our prayers hit a wall. Not because God is mad, but because unforgivenessContinue reading “Forgiveness Isn’t Weak – It’s Warfare”
Verse of the Day: Don’t Give Up Doing Good
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (NLT) Life has a way of testing our patience and faith. Sometimes it feels like we’re doing all the right things — staying sober, praying,Continue reading “Verse of the Day: Don’t Give Up Doing Good”
Self-Care: When You’re Trying Not to Disappear
There are days you don’t want to die, but you also don’t really want to be here. You’re breathing, but it feels like you’re fading. You’re not in crisis enough to call it an emergency… but you’re not okay either. This is for those days. Not a ten-step miracle cure. Just a handful of smallContinue reading “Self-Care: When You’re Trying Not to Disappear”
Setting Boundaries Isn’t Revenge — It’s Self-Respect
There comes a point in life when you have to stop letting people hurt you just because you care about them. It’s a painful truth, but one I’ve learned the hard way — toxic people will often see your boundaries as revenge, not as healing. When you finally start standing up for yourself, saying no,Continue reading “Setting Boundaries Isn’t Revenge — It’s Self-Respect”
BOUNDARIES
There’s a certain kind of guilt that creeps in when you finally start saying no. It’s the kind that doesn’t come from doing something wrong—but from doing something right for the first time. That guilt you feel for setting boundaries isn’t a flaw in your character. It’s a wound. A wound that comes from yearsContinue reading “BOUNDARIES”
A Boy Is Born, But a Man Is Built
A boy is born, but a man is built. Manhood isn’t something that just comes with age — it’s something that’s forged through pain, shaped by failure, and strengthened through every heartbreak, rejection, and loss you face along the way. Some people think turning eighteen or hitting thirty automatically makes you a man. But theContinue reading “A Boy Is Born, But a Man Is Built”
Healing Through EMDR
I’ve been doing EMDR therapy again for a couple of months now, and even though it’s still fairly recent, this isn’t my first time going through it. A few years ago, I spent almost a full year doing EMDR with a different therapist — and that experience planted the first real seeds of healing inContinue reading “Healing Through EMDR”
Honesty and Self-Love — What It Means to Me
Honesty used to scare me. Not the kind where you tell someone the truth about what you did, but the kind where you have to look yourself in the mirror and face the truth about who you are. That kind of honesty hits different — it’s raw, it’s uncomfortable, and it doesn’t come with applause.Continue reading “Honesty and Self-Love — What It Means to Me”
“Make the Most of Every Day”
Life is too short to spend in arguments or anger. God didn’t bless us with another day so we could waste it on things that steal our peace. Instead, we’re called to love one another, forgive quickly, and live with gratitude in our hearts. Count your blessings — even the ones that seem small —Continue reading ““Make the Most of Every Day””
Some People Are Just Human Medicine
By Josh Bridges You ever meet someone who just makes the world feel a little lighter? The kind of person who doesn’t have to say much — their presence alone feels like peace. That’s what I call human medicine. You spend an hour with them, and suddenly your heart doesn’t feel as heavy, your thoughtsContinue reading “Some People Are Just Human Medicine”
🌤 Thought for the Day: The Power of Emotional Support
By Josh Bridges Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do isn’t to stand tall—it’s to let someone stand beside you. Emotional support doesn’t always come with the perfect words or a grand gesture. Often, it’s found in the quiet presence of someone who simply cares enough to stay when life gets heavy. We all haveContinue reading “🌤 Thought for the Day: The Power of Emotional Support”
“They’ll Have to Heal from Me”
“Knowing my kids will have to heal from me because I was late healing myself… and I carry that deep in my chest.” That line stopped me cold. Because it’s real. It’s raw. And it’s me. As a parent in recovery, as someone who’s battled depression, addiction, and my own demons, I know what itContinue reading ““They’ll Have to Heal from Me””
🙏 A Wake-Up Call from the Book of Amos
By Josh Bridges Today at church, we talked about the Book of Amos — and man, it hit home. Amos isn’t one of those books people talk about every Sunday, but it’s one that speaks straight to the heart. It’s a wake-up call, plain and simple. Amos was a prophet sent to warn the peopleContinue reading “🙏 A Wake-Up Call from the Book of Amos”
A Good Day — Finding Peace in the Simple Moments
By Josh Bridges Today was a good day. Not because something huge happened, but because of the little things that remind me how far I’ve come. The local high school held its Pancake Day, and I got to be part of it — laughing, talking, enjoying the moment. Later, I had visitation with my daughter,Continue reading “A Good Day — Finding Peace in the Simple Moments”
⚡ Finding Stability Through Structure: How Routine Saved My Mind, My Sobriety, and My Sanity ⚡
By Josh Bridges “Discipline isn’t a prison — it’s the key that opens the door to peace.” There was a time when my days had no direction. I woke up whenever, ate whenever, and lived in constant chaos. My ADHD made it hard to focus, depression stole my motivation, and addiction kept me chained toContinue reading “⚡ Finding Stability Through Structure: How Routine Saved My Mind, My Sobriety, and My Sanity ⚡”
