C.A.R.E. - 8 September 2026

 Focus for Today: 

The words from the C.A.R.E. model are: EMOTIONAL AWARENESS

 E. - Emotional Awareness: September 8, 2026

Gratitude for the ability to be able to reflect and center

The opportunity to make good or harmful decisions are evident every minute of every day. I received a note from another patient I was in rehab with that said; 

"Think about this every day!

Is it smart? 

Is it safe?" 

Those are great words to live by, and much effort goes into that simple maxim if you truly intend to live that way. 

 In that vein of thought, I think emotional awareness is about (for me) understanding my limitations with my addiction. Life is hard right now and it makes it even more challenging not to want to drink. That was my go-to for dealing with pretty much anything. In order to not relapse in a way that ruins what I have left; I am working on this daily writing, working out and recovery. 

Recovery is multi-faceted but ongoing. 

I want to write more but I have time constraints, and I honestly just need to be about it and not write about it. But I will continue to write and read good, honest content where I consume information. I just want to be a better person. 

As this evolves, I want to write what the words from Recovery Dharma mean to me. 

This is ultimately about the path to recovery and right living so the path has 3 groups:

The Wisdom Group

Wise Understanding and Wise Intention

Wise Understanding is where I think I can spend a lot of time and apply many words in the model. Not sure I will do that, but it is an option. 

Having a better understanding of not just alcohol triggers but life and emotional control triggers. Being cool for lack of a better word. Taking deep breaths, writing, jotting down notes. 

Think through as many options as I can to deal with issues that normally send my mind spiraling. Cement this intent to use what I have been given to the best most efficient ends for mental clarity as possibilities. What have I been given to help? This...I write and it does help just to empty my mind and give myself a focus to keep at the top of my mind. 

If it is not smart and not safe then I won't do it unless there is no alternative. 

SHARING: Insight on what is wrong with America and the World in General

 https://cbwrong.blogspot.com/2026/09/im-73-years-old-and-ive-lived-long.html?m=1

https://cbwrong.blogspot.com/2026/09/im-73-years-old-and-ive-lived-long.html?m=1

Almost every word in this article is exactly how I have felt for the last 5 years or so. No one cares. This man articulated everything. 

Read this and then look at what you are doing with C.A.R.E. and just keep doing it. 

 

C.A.R.E. - 7 September 2026

 Focus for today: 

The word out of the C.A.R.E. model is ... RESOLVE

R. - Resolve: September 7 ,2026

Gratitude for blessings I have in my life. 

Every day I want to work on improvement so I can be present in my families life in a way that is positive every day. So I choose RESOLVE today because that is how I feel. 

I read a story on bluesky today that made me cry. I hope this is a false story for once because it is really heartbreaking. I don't even want to repeat anything in the detail here because I am using this to write about what I want my day to look like. I made the mistake of looking at my phone before writing today.

In any event, I resolve to work everyday to sharpening my mind and body to be able to have the intellectual and moral courage to do the right thing. Sobriety is always top of mind today, just because of all the damage I have inflicted by abusing alcohol. 

Resolve is appropriate every day, as are many of these words. The real issue is will I execute and make the right decisions? I intend on it. 

I also believe that thoughts held deeply and thought on and vocalized ended up coming true. I have seen it several times in my own life. I ultimately got most of what I really wanted in life. I just mishandled the blessing if you will. 

RESOLVE to be true in everything you do!!

Random Thoughts - Just to Vent

The Abandoned Order: Learning to Live in a Post-American World

The original intent for this post is lost on me now. 

I am off X, off FB, off most social media, in general but i like bluesky.

Way too much Trump slop but also just enough good human content (I think)

It is still almost staggeringly depressing to see how many people just go on and on and on about how much they are afraid to be alive in America in 2026. 

Just can't really get my mind around how many Americans are so racist that they are on board with the Republican/Trump takeover. 

I don't even know what to type at this point. 

Didn't want to be a doomsday prepper but it has come to at least thinking through worst case scenarios. 

C. A. R. E. - 2 September 2026

 Focus for today: 

The word out of the C.A.R.E. model is ...RESPONSIBILITY    

 R. - Responsibility: September 2, 2026

Gratitude for second, third and fourth chances. 

Each of these words carry a weight of their own. This is why I want to use these focus words in the C.A.R.E. list as guidepost. Responsibility is a heavy word in that it ends up being the whole of life in some respects. Our individual responsibility is to take whatever we have learned and apply it daily. This application takes the form of wherever you are in your life. Daily reflections like what I am doing by writing down these focus areas. All part of whatever responsibilities you have. My duties and obligations. 

I have chosen specific paths in life, and I have to honor those choices. I have never truly honored my choices. The part that is so hard, but necessary is that I can sit here and pontificate in writing, all these essential things I should be doing but I have failed to execute. Not all the time. I think we act in a positive way more times than not, but it is the setting of the intention to do so at all times that is difficult. I want to fulfill my responsibilities involuntarily; like breathing. I have the knowledge, skill and ability, so just act accordingly. With C.A.R.E. 

C. A. R. E. - 28 August 2026

 Focus for today: 

The word out of the C.A.R.E. model is ...EQUANIMITY

 E. - Equanimity: August 28, 2026

Gratitude is always here but I plan to type the word out every time I post something. 

I never heard of equanimity in the context of human action. My vocabulary just did not extend to this word, but I have found it to be a word full of meaning for recovery. In this daily exercise the purpose is to give me a foundation for working through my recovery to resist craving alcohol, but also how to set and structure my life. 

Equanimity is a key almost crucial ingredient. Equanimity is one component of living with "Wise Intention". The focus here is conduct yourself in a way that cultivates a lack of self centeredness. Be generous, don't focus on yourself. Clearly there are issues you have to address everyday but in interaction with others the focus needs to be gracious. Be patient. 

Equanimity is a heart practice of Buddhism. I have to make a conscious effort to make sure that my daily intentions are pure. Not that I let the world take advantage of me, but that I look for ways to treat others well, knowing that will return to me in a favorable way eventually. 

Many old adages apply here but I think one that is central is that you reap what you sow. If you plan discord, then discord will grow. If you intentionally look to plant love, respect and determination to be fair, then karma will reward you. 

I'm writing this to someday translate into a book, so I won't always get my points out as coherent as I'd like. My plan is to have these daily writings make of the crux of the book.

Another use could be, if anyone reads this, is to have a community of people who want to try this C.A.R.E model and we all write about its impact and share insights and help each other be better. 

Stay off traditional social media for a change and collaborate on something healthier and sustainable. 

C. A. R. E. - 27 August 2026

 Focus for today:

The word out of the C. A. R. E. model is ...CONSCIOUSNESS

C. - Consciousness: August 27, 2026. Today I have gratitude for another opportunity to just stay focused and on track for the most important priorities in my life. Also remain conscious of the main thing and that is first sobriety, love and right/wise actions for my family and then ultimately WISE MINDFULNESS. 

Mindfulness is all the 'rage' or whatever word you want to use but it's basic and is what we all do to focus at various times throughout a given day. We all do some form of it unconsciously and to me the main focus to work through life is to be mindful intentionally. Purposely set aside time to focus on freeing your mind so you can act and not just let life and situations that actually require time and attention drive your day and overwhelm you to the point you give in to cravings. The idea is that I get to a point that no matter the circumstance; I am equipped to deal with it sober. 

In the Recovery Dharma book, it talks about it this way. Be present! Meaning be completely attentive to what is going on in front of you. It is the old adage, take a deep breath first then react. Be sober so you have no excuse for not fully understanding situations you are in. Be in the present for those around you out of just basic human decency. My son said something to me that made me understand what being present it. We were talking about his teen age years and while he acknowledged that I was physically available; I was always distracted by either alcohol or my job or school or something other than being entirely focused on my family.

I never really took the time to define mental and physical boundaries nor did I ever truly make my family the actual highest priority. I thought I was by going to work everyday but that is never truly enough. I know that I have to find a way to be totally present and to make hard choices on what I spend each day doing. I did not think and was no where near thinking 'critically'. 

Doing this writing and posting about words of value or affirmation within the C.A.R.E. framework is my attempt to focus my mind everyday (morning or night) on what matters to me. During this time writing I will gauge my progress and see if I make good on my recovery goals.