Addicts are Dying While Recovery is Failing — A Culture of Recovery Shame

The anonymous nature of 12-step programs, coupled with blind loyalty towards esteemed members, has created an environment where sexual predators abuse their community-given authority to prey upon vulnerable people — people who are desperately running into the rooms looking for someone to help them save their life.

Being Used is Only Bad in Excess

When we talk about someone being used in a relationship, we usually think of it as a bad thing. Comments around people using people usually have negative connotations. No matter who you are or where your passion lies on the spectrum of human possibility, you have no reason to share your gifts, your work, or your ideas with the world — if no-one is going to use them. Being used isn’t bad. We all want to be used. What we don’t want is to be over-used, under-appreciated or under-compensated.

Great Successes Who Died Failures — What If Van Gogh Never Painted the World?

They shaped our world without our permission — never let rejection stop you from writing, painting, thinking and creating Originally published on Medium—Holly Kellums Feb 21  Success appears to be less about the world wanting what we have to offer and more about our resolve to give it, even in the face of rejection. MostContinue reading “Great Successes Who Died Failures — What If Van Gogh Never Painted the World?”

The Art of Appreciation — A Paradoxical Superpower

We are here today to talk, again, about compliments — further exploring why people refuse to take them, even though they really want to. We are so mysterious and paradoxical, us humans — always wanting things that we no longer want as soon as we get them. Intriguing beings we are. There has been a focus on domination culture,Continue reading “The Art of Appreciation — A Paradoxical Superpower”

The Importance of the Correct Quotes—Curly or Straight?

If you are a writer who wasn’t aware of the importance of these curly little guys, now you know. They matter. You never know who will see your work. Depending on the level of professionalism they are seeking, those ‘dumb’ quotes might be what stops them from looking further.

The Terminal — If I Can Just Get Him There He Will Be Safe

The floor was hard and shiny like a hospital and there were a few benches where people slept, while others slumbered on the floor. It was cold inside the station even though it was warm outside. The air was thin, even though the giant terminal held at least 100 people. Something felt inexplicably wrong.