Darryl S. Duke My Book My Blog
We don’t have to be anonymous to find meaning and greater happiness in life.
Blog by author Darryl S. Duke
I’m 28 years sober today. It was never about not drinking again. It was about living again. Living a life of spiritual, personal, and emotional growth. I have experienced my share of ups and downs. And I faced a lot of fears. But I found true happiness along the way. I define true happiness as … Read more
“Over the years, research has confirmed what so many therapists have known intuitively. That the therapeutic relationship itself is essential to the success a patient experiences. Some studies have even called it the most important common factor to successful outcomes.” (From an article called The Importance of the Relationship in Therapy written by Lisa Firestone Ph.D. for … Read more
There were times early in my sobriety when it felt like I was barely holding onto my sanity and I wasn’t sure what to do. I was never very good at facing emotional pain or figuring out why I had it. But thankfully I did hold on. I needed help from others with these struggles. … Read more
“Fear can be our friend, or it can be our enemy. It just depends on how we handle it. Reassuring self-talk is my go-to method to help me feel better whenever I’m fearful, and I often find comfort in talking with others about how I’m feeling. But hope and belief is an important parts of … Read more
In December of 2010, I was poised to go off to college at the beginning of the new year, and had big plans for my future. In only the first semester, I was told that although an associate degree was a good start for a career as a drug and alcohol counselor, a bachelor’s degree … Read more
My life has been quite a journey so far and things have turned out better in my sobriety than I ever thought they would. As a result, living in the moment and not worrying about the future is easier for me. Of course, there are times when I do worry, especially when there’s uncertainty involved. … Read more