
It’s that feeling in the belly of the heart which pulls and twists and contorts towards a light in the distance.
The light is a guidance system, a GPS borne of the stars, a tug at the tides which wash upon the shore of my spirit. If I turn my head to that light, hand shading my eyes, I will always catch a glint of a celestial signal. The signal is almost never wrong, as long as I come to it with an open mind, and ears tuned to the sound of authenticity. My mind easily fools me, but the light never does. It’s too strong. It charges at me with a mouth full of truth caught between its jagged teeth.
When I was last writing for this blog, this Message in a Bottle whatchamacallit, a light had started to pull me towards other projects, towards other English garden-style patches of wild growth. It was exciting and yet leaving the blog left me feeling uncertain of what was to come. In doing so, I found myself expanding and breathing deeply of different air. I found new connections, new places of exploration, and new soft spots to land. I also found barbed wired beneath my fingernails, dirt on my boots and sweat on the sleeves of my shirt. There was a shift in the landscape.
But the light, the Universe, has a funny way of doing business. It comes at you with a Don Corleone-type offer you can’t refuse. Leave the gun, take the cannoli. “What you resist, persists,” Dr. Jung once stated. And while I was very content to walk away from this site, my thoughts (and my keyboard) often lingered back to Message in a Bottle. I cloaked them in nostalgia and thought often of the people who made this such a special place. I’d never considered returning, but looking back now, there have always been signs—too many to list here, but if the Creator really does work through others, then He needs to be paying out some overtime to a few folks. Stat.
Returning to the fold is not a light decision (nor was the decision to leave in the first place) but I feel like a weight is off. I am excited about being here. It feels like coming back to a childhood home, where one remembers the creaking of the floors in certain spots, or how the basement walls feel like when it’s raining outside. I also know that things have changed out here in the blogosphere. I have changed. If there is any certainty in this world, it’s that it is uncertain. In the time that I have been away, I have had the pleasure of:
- Starting a podcast, Buzzkill, which I will continue to do (I have added a Buzzkill page here where you can check it out)
- Creating another blog at Buzzkill, which I will now retire.
- Writing a book (in mid-editing stage, but it is done!) – which I will talk about in a later post, when the time is appropriate.
I celebrated 5 years of sobriety on May 4th. I am grateful to have found recovery and living a life on a spiritual plane, anchored by my Higher Power and the support of so many. I am blessed to be where I am these days, and while I sometimes lose sight of that, caught up in the minutiae of life and the occasional dips into unspiritual thinking, I know that I am precisely where I need to be. And starting today, that includes being here. With you.
So please—take a look around. I will be making a few changes here and there, but what you see is what you get. The grandiose part of me wanted to re-launch with a splashy and sassy new site, complete with fireworks and ninja clowns on flaming unicycles. But that’s not what this place is about, nor has it ever been about flash. It’s about connections. It’s about sharing. It’s about having a safe space to unwind. So, while you snoop about, help yourself to some biscotti (and cannoli) found in the far corner, near the weathered ottoman and recliner. A pot of coffee sits nearby. Sugar is in the pantry if you need. Feel free to make yourself at home. I know I will be.
The light shining through the window lets me know that this is home.
I’ve drifted away from blogging and even reading a lot of blogs. This, however, excites me. Many blogs that I get a notification for get overlooked these days. As soon as I saw this pop up, I was like Wait, what?!?! I can’t wait to read about what’s been up.
You’re definitely a rascally one! 😎 the adventure of self-discovery publicly laid bare and wide opwn. No sinple trick, well done Paul.
Welcome back! So happy that you did.
As always, moving, honest, insightful and impeccable writing. Thank you.
YES! HE’S BACK!!! Great post.
“…caught up in the minutiae of life and the occasional dips into unspiritual thinking, I know that I am precisely where I need to be. ”
Yes. Yes, you are, Paul. Glad you’re back.
– Your friend, Danno
Don’t you worry Paul…
we ninja clowns will all come riding home!
xoxo
Wow, talk about synchronicity! I have only recently returned to my own spiritual practice after having cycled away from it for a time, and now here is your rekindled blog in my mailbox. Welcome back! I have missed your voice.
Welcome back my friend! ” Your fans out there deserve a rematch.”
I am thrilled to see you return!
🙏
Anne
Double-take: is that who I think it is? Yes! Squeak!
So glad your GPS has re-incorporated this place as a ‘via’ on your journey. Looking forward to wherever that goes!
Welcome back to my inbox. Can’t wait to read more. 🙂
Wow, so glad you’re back. It’s like old friends, when you get back together it’s like no time has passed between. Happy New Year, Paul!
Sharon
Welcome home, Paul.
I have missed you!
Yay welcome back
I CANNOT even tell you how HAPPY seeing you blogging on here again makes me:) Your words touch me and wow me!! You inspire me Paul!
The light dims in my corner of.blogging world and everytime I write the light returns and often brighter than before…..
Keep on trudging!!:)
Katie
So agree with you, Katie. – D
Best Christmas gift ever. Welcome back Paul. You were missed.
Paul! Look at this homecoming! Needless to say, I think this was a good move. I start s following you when you started buzzkill, resurrecting message in a bottle just proves what I already know: you weave your words together and they shine a bright light for the world.
This is awesome! Now I can really rant to you about WordPress! Welcome back (he says, not being here for the start of things)
WordPress does seem to have one advantage over Squarespace—look at all the comments! I’m lucky if I get 4 or 5 and my traffic is crazy! You bros are the best!! – Danno
Welcome back Paul, glad to see that you are writing again and not just being a podcast recovery DJ. I am glad that you will still keep doing Buzzkill, that is an excellent job that you are doing there. Can’t wait for your next blog post.
Oh YAY!! Victoria’s Snoopy captures it all. Welcome back with open arms. As I read your words, it was striking how much I have truly missed interacting and reading you. And a book???? I can’t wait to hear more. You know me…I’m not going anywhere and will gobble up anything you put on the page. Happy New Year!
So happy you’re back! I’m excited to read your words again.
-Jami
WAHOO! I did the same thing as Lauren! I saw my email and was like, “what? Yay!” I’ve been a slacker on writing but still write for my treatment center and occasionally share those post. I’ve stopped reading most blogs as well except for Maggie’s. So glad you are back! Congrats on 5 years and all of your other accomplishments. A book?! WOW, you have been trudging along 😉 Hugs from Wyoming! ❤
Paul! I can’t tell you how happy I am! I’ve been doing a lot of what you’ve been doing and not very active around here, but it’s a part of me. Something I can’t and don’t want to let go of. So, while I garden and raise chickens, I stop by here every now and then. Very excited to see you back here. You’ve been an important part of my recovery, whether you realize it or not. Happy New Year!
I was listening to your podcast the other day and when you said you were back on the blog, I did a little jump for joy. You have such a way with words that I missed being able to read them. So glad you are back! Can’t wait for the book 🙂 Debbie
Brilliant that you’re back Paul ….. we missed you.