Embracing Chaos

Every now and then, it’s good to take an Owee break.  Even in a blog about Owen.  Owen benefits from this too.  Today’s posting is one of those times.

Last summer I took a book with me on vacation that had been sitting on my bedside table for months.  Maybe a year.  My little sister gave it to me with these words, “You might like it.  I didn’t, but you might.”

With such a rave review it is not too surprising that the book sat – plus I thought it was a book about war or against war and that just isn’t my thing.

But it turns out because of this book I made the acquaintance of someone wonderful. Her joyfulness gave me joy, her honesty helped me recalibrate.  She helped me get back to my writing, when I was losing the faith.  And here I am.

Her name is Glennon Doyle Melton.

The first thing you learn about Glennon is that she was a mess for the first 25 years of her life.  She is a recovering bulimic, alcoholic, and drug abuser, who actually looks like a gorgeous and petite cheerleader.  Look for yourself.

Part of Glennon’s story is this fact – that her insides didn’t match her outsides.  And how miserable that made her.  How frightened she was, how vulnerable she felt all the time, and how she tried to fix that misery with food, alcohol, and drugs.  And how the thing that stopped her, and so saved her, was finding that her messy life contained a life – she was pregnant with her son Chase.

Right about January or February, we all need to read a story about someone like Glennon — or really what I mean is we need to read Glennon.  Because no one can tell her stories, her life, for her – I won’t try.  You can hear her tell her story on this TED talk – Lessons From A Mental Hospital https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHHPNMIK-fY

But even better, beg, borrow, or buy her book.  I will loan you my copy.  It may not be for everyone, but I am willing to bet for many people Glennon’s humorous honesty will scare away those winter blues with rivers of laughter tears.

Thank you Glennon, for giving me my writing back.

Carry On Warrior, Thoughts On Life Unarmed, Scribner, 2013