Sobriety Rocks

When I was drinking and using, I didn't like change. Unless of course, the change included a promotion, a bag of money, or something 'complimentary'. Then, when I finally arrived in the rooms, I was relieved to hear I only had to change one thing. Unfortunately, that one thing, was everything! All these years later I've learned there will always be change, and resistance to change. But I also learned that change can be a very wonderful thing! The most su...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Gentle and Loving Nietzsche said, “The voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls” When I was a child, I possessed a naturally gentle and loving nature. My heart overflowed with kindness, and I treated others with care and compassion. However, as the grip of addiction tightened its hold on me, my gentle and loving nature slowly began to fade. Then, when drug...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about The Allure of Shortcuts Bryant McGillsaid, “Every shortcut has a price, usually far greater than the reward.” I excelled in life as a child. I didn't take shortcuts and embraced hard work and dedication. Unfortunately, as I entered my teens, the allure of drugs and alcohol took hold, and lead me down the treacherous path of shortcuts and instant gratification. Thankfully, I found a glimme...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about True Partnerships Charles Darwin said, “It is the long history of humankind that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” When I was a child, I had an incredible gift for forming deep and meaningful connections with everyone around me. My genuine kindness and ability to understand others created strong partnerships and friendships. However, as I entered my...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Imagination and Creativity Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” I possessed a vibrant imagination with boundless creativity as a child. I would paint colorful pictures with my thoughts, weave intricate stories, and dream of endless possibilities. Unfortunately, as addiction took hold of my life, my sens...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Entirely Ready Tao Te Ching said, “When the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready... The teacher will Disappear.” I approached life with a sense of readiness and open-mindedness when I was a kid. However, in my teens, the grip of addiction took hold of my life, I lost my sense of readiness, and found myself unprepared for the struggles and obstacles life prese...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Finding Your Silver Lining Terry Virts said, “It's funny how, when things seem the darkest, moments of beauty present themselves in the most unexpected places.” When I was a boy, I found the positive ‘silver lining’ in nearly everything I experienced. But, once I started drinking and using, hope and optimism began to fade, and I soon found the negative wherever I looked. Then, in the dept...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Risk Good to Pursue Great William Shakespearesaid, “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” I was born with potential for greatness. And as a young lad, I began to capitalize on it. Unfortunately, once drugs and alcohol infiltrated my life, that greatness began to fade, and good became acceptable. Over time, med...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Letting Go or Being Dragged Ron Kozak said, “Once you realize you deserve a bright future, letting go of your dark past is the best choice you will ever make.” In my drinking and using days I believed that holding on and hanging in, were signs of great strength. But, I held on and was dragged for far too long, through the muck of my poor choices, the depths of addiction, and eventually, th...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about going From Victim to Victor Gandhi said, “Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.” As a child, I embraced life with joy and a victorious spirit. However, as I entered my teens, I fell into the destructive grip of drugs and alcohol, and gradually was transformed from a victor into a victim. Thankfully, when I reached my lowest point, I found sanctuary in the roo...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we’re going to talk about A Time of Reprogramming George Bernard Shawsaid, “Create your own miracles; do what you think you cannot do.” I was a happy and wonderful kid, full of potential and curiosity. However, the people around me preached one thing but lived another. The contradictory messages I received led me astray, and I began to mirror the behaviors I witnessed, ultimately succumbing to th...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about A Time of Reprogramming Alaric Hutchinson said, “It’s all about reprogramming our minds to focus more on what brings us joy.” When I was a child, my natural programming was aligned with positivity. I embraced good thoughts, took good actions, experienced positive emotions, and believed in the beauty of life. But, by my late teens, drugs and alcohol began to cloud my mind, leading to negative thi...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about One Simple Change Rumi said, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” When I was a baby, I was happy and whole, and nothing needing to be changed. But, growing up in an alcoholic home, I learned survival skills that didn’t translate well to everyday life. By my late teens, I had many behaviors that needed changing. Sure,...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Love and Laughter Habez said, “What is this precious love and laughter budding in our hearts? It is the glorious sound of a soul waking up!” When I was a child, my heart overflowed with love, and laughter echoed through my days. However, as I entered my teens, the grip of drugs and alcohol slowly replaced my joyful moments with anger, guilt, and other negative emotions. The laughte...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about The Price of Recovery Frank Sonnenberg said “People who receive a free lunch end up paying the price.” I went the extra mile to achieve great things when I was young. From waking up early to train, to putting in extra time practicing, to staying up all night studying, hard work came naturally to me. But, once I became addicted to drugs and alcohol, the price I paid to chase the party became far ...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Freedom to Be Yourself I did everything when I was a little kid. I would laugh, play, sing, dance, run, jump, read, write, learn, create, and so much more. It didn’t matter what I did, I was free to be myself. But at some point, other people started trying to control me, and I began losing that freedom. Thank goodness I was introduced to drugs, alcohol, parties, sex, and all that wonderful...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Pushing Your Boundaries to the Limit! Lu Wei said, “Positive energy knows no boundaries. If everyone were to spread positive energy, the world would be a much better place.” When I was a kid, I pushed the boundaries of life to the max. But somewhere along the line, fear crept in, and I slowly stopped pushing my life to the edge of wonder. Then, for a time, drugs and alcohol removed m...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about What You Believe and What You Do, Will Materialize Roy T. Bennett said, “Be brave to stand for what you believe in even if you stand alone.” When I was young, I believed in good things and took good actions, and good things materialized around me. But, as I grew up, my thoughts, beliefs and actions slowly became negative, and sure enough, negative things began to materialize in my life. This pat...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Do We Have to Know God to Know Peace? Charlie Chaplin said, “I am at peace with God. My conflict is with Man.” When I was a child, I knew both peace, and God. Don’t get me wrong, I had no idea what God was, but I sincerely prayed to it, and was a happy, well-rounded kid, with peace in my heart. But, as I grew into my teens, more and more negative things happened, and I quit believing in God. Onc...

Aloha and welcome to the sobriety rocks podcast, I’m your host, Kirk Waterman. Today we talk about Balancing the Scales of Life “Next to love, balance is the most important thing.” ― John Wooden When I was a child, the scales of my life were well balanced across all areas of life. That balance helped me to be happy, find fulfillment in most everything I did, and be a positive, contributing member of my community. But, as I grew into my teens and started using drugs and alcohol regularly...