Welcome to the Pause When Agitated blog — reflections from decades of sober living, exploring both the practical and profound sides of recovery.
Whether you’re new to recovery, a longtime member, or just curious — taking a few minutes to explore the latest posts below. You can also try searching for a topic that matters to you in the search bar or exploring the blog’s categories.
I’m Jim Stalker. I got sober at 27 through Alcoholics Anonymous in 1987 and I’ve stayed that way for 38 years. AA saved my life.…
ADHD, AA meetings, and what it means to actually listen I started noticing this while listening—again—to Larry Carlton’s solo on “Kid Charlemagne.” Most people hear…
What Recovery (and Life) Won’t Do For You There’s a moment in recovery that nobody warns you about. It’s not dramatic. It doesn’t come with…
Developing a Deeper Sense of Letting Go Letting go gets a fair amount of discussion in recovery circles. It’s the kind of thing you’ll hear…
Simple ideas feel wise—until they stop working. Author’s Note Simplicity matters—especially early in recovery. Clear guidance, repeatable actions, and steady routines can be lifesaving when…
What the Hell Am I Doing Here? AA, Habit, and Reconnecting With Purpose by Jim Stalker – 38 Years Sober For a long time, I…
I’ve been sitting in meetings for decades now, and there’s something I keep noticing: people talk with absolute certainty about things they don’t actually know.…
“We were really in full flight from reality.” — Steps and Twelve Traditions, Step Four There’s a phrase in Step Four of AA’s Twelve and…
After 38 years of sobriety, I’ve learned that recovery is zero-bullshit. Forget the clichés — real sobriety support and AA recovery help come from showing…
Why Belief in God Isn’t Required for Recovery Belief Evolves—And That’s Normal Belief is personal. It’s often unclear, deeply influenced by upbringing, and—importantly—subject to change.…
