Before we begin with this final Brief for August’s theme, please ask yourself if you believe you are currently living in a society deep-rooted in freedom and justice. Are you moral and ethical, a productive member of your community here in the U.S. of A? You think maybe some folks are meant to speak out against tyranny and injustice? A client, when asked what he learned at anger management replied, “Ghandi teaches us that imposing our will on another human being may be considered an act of violence.”
Letter from our founder:
Dear Providers-nim,
The hyphenated “nim” following “providers” is my way of showing curtesy and respect to you, especially those of you providing services to our HADs. I hold a great deal of respect and admiration for anyone helping our homeless addiction disorders. This personal letter format is my way of administering Affirmation for being you, as well. As mentioned earlier, it’s a cultural thing. For a lifetime of training in martial arts with an excellent teacher and mentor, who taught us a bit of Korean language and culture, I am truly grateful! Standing barefoot in your own puddle of sweat was enlightening as well. And, like our pledge of American allegiance, classes start with an oath said out loud:
I shall observe the tenants of Tae know do, I will respect all instructors and seniors, I will never misuse Tae kwon do, I will be a champion of freedom and justice, I will help build a more peaceful world. The tenants of Tae kwon do: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control, Indomitable spirit
Before writing this letter, I familiarized myself with Henry David Thereau and his work. Prior to this, I only knew he had moved into a cabin, on a nearby pond, to write in peace. Wow, civil disobedience, now that’s a birthright! What if our HADs are a civil society, while our more affluent sector, those housed, negate compassion and allow their toilets to flow freely downstream? As kids, we’d say “flush twice it’s a long way to someone’s house.”
Is it immoral and unethical to stand by and watch fellow human beings die because you fear coloring outside the lines will cost you a fine, excommunicate you, or get you incarcerated? Well, that sounds like a sort of prison already. Thank you all who have fearlessly walked on thin ice to support network members in need your help. Your coloring book is superb. The clip is an expression of our appreciation for participating in a resolve for our HADs.
Yours in Remission, Gregory
Civil Society
Let’s touch again upon self-medicating, this time via ARMOR’s elements of Ritualization and Modulation. To be concise, believing a brief daily meditation exercise constitutes a form of MAT (medication assisted treatment) and implementing it to enhance your recovery process is self-medicating. To begin, keep is simple silly, sit back and watch the river flow, follow Richie’s daily affirmations, or make an entry in your journal. The daily performance part is nearly impossible though, at first. Persevere long enough and daily will become habituated! For us, it is protocol during an Intermediate Phase of remission and considered essential for achieving sustainable remission.
In closing, William Tell sent us a couple more relevant articles. Thank you once again Ms. Gilbert, Lowell Sun; and thank you LZ Granderson, Los Angeles Times. Apparently, Chelmsford law enforcement assisted in compassionate clean up and displacement of those living behind Walmart. Where are all these folks living now? That part went missing. And Granderson share of insights gleaned from traveling is pertinent: “And what do you think happens to the heart of a nation when every generation is taught to avoid eye contact, talking to or even caring about what happens to the hurting people around them? Over those 2,000 miles, I saw a lot that holds us together — some of it ugly. Our treatment of the homeless is a vile, immoral thread of connection. A rich society chooses to live with the immorality of homelessness. As if this were the way things must be.” (Granderson) Aug 21, 2026.