Life of JEM

06/01/2026

Surrender

04/01/2026

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"Today, I am thinking of beginnings and endings. Starting with my recovery with me and where I am and who I am.

As Kurt Cobain sang,

“Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
Choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old memoria”

I am kind of late to the recovery process at 54, but it’s not too late. To use the lyrics above to make my point. I’ve made the choice. And it is a choice you see.

The word memoria means memory. And a lot of this recovery work is making new muscle memory and habits. Making good decisions. Getting rid of the old enemies in my head of self doubt, anxiety, insecurity, restlessness and anger. All of this is why people use substances. It’s to escape..."

Where you are at day 111

03/01/2026

Juanita E. Mantz writes being a lawyer and a writer and how the two are intertwined.

03/01/2026

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"But I’ve found some serenity in the last one hundred and ten days. I have found some peace. And while it’s still fleeting. I can touch it now. I can listen and sit and be still in the moments.

What I can’t do however is change or control anyone but me. I can’t give someone else peace and serenity except by example. I can’t make anyone else better but me..."

On day 110

01/01/2026

And Baby New Year

31/12/2025

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"Today’s daily reflection (on New Year’s Eve no less) talks about celebrating the year in moments and reminds us about always being present. It states,

“A New Year: 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes — a time to consider directions, goals, and actions. I must make some plans to live a normal life, but also I must live emotionally within a twenty-four-hour frame . . .”

It reminded me of one of my favorite Broadway tunes, “Seasons of Love” from “Rent” by Jonathan Larson.

The song reads:

“Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes/Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear/Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes/How do you measure, measure a year?/In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee/In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife/Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes/How do you measure a year in the life/How about love?”

For me, I measure the last year and especially the last 107 days in moments, in minutes, and in days.

I especially remember the cups of coffee with my husband at 5:30 am, my daily 6:30 am meeting, some resolutions in court, a retirement party for a friend I was emcee at, my mom and I attending my publisher Frank’s funeral at the library, a reading I did at Pondwater and being with my sisters on Christmas. The story I had published about Christmas.

I remember the love. The small little things that dissuade us from living a full life are not noteworthy as I reflect here. It's the precious times, the beautiful moments, the sunsets, the connections, the stories, and the dogs kissing my face until I belly laugh with joy that I remember. It’s the sad things too. But mostly I remember the joy.

Recovery has taught me to be present. To meditate. To focus on the positive and to be of service.

To keep the candle lit. Sometimes you must light your own candle. And I have.

It's my Day 107. May you celebrate with joy, light and music today my friends."

On day 107

31/12/2025

Enough

28/12/2025

Nearing 80, the punk poet reflects on the twists in her story that have surprised even her.