Idiot: Life Stories from the Creator of Help Helen Smash

by Laura Clery

in Alcoholics Anonymous, I learned that this is a trait of the alcoholic. It’s either grandiose or comatose. Either I’m the best and deserve the best! or I’m a piece of shit and I’m killing myself tonight! Once you’re sober, you practice learning that you’re no better or worse than anyone else.

(Good sleep is better than sex, you guys.)

started to look at other people around me not as inherently bad or good, but rather as healthy or sick and doing the best they can. Everyone is doing their best. Sure, sometimes their best sucks, but that’s okay.

“You can’t get clean off yesterday’s shower.” One day with no shower: tolerable. Two days: yuck. Three days: you’re just plain offensive.