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Expanding the Definition of Recovery
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On Addiction, Shame, Grief, Sex, Love, and the Strange Art of Living With Yourself.
By A.J. Daulerio and The Small Bow Family Orchestra
What You Get
Essays from amazing writers, interviews with famous and not-so-famous people on the messy work of getting better.
A deeply engaged community built around daily online meetings and reader check-ins where people share their wins and struggles.
Recommendations to support your recovery, whatever form it takes — books, poems, songs, and anything else that helps.
From the Archive
An essay about happiness for all God's Adult Children · Sep 8
Ben Gaffaney knows we're all just getting by · Sep 5
More September check-ins, plus it's recovery month · Sep 3
Back to September, back to school, back to check-ins · Sep 1
Existing illustration, placed here for now — swap for a new commissioned sketch: devil listening to headphones (see DESIGN-NOTES.md)
Writers, comedians, actors & musicians on the messy work of getting better. New season in 2026.
What Others Say
"My favorite newsletter is this meditation on recovery with Edith Zimmerman's illustrations and A.J. Daulerio's essays. It's about addiction, but relevant to anyone who has problems and regrets (so, everyone)."The New York Times
"I am early in sobriety and recovery and your writing has been helpful for me in staying hopeful and knowing there is so much wonderful life yet to live."TSB Reader
"The Small Bow is not just for those in recovery. Lots of stories with huge heart that manages to be hilarious and easy while making you question everything you were certain of about yourself."Esquire
"I find The Small Bow to be an extraordinarily great resource that also happens to be beautifully written."Luke O'Neil, Welcome to Hell World
Support Our Work
The Small Bow consists of writers, editors, designers, and other staff, all working to expand the definition of recovery. Certain posts are for paid supporters only — but we want to keep The Small Bow free for anyone who needs it. If cost is an issue, email us and we'll hook you up, no questions asked.
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