Breaking an Addiction

Sometimes described as “sort of like chess,” Othello is a game of strategy that I have been playing compulsively—then obsessively—then addictively—on my phone. In any lull, I reached for my phone and got in a quick game. I rationalized that I wasn’t hurting anyone, so it was okay.

Then one afternoon, evening, and into the night, piercing pain in my hand from repetitive motion let me know who I was hurting. Me. Some CBD cream finally eased the pain.

Othello is in my past. Now that I’m free to live more fully in the moment, if I need a diversion, I read a book or work a wooden puzzle or weed the flower garden or play fetch with Colt. The possibilities are endless, and all is well.

You write or draw it: Do you have any addictive habits? Tell the story.