 |
Dave Harm
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
I once lived in shame for the things I had done, but after a number of years being sober, I began to realize this world would be a lonely place if no one ever got a second chance. It is with this second chance that I began sharing my stories and poetry, with the hope that by sharing them I might be able to help someone else. Also by going back in the past I realized that the power of my shame is lessened the more I tell my story. My book, Damaged Merchandise; Poems and Stories of an Alcoholic Addict tells of my life today. The prequel, War Zone, Backing Out of Hell uses my actual journal notes to tell the story of my first two years of sobriety. Finally, the third book of this trilogy, and a prequel to War Zone, is still being written. When completed these three books will tell the whole story of how a life with promise, was destroyed by some "sick" choices. If you'd like to have a "sneak-peak" of the third book, please read my short story entitled Nightmares.
Click the banner below to visit Creating Dreams. Read more about the poem Surviving and how it's found new life in an inner-city school. Or find out about all the "lives" the poem Relay For Survivors has found at American Cancer Survivor events.
Looking for a unique gift for a cancersurvivor you know? Try Purple Power. Now 25% off!!!
And if you know of a good cancer survivor site (or have one yourself) please join The Top100 Cancer Sites.
Birth Place: Closter, NJ USA
Accomplishments: 2006 United States Poetry Ambassador
Clean and Sober Not Dead Recovery Hero
Writer for the weekly column - The Poets Quill
|
| |
Books
|
 | War Zone, Backing Out of Hell by Dave Harm
"War Zone" is the prequel to "Damaged Merchandise." It takes place 10 years before the poetry came alive. It is the story of my first two years of sobriety and the demons I battled, not only those within myself, but with those around me. I realized that curing my addictions was only half the battle. The other half was realizing that many of my relationships were toxic to my own sobriety.
...
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Barnes & Noble.com
PublishAmerica
|
Short Stories
A Burning Bush Experience by Dave Harm
Step 11 of AA states, "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that o...
Iowa State Football Arrives by Dave Harm
So far 2007 has not been kind to the Iowa State Cyclone football team. But I remember a time, when the Cyclones became a force in the old Big 8. And as a 12 year old I got to witness it....
Paying it forward by Dave Harm
Sometimes the best thing we can do for others, is nothing. Offer our experience and let them grow on their own......
By The Grace of God by Dave Harm
It is so easy to judge others. For me personally a lot of people sitting in jail could be me, if not for "the grace of God."...
Reliving my early fears by Dave Harm
While my writings started long before Betty got cancer, it was her battle for life that changed my views of others. The thing that impressed me the most was the strength and courage all survivors hav...
Not a 97 pound weakling by Dave Harm
This school year my daughter Lisa, said she wanted to join the powerlifting club. OK, she is "legally" my step-daughter, but morally, I''m her Dad. And I am quite proud of that fact. She has been a...
Finding miracles through pain by Dave Harm
We sometimes believe in miracles when we can see it right away. At times, we forget that some miracles take a little longer. I believe I recently witnessed some miracles which may take some time to ...
Recovery From Divorce by Dave Harm
Wrote this for a publication, dealing with the recovery from divorce. At this time, I still don't know if it will be accepted or not. It was one of the harder subjects, I've written on, because, eve...
A Day at a Time by Dave Harm
"Oh Lord, I ain't what I want to be...
Oh Lord, I ain't what I oughta be...
Oh Lord, I ain't what I'm gonna be...
But thanks, dear Lord,
I ain't what I use to be..."
Heard at ...
The Bird by Dave Harm
"The Bird," is a short story about myself and three other guys who work at a bakery. Like any job, at times, it can be quite mundane. It was for us until we adopted a family of birds!...
Seth Brings a Gift by Dave Harm
A couple of years ago, my daughter took a creative writing class in high school. She didn''t know what to write about, so I suggested the gods! She looked at me, like I lost it. So I wrote this stor...
The Lap by Dave Harm
The first lap at any "Relay For Life" event is for the survivors. Inspiration built out of tragedy!...
Nightmares by Dave Harm
Another personal "battle" for me. I''ve now written two books. First, was "Damaged Merchandise," showing a life 10 years into sobriety. Next, was "War Zone," a prequel to Damaged Merchandise, showi...
A Successful Revelation by Dave Harm
So long - I've searched. Trying to find success. This holiday season - I found it. A beautiful gift from above......
Wanting to find success! by Dave Harm
No matter what I do, I just can''t seem to figure out this thing called - "success."...
The Day We Became One by Dave Harm
It was my wife''s "short" death, that showed me a new world...
The Power In Our Relationship by Dave Harm
To a few great writers at Authors Den, who have given me a little strength. Thank You......
|
Poetry
Unknown by Dave Harm
The sad part with addictions is the aftermath. For over 20 years I had no contact with my birth family.
I missed the birth (and growth) of two nieces and four nephews.
A couple of...
The Beauty by Dave Harm
A fantasy? An illusion... or maybe a dream...
An Attitude of Gratitude by Dave Harm
Like Al Michaels said at the 1980 Olympics, when the Americans won the Gold Medal in hockey, "Do you believe in miracles?"
I do and you should too. If you don't, then please consider this wa...
Time for amends by Dave Harm
Step Nine of CODA says, "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."...
The Battles Lost… The War Won by Dave Harm
About a month ago, a lady from upstate New York e-mailed me a request. She wanted to know if I had ever written a poem about an alcoholic going to heaven, since they had already spent their time in h...
The List by Dave Harm
Step Eight of CODA says, "Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all."...
The Twelve Steps by Dave Harm
The 12 Steps of Alcoholic Anonymous have been adapted for many self-help groups and have helped save the lives of countless people.
I was honored recently when the video for this poem was put...
The Death of Need by Dave Harm
The seventh step of CODA says, “Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.” This step showed me how needy I had become. I needed to be the hero, the savior. I needed love and respect. I needed e...
The Legend of the Blue Pill Man by Dave Harm
Anymore it seems that all our medical problems can be solved by taking a pill. A TV ad can tell us of all the wonderful benefits we will experience by taking this pill. But what I find comical about...
No Place For Jealously by Dave Harm
Step Six of CODA says, "Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."
When I was dealing with my co-dependency my biggest character defects were control and jealousl...
I'm Still Tired by Dave Harm
Over three years ago, I wrote a poem entitled "I'm Tired." It was a very honest poem about the physical and emotional state of mind I was in at that time.
The poem since then has taken on a ...
Desperate For Love by Dave Harm
The fifth step of CODA says, "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs."...
Insanity by Dave Harm
Oh boy, a lot of truth in these words. A child grows up in a home of abuse and addiction and somehow believes they can escape it in their own life.
But if dysfunction is all they know - how ...
Looking Within by Dave Harm
The fourth step of CODA says, "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves."
Picture is from anonymousspace.com...
Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back by Dave Harm
The 2008 Relay For Life theme is "Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back." This is the poem I'll be reading at the start of the Relay in Gage County (NE) in a couple of weeks. And later this summer at ...
The Power of Secrets... Never Shared by Dave Harm
Sometimes a person's dreams are never shared. They were meant to be that way. Maybe it was more of a fantasy than a dream and their own embarrassment helps keep it secret. But somewhere along the l...
Made A Decision by Dave Harm
Step Three of CODA says, "Made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God as we understood God."
Picture from anonymousspace.com...
Superficial Power by Dave Harm
Step Two f CODA states, "Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."
Picture by Ganondorfson found at anonymousspace.com...
Infatuated With Insanity by Dave Harm
Step One of CODA (Co-Dependents Anonymous) is "We admitted we were powerless over others - that our lives had become unmanageable."
As a child of an alcoholic, I have been codependent most of...
Happy Eight Months! by Dave Harm
I'm sharing a gift today with you, that my wife and I will be giving to someone later tonight. To protect their anonymity I can't say who this person is, but we're both very proud of this very specia...
Creating Dreams, From The Nightmares Of Hell by Dave Harm
When I first meet someone our conversation usually ends up getting around to "Well, what do you do?" I kind of chuckle trying to put everything into a couple of short sentences so I don''t lose their ...
An Awakening by Dave Harm
"Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs." - The 12th Step from Alcoholics Anon...
A Promise of Peace by Dave Harm
Step 11 of AA states, "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that o...
Just For Today by Dave Harm
Step 10 of AA says, "Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."...
Acknowledging your pain by Dave Harm
The ninth step of AA states - "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."...
|
Articles
Do you believe in miracles? by Dave Harm
The 1980 Olympic hockey game ended with announcer, Al Michaels asking, "Do you believe in miracles?" It was a miracle. The heavily underdog United States hockey team had just won the gold medal. It ...
Finding honesty through humility by Dave Harm
Step Nine of CODA says, "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."...
Helllllooooo! Wake up America by Dave Harm
What is wrong with us? We're quick to judge the alcoholic/addict when they continually go back to their drug. "Don't they have any willpower?" We shake our heads when we see all the different ways th...
Humility brings honesty by Dave Harm
The Eighth Step of CODA states, "Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all."...
To be... not to do by Dave Harm
Somewhere along the line, we put our "being" on the back burner. We look at fulfillment and success by what we do....
A new life begins... with Step Seven by Dave Harm
The seventh step begins the grieving process for those in recovery. The dysfunctional mind tries to bargain with you, trying to stay alive. But if we're honest in our recovery we know part of us has...
More Thoughts on the Fifth Step by Dave Harm
AA''s Fifth Step says, "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."...
Letting go of dysfunctional needs by Dave Harm
Step Six of CODA says, "Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."...
Only Two Emotions by Dave Harm
Every month on my website, I try to go back in time and remember my early days in recovery. I use it as a “tool” to try and never forget the things I’ve learned from some very wise people. They are ...
Letting go of secrets by Dave Harm
Step Five of CODA says, "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs."...
A new life with a moral inventory by Dave Harm
Step Four of CODA states, "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves."
Picture is from anonymousspace.com...
Spirituality and the 12 Steps by Dave Harm
My search for a Higher Power, early in my recovery, helps me function better today....
CODA's Third Step by Dave Harm
The third Step of CODA says, "Made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God as we understood God."...
CODA's Second Step by Dave Harm
"Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."...
From love to dysfunction by Dave Harm
Step One of CODA says, "We admitted we were powerless over others - that our lives had become unmanageable."...
By The Grace of God, There Go I by Dave Harm
Step 12 of AA says, "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs."...
Keeping Our Word by Dave Harm
Step 10 of AA says, "Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promply admitted it."...
Substance abuse affects everyone by Dave Harm
The following op-ed piece apeeared in The Beatrice-Daily Sun (NE) on Thursday 9/6/07...
Ninth Step by Dave Harm
The Ninth Step of AA states - "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."...
Seeing the world with blinders by Dave Harm
"Hi, I'm Dave and I'm an alcoholic." I've made this statement numerous times over the last twelve plus years. I've said it at AA meetings. I've made this comment on different websites across the we...
Step Eight by Dave Harm
"Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all." - The Eight Step of Alcoholics Anonymous...
AA's Step Seven by Dave Harm
"Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings."...
Sixth Step by Dave Harm
"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."...
Fifth Step by Dave Harm
"Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." - Fifth step of AA...
Step Four by Dave Harm
The revelations revealed by... taking a personal inventory...
|
News
Diller Resident’s Poetry Helps To Fight Cancer by Dave Harm
The following article appeared in Wenesday''s (3/12/2008) Fairbury (NE) Journal News. Writtten by Vicki Check....
Poet pumped up on... Purple Power by Dave Harm
The following article appeared in The Beatrice Daily-Sun on Saturday 2/16/2008 written by Bill Hafer
************************************
Dave Harm puts poetry to music as a fundraiser fo...
FAQ About Purple Power by Dave Harm
I''m already receiving a lot of good questions about my CD - Purple Power. Hopefully, this list will answer these questions....
Creating Dreams with Purple Power by Dave Harm
A dream becomes a reality through "Purple Power."...
Another change at Celebrating Life by Dave Harm
The struggles with one of my websites......
AA/NA Gift Shop Featuring Dave Harm Products by Dave Harm
Texas company takes notice of Harm's work....
Letters From Iraq by Dave Harm
A continuing segment on "Dreaming With Dave Harm," are the shared letters between a helicopter pilot serving in Iraq and his father, a career military man and a Vietnam vet. Below is the latest lette...
Clean and Sober Not Dead Recovery Hero by Dave Harm
In February, the website "Clean and Sober Not Dead" gave their recovery hero award to Dave Harm. ...
Vietnam vets get their due by Dave Harm
The following article appeared in the Northern Valley Suburbanite (NJ) on November 9, 2005, written by Howard Prosnitz...
Symbolic Support by Dave Harm
The following article appeared in the Beatrice (NE) Daily-Sun on April 29, 2003. Written by Richard Kujath.
...
Never Forget Your Dreams by Dave Harm
The following article appeared in April's Electric News Magazine.
written by Susan Barnard...
Overcoming Addiction, Living a Dream by Dave Harm
The following article appeared in the Beatrice Daily-Sun (NE) on 12/24/2004.
Written by Bill Aldrich...
|
Events
The Poet's Quill 10/1/2005
A new column devoted to poetry...
|
Links
|
| Creating dreams, from the nightmares of hell
my site, showing my poetry, writings, and editorials. My work in trying to change some of my poetry into music, to create a musical CD, for cancer survivors. The goal is to have it 100% produced, written, and performed by cancer survivors and their caretakers. Percentage will be given to the American Cancer Society.
|
Top100 Cancer Sites
A site I created to have a "one-stop shop" for available information about cancer on the Internet
|
Nebraska Center For Writers
List and bio's of present day Nebraskan writers, as well as the history of writing in the state. This is a link to my page, but there is so much more to view. Its worth the visit.
|
Celebrating Life
a mini-bio of myself and my sites
|
Additional information
|
| Was homeless for well over a year. During that time, I hitch-hiked across the USA. In 1986, I admitted to being an alcoholic. By 1994, I finally accepted that fact. I've experienced a lot of highs and a lot of lows. But I'll be forever grateful for a second chance. |
| |
|
|
Contact
Information
PO Box 101
Diller
NE
68342
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
