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Dave Harm
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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!!!
The 12 Steps have given me a second chance at life. All of it happened because of a strong foundation with the first three steps.
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
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Books
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 | 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.
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Short Stories
Fourth Step and the Burning Bush by Dave Harm
My second encounter with my Higher Power, let me feel His touch......
My first Burning Bush by Dave Harm
Throughout my recovery from alcoholism, I have had three distinct “burning bush” experiences. To me the burning bush is a close encounter of the spiritual kind. I have never kept these experiences q...
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......
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Poetry
Reality ls OK by Dave Harm
Reality at times can really bite... but it is real. Not distorted through a glass of alcohol....
Opening The Door by Dave Harm
Another AA Promise, "Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us."...
Eternity Can Wait by Dave Harm
During my active days of battling alcoholism, I tried suicide. The bright light that many people hear about wasn't what I saw. Right now eternity can wait......
Finding A New Outlook by Dave Harm
One AA Promise says, "That our whole attitude and outlook on life will change."...
Forgiveness Through Him by Dave Harm
True forgiveness can not take place for a victim until they can find a part in them to forgive their perpetrator. ...
The Death of Fame by Dave Harm
Another Promise of AA says, "Self-seeking will slip away." The death of my active alcoholism brought me to a place filled with shame, guilt, and loneliness.
No longer did I want to be the ce...
Life After Self by Dave Harm
This month's AA Promise says "We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows."...
No More Poor Me by Dave Harm
One of The Promises of AA says, "That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear."...
I Was A Man by Dave Harm
As a child of an alcoholic, I grew up way to fast. And with this growth I threw away things that weren't needed for my survival - like feelings and emotions.
With recovery, I began to see th...
I Was Powerless... by Dave Harm
I grew up in an alcoholic home. Both of my parents were alcoholics. I share the stories of this nightmare in my three books. But it all came down to one basic premise. My mom was out of control, my da...
Experience From The Bottom Of The Scale by Dave Harm
One of the AA Promises says, "No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others."...
Sometimes by Dave Harm
As a child I was abandoned. Raised in an alcoholic home with two alcoholics. My mom was out of control, my dad was out of control, and they were in control of me.
The violence I witnessed a...
Can It Be Obtained? by Dave Harm
The fourth promise of AA is, "We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace."...
The 1980's by Dave Harm
The 1980's is the theme for the 2009 Gage County Relay For Life in Beatrice, Nebraska on May 1, 2009.
This is the poem I wrote and will be reading for this event....
Daddy Left by Dave Harm
In a dysfunctional family, some members of that family believe when the "problem" is removed everything will be back to normal.
They have a hard time accepting that they too have been affecte...
Living With Regrets by Dave Harm
The third promise of AA says, "will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it."...
Shesaw by Dave Harm
an innocent situation where someone sees something quite unexpectedly and not a word is said. But it's always remembered that "she saw" and then you wonder what exactly did "she see."...
Beauty by Dave Harm
a picture... and... a poem...
Courage Brought Freedom by Dave Harm
One of The Promises of AA says, "We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness."
...
Freedom Through Pain by Dave Harm
This year at "Creating Dreams" we look at The Promises of AA.
This month it's, "If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way
throug...
What A View by Dave Harm
The 12th Step of CODA states, "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other co-dependents, and to practice these principles in all our affairs...
Who Are You? by Dave Harm
from an abusive childhood to an insane present... what is the answer for a peaceful tomorrow?...
Searching by Dave Harm
The 11th Step of CODA says, "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carr...
Drunkish by Dave Harm
Oh the words spoken by a drunk. I got the idea for this poem from an old Robin Williams skit about the intelligence of a drunk....
Trash With Class by Dave Harm
I'm still in a somewhat "shock state," whenever I see an alcoholic/addict become clean. It's something their family wanted for a long time, but when it happens the family does everything possible to ...
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Articles
The fears will leave by Dave Harm
My thoughts on the AA Promise, "Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us."...
I can change the past by Dave Harm
Step One of the 12 Steps of Self-Parenting is, “Admitted our powerlessness to change our past - that our lives had become unmanageable and became willing to surrender our love and not to our fear.”...
An attitude adjustment by Dave Harm
One of the AA Promises says, "That our whole attitude and outlook on life will change."...
The end of self-seeking... by Dave Harm
Another Promise of AA says, "Self-seeking will slip away." The death of my active alcoholism brought me to a place filled with shame, guilt, and loneliness.
No longer did I want to be the cen...
Finding my fellows... by Dave Harm
This month's AA Promise says, "We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows."...
Can uselessness disappear? by Dave Harm
One of the AA Promises says, That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear."...
Leaving the shame, through experience by Dave Harm
One of The Promises of AA says, "No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others."
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Defeat turned to serenity... by Dave Harm
The fourth promise of AA says,"We will comprehend the word serenity and know peace."...
Accepting the past by Dave Harm
The third promise of AA says, "We will not regret the past, nor wish to shut the door on it."...
Thankful... for the worst day in my life by Dave Harm
As I worked on the subject of this month's promise, "we are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness," I began thinking about my freedom and happiness. I've never really experienced totally ha...
Was it possible to be free? by Dave Harm
One of The Promises of AA says, "We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness."...
The death of poetry in Southeast Nebraska by Dave Harm
My own beliefs were confirmed in Wednesday's (1/21/09) Lincoln Journal-Star. When I learned the state that Lee Enterprises finds it self in (revenue has dropped 69% in the last quarter). It was bec...
Pain brings growth by Dave Harm
This year at "Creating Dreams" we look at The Promises of AA.
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Love ourselves... before others by Dave Harm
The 12th step of CODA states, "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other co-dependents, and to practice these principles in all our affairs...
Keeping humility intact by Dave Harm
To improve our conscious contact with our Higher Power is an all or nothing deal. For the alcoholic, an acceptance to our addiction brings us closer to our God. But it is only part of the step. An ...
My Priorities by Dave Harm
Some thoughts on my priorities...
Moving forward... with humility and acceptance by Dave Harm
The Tenth Step of CODA states, "Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it."...
Another Made in the USA Death by Dave Harm
I grew up in a time where quality products were made in the USA. All the inferior products were made in China. I believe that for the most part, this statement still holds true....
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."...
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News
The Trilogy is complete by Dave Harm
For over five years it has been the name of the website run by Dave Harm. Now it is more! It's the final book of a trilogy....
Creating Dreams... with The Promises by Dave Harm
Wonderful words of wisdom - The Promises of AA...
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
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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.
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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...
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Links
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| 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.
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Top100 Cancer Sites
A site I created to have a "one-stop shop" for available information about cancer on the Internet
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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.
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Celebrating Life
a mini-bio of myself and my sites
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Additional information
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| 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. |
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Contact
Information
PO Box 101
Diller
NE
68342
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