On Life

"Truth is a patient hunter and it finally hunted me down." - Joel Christiansen Rarely will you find a human being who can tell his own story with such ruthless honesty. But that is what Joel Christiansen has done in his more than 45 years of alcohol and drug-free sobriety. Lured into the world of narcotics following surgery as a teenager, Joel soared quickly to success as an educator. He enjoyed a happy marriage, two sons and two daughters, master's and post-master's degrees, and solid respect as an educational administrator. Then, in the 1970s, Joel had back surgery and was reintroduced to barbiturates. Despite his early success, the disease of prescription addiction from barbiturates and narcotics began to progress, and Joel found himself destitute and living on the streets. "It was September 14, 1981, and I was bankrupted in every area of my life. I was 36 years old, had three college degrees, and was a former superintendent of schools. The disease of addiction does not discriminate. It is fearless, ruthless, and relentless." Joel has published much of his story of addiction to alcohol and barbiturates in two previous books: OUT OF THE ASHES and STOP WHINING AND START WINNING. These books were published individually and are also included in their entirety in his first anthology HOW TO DO LIFE BETTER. In ON LIFE, the second anthology of some of Joel's shorter essays, the reader will find even more to contemplate. Joel considers this a collection of his personal and professional life lessons learned. He says his only purpose for writing is to serve the greater good, and he asks only that the reader take from his words what feels right and good. Joel has been straight and sober for more than 45 years. In this anthology ON LIFE: 1-SURVIVING IS NOT THE SAME AS THRIVING 2-GETTING RID OF THE RIDS 3-ON CHANGE 4-LEADERSHIP: DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK, CALL IT A RESURRECTION 5-IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE 6-KEEP ON KEEPING ON