I’ve been offline and in struggle since the shootings in El Paso and Dayton. At first I thought it was a combination of physical and spiritual exhaustion, or maybe low grade cultural despair with a side of burnout. I tried to combat the strange sense of emptiness with more work and more grind.

I celebrated 23 years sober this month – May 12 to be exact. About a year ago, I was talking to a dear friend who was newly sober, and our conversation shifted something in me. For the first time in my life, I realized that my sobriety isn’t a burden or limitation. Sobriety isn’t even a “have to” – it’s a superpower.

People say we shouldn't talk about gun reform in the immediate wake of a mass shooting. I say our lack of talking and action ensures that we stay in a constant wake of mass shootings. It's always the right time for hard conversations and brave action.