Regular Blog Posts
(Photos by Iris Derke)
The NYC Lockout Adventure: Humor and Heart
There I am, just getting home after a long day at the office. My husband Rob is out of town. I unlock our apartment’s front door, push, and nothing. The…
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Embracing Contradictions: Yoga and City Life
Thoughts from Hot Yoga The irony doesn’t escape me: I’m in my usual spot in a small and very hot yoga studio, under the window rather than in front of…
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Saudade: The Power of Sober Clarity
My sober sisters and I have been circling around a particular emotion lately, that bittersweet wave that washes over you at weddings, graduations, anniversaries. You know the one: where time…
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Lost Insomnia
I miss my insomnia. Removing alcohol from my life over a year ago has delivered many gifts, including the bliss of deep sleep that long left me. But, the one…
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Photos: B & W
The world is so full of color, so why is it that switching our lens to black and white is so stunning?
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Running Against Demons: My NYC Marathon Experience
November 8, 2025, Post-Marathon While I have pages of writing about this past weekend (my birthday, one-year sobriety milestone, and the NYC Marathon) that’s begging for edits, I couldn’t let…
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The Magic of Broadway Crossing
I emerge from my morning Central Park sanctuary, what I call “mind laundry”, waiting at a busy Broadway intersection for the green light. In the middle of the street, between…
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Iris DERKE 