Addiction is a human condition. We all suffer from it on some level. But when addiction becomes unhealthy or dangerous, it challenges us to overcome it. Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. Author Gordon Callahan has won his battle with addiction, but that doesn’t mean that it didn’t leave him with permanent scars. However, it also left him with a story to share to help others in their own battle. Below is my interview with Callahan about his memoir, Where Did We Come From and Where Are We Going?
About Gordon Callahan
Genres: memoir, spirituality
Author links (links will open in a new tab)
Where Did We Come From and Where Are We Going? book summary
Where Did We Come From chronicles Gordon’s and his wife Sandy’s adventurous, excessive, alcohol addicted lifestyles in Denver, CO. The story begins in the 1950’s and continues to today. Their subsequent realization of their alcohol addiction leads them to a spiritual path of recovery through AA and Shambhala meditation. Throughout the book, Gordon weaves his philosophical insights gained from his life experiences and brings us a message of hope and self-realization.
Book excerpt
I thought, “Everything is normal and so peaceful.” I wondered, “Will Sandy be home?”
I hoped so because all of a sudden, a strange, cold feeling came over me. Had something changed? What was I feeling? Was I being told something? Was something wrong? My mind was confused and scattered. It is strange how fast the mind works, one moment peaceful, the next panicking. Had something happened to one of the animals? Or had someone been hurt, maybe an accident?
Suddenly, I realized the car was going faster. I felt I needed to get home fast. I felt cold, even though it was warm outside. Why was this happening to me? The day had been wonderful, so what could have happened to change that? I looked outside, and the world around me appeared to have changed. The street was darker, and the headlights on the car were not doing much to cut through the night and the darkness.
The advent of cell phones was still in the future; my wife was not able to call me, nor was I able to call her. My mind jumped back several years ago when I remembered arriving home only to see that there had been a fire at our house; our living room couch had caught fire and the remains of the couch were in the street. Looking back, I now wonder if only I had a phone to call ahead, would things have been different…
“Hold on, Gordon, things couldn’t be that bad,” I said. “Slow down,” but I couldn’t overcome my confusion. In all of my life, I had never experienced such fear and helplessness.
Talking Shop
What do you want readers to take away from your book?
The most important thing is that there is a way to find a better life or overcome addiction. However, the path requires a lot of work and commitment, but it is possible to find a better and happier life. I wanted the reader to see the path Sandy and I followed and that even the best path can have big problems and does require me or others to change our lives.
What is a fun or strange source of inspiration that ended up in your book?
In my travels and teachings from Japan, I learned about the spirit world and how the spirits influence our lives and bring our dreams and goals to fruition. When I was writing the book, I would sometimes get writer’s block. I would ask the spirits to provide me direction. It only takes the spirits a moment, or a few days to provide their answers. The answers would come from people, TV programs, newspapers, articles, books and sometimes out of nowhere.
How long did it take to write your book from the day you got the idea to write it to the day you published it?
I would say about ten months from idea to completion. With the help of the spirits, who provided me with the best and I believe most professional people, the process was most of the time easy. I had the help of eight people from publisher to marketing. All my people contributed and guided me through writing the book.
What were your expectations for writing and publishing your first book? Have they changed since then?
I believe there is a real need for a self-help book that can relate to a person or persons, in this case Sandy and me. Why we found a need to change our lives and how we went about doing that. Reality and direct experience from a person’s life is much easier to visualize and I hope the reader can relate to their lives and create a path to recovery or a happier, joyous and rewarding life. To understand one’s shortcomings and the need for change or more education.
How well do you handle criticism, either while writing, editing, or reviews? Do you ever use that criticism to change your story?
I am sure I am like most people. I do not like criticism. But – and a big BUT, I realize that without criticism there may not be growth. Criticism allows me to see a second view point and thus I am able to reevaluate my beliefs and thinking. I know that most people are not putting me down and are only trying to help. I find in the world today, most people do not want to criticize. People do not want to hurt my feelings, which can lead to a lot of problems.
If you don’t make a living exclusively writing, what is your day job? How, in any way, does it relate to your life as a writer?
I am a commercial general contractor by trade, born, raised and educated, with a master’s degree in business and contracting. I work in our family business, which is an integral part of the family. My experience with addiction was prominent in our business and how I changed and affected our company. Thus, I was able to relate the two. My master’s degree was a great help when it came to writing the book.
“What If” Scenarios
If you could have one person that you admire, living or dead, read your book, who would it be?
That person would be my first wife Sandy. I would hope she might see a second chance for life or a path that would not lead to suicide. I would help her understand that her life was so important to me and her family; that we had a lot to live for and many things we could do together.
A wealthy reader buys 100 copies of your book and tells you to hand them out to anyone you wish. Who do you give them to?
I printed a 100 copies of my book and I gave them out to my family, friends and people who I thought might find a path or solution to their problems or unhappy life or to those who want to improve their lives, but do not know how.
You are transported into your book for one day. What role do you play? How do you alter the events of the story?
I would have liked to be with my wife Sandy the Saturday she died. I am sure we could have found a way that we could have changed hers and my thoughts, beliefs or fears and continued our life together.
You’re given $10,000 to spend on marketing for your book. How do you spend it?
I am a novice writer. I do not have experience in marketing and promoting my book. I therefore would hire those who do have the knowledge to market the book and rely on their judgement.
Your book becomes a best seller. What do you do next?
I have a great of deal of knowledge about addiction, suicide and the paths to recovery. I have 34 years in various programs, which includes AA, self-help programs and programs for a better, happier and joyous life. I would like to go out and lecture and teach people how to improve their life and overcome addictions.
Just for Fun
Your trademark feature
I enjoy dressing nicely. I wear my hair short, no beard, and nice but not expensive clothes. I always wear a tie, except when things are very casual.
A movie or a piece of music that changed your life.
I was very inspired by The Phantom of the Opera. I love the music and the story. It affected my life and behavior, as I could relate my life to the musical.
Favorite place you’ve visited/place you want to visit.
I love Japan and have visited many times. The people and culture have changed my life. I learned discipline, the need for maintaining cleanliness, living together in close quarters and their belief in the spirit world. I also had a Japanese mentor. This led me to creating a beautiful home all in Japanese décor, which I love very much.
A book that you recommend everyone reads.
An Offering of Light: Healing with Jyorei, Natural Agriculture, and Art by Roy Gibbon and Atushi Fujimaki. It is a book of living and how to live life, and is based on the teachings of Mokichi Okada, a Japanese visionary. The book illuminates the connection with the Spirit world and God as I believe he or she is, and leads one to an understanding of Truth, Virtue, Beauty and natural agriculture.
A talent you have and a talent you wish you had.
A talent I have is building scale models of trains and dioramas to scale. I love to create beauty. I have created a garden railroad in my backyard, which represents Germany in 1945 after the war. Many trains, quaint buildings and structures. I am a skilled Japanese meditation archer, known in Japan as ”Kyudo,” and also practice flower arranging, known in Japan as, “Ikebana.” I am deeply involved with the sitting practice of meditation.
Buy it!
Buy a copy of Where Did We Come From and Where Are We Going? here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Pin it!
