Todays decisions directly effect tomorrows future.
By Jerry | March 11, 2010
Every once in a while, a friend of mine will come to me, and tell me about how they are dealing with addiction.
Sometimes, it will be a close friend, telling me about someone else that I know, that is dealing with addiction.
Other times, it will be someone that I know who has dealt with addiction, and knows someone who just committed suicide because of addiction.
We see it on t.v.
We read about it on the internet.
We hear about it on the radio.
Not so long ago, I had a friend of mine, that I’ve known since high school, tell me about another friend of ours, whom I don’t speak with all that often, who has a problem. It’s been evident to many of us, in that particular circle, for many years. If this guy ever needed to talk, I would be available.
What was funny about this particular conversation was that my friend was saying that he always thought that people who say they are “alcoholics” or “addicts” are just using that as an excuse.
Inside I laughed, and thought, “hey, so what are you saying?” Because he’s known me since before I got sober, and I have been sober for almost 9 years.
That I feel though, is a very popular thought amongst people whom have not really had that issue in their own life, or anyone close to them.
While I do not disagree, that alcoholics and addicts are master manipulators. I do disagree that people just use addiction as an excuse, atleast not all of them.
Addiction is a very real thing.
9 years ago today, I was driving from Boulder, CO, to Las Vegas. I was about a week-in-a-half into, what turned out to be a long road trip. My longtime friend was going to school at the University of Colorado, and I had been up to see him over the weekend. As I was coming down the West Slope of the Rockies, it was sunset, and that was the moment that I told myself that I would go back to Las Vegas, but not stay there, because I would return to Seattle, and go into a treatment facility.
It was like this huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders, the moment I made that decision. I could actually enjoy the rest of my trip.
Alcoholics and Addicts have four choices: Jail, Mental Institution, Death, or Recovery.
I am extremely grateful that I chose recovery.
I would not be writing this blog today, had I not made that decision 9 years ago today.
Topics: General | 1 Comment »
March 11th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Congratulations Jerry. 9 years is quite an accomplishment.