In 12 Step Fellowships there’s a saying, “we do recover” which I love because it’s a beacon of hope for the hopeless and I remind myself of this saying quite often. The thing is, not all of us in recovery make it, and this is very sad fact I was just reminded of a few moments ago. I met a lovely woman a few weeks ago who attended a book talk I gave as she’d heard a bit about my story, and has a son of her own who struggles with addiction. She had come that evening as she wanted to hear some perspective from someone who’s lived through addiction, as well as to pick up a book for her son in the hopes that it may inspire him to seek out help. We chatted a bit after I was finished, and she expressed her concern and loss for what to do for him… I could see my own mother in her as she spoke. As she was leaving, I told her that my info was in the back of the book and that I’d be happy to talk with her son if he was ever interested. Unfortunately, I’ll never have that opportunity as he passed away yesterday as a result of the disease of addiction. His passing won’t make the news like Philip Seymour Hoffman (RIP), but it’s something that happens on a daily basis throughout the world, particularly here in the U.S. My heart is heavy with this news, as it always is when I hear about another life lost to addiction. It’s a kind of sadness I know I’ll never get used to, nor do I wish too. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain this woman and her husband (who was the one that found their son in their home yesterday) are going through right now… the same pain I know my own mother, wife, and family would experience as well if I were to become complacent in my own recovery, which inevitably would result in a relapse, and quite possibly, death. My heart and prayers go out to this woman and her husband, and the countless others who tonight, grieve the loss of a loved one who died because of addiction. However, there is hope; whether it’s through the12 Step fellowships, Buddhist recovery, church, yoga or a number of other methods that people successfully use… it is possible! Please know that you are never alone, and most importantly, that yes, YOU are worth it. As the Buddha said, You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. What I wouldn’t give to be able to show you this for yourself.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 00:59:08 +0000
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