Recently a friend of mine, who was excitedly talking about her wine, turned to me and said, “I am SO glad I don’t have your problem!!” You could have heard a pin drop in that moment, but my first thought was a sincere, “Yeah! Me too!!!” Her comment truly didn’t bother me because 1. I don’t wish addiction on anyone (obviously) and 2. I no longer view my inability to drink as a problem.
My mind wandered a little after this wondering how she actually felt about my “problem”, and also wondering how other people perceive it. My one hope is that people don’t ever feel sorry for me. Not for my past. Not for my addiction. Not for my inability to drink.
Here’s the thing, feeling sorry for me takes away from everything I have overcome. Once upon a time I felt sorry for myself too. Back when I didn’t believe in myself. Back when I thought I needed alcohol to live. Back when I woke up every morning wishing and praying for something to change, but I wasn’t willing to actually do anything about it. Until I did. Until I overcame.
I stopped viewing my past, my alcoholism and my recovery, as a problem a long time ago. If anything, I view it as a blessing. It helps me to better serve other people. It helps me to better parent my children. It helps me to be more open minded. It is my motivation.
Instead of feeling sorry for someone, speak. Speak out against abuse. Speak out against addiction. Speak out against shame. Speak up for freedom. Speak up for victory. Speak up for recovery.
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