Waking up in a jail cell with little to no recollection of how you got there really isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time.
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Waking up in a jail cell with little to no recollection of how you got there really isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time—okay, at least it’s not most people’s idea of a good time—yet thanks to living in active addiction for many years, I’ve managed to accomplish this feat on more than a few of occasions.
Yesterday however, I celebrated two years in recovery, a first in my life since the age of fifteen. This isn’t my first time in recovery however, though it’s definitely been the longest and most heart-centered attempt I’ve ever made. I’ve knocked on deaths door numerous times as a result of being an addict and spent more time in detoxes, rehabs, psychiatric hospitals and jails than I care to remember. And yet, for whatever reason, I’m still here, I’m still alive, something so many addicts can’t say as they’ve lost their lives to this insidious disease.
I attribute the better part of these past two years recovering to something I’m grateful to have finally learned, which I’d let slip through my ears at 12 Step Meetings for a long time, which is that the healing process (and this goes for both addicts, and non-addicts alike) is always, always an inside job. Fuck, how I wish I let that sink in sooner.
I mean, my head was so far up my ass that I would buy into shit like believing that whenever I’d make it to around six months clean, and began getting material things back in my life like a job, car, apartment and so forth, that I was fine, I was cured. I had the warped idea that I was “recovering” because I was staying abstinent from mind-altering substances, had money coming in through steady work and was somewhat accountable to people … so yes, in my mind I was recovering alright, except the thing was, I wasn’t, not even a little.
Sure, I was going to some 12 Step meetings and learned to talk the talk, but by keeping my “recovery” material-based and never cultivating the courage to look at the real problem—the residual mental, emotional and spiritual mess left over inside—I was only prolonging the inevitable, which was relapsing into using again.
Today however, while recognizing that recovery is literally only a day at a time reprieve, I’ve finally come to know better. Through 12 Step Fellowships (complimented by various external spiritual teachings and practices) I’ve learned that in order to heal, I have to fearlessly, and intimately, sift through the wreckage of my past—something that can be terribly fucking scary, difficult and unpleasant. However, in order to have a fighting chance at saving my life, this is a decision that has to be made, and today I choose life. I choose to be fearless in the face of adversity.
I feel blessed to be a part of the miracle of recovery, a miracle that continues to unfold not only in my life, but countless other lives around the world as well, which is a truly beautiful thing. At the same time however, the nightmare of addiction is still very much alive for many suffering addicts—and not only the addicts themselves, but their loved ones too, who can do little more than watch helplessly as the life of the person they love slowly deteriorates into a shell of a being before their eyes.
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. At the same time, to say, “we die” would be just as accurate of a statement. Morbid as it may be, it’s the reality of this disease. I’ve seen so many wonderful lives end before their time and it’s fucking heartbreaking, but in order to keep my recovery in check, I can’t forget this sad truth because if I do, I could easily be the next to join them.
At times I experience feelings of guilt for still being alive while so many others aren’t, but it’s at those times I have to give myself a harsh reality check and recognize that while yes, I’ve done some fucked up things in my life while under the influence, I’ve now also been blessed with the opportunity to help others possibly save their lives as well, and for me, there’s no greater gift than this… the chance to help others help themselves.
Two minutes, two days, two months, two years, twenty-two years … it’s all a miracle when it comes to recovery, but in reality, and as cliché as this may sound, all we have is this moment, and it’s up to us, and only us, to decide how we’re going to live it. It’s my hope that anyone who’s struggling and has read these words (addicts and non-addicts alike) finds some semblance of hope in them, or, at the very least learns a bit from my own past mistakes to help save some time and pain in your own recovery process because … we’re all human, we’re all recovering from something and we’ve all hurt enough already, haven’t we?
Photo credit: Flickr / davco9200
When the addict/alcoholic can finally embrace the notion that they are worth the work that recovery entails they can succeed at this process. Getting there is no simple feat but a crucial one nonetheless.
Couldn’t agree more Robert.
Chris, thank you for sharing your awesome journey and congrats on your two year mark. Looking back at your journey, do you think there was anything someone could have said an/or done that would have brought you to this point earlier in your life?
Thanks so much for taking the time to read it Tom. Regarding your question, truth be told, I really don’t think so. I think I’m hearing the same things now, in both the 12 Step Fellowship, as well as the spiritual teachings I learn from, but the difference is that now I’m ready to hear them and I wasn’t then. It took me being completely broken, and I mean on every level- mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically to finally throw in the towel and begin to take a look at what exactly was going on in my life (inside and… Read more »
Wow. I was more.than blown away by what I just read. Your confessions, your honesty, your raw truth…something that I struggle with on a daily basis. I am almost 9 months sober and have recently come to a similar understanding of my truth but to hear it written so clearly, so honestly brought tears to my eyes. So thank you, thank you for reminding me @ 9:17 pm on this Wednesday night just how precious and fragile this miracle of life we get to experience is. That through all of my fuck ups, all of shit I haven’t even registered… Read more »
Katie,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, strength and hope with me in return! Obviously, writing things of this nature isn’t always the easiest thing to do but knowing that it reaches people such as yourself who need to hear it is what makes it completely worth while. Have a beautiful day.
– Chris