My Friend...

Hello my friend...

I know that sometimes it is very hard to understand why things are happening the way they are. We tend to think that once we stop drinking or drugging, that life is going to be wonderful, and everything will be perfect...and life is pretty wonderful, but then when life continues to hit us hard, we get discourgaged, confused, and frustrated...sometimes we can even give up...but i guarantee you...that if you just don't use...things will get better...

When the hard times come, and they will, cause this is life on its own terms...but when they hit you in the face...remember that 'this too shall pass'. You might recall that saying when the good times come too! LOL...

The ninth step promises tell us that there will come a time when we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it...that we will understand happiness and we will know peace...i can tell you that these things do come to pass...one moment at a time...

It is very important to remember that just not using is not emotional sobriety...emotional sobriety takes a lot of work...and that is what those steps are for...and it is a continuing process...but there is never a time, that we can just stop using those steps...they are our stairway to freedom, and a way of life that is happy and filled with joy...

When i am uncomfortable, or confronted with a serious problem, i always go back to step one...then i have to ask myself, what i can logically do about whatever it is that i am facing...can i change it? if i cannot, then i have to turn it over and go on about my buisness...doing something different...other than worrying about it...worst comes to worse...i can always, always find another to work with...but if i can change it, then i must step up to the challenge...and just do it...this is a program of action...

Sobriety is more about facing lifes difficulties with courage and willingness to change as the situation presents itself then it is about anything else...my problem was never alcohol and drugs...those were just symptoms...my problem was that i did not know how to live life as a responsible, emotionally healthy adult...i wanted what i wanted...and i wanted it right now...i was controlled by my emotions, and it is very painful to 'grow up'...but that is the very heart of recovery...growing up, owning our feelings, and walking through whatever we have to walk through...

I am still learning how to do this one day at a time...sometimes, one moment at a time...so remember, dear one...that someone else somewhere is on this journey with you...and that everything is unfolding exactly as it should...or it would be different! Haha...

be filled with your own joy dear friend...and remember to take care of you...

starlightjustfortoday...

it works...if you work it!

the previous post, just underneath this one, was written back in October of last year...my son was a mess...

he now has 5 months of continued sobriety...YEAH!!!!!!!

i share these painful experiences, and then these joyful ones...so that if you are out there wondering in the wilderness of drug and alcohol addiction...you will know that there is a way out...reach out...and get some help...learn how to help yourself...be responsible...for yourself...and learn to live free from your addiction...YOU CAN DO IT...IT WORKS IF YOU WORK IT!

much love...

starlightjustfortoday...

my son and his friends...

our sweet young Ian, so full of pain,
the alcohol and drugs made him insane,
he'd gone to jail, forced sobriety,
started back to slinging, soon as he was free...
my son's best friend, lost to this shit,
we begged and pleaded for him to quit...
he took his gun, put a bullet in his head...
but it was alcohol and drugs that killed him dead...
another best friend, our precious Josh,
no one was nicer, to him my son looked up...
he was an example of what a young man should be,
was a dear, sweet friend to my son and me.
one night he was drinking, a friendly drunk,
he threw up in some crazy dudes pick-up truck,
three guys beat him unconscious, then threw him in the back,
drove around and partied...he died like that...
then there was Erin, wild as could be,
best friends with my son, and like a son to me,
he overdosed, on alcohol and drugs,
stayed in a coma for several months,
many a time, i prayed over his bed,
he was so damn lucky he wasn't dead,
he finally came too, but he's not the same,
there was lots of damage done, to his brain,
after several surgeries, he walks with a limp,
yeah he's still using every chance he gets...
finally heard from my son, he's pretty beaten down,
i can only pray that he'll come around.
no place to live, in real bad shape,
i told him that i loved him...ever and always,
asked him if he was ready, to give up the stuff,
that i would be here for him, when he'd had enough,
one day at a time, turning it over,
the grace of God, keeping him sober,
going to meetings, working the steps,
the only other options are jail and death...
he knows the deal...and it's up to him...
gonna hit my knees, turn him over again...
tlcoriginals...