Staring Death in the Face and Sharing Hope in Recovery
AFF Newsletter on Substack #42
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Staring Death in the Face and Sharing Hope in Recovery
One thing that always gives me hope in my sobriety is listening to the success stories of others who have hit rock bottom due to alcohol addiction and bounced back to lead wonderful lives. It warms my heart to hear these tales of recovery.
I listen to sobriety podcasts throughout the week. I read stories online. I listen to sober Spaces. I am fascinated by people’s stories because I know where alcohol led me and how much it took to get sober.
When I hear other people’s experiences it reminds me how grateful I am to be in recovery. It also reminds me that I need to set a good example for people who are struggling so they will put down the booze and choose a life of sobriety.
I never thought I would be able to quit drinking alcohol, but I haven’t had a drop of alcohol in over five and a half years. It’s a miracle. But this isn’t limited to me. So many people have experienced the same thing. And you can too. Recovery is possible.
The pain you’re experiencing right now with your alcohol addiction is temporary. You can overcome it. Booze took me to the brink of death. I wanted to end it all because of alcohol but this doesn’t need to be your story.
When the Grim Reaper comes calling
When I started drinking at 13 I never realised that alcohol would lead me to a face-to-face with death - to drunkenly look the Grim Reaper in the face. I don’t want anyone to be in this situation. I don’t want alcohol to take you to this dark place.
Back then I thought alcohol was a way to talk to girls and have fun with friends. Little did I know that the liquid poison had possessed me. It had me hooked. I was a slave to it and nothing I tried to quit worked. Until it finally did. And that’s the message I want to share.
I want to promote recovery in all walks of life, not just with the words that I write. I’m always grateful to hear that my words have helped and I will continue to do everything I can to help dads get sober and stay sober.
I know that sometimes I have to dive back into the darkness of my drinking days to highlight the light of recovery. It’s the Ying and Yang. The clarity and chaos. The hope and despair. These are the things you can relate to through your own struggles.
I’ve said it before but it bears repeating; listen for the similarities and not the differences. My experience with alcohol might not be the same as yours but I guarantee the emotions and feelings are similar. It’s the same with recovery.
My recovery story might be different from yours but the feelings and emotions after putting down the booze are more than likely very similar. So I share both because I want you to choose sobriety and embrace recovery.
I want to set an example in recovery so that you are able to see that a life without alcohol is possible, and is much better than drinking. And if you’re in recovery already, I want you to know that returning to booze is off the table and that you’re not alone.
I also write the Birth of Clarity newsletter, please check it out!
You might be reading this now with no hope that you can kick your destructive drinking habit. But I’m here to tell you, there is hope. Lots of it in fact. And I will continue to do my best to share this with you in every post I publish.
I will make it my mission to promote recovery in my daily life - through the words I write, the words I speak and through my actions. I want you to break your addiction and live a great life in sobriety - for you and your kids.
You have the power within you to defeat your demons. There are people out there who are willing to help you. But you need to be willing to help yourself. You need to be ready to step up and put in the work. In both getting sober and staying sober.
No one said it is going to be easy but listen; Life in recovery, however hard, is much better than a life consumed by addiction. You owe it to yourself to get sober. You owe it to your loved ones to work on your recovery. You can do this.
Take care of yourself and your family,
AFF
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Thank you for continuing to share your story...and continuing to offer hope to others, Roscoe. I have such love for the sober and recovery community, including amidst our diversity and differences. Part of me has trouble trusting folks who AREN'T sober or trying to get there. There's such honesty and lack of pretence that comes in recovery. I haven't found it many other places when it comes to society and the wider collective. Thank you again for your service!