Never lost a thing

Posted on by Abbie

Most every time I’m with a group of sober people, someone talks about the things they lost because of their addiction. “I lost my kids, my spouse, job, my truck, my self-respect, etc., etc., etc. to my drug of choice.”

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Poor me, pour me

Really?

I gotta say that I agree with what an oldtimer used to say about that. He said “I never lost anything because of my drinking. I traded it all. Nothing was more important to me than that next drink, so when the disease demanded that I give away my family and my job, I agreed.”

“Give it away, give it away, give it away, now”

He said “I didn’t lose my wife, I knew right where she was- at my neighbors house! She left me because I wouldn’t stop drinking or acting a fool. I can’t blame her! I didn’t lose my house. It’s right where it’s always been. I didn’t lose my job, or my self-respect, or anything else.

I traded it. All.

I was such a willing slave to my addiction that I’d trade anything it demanded. My first and only concern was keeping the addiction satisfied, so when spouses, jobs, dignity, self-respect…got in the way of my addiction, I did whatever it took to keep reality from sneaking up on me.

Goods returned

As I began to get sober and worked (WORKED) on changing my perceptions, slowly these people and things were returned.

The choice is entirely up to you.

So, listen when you hear someone (or yourself) taking about how many things the addiction took from them, I hope you’ll remember this truth. We never lost or misplaced the things that make life sweet: we traded them for the drink or the drug.

I am in control of what I keep today, and I’m not willing to give the good life away.

Posted from my cabin in the mountains.

21 responses to “Never lost a thing”

  3. Pingback: Never lost a thing — abbie in wondrland | feelingmywaybackintolife

  4. Wow. This is so so true. I am finished with choosing wine over my family and other important things in my life. Thank you for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Well said. I traded so much in the end, and nearly traded my family. I rationalized it, of course, even though everything was falling apart. Ugh. Not going back there.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. You’re so right about this. It’s not an easy pill for anyone to swallow, having to admit that what you willingly gave up things that were important to you, all for whatever addiction it is you have. Drugs and alcohol are just two things that people struggle to quit. Gambling, fame, cars, sex, and much more are real “drugs” too. But, we all struggle with something or even multiple things that could become more important to us. Even things that seem innocent enough like careers. Some think, “Oh, my job cost me my marriage, my relationship with my children, or my friendships.” Life can be one heck of a drug really. Every day we’re faced with choices, what will be important to us today and what will we do to hold onto it? Your post provoked quite a few thoughts in my mind today. I may just blog about that. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person