One of the most common aspects of any person who has suffered from addiction is that we have lost the ability to choose. Our compulsion became so deep that whether we could start was no longer up to us and most always not being able to stop was a part of that equation as well. Years ago, I heard a Japanese phrase that said “First a man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man.“ We could extrapolate this phrase to most every addiction, whether it be behavioral and/or substance or both. When we first enter recovery, for most of us, we are not choosing recovery. We are choosing the path that is forced on us. That is why I believe, the life we choose first chose us. Throughout our life we are given many chances to be something and we chose to be nothing. I used to be a wandering generality, but now I’m a meaningful specific. After all these years, I have come to believe that the life that continually try to choose me, I finally chose back.
Today I choose
Light over dark
Good over evil
Kindness or uncaring
Hope over despair
Joy over sorrow
What do you choose? What commitment are you making for yourself that will result in a better version of you. Remember, the better version I am of me will increase my ability to be a better help to others.
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Robert Pardon
Robert is the Recovery Guy. Getting clean and sober on April 25, 1986 has given me the insight and practical skill set to not only stay sober, but to also re-invent myself to the person I always wanted to become. Showing others how to do this is my life goal.
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