Dear Hero…

As I sit down to write my first blog post, I can think of nothing better than to write a letter to those of you out there who are like I used to be. If you’re an addicted individual, you need to know what it means to be a Hero. Addiction no longer defines me; it no longer limits my capabilities. The purpose of this blog post is to spread inspiration and to let you know you can be a Hero in recovery.

 Dear Hero,

My name is Sean Morrison. I am an alcoholic, addict, liar and thief who is in recovery. Most importantly, I am a Hero. I have no need to use or steal. To my own self I will be true. I woke up this morning and said hello to the world. Today, just by doing the simplest things, I made an impact far beyond my knowledge. It was the mere act of getting the mail, it was a kind word, and it was the fact that today I woke on my terms, not on the terms of addiction.

There once was a day I never wanted to be a hero. I have been asked the question many times, “If you could be a superhero or have a super power, what would it be?”  But I have never wanted to be a hero; I have just wanted to be me. I take a look at each and every “superhero” I once knew—and I  look at them now, afraid of the world, having too many hidden secrets, and having missed so many opportunities to be who they really are. I just want to be me. I want to wake up in the morning and say hello to the world, I want to say hello to my neighbors, and I want to make an impact far beyond my reach. Today, I am a Hero I never expected to be.

I have had too many days not being me. Today I can be me, and I can share my thoughts in hopes that just one person might relate. I am a Hero, and what’s cool is that you are, too. If you can wake up in the morning and say hello to the world, you are my Hero. You have the chance to make an impact greater than you will ever know.

If you are reading this, I hope you find it a source of empowerment, freedom and courage. I no longer have to feel ashamed. I no longer have to feel locked up in a cage, unable to be true to who I really am. My journey of recovery has been, to say the least, a source of passion. Recovery is about the small steps for me; it’s about letting go of who I was so I can become something greater—one day at a time, one hour at a time, one moment at time. Today, I can say I am a Hero, and so can you. I hope you find strength. You do not have to be “super” or “special”— it’s the little things in life that make us all Heroes.

We can do this together.

Sean H. Morrison, Heroes in Recovery Lead Advocate