Everyone Has A Story
As Oprah says,”everyone has a story” and “our life experiences are here to teach us”. My story has stretched out over decades, and although each week, month or year is different than the next, I know it all has contributed to who and where I am today. Through varied life experiences it has given me the opportunity to learn lessons that continue to shape my life, help me to understand who I am and what my role is in this world. I have been blessed to learn most of my life’s lesson with the loving guidance of my parents, sibling, spouse, children, friends and professionals. Even with all the love and support I have had, these lessons have been anywhere from very easy, to difficult, to extremely challenging. But as we all know, that is life on life’s terms, whether we are ready for it or not.
I also believe, my story and experiences not only help me to learn, but also provides an opportunity for someone else to learn. My story teaches lessons of both good and bad, right and wrong, health and dysfunction, fear and faith, stagnation and growth, education and intuition and on and on. My life’s story is the same as yours but also different. I learned from my loving family, because as individuals their story was the same but different than mine. That is why I need to hear your story, I need to learn from yet another shared story of life experience.
If you have in some way been involved with the disease of addiction and the process of recovery in your life experience, it is part of your story. Whether your experience is as the addict, codependent, family member, counselor, co- worker, call center worker, friend, advocate, wilderness guide, celebrity, or 12 stepper, it is part of your story. It is only ONE part of who you are but if you are at all like me, it has opened you to many experiences you would never have had otherwise. Those experiences have challenged and changed you. It has allowed you to find out more about yourself and who you want to be.
If you have taken the time to visit www.heroesinrecovery.com and have read someone’s story or read the blogs, I hope you feel you have been helped in some way. If just one story gave you hope, know that your story can have the same impact. Everyone’s story has a purpose. Please consider sharing yours. Join the movement and help Break the Stigma.