Not Really Strangers

Posted on | October 25, 2011 | No Comments

Thank you guys!  I got this email yesterday from a friend on Facebook…

“Hi Oscar! I know we don’t know each other personally, but I wanted to send you a quick note!

First let start off by congratulating you on being where you want to be, sober and catching your dream. I love to hear success stories!

Alcoholism runs in our family. My father was an alcoholic, but was sober for the last 25 years of his life. I too was on the verge of alcoholism until one morning I woke up not knowing how I got home and realized I would not be a good role model for my children. Yes, in our traditions we celebrate EVERYTHING with alcohol, children’s birthday parties, the sun rising, death, life, the wind blowing, you get the picture…

I married a sober alcoholic as well. We have been married for 1 and 1/2 years, and he has been sober for 6 years. We truly are blessed with a wonderful partnership.

Thank you so much for sharing your life through your blog. I make it a point to read it as often as I can.

Keep up chasing your dream, and realizing your full potential! I and many people are very proud of you!”

No, I don’t know this person personally but I consider every one of you a friend.  We all have something in common.  We all have that friend or family member that’s an alcoholic and/or addict.  Some people think that this is sad but I don’t think so.  What we have in common makes us stronger and brings us closer.

I thought I was alone when I confronted my alcoholism but as it turns out I am not.  My family didn’t know where to turn to but they found the support groups that help families deal with alcoholism and addiction.  I’m glad that my story is helping others realize that they are not alone.  I wish I could give out some advice that comes from years of study and training but what I can tell you all here comes from experience.  There is no classroom in this world that could teach my family what it would be like to deal with an alcoholic like actually dealing with me.  There’s no master’s program that could teach me the pain of alcoholism like me having to live with it.  There is nothing like life to teach us what we really need to know.

Thank you all for helping me stay on track and I’m glad to read that I can help a few of you.

Don’t forget, you’re not alone!

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