02-24-2011, 11:46 AM
Hi! I LOVE your story! You are a wonderful, expressive writer.
I watched my dad suffer through a drug addiction for about thirty years. Rehab and all the usual stuff never worked for him. I think what finally made him quit was just seeing his life and everyone he loved slipping away from him because of it. He just stopped doing it one day and now he does Tai Chi! If anyone had told me ten years ago that my dad would be doing Tai Chi, I would have fallen over in disbelief. I used to be so angry at him for what he did to himself and our family, but now I realize that experiencing that process of healing and forgiveness with him has been one of the greatest lessons I've learned in my life. It has opened up so many doors for me in my own spiritual evolution. I don't think that drug addiction and recovery is just a lesson for the addict, but for all those around them who either support or reject them. As terrible a thing as it is to behold, it is simply packed with catalyst and the possibility of springboarding oneself high up the ladder or learning.
I was on really strong prescription drugs for a while because my shrinks thought I was schizophrenic or bipolar or whatever, and I did get addicted to them...this is about as close as I can come in experience. By the time I stopped taking them I was so angry at what they had done to me and so determined to get rid of them that I just plowed through the withdrawals like an angry bull. I wanted my mind back.
It's funny how so many of us seem to have been raised in strict religious families, myself included. I wonder if this is to help us have an acute view of how important freedom of thought and expression are? My religion tried to censor my thoughts and actions until it suddenly occurred to me how silly it all was and I pushed back. I really don't think I would be such an avid spiritual seeker, searching for the *real* truth, if I hadn't had such a hampered religious experience. Just a thought.
Your story truly touched me. I welcome you to our family and hope we can share many blessed journeys together!
-Lynn
I watched my dad suffer through a drug addiction for about thirty years. Rehab and all the usual stuff never worked for him. I think what finally made him quit was just seeing his life and everyone he loved slipping away from him because of it. He just stopped doing it one day and now he does Tai Chi! If anyone had told me ten years ago that my dad would be doing Tai Chi, I would have fallen over in disbelief. I used to be so angry at him for what he did to himself and our family, but now I realize that experiencing that process of healing and forgiveness with him has been one of the greatest lessons I've learned in my life. It has opened up so many doors for me in my own spiritual evolution. I don't think that drug addiction and recovery is just a lesson for the addict, but for all those around them who either support or reject them. As terrible a thing as it is to behold, it is simply packed with catalyst and the possibility of springboarding oneself high up the ladder or learning.
I was on really strong prescription drugs for a while because my shrinks thought I was schizophrenic or bipolar or whatever, and I did get addicted to them...this is about as close as I can come in experience. By the time I stopped taking them I was so angry at what they had done to me and so determined to get rid of them that I just plowed through the withdrawals like an angry bull. I wanted my mind back.
It's funny how so many of us seem to have been raised in strict religious families, myself included. I wonder if this is to help us have an acute view of how important freedom of thought and expression are? My religion tried to censor my thoughts and actions until it suddenly occurred to me how silly it all was and I pushed back. I really don't think I would be such an avid spiritual seeker, searching for the *real* truth, if I hadn't had such a hampered religious experience. Just a thought.
Your story truly touched me. I welcome you to our family and hope we can share many blessed journeys together!
-Lynn