Everyone has one…

October 29th, 2023

… story that is. Especially when it comes to addiction and the reality of it, and especially the reality of it when finally sober. Since I have my story, I am not that interested in hearing that story from others. One burden on my shoulders is enough. There are others though, much better and more generous people than me who can and will take on stories of others and will use them to help those in need, even when they cannot help themselves:

I still love “Friends” and rewatched the episodes countless times. I polished my colloquial English on that show and can still quote numerous episodes in full. Chandler Bing's character was the one I identified with from the beginning — ironic, sardonic, sarcastic, acerbic, and sharp — that is how I saw myself. I guess there was another connection as well — not with the character on screen, but with the real person who, off-screen, struggled with addiction. There is fragility inbuilt into each sobriety, one that doesn't differentiate between the rich and famous and just regular folk. The work I have accomplished so far is not done, it is something I will work on for the rest of my life. I know and accept that, and each somber reminder of that hits hard, but keeps giving me more purpose.