I don't know you, man, I'm not an addict, and that was a very LONG post... but it was extremely well-written and well worth my time. Thanks! I hope you're still sober and that your daughter is still sleeping over!! - Trules
I kept telling my therapist, what's the point if no one believes you are sober? Might as well be drunk, because they don't believe you anyway. This piece really hit home. Thank you for writing it. It couldn't have been easy.
Excellent, Corey! This triptych certainly ran the course of emotions and the writing is top-notch, and I’m happy that you’ve reached this point! Thanks for being brave and skilled enough to share the journey.
Thank you for sharing! My husband is coming up on 13 years of sobriety in 6 days, and he celebrates with our 2 year old daughter. It's not easy to understand his journey and stories like this help me feel closer to it.
Excellent. Never forgetting 'what it was like and what happened' are critical...No matter how long you've been in recovery. Many of the books and short stories I write feature people who are in recovery because that's something I know.
Thanks once again for giving us a piece of yourself. Most people don't understand or should I say have empathy for what an addict endures.
I had weight loss surgery 12/26/2003. This will be 20 years for me! I lost 165 pounds. It was a life changing experience for me. When I am with people who never had to struggle with weight issues and we see someone who is obese/fat, they often say unkind words about the obese person. I then try my best to explain to the thinner person that no one wants to be fat. No one gets fat on purpose. (Dare I say not even today's proponents of "fat is beautiful". I know it is the same with addiction to alcohol, drugs or whatever. People don't wake up and say, "I think I'll become an alcoholic today." If that were so, it would be easy to quit.
I opted for the gastric bypass for just that reason. It's permanent. My stomach is smaller, so it's impossible for me to eat as much as I used to. I get stomach pain if I overdo it. It's still not easy. I've had to come to grips with knowing I'll never be skinny. I will always be over weight by BMI standards. But, I am what I like to consider "normal". I eat like a normal person. I can eat anything, just less. With alcohol and drugs, you can never use those things again. So much harder.
Happily, there is a positive future to look forward to. As you learn more about yourself and regain your confidence, you will be able to build new relationships and build a new and better for you life with your daughter as I have built a new and better life for myself.
It took two failed marriages (a whole other story!) to get to this happy marriage I now enjoy. You can do it one day at a time. . . .
Tears of all the feels and especially the joy I felt in that scene with your daughter. I was captivated by every word. Incredible storytelling Corey and also what immense strength you have 🩵
Scene. You are truly beautiful. You are very smart. You know big words and little ones! You weave then together like an intricate silk rug from Persia. Did you know that often 'mistakes' are woven in because only God is perfect? Look for the mistakes but lean into your weave.
Enjoyed reading your words, so powerfully written. Thank the Lord your business here was not finished, so much more to share and I look forward to hearing your stories.
Another beaut Corey. The pain oozes between the letter and lines, dances over punctuation marks and haunts every idea expressed. Yes, the horrors of "Georgian* Go-Juice" are real, whether consumed as wine or any of its other Medusa-like faces. I have my own sob stories. Interestingly, what most people don't realize is that alcohol is tied forever to the early farmers, which means it is also bound fast to the very roots of western civilization, and, since this region was populated by Caucasians at the time, renders it yet another accomplishment? despicable advancement? (tomato potahto) of white men. Yippee. Keep the faith my brother.
"Most people don’t care that you’re sober, and those who do care won’t believe you, not at first." Yes and yes.
I don't know you, man, I'm not an addict, and that was a very LONG post... but it was extremely well-written and well worth my time. Thanks! I hope you're still sober and that your daughter is still sleeping over!! - Trules
This tips me over into paid subscriberhood.
I kept telling my therapist, what's the point if no one believes you are sober? Might as well be drunk, because they don't believe you anyway. This piece really hit home. Thank you for writing it. It couldn't have been easy.
Oh yes, this one hit me hard. "You lied to yourself to justify using drugs and alcohol, and now you must lie to yourself to stay away from them."
I was captured by this post and no, it wasn't too long. Every word was worth it.
Thank you for your honesty.
I'm smiling so hard right now, my cheeks are touching my eyes.
Excellent, Corey! This triptych certainly ran the course of emotions and the writing is top-notch, and I’m happy that you’ve reached this point! Thanks for being brave and skilled enough to share the journey.
Thank you for sharing! My husband is coming up on 13 years of sobriety in 6 days, and he celebrates with our 2 year old daughter. It's not easy to understand his journey and stories like this help me feel closer to it.
Corey, this is a beautiful piece. It was stirring. And to address your statement at the start -- we care that you're sober.
Excellent. Never forgetting 'what it was like and what happened' are critical...No matter how long you've been in recovery. Many of the books and short stories I write feature people who are in recovery because that's something I know.
Great essay and well written. Thanks so much .
Thanks once again for giving us a piece of yourself. Most people don't understand or should I say have empathy for what an addict endures.
I had weight loss surgery 12/26/2003. This will be 20 years for me! I lost 165 pounds. It was a life changing experience for me. When I am with people who never had to struggle with weight issues and we see someone who is obese/fat, they often say unkind words about the obese person. I then try my best to explain to the thinner person that no one wants to be fat. No one gets fat on purpose. (Dare I say not even today's proponents of "fat is beautiful". I know it is the same with addiction to alcohol, drugs or whatever. People don't wake up and say, "I think I'll become an alcoholic today." If that were so, it would be easy to quit.
I opted for the gastric bypass for just that reason. It's permanent. My stomach is smaller, so it's impossible for me to eat as much as I used to. I get stomach pain if I overdo it. It's still not easy. I've had to come to grips with knowing I'll never be skinny. I will always be over weight by BMI standards. But, I am what I like to consider "normal". I eat like a normal person. I can eat anything, just less. With alcohol and drugs, you can never use those things again. So much harder.
Happily, there is a positive future to look forward to. As you learn more about yourself and regain your confidence, you will be able to build new relationships and build a new and better for you life with your daughter as I have built a new and better life for myself.
It took two failed marriages (a whole other story!) to get to this happy marriage I now enjoy. You can do it one day at a time. . . .
Tears of all the feels and especially the joy I felt in that scene with your daughter. I was captivated by every word. Incredible storytelling Corey and also what immense strength you have 🩵
Corey,
This makes me tear up. As a fellow girl dad, this is what it's all about...we were designed for this!
Thanks for being so vulnerable and sharing your story.
Scene. You are truly beautiful. You are very smart. You know big words and little ones! You weave then together like an intricate silk rug from Persia. Did you know that often 'mistakes' are woven in because only God is perfect? Look for the mistakes but lean into your weave.
Enjoyed reading your words, so powerfully written. Thank the Lord your business here was not finished, so much more to share and I look forward to hearing your stories.
I’m glad you’re still with us.
Another beaut Corey. The pain oozes between the letter and lines, dances over punctuation marks and haunts every idea expressed. Yes, the horrors of "Georgian* Go-Juice" are real, whether consumed as wine or any of its other Medusa-like faces. I have my own sob stories. Interestingly, what most people don't realize is that alcohol is tied forever to the early farmers, which means it is also bound fast to the very roots of western civilization, and, since this region was populated by Caucasians at the time, renders it yet another accomplishment? despicable advancement? (tomato potahto) of white men. Yippee. Keep the faith my brother.
*–wine originated in this region.