Dear Mom and Dad,
I wish you hadn’t enabled me so much; I wouldn’t be in Heaven right now. I’m getting along fairly well; God is a pretty nice guy. It’s beautiful here, but I miss my home and my family.
I’m sorry for the pain I caused you. Just know that I’m okay, I’m free from the misery of my addiction. I know you did all you could, but maybe you did a little too much, you enabled me to death. But I no longer blame you, God has taught me to forgive. I ask that you forgive me as I await your arrival up here in Heaven. I think you’ll like it here; it’s beautiful and the people are so nice.
Take care and say hi to everyone. I miss you and I’ll see you soon. I love you. Thanks for everything.
Love, Your Son
P.S. I hate what my addiction did to all of us. I hope you will spread the news of how bad it is, so that my death is not in vain. Although it’s beautiful here, no one should get here before their time. You miss a lot of good things God has planned.
God told me to write this book. He gave me the inspiration and the words to write, therefore, I believe it is God who wrote this book. I was just the vessel he used to channel his thoughts on to paper. And for that I am honored and privileged.
“Enable Me To Death” took life after my experience with countless individuals and the families whose lives have been turned upside down because of alcohol and drug addiction.
I have been in the addiction treatment industry for well over a decade and just when you think you know or have heard it all, you realize you do not and have not. Drug addicts and alcoholics are by far some of the most charismatic, talented, creative, sensitive and intelligent people I know. It is when they are in their active addiction that all of their beautiful characteristic traits fall by the wayside, oftentimes turning themselves into people we hardly know or recognize.
The world of addiction can be very, very sad, not only for the addicted one, but for their families as well. I would imagine if you’re reading this book, your life has somehow entered the world of addiction. I don’t know if I want to say I’m sorry, but I guess I should, so I’m sorry for the struggles you may be going through, I know how difficult it can be. Yet, I want to encourage you and offer you hope.
For often we change our perception about addiction; the good, the bad and the ugly, will take on a new meaning, a new outlook. You will begin to realize that all things, however bad they may seem, work together for good.
It may be hard to understand that there is anything good about addiction, but I will tell you this, I have seen more miracles in the last 10 years, than I witnessed the prior 40 years of my life.
Yes, addicts can be heartbreaking, God, do I know, yet I have found that each one of them has served a purpose on this earth. For the ones that have died well before their time, their lives have encouraged that many more to live.
I wanted to write a book that wasn’t so clinical, but rather reader friendly. There are many books written on enabling, but most are boring and difficult to read. Then of course, there are the workbooks that prompt you to answer questions that you really don’t care about or understand.
So it is my intention to present you with a different type of book, one I hope you will enjoy and benefit from. This book contains 27 short stories. Each chapter begins with the addict talking. I have tried to put their thoughts into words, so that you have a greater understanding of how their minds work. Those thoughts, if you will, are followed by metaphorical, thought provoking, short creative stories that I believe will touch your heart.
This is what I’m trying to say – many of the books written on the subject are sterile, or too clinical, many of these books ask too much of you. This is not what this book is. In fact, it’s completely the opposite. This book is written from the heart, my heart to yours.
I look at life, perhaps differently than others. I have always viewed life as art.
Now I’m not taking the seriousness away from the problem of addiction, because it is a problem. I know that and so do you. I have just found that so many families confronted with the problem are lost and don’t have a clue of not only what to do, but have no understanding of the addict’s mind and their thoughts, much less their own role in the problem.
So when God inspired me to write this book, the only prerequisite was that it be from the heart. There is some clinical talk that you will read inside the book, but you will understand it, hopefully more than you ever have.
While reading, the words alcoholic or addict are interchangeable, meaning that you can substitute one for the other if you wish to make the story more relative to your situation. Alcohol is a drug. Drugs are drugs, so be it alcoholic or addict, the words are different, the meaning is the same.
There is no work for you to do in this book, no questions that are asked of you, just easy reading. Some stories will make you laugh a little, while others will make you cry. Some die in this book, while others live. But I believe no death is in vain and that all addict’s lives are on purpose.
Addiction becomes a matter of perception. When we change our perception, we will understand and be able to accept not only death, but we are able to embrace life more fully.
I know you are either going through or have been through a lot. It is not my intention to throw you under the bus, put you down or hurt you any more than you already have been or are. My intention is for you to learn. I want you to learn to understand the world of addiction, the addicts mind; and I want you to learn how to recognize your part in the problem. You may be saying, “My part? You don’t know what I’ve been through.” But the fact is I do. I’ve acknowledged that.
Again, when your perceptions change, so will the way you view your situation. This is not a bad thing, but knowledge becomes power; therefore, it is knowledge that you need to acquire the power you deserve.
I may not know you, but I will tell you, I love you. I know you are a special person, because only special people are invited into the world of addiction. Only strong people enter this world. People with a purpose, a destiny, and a tenacious beautiful heart.
I know this because I have been both the enabler and the addict, so I can speak from experience. Experience is life’s great teacher. And although I have been through school and have a doctorate and other degrees pertaining to addiction, nothing was proved more valuable than my experience.
Experience has taught me to embrace myself with all of my attributes and all of my faults. And that is what I want to encourage you to do. Consider this book just a personal letter from me to you.
Consider me a friend, someone who cares deeply about you, your loved ones and your lives. That’s really where I’m coming from, that’s what God told me to do and I have tried diligently with all my heart to come across that way.
So please, enjoy the following 27 short stories; learn what you can and leave the rest.
We will connect again at the end of the book, as I have some final thoughts and will answer some of the inevitable questions you may have.
Thank you, dear friend, for allowing me into your world for this short time. I hope I can return the favor by becoming a blessing, a person who understands some of what you have or are going through.
See ya at the end – although my friend, you may find that the end represents new beginnings. God bless you.
The post Enable Me To Death | Book Intro appeared first on Laguna Beach Recovery.