You awesome man. Great to hear from you, and great to know you are still enjoying your life.
I am sure you have inspired a lot of people along the way with your story. The next thing I want to do is Crete anprogram for high school kids. They desperately need something that works.

Big hugs to you! Keep in touch,

Wendi

I’ve got a ton of comments, I could write a book of my own…here are a few thoughts.

But here’s a different angle. Why has there been so little in terms of being able to treat addictions?

Answer: no one cares.

That may sound cynical, sure the affected people do care. What I mean is, the people that make the money.

Who would fund some research in this area? Why would someone create grant money for that? Who really cares. There aren’t a lot of vested interests here.

The victims are collateral damage to the economic engine that runs the country. (so I’m not a bleeding heart socialist…actually I’ve got 2 business degrees and run a business)

Think about it. Let’s just take alcohol. The government make a ton of money on it via taxes (especially in places like Canada) They even control the distribution. The advertising money spent is obscene. They buy media…TV, newspapers, radio etc. That money has a multiplier effect on our economy.

Take that whole argument down that path…obviously I could go on. You finish the job on your own.

I’m 9 months sober. With the help of AA. I got Wendi’s free alcohol program a while back. Listened a couple times. Didn’t work.

I’m not blaming the program at all. Perhaps I didn’t use it properly, or long enough or whatever.

btw I’m also a certified hypnotherapist and Master NLP practitioner. Long time student of spiritual principles, A course in Miracles etc etc. Still went down the wrong road.

At the moment, with respect to AA, I feel like the hypocritical Catholic…”sure I’m Catholic, I just choose to ignore those little things about premarital sex and birth control”.

For example, I struggle to accept the AA premise about being powerless over alcohol. My workaround is to say to myself that my “ego” is powerless, but since I’m an incarnation of something larger i.e universal spirit…that part certainly, the real me, isn’t powerless.

It isn’t a perfect fit…but it’s working for now.

While I’m at it, a couple more thoughts.

AA is like using dynamite to kill a rat. It’s not efficient but it’s effective (yeah I know the stats). What I mean is it’s the broadest possible approach to cover as many bases as possible.

Sure almost always alcohol abuse is a symptom of other underlying issues.

Maybe many folks could learn to become social drinkers. But to be safe it’s easier to just say…don’t take that first drink…ever. That covers everyone. (You won’t hear that at an AA meeting)

I’ve NEVER heard that relapse is part of recovery. You almost get guilted in to staying…counting birthdays, having parties etc etc. People slip and don’t come back because of shame…maybe it’s different in your part of the world.

Someone who hasn’t been there and experience it themselves will never have 100% credibility…sorry Wendi, nothing personal or malicious meant.

It’s like knowing “about” what an orange tastes like versus actually tasting it.

All this sounds good, especially to someone on the outside, it makes perfect sense. But they are just words.

How could someone with my knowledge and skillset still end up down this road?

Good question.

Another thing. AA is like anything else. You go to high school. There are drugs there. You can choose to take part or not. Same with AA. Sure there are some folks who continue to whine and struggle for years. But there are those who are positive, happy, successful…You can choose to take part or not. You don’t have to be living in the past and beating yourself up forever just because you are involved with AA.

I like to ask this question. Do you like being sober? Or do you hate being drunk? Your answer may very well determine your success in reaching and keeping sobriety.

And the great obsession of every drunk is to be able to drink like “normal” people.

Is that a possible outcome or is your program designed for a lifetime of abstinence?

As always, my mind is wide open, and look forward to what you plan to bring to the table Wendi.

That was a long and winding road..phew!

Feel like I just left a meeting

Take care folks.

Sean

Thanks for the wonderful work you are doing and for the lives you are touching. I am a hypnotherapist and I had a life changing experience in assisting my daughter with the release of her heroine addiction. She did not attend AA or NA. She did not go to rehab. She changed her mind and in turn….her life changed as well. I feel there is a new sense of awareness coming to the surface around addiction. It is not a life sentence, it is not a disease……it doesn’t have to cost tens of thousands of dollars to relinquish the experience known as “addiction”. Resources such as yours are putting light beams of hope out to the masses and in turn lives are being changed and SAVED! I applaud those who have recovered via AA, NA or rehab as well. Frankly, I am happy for anyone experiencing an addiction who finds the source of change that works for them! You are a lighthouse, Wendi….. for those wanting to come in from the dark sea of addiction.