hmmm a question

I tell Margaret just about everything. I tell her about people that are "stuck." What I mean, is that the person doesn't respond to advice and never seem to "get better."

She asked me today "How did you get so much better, and others didn't."

The 1st thing I did was become willing to do whatever it takes to get better. I stopped using drugs and alcohol. I got real with myself. I stopped telling myself lies.

I always have to prove myself that I can do something. I am very competitive. In school I had to out do my siblings. I set the bar higher. If they got good grades, I drove myself to get every grade better. I don't know if the competition is healthy, but I had to prove it.

When I got SZA, that gave me more to prove. I wasn't gonna let SZA interfere with my hopes, dreams, and goals.

I had a boss tell me once that I wasn't worth the $.85 an hour he was paying me. That sparked what would I become. I proved to him that I was worth alot more. In the end I worked hard enough to get his job.

Hard work, determination, patience, perservance are the things I needed to start my recovery. I still use those traits to this day.

My life is important. I will never lay down and let my SZA take over. I still have to prove I'm worthy. Mostly to myself.

I believe that everyone can work a good recovery. If I can do it so can't anyone who wants to.

Now that I'm here at this stage of my life, I have to give back to what was given to me. Helping others by sharing my life experiences is so awesome.

I give myself freely. I offer my words and my life to help those in need. I was helped all these years. It's time to help. People helping people.

I am a giver not a taker.

Live well, love always, laugh merrily, learn frequently, listen to the sounds of silence.

Dave