Hello all and welcome to my very first blog post! I posted this particular picture because it reminded me of when I first started this journey. There was a painting of a lake and a little docked boat that hung in the in-patient treatment facility where I was residing at the time about 5 years ago. This was not my first treatment center, or even my first time at this particular treatment facility, but I pray that it was my last. I remember this picture standing out to me at the time. I was newly sober, probably a whole 30 days sober, and I was mesmerized by this picture. I had a lot riding on me then. I had completely alienated my family and my friends, had to quit my job, moved out of my apartment, had gotten my 4th DWI, hated myself, and I was back in, yet another treatment center. All I could think about was how badly I wished I could be in this little boat, away from the world, so I could forget about my problems and hope that eventually everything would go away. See, that’s what we do, I do, as an alcoholic. I could never face life without a drink in hand and when things got bad, I just proceeded to drink some more. Now, without the booze to save me, I had nothing but my own thoughts and reality, staring me in the face and all I wanted to do was RUN. I didn’t want to be sober, but I didn’t want to drink. I didn’t know what else to do, so I stayed, which was the best decision on my life. I thank God for those memories of where I used to be and how every part of my life has shaped me into who I am now. I wouldn’t trade the heartaches, the misery, or the despair, for anything in the world. Would I want to relive it? No. But trade it? That would have to be a no too.