As I sit here next to my wife, watching her start the beginning of what will probably be a long journey, the compassion flows from me. The desire to help her to get better. To feel better. To become herself once again.
And in this moment of compassion, I realize why I come here to try and offer a little help to others who I know are in various stages of a long journey, filled with unknowns and in a lot of cases fear of that unknown.
Whenever we do something new in our lives, we seek out those who have been there. The ones with the experience we need to make it a little more normal when we choose to step on the path of freedom. We look for some clue of what it will be like on a journey that is both confusing and at times one that we’re torn about doing. For that one piece of knowledge that we can grasp onto and hold tightly onto, until we’re through the worst of it.
But I also remember when I was just beginning my journey. It’s a part of my life that I’ve reflected over countless times, perhaps in the hopes of understanding my own addiction. Of understanding what it took to get where I am now, living a life of freedom and peace. A life without slavery to myself. A life that I created a little over six years ago when I happily put out that last cigarette.
I remember being well prepped. My plan was in place and ready to go the moment I put out that last cigarette. Was I apprehensive? Of course I was. I put it out in the evening and knew that the next morning, I’d be seeing a different world. And so the next morning, as I stepped onto the path of freedom, I put on my first patch and walked to the computer, looking for the compassion of others to help me to understand this new world I had just entered.
And I was greeted with incredible support and compassion from those who had been where I was right now. I soaked up the knowledge like a sponge, knowing that not all things mentioned would happen to me, but being prepared for anything.
My world became more normal the moment I logged on for you see, I now understood that the world hadn’t changed at all. It was me that had changed! And I was instantly proud of that change even as the voices of the addict within started to at first whisper to me and then scream at me!
I always strive to remember the hard moments of my quit in the hopes that I might have a little piece of knowledge to share that might make the difference for another. And to always remember the compassion that was shared with me when I needed it most by all the wonderful people that were at EX.
And now that it was a time in my life that I needed a little lift from those that I’ve fought with, I find that the compassion still flows through this wonderful place. That there is no distance when it comes to the heart and soul and as such, everyone is with me every step of the way, even as they were when I quit.
This really is a magical place, filled with a kind of unity that can only come from warriors who have fought an unseen enemy together and shared a time both of joy and hardship with those who seek a moment of clarity at times when clarity is just so hard to see.
For this, I’m thankful and proud to be a part of such an incredible group who together strives to find peace for any that seek it. And in peace comes a new life of freedom and a happiness that might never be there were it not for all of us working together for the common goal of life!
ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!
Chuck
