I have never really talked about addiction. I have many people in my life that are addicted to something. Whether that be to alcohol or a variety of drugs; addiction is a nasty disease. I remember the first Al anon meeting I went to when I was 16. All I can remember is the hurt and anger in the women’s eyes that were speaking of years of alcohol abuse pertaining to their significant others. I just remember thinking, I don’t want to feel like that when I get older. I don’t want to resent a person for their addiction.
Now 10 years later and I haven’t went to another Al anon meeting since. That first meeting stuck with me.
Instead of going to meetings I read A LOT. I listen to podcasts about addiction and family. I research about a way to understand. The most recent information that I have retained is acceptance. Accepting the addict. Accepting that each of us is fighting a battle and we may not understand their addiction but we don’t need to fully understand it in order to love them.
Letting go of control and letting God is my biggest challenge these days. I am a fixer. Maybe that’s because now I’m a mom and I just like making everything better. Maybe it’s because I am a bit of a control freak but this doesn’t work with someone who is addicted to a drug. I can’t fix everything. I can’t take on the load of someone else. I have learned that I can love them but I don’t need to fix them.
I’m not sure if any of this even makes sense but I feel like I needed to share this in order to share a piece of me. I hope you all have a lovely Friday and a lovely weekend.
Today is my last day of work at the Law Office and I’m off to paint at a birthday party tomorrow!
xo
Kady