March is a month of memories

For the month of March I will write about ways I have been able to achieve recovery.    

From the mid 80's until today I have been fortunate to completely transform my life from one of complete despair to one full of promise and hope.  I have maintained complete abstinence from drugs and alcohol for as little as a day, to, over ten years in the entire time span.    This month, on the 25th, will mark ten years in recovery.  

Through the span of the last ten years I have experienced massive growth in all areas of my life.   I can not discount the over 20 years prior to this span of ten years where I experienced growth and progress to where I am today.   None of it has been without the support of many along the way.   Whether it has been individuals, organizations, or, institutions, without support, I would not be where I am today.   I will take time during this month to write about all of the support I have had and the many ways I have been able to grow in my journey in recovery.

For this writing I am going to go back to the 80's.   It was in the mid 80's, while in the military in Germany that I was first seriously faced with having to look at my use of alcohol and drugs.   I was caught on a piss test and had to go to classes to address my use of hash.    This was interesting because while I was smoking hash, this was NOT what was causing me most of the issues I was having in Germany during this time.   It was my drinking.  Yet, drinking was legal and accepted.  Even though I was just a kid, 17-18 during my span in Germany, and my drinking was way beyond anything I should have been doing, it was my use of Hash that got me in trouble.

I remember one person in particular during this time who was trying his best to help me.  Staff Sergeant Bedard was one of my leaders and he took a vested interest in trying to help me.   I remember him helping me to learn how to budget my finances and balance a check book.   He would stand by my side when I was in the company commanders office for yet another issue related to my behavior when I was drunk out of my mind.    I truly believe to this day that without his compassion and concern for my well being, I would have been medically discharged from the military.   For his support during this time, I am forever grateful.