Always Evolving

The really cool thing about this life is that we always have the opportunity to change.  Maybe for a while, you’re a vegan yogi, and then maybe you decide to get married, have a family, and feed them animal protein every night!  And it’s all alright.  Who we want to be, or how we want to act, as long as we are not harming others or ourselves; well, that is a gift we get in this life.  That we get to be exactly who we want to be.

When we’re stuck in the deep trenches of addiction, we stop evolving.  At least, we stop evolving in anything that is good, or that we want our future to hold.  Life isn’t about discovery anymore or excitement.  It’s about how we can get our next fix – who can we lie to, or who can we shakedown for more money.  It doesn’t matter who we hurt, including ourselves, as long as we can feed the hungry, insatiable, screaming addiction inside us.

Sometimes, even after treatment and we are in solid recovery, people that knew us in our addiction treat us as an addicted person, even if we no longer are.  That can be frustrating.  But it also may be something that we need to take responsibility for – to mend the relationships that we ruined while engaging in our addictions.  But sometimes, breaking free from the addicted you that is no longer you can be maddeningly frustrating.

Because once you achieve full and real sobriety, you once again get to decide who you want to be, how you want to act, and you always have the opportunity to change.  You get all of that back – all of that glorious, perfect, freedom.

There is an awesome quote that is bold and brave and fills those who have been in addictions, who are now trying to fix their lives and to move on, with hope.  It says:

“If you know me based on who I was a year ago, you don’t know me at all.  My growth game is strong.  Allow me to reintroduce myself.”

All of us – all of us human beings on this earth; most of us are all afforded the beautiful opportunity to change.  To better ourselves.  To pursue happiness, in whatever manner we choose.

YOU DO, TOO.

Don’t let others push you down, make you small, and try to put you back in the “Addiction You” that is no longer you.  Your “growth game” is strong, and you have every right, just like everyone else, to be who you want to be.  To fight for happiness, to discover your passions, to laugh at the wonder and beauty of life.

We always get to evolve.  Who you are now will very likely be much different than who you are twenty years from now.  And that’s okay – that’s actually very beautiful.  Constantly evolve.  Constantly better yourself.  Constantly surprise yourself – and others.  Live and love freely.  Evolve.  Embrace the beauty and freedom of life without addiction.

You may find yourself often saying, “Allow me to reintroduce myself.  This is who I am now.  And I am proud of it.”