Blog 383 – 08.23.2016

First, let me say that I am not a teetotaler though I spent most of the first thirty seven years of my life in a group that taught against alcohol, tobacco and a host of other things. One of the first thing I did when I left that group was have a drink and even though I have yet to acquire a taste for it I still have a drink from time to time to remind me that even though some people think something is wrong for you we still each get to decide that for ourselves.

In the sixties rock anthem House of the Risen Sun the lyric goes “…and it’s been the ruin of many a poor boy and God I know I’m one.” They aren’t talking about alcohol but about another rocky temptation that has sunk the ship of  dreams of a many a young man and woman.

Anytime you allow anyone or anything to change the trajectory of your life it is good to stop and take stock and make sure that is direction that you really want to take. You are the captain of your soul, the master of all you survey. To allow anyone or anything else to rob you of that is foolishness.

But just an encouraging word about alcohol. It can be great fun to raise a glass with friends to toast their health and happiness. If you find it next to impossible to have just a glass or two and more and more feel you need to get drunk to “have fun” get help. Don’t let addiction dictate your life. Most all of us have at least one loved one lost in a bottle that we are hoping will not drown there. We all get to as the saying goes, “Pick our own poison.” None of us has a right to judge another or even ourselves. But love hopes all things, believes all things and love can set you free. By all means love yourself enough to never allow anyone or anything to make you a slave.Love is the encouraging word today. Love yourself enough to get help if you have a problem with alcohol.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White