A Shot Glass of Recovery

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Hunter starts with this poignant thought off the top - When I opened up my eyes this morning, I became a grateful alcoholic. And it wasn't always that way. Gratitude, humbleness, all these words that we learn around here that allow me to get out of self, to get into God and to get into others didn't, you know, come easy. Ouch. I got a cat here just bit me real good. I am a blank page right now. You know, I love to talk. I host a big book study. And I have so much what God has done for me inside me. But I guess it's good that I'm drawing a blank. So God grant me the serenity. Yes. I love words like peace, tranquility. You know what I mean? Especially when I'm having a chaotic day and joy just takes over and just erases everything that's going bad in my day. Just, you know, just simple words that you guys gave me in the beginning. You didn't make it too hard when I got here.

I was born in Los Angeles and I couldn't wait to be born, I guess. And on my birth certificate says born in central Washington. To show you that God was doing for me what I couldn't do for herself or do for my mother, when the car stopped, it stopped right at the corner where back in the day, like doctors that worked at General Hospital, they had a house and they had a clinic in front of the living room, right? And a doctor came out and delivered me in the car. And so we're in a program of miracles, right? And so you could say that was basically my first miracle.

I grew up camping, fishing, Boy Scouts, surfing and all kinds of outdoor fun. My dad and uncles were in the service and we had a boat, so those weekends were special even if I mostly cleaned the boat. But my family life was complicated: my mom struggled with alcoholism, my dad was often absent because of school and work, and I learned sneaky, deceitful behaviors early on. My moms alcoholism got worse and there were scary momentslike her falling asleep with a cigarette and the house catching on fire, driving the wrong way on the freeway, and even taking us away without telling my dad.

I started drinking young with the neighborhood kids on the street corner. Our wine was cheapThunderbird, White Port, Silver Satinand that corner taught me more than drinking: sex, stealing, relationships. Later I worked jobs near Skid Row and thats where I thought alcoholics lived. I kept thinking I wasnt that bad because I could still work. I eventually drifted into heavier drinking and drugs; by my late 20s I tried to stop when I found out I was going to be a father, but I couldnt.

Life spiraled: I lost my job as a longshoreman after using on the job, my marriage fell apart, I couch-surfed, and I went in and out of treatment. My moms prayers and her own recovery were the bridge that got me back into recovery rooms. I tried treatment multiple times; sometimes Id leave feeling good and think I could do it on my own. I learned humility the hard way.

I eventually hit bottom and went to full medical detox. In treatment, an H&I panel spoke to metwo men and a woman named Clint, Reggie, and Carolynand something clicked. I asked one of them to be my sponsor. After treatment, I started going to meetings at a home group called AA Solution Seekers and later found a home group in Salem New Life in Conyers, Georgia. I learned the tools: get a sobriety date (mine is October 6, 1991), get a sponsor, work the steps, and find a home group and a trudging buddy.

The turning point for me was a simple act with my sponsor: writing down what Id done the last ten years. That exercise, and honestly, God working in the 2% where my will couldnt hold, took the obsession to drink away. From that moment the temptation lifted and Ive never obsessively wanted to drink again. I learned that recovery isnt about getting people or jobs back; its about a relationship with a power greater than myself.

I share all this because the rooms welcomed me back every time when my family wouldnt, and because I want you to know the tools work. If you like what you hear, subscribe, leave a review, and if youd like to support the show, consider a PayPal contribution at paypal.me/a_shotglassofrecovery. Our speakers come from my AA home group, AA Solution Seekers, we meet every day at 7 a.m. Pop in sometime and say hello. Until next time, thanks for joining me on A Shotglass of Recovery.