I had such an amazing time at the 2013 Rally4Recovery this past Saturday in Providence, Rhode Island, which I attended with my friends from the New York State Office Of Alcoholism And Substance Abuse Services, that I can hardly believe it was actually real, as opposed to simply a great dream!
Everyone was so polite, happy, cordial, and on the same page as far as keeping the focus on recovery and giving back to those who are still struggling with this terrible disease.
I spent hours walking around the venue – Roger Williams National Memorial Park – and met and snapped photos with so many terrific people, listened and danced to the live music, basked in the sun, and just took in everything that was happening around me.
Of course, addiction does not only affect “regular” people, but the entire world population, and there were many celebrities, who are also in recovery, offering their support to the cause as well.
I spent time with former Rhode Island Congressman & Grand Marshall Patrick Kennedy, former Heavyweight Boxer “Gentleman” Gerry Cooney, and former National Basketball Association star Chris Herren, among others, and they were all as humble, gracious, and just as adamant about lobbying our elected officials to increase public funding to help fight this disease as anyone else who is involved in this field would be.
Being clean and sober myself now for nearly six years has enabled me to see things from a different perspective, and I can say, without a doubt, that life is what we make of it.
The fact that people are inherently good, especially those working to promote recovery from addiction, has reinforced my own feelings on human nature, and that sharing and caring is far better than using and losing!
I, nor anybody else, can ever go back and change our pasts, but at least if I can make a difference in another recovering addicts’ life and help someone suffering from the disease of addiction get better, then I will have been able to take a bad personal situation and use it in a positive way to assist another human being.
Every life is precious, so whether it is the disease of addiction, or any other ailment, don’t we all owe it to one another to be there to lend support?
Think about that the next time you see a man or woman who is having a hard time in life.
Let your conscience guide the way!
