Family

Family – this is what I cherish more and more each day in my recovery. The support and love I receive from them is immeasurable. It’s odd that the people that cared for me the most are the people that I hurt the most. The people that supported me when others didn’t are the people that I took advantage of. And in particular, my fiance suffered the most.

Lying, emotional blackmail, not living up to my word-these are all actionsI committed towards her. And through it all, she stood by my side. From having my dental license suspended to seeing me wasting days away, she was always there for emotional and financial support. From kind acts such as making me lunch when I worked as a gas station attendant to staying up to greet me after my night shift as a waiter, she never wavered in her love for me. These acts of kindness are hard to do when you live with an alcoholic, especially one in active addiction. But she continued on and was there for me-a true blessing in my life.

And now as I’m nearing 4 years of sobriety,I’m a better man for it. I wakeup every morning excited for what the day brings. Grateful to be working again as a dentist with a renewed passion, a passion one can only feel when his livelihood has been taken away from him. Excited that I no longer have an obsession over alcohol. Blessed to be able to spend time with my family and be there in mind, body, and spirit. And for all this, I owe my deepest gratitude to her. I can never thank her enough-but my actions can.

I can make living amends to her-to be honest, have integrity, be caring and loving, live a life of purpose, and be the best person I can be. I can live my life according to the 12 steps to the best of my ability. I can be the man that I know I can be.

This is where my life is now. Grateful that I’m sober, proud of how I conduct myself, thankful to be alive, and excited for what the future holds. And all of this is possible with my family in my life. And most importantly with the love of my life by my side. I love you, now and forever!!

— A Grateful Recovering Dentist —