by Michael Plante

20 Years clean and sober is a milestone for any alcoholic or drug addict. It is understood that the 12-Step Program is a “one-day-at-a-time” concept yet the accumulation of days sober is motivation to progress with the steps and to live a life of serenity. So when a person has accumulated 20 years of sobriety it is noted by those in the 12-step program.

Like many alcoholic or drug addicts, when I first started coming into the 12-step rooms I was astounded by the fact that someone had accumulated 20 years of sobriety. I could hardly ascertain the concept of sobriety. This whole idea that you can live a life without alcohol or narcotics was baffling, and to live life in happiness was impossible. I had been living life in an altered state of mind for so long any other concept was baffling, even one that was right in front of my eyes. So to witness someone with 20 years of sobriety saying that they were happy and living a life in serenity was something I had a challenge with. We’re all happy that they got 20 years of sobriety, yet some of us are pessimistic regarding their claim of happiness and serenity.

Life is meant to be challenging, if it wasn’t we’d be so bored we’d start fighting with each other. Possibly killing each other just to break up the boredom. Our conflict with each other forces us to seek a peaceful conclusion. A resolution that encapsulates peace. If a solution cannot be reached we evaluated the necessity of the resolution, and if it cannot be resolved without physical confrontation we abandon it. We walk away knowing and respecting that we did all we could to resolve the situation peacefully. We did our part, if the other party doesn’t want to show up that is on them. Other aspects of life will challenge us as well. The biggie is financial challenges. It’s probably the number one life challenge we encounter. We accumulate too much debt, or we get let go from our jobs and lose the house, or car, or other possession we hold dear to ourselves. The stresses of financial insecurity is real and can kill sobriety as quick as it can kill serenity. If life is meant to challenge us, then reason dictates there should be a logical reason for it, and resolution to that challenge. An alcoholic or drug addict has found a conclusion to all that troubles them. It works 100 percent in the beginning. It is the altered state of mind called nirvana. It is alcohol or a narcotic of their choice. And it works, but only for a short period of time.

Asking an alcoholic or a drug addict to stop using is like standing in front of a freight train with one hand raised. You’re going to get run over and they’re going to continue on down the track. Its not that we don’t love our family or friends, we’re in an altered state of mind that cannot be convinced there is a bridge ahead of us that has been washed out for many years. Its in our blood and until we hit our bottom there is nothing that can be done to change the course we’re on.

Eventually we crash or die. That is an unfortunate conclusion. The train wreck is long and a total mess. We who live through the crash conclude that we can no longer move forward on that track. So we come to the next station of our lives called the 12-Step Room. We see a lot of conductors there. Some long-timers and some short-timers. All converging to listen and to speak about life and the concept of sobriety. All coming from the same train wreck, all learning how to clean up the mess they’ve created. All doing it one day at a time.

By learning and working the 12-step program we conduct ourselves differently than in the past. We develop a new perception where we are not the center of all things under the sun. The base of serenity is the exclusion of external interference and acceptance of self-awareness, which includes our imperfections. We learn to accept ourselves the way we are, and our desire to help others that want to learn how to clean up their wreckage themselves. We aspirate the process with a little humility and a smile. In doing so we feel a sense of serenity over-come us, and with serenity there is no reason to seek an altered state of mind via alcohol or narcotics. We become sober and happy one day at a time. I’ve done this consecutively now for 7305 days.

I will not go into my past deeply, but to give you a sense of where addiction took me, and how far I’ve traveled in recovery I will disclose this; I drank alcoholically for over 20 years. I did narcotics for the same amount of time. I became homeless bouncing off my mother’s couch from time to time. I started smoking crack cocaine in 2000. I slept under bridges and ate out of garbage cans. I rolled up cigarette butts and started injecting cocaine into my veins before coming into recovery. When I did come into recovery in 2005 I weighed 125 pounds with my bones starting to protrude. Since then I’ve regained weight. My mind has recovered and I re-married. Most of all the desire to “use” has stopped. The insane thinking (or stinking thinking as we say in recovery) has ended. But the best is I’m happy and content with my life. Anybody can be too if they work the 12-step program.

If you are having difficulties with alcohol or narcotics call your local 12-step program or local municipal office. They can direct you to someone, or an organization that can assist you in recovery from addiction. There are many 12-step programs around the world to help including internet meetings. They can show you how to clean up the wreckage of your past when you’re ready.

May the God of your understanding bless you in all that you do.