I rcvd the 2nd best birthday gift today. My 1st was being born to my beloved parents.
Found out a few minutes ago that my oldest brother achieved his 1 year of sobriety.
I know first hand what a difficult path it is, As I and my middle brother us 3 all have addictions, addictive behaviours.
My beloved Poppa was an alcoholic most of my life. He mixed alcohol with drugs. Grateful that I got my Poppa back.
His last 5yrs were sober. Fought and beat cancer twice. First colon, then Stage IV lung cancer.
The lung cancer is what caught up to him due to having one lung. He got severe pneumonia back 2014.
With one lung his fight was limited. Had 2 blood clots that caused heart attacks. Then as a family made one of the most difficult collective decisions to date to remove his life support in the ICU.
Being a Priest and Missionary for an Addiction Recovery Program has allowed myself to achieve a sober way of life for 2 decades.
July 31st I will start a new milestone in my life, my 21st yr of sober living.
All Glory, honour goes to God and Jesus Christ. Without them I am nothing.
Another gift from my oldest brother is that within the last 6 months he has become based as HELL!
Awakened to the utter bull shite that has been going on in this nation and world. He shares and puts out some terrifc truths of lies of the DS and fake news.
He lives in California and a stauch conservative. His views have gotten more Christ centered.
Do unto others, to bring peace, joy, and love with whom we interact on a daily basis.
His is FULLY awakened. Drugs and alcohol kept him in a stupor of not given one shite for anything in the world.
Having him woke, based in the truths of the greatest battle of our time, and sober makes his baby brother weep tears of utmost joy.
Truly.......
We We Go 1 We Go All
My brain isn't either, so when I decided Christ was the way I went with abandon. No need to throttle that back and nothing moderate about me now spiritually speaking.
It's incredible to see people waking up to these addictions.
I was stunned to hear that Trump didn't drink alcohol. I wonder how many years of life and brain cells were lost by "geniuses" who achieved high positions in society to only find out that they are being manipulated by the Cabal.
Your last sentence is spot on. Our brains aren't wired for moderation. That is the exact definition of the addictive brain. There isn't an off switch to say stop.
I hear ya fellow Irish man. I am Scottish and Italian as well.... The perfect storm for one having addictive behaviours.
God Bless You and Your family! All of you will remain in my thoughts and prayers..
My 20th year of sobriety will begin on the Sunday before Thanksgiving this year! Bless you. Best life ever. BTW, I'm a 65 year old woman.
Continued Blessings to you Sweet Sister in Christ.
Happy birthday, and what an awesome blessing.
My eyes are leaking now lol.
What great news! God is good! Bless you!
What made you actually quit? I quit smoking a year ago when my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. The dude never smoked cigarettes but always smoked weed so it had to be the tar in that shit.
Anyways, I'm really trying to quit alcohol. I took my first full month off in over 15yrs a few months back. Been really cutting back since then, but with all of my alcoholic siblings and friends it makes it very hard. Not to mention WTF is happening in the US these days, that's my trigger unfortunately.
We really are blessed to live in this country. Nowhere else in the world can you find people so stuck-up people who still love each other lol.
I second these sentiments and would also love to know how you quit if you are willing to share. I’m with ya SticktothePlan regarding the triggers. Congratulations Eion and the others and God bless.
StickToThePlan,
For myself I finally become willing to abstain when the pain of the problem becomes worse than the pain of the solution.
And always waking up feeling like shite. Trying to find my next fix.
Rock bottom is the worst place to be but that's what it takes to "make" yourself quit. What ever the addiction is. Usually health, legal trouble, financial trouble.... One day at a time and prayer works.
There is tar in marijuana, yes. Depending on how it’s consumed, the amount of tar can be reduced, but all the fancy stuff like vaporizers are fairly new bits of tech for most people.
The evidence linking marijuana use directly to lung cancer is weirdly shaky, but I (a non-expert on cancer) tend to defer to the possibility over idiopathic development of lung cancer and tend to advise people to err on the side of safety if they’re worried about it.
Alcohol is super hard to beat due to the fact that you can just go buy it legally from anywhere, and will almost always have people in your life who use it socially with no addiction problems. Even though I am somewhat skeptical of how groups like AA operate, there is enormous value in finding other sober people and using them as a support system. Also, talking to the people close to you about it will help, because they’ll know not to accidentally offer you a drink or pressure you into it.
If you’re looking to actually quit, depending on how much you drink, you may consider chatting with a doctor or therapist about it and getting their take. Alcohol withdrawal can be physically problematic depending on the amount and length of use, and while cold turkey works for some people, it’s not fun and can definitely drive people right back where they started if they aren’t careful.
A group of people who are supporting your sobriety and who you trust to keep you honest is the best thing you can do for yourself.
Best of luck.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Congrats, I know its a tuff battle that many lose. Somthing to be proud of thats for sure. I know what it feels like to always have to worry.
Brother, I hope I'm writing this correctly (it's something I think I've heard the young people say): "Lord Jesus is gonna GET what He paid for..."
HALLELUJAH! Praise God for these victories! THANK YOU for sharing this! Yet another defeat for the enemy & his forces of darkness! GLORY to God! GBY & your loved ones! THANK YOU for being here! Working/serving HIM together, WE MAGA!
Glory be to God! And praise Jesus!
Love this post so much! My baby brother has fallen off the wagon so many times and is still currently drinking today. I hope and pray to be where you and your family are one day soon! God is good every day! Bless you and your sweet family! (I might have something in my eyes now.)
Lalahemingway...
I fully understand where your brother is currently. I struggled for 6.5yrs trying to do it 'On my own'.
The longest tenure of being sober was 1yr. The shortest only 5 minutes after I cried Crocodile tears to my parents that I was done using.
Then proceeded to steal one of my mother's credit cards to get high.
One is nor truly within her/his right mind when one is addicted. One's brain chemistry is altered to which ever substance(s) one chooses to utilize.
Smh, I was not a good person back then. I was filled with darkness and had no relationship with God or Jesus Christ.
I did not believe in either nor the 'other guy' who had me within myself imposed bondage. I used to rail against all things of Light, especially to those who were Christ centered.
I was a complete arse hole. I'd go out of my way to bring my hellish state of mind and life upon them because I was a miserable bass turd back then.
I started with porn at the age of 8yrs, the 4th grade. Started to smoke then too. My addiction increased chasing the various highs my body, mind sought to always increase the dopamine levels in my brain from my addictive choices.
No loved one can 'force' another loved ones choices to become sober. A judge sure in hell can.
My middle brother had 2 options when he wrapped his car around a telephone pole... Jail time or go into treatment which he opted for.
That's when my family had a pseudo wake up moment with our addictive behaviours. My brother was 21 at the time.
To help him with his sober way of living back then the family also had to come clean. Admit how each one of us ie myself, 2 older brothers and my Poppa kept each other stuck.
Of course we all had our agency. As an addict the world was my oyster especially when this brother was also a Coke dealer.
Gd hell crazy wicked times. That was the only time I stopped that particular addiction cold turkey after a huge scare of reality of intense chest pain that scared me straight off of Coke, yet my addict mind and self wasn't ready to embrace sobriety.
I was constantly flipping my addictive behaviours. One NEEDS to find the root cause(s) why.chooses to use. Fix that particular issue within ones life then work on the substances.
I Will pray for your brother and others. God knows His children who need His help. He is no respector of persons. His Love is universal.
All the best you
I hear you and completely understand. My parents enabled my brother's addiction for years while he still lived at home in his early 20s. Now he's nearly 50.
He was sober for about 4 years and turned the addictive behavior to working out. He got buff as hell going to the gym twice a day and literally got to below 9% body fat. For a 6'1" man, he looked odd... like skin stretched over a mass of muscles and bone. Then, he threw out his back. Immediately went back to booze and has been there since for about the last decade.
You're so right about finding the root cause of the behavior. I'm talking with him later on today and will mention our chat here. Thanks for sharing your story and taking the time to chat with me! And congrats again on your brother's news!
Glory be to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Amen
ThanQ for this. Christ is the way. We are all imperfect souls. We all falter one way or the another. We just need to set our sights on HIM.
To have blood brother who is also a spiritual brother must be special. I never had that. God is faithful.
There are a vast # of based, woke clergy through out this great Republic.
Most fly under the radar like I used to be.
No longer, too much evil and darkness is ALLOWED by those who 'preceive' their powers from mankind NOT from a pure Spiritual source i.e. God and His Son Jesus Christ.
God Bless You and Your Family!
What wonderful news!
Happy Birthday Eion! 🎉
Im coming up on 4 years sober...best decision i ever made, just got married she's coming up on 3 years.
Sobriety delivers what alcohol promises.
Keep it up, every day gets easier!
Wow, great sharing. Congratulations and keep being an inspiration to those struggling.
So very proud of your whole family. Americans thrive in the face of adversity. God love you all!
Gods blesssings rain upon you! So happy for you & your brother. I lost my own brother- my best friend -to alcoholism about 15 years ago and it crushed me. So happy you get to experience this with him. I pray you both enjoy old age laughing with each other.
Happy birthday brother from Canadastan!
Happy Birthday to both of you. Wishing you the very best.
Lovely tribute to God, your father and your brother. Glad for you fren. Tonight, we celebrate the goodness of God's grace with you. Blessings.
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
What a wonderful blessing! Congratulations on sobriety, throught Jesus our Saviour we can conquer all. God bless.
Congratulations ! I'm 32 years sober, Jesus stood between me and my next drink for 32 years
AMEN ! ! !
Sobriety is a battle that never ends and requires constant vigilance. Achieving one year is phenomenal. No year is easy, but the first is the hardest. Congratulations to both you and your brother for emerging from another year of battle victorious.
PREACH TRUTH!
Congratulations to all of you! An impossible battle without God and Christ.
Jesus Christ is the way.
Yay! I just celebrated 9 yesterday!
Awesome and Congratulations !
Thank you! We do recover. Its always going to be a daily battle. Gods got us! Congrats to your brother!
Research Ibogaine, which is yet another suppressed cure. Millions have discovered this substance, derived from nature, that can cure addition literally overnight. Of course, it's illegal in the US. I'm living proof.
The best news today! God bless you and may God keep you and your family safe and keep you feeling his love and his presence on a daily basis.
What is it like being a Priest amidst this world of c19 insanity? I’m assuming your order / diocese is following along with the fake gov guidance?
Basilpesto...first my Italian Great Grandmother would love your name as I do.
We've got ALOT of older seniors that make up approx 60% of our congregation. Though our services are live in person many who unfortunately are vaxed still choose to remain home and watch the services thru zoom like links.
The other 30% are families that strive to have some normalcy. The remaining 10% single adults.
I never use the term ' the new normal '. That's hype from the DS and fake news.
I share and testify that Jesus Christ can and does restore LIFE thru His tender graces and Love.
He is the ONLY WAY back to our normal way of Life.
Amen, thanks for not giving into the hype terms like ‘new normal’ … keep it based.