By: Marc McMahon

Do you know I was just thinking today that my quality of life right now may quite possibly be better than it ever has before? Definitely better than it has been for the past quarter-century that’s for sure, but I am thinking more like better than it has been ever including my life before my addiction. That speaks volumes to me and to the benefits being clean and sober have to offer. I mean it has given me a whole new life.

It’s like having your life stripped away from you in an instant during the best times of your life. Then having it be given back to you twenty-five years later better than it was before. That is not only a blessing from my God but also one of the great gifts recovery has to offer those of us who struggle with addiction. I am almost besides myself lately at how good things are starting to get. I mean I don’t make very much money on my disability each month yet I am living in abundance.

My bills get paid, I don’t run out of things during the month and if I do I am able to get more and most importantly I have an apartment. My own, and has been for almost two years now that in itself and ask anyone who knows me is a darn Miracle, believe that. Homeless for 22 years now housed for two, sure sounds like a recovery blessing if I ever heard of one. But outside this natural abundance, there is also an abundance in my spiritual life which is far greater and has many more rewards than not running out of coffee :).

It was not all that long ago when I used to wake up outside, cold, wondering how I was going to get a cup of coffee or something to eat. Today, I wake up and drink 3 pots of coffee than make breakfast, a big difference from the past. Today instead of wearing my socks until they smell so bad I have to throw them away I simply wash them! For me that is abundance, the simple things, the things most take for granted but that I now cherish.

It’s just the simple things in life that are making me happy right now like being able to reserve a campsite for my camping trip using my own credit card, and paying for it with legitimate money, not funds that came about through some illegal activity. That is really cool you know what else is really cool? I no longer see the police as my enemy. For years the men in blue were my enemy, only there to wait until my game slips and I make an error so they can swoop in and arrest me. It’s not like that today another gift given to me by my recovery.

I cannot believe I have waited until I was almost 50 years old to start enjoying life, to start to actually have a life. Something I can mold into what I want it to be and live it like every minute is gonna be the last. I have a zest for life today that is incredibly large. I just want to be happy is all and so far recovery has given me that.

If you find you’re struggling with your addiction, unhappy with your life. Maybe you should join me in the land of recovery because all these gifts it is giving me it also has for you, you just have to come receive them. Thank You all for all of your amazing support of me and my blog and may you stay blessed until we meet again, I love you.

About The Author: Marc is a 49-year-old Author, Speaker, and Soldier in a war to loosen the grasp that Substance Abuse has on our society. He is a Father, Son, and friend to all those seeking refuge from this incorrigible disease. Marc resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where he enjoys, writing, hiking, and kicking the disease of addiction in the teeth, every chance he gets. As Marc always likes to say, “be blessed, my friends!”

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