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By Tyler McCarthy
It usually happens over time, but sometimes, it happens in a single moment. Seeing the lights come on in a recovering drug-addicts eyes is a beautiful thing. Their newly grateful, accepting, and purposeful attitude towards life is somewhat surreal. They carry themselves differently, talk with more confidence and are generally a joy to be around. Even on the more stressful days, these moments and memories are one of the reasons I thoroughly enjoy working in treatment.
Some days are different, though. While working a late shift, I received a phone call that an ex-client had overdosed and was in critical condition. He passed away two days later. An event of this magnitude breaks hearts and effects entire communities in multiple cities. Questions crop up in everyone’s minds. “Could I have done more?” “Am I reaching out enough?” Most of the time, we have done everything we could.
When news like this spreads, people are saddened and distraught, but a chain reaction occurs and the unexpected happens. A copious amount of love comes out of the woodwork. People do not want anything more than help, asking nothing more in return besides the comfort of togetherness. We reach out to old friends and acquaintances, ones who are struggling and ones who are fighting this disease. Love, a new found feeling for myself and others recovering from the disease of alcoholism, gives us something to live for, to strive for, and to hope for.
“The beauty found in recovery will outshine the tragedy tenfold, as long as you seek it,” — a promise made to me when I was newly sober, and it still rings true.