I don’t know how many actually remember reading “The Scarlet Letter“, nor how many have actually read this classic Nathanial Hawthorne novel. It takes place in Boston in the seventeenth century. A woman named Hester was sentenced to wear a large Scarlett Letter on her breast after it was discovered that her child was conceived from having an adulterous affair. She was deemed a sinner, and was publicly displayed as such. As a result, the town would hurl insults to humiliate her for having sinned.

Hester was publicly shamed – socially isolated and alienated for her indiscretion.

Three centuries later, most of us would consider such a public display barbaric – or at the very least uncivilized. I still see plenty of examples, mostly from my kids experience in school with one child’s attempt to shame another in front of their peers. (Remember seeing the “Kick Me” signs on the back of the class nerd?) As adults, we develop a higher sense of self-worth and self confidence in our own abilities that such behavior is no longer necessary.

The act of shaming another person is an attempt to gain power over another. The desire is to alter and shape another’s behavior or belief. It’s a way to communicate who is the outcast and who are the elite. Who is down-and-out and who is one-up. It produces an immense sense of power and control for the person dishing out the insults – using the other as a punching bag – while deflating the self-esteem and self-worth of the person being shamed.

I’ve never bought into shaming another person as a form of control – it’s just not something that I believe is effective or worthwhile. My recovery from alcoholism 20 years ago enabled me to develop a higher standard of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-confidence. My recovery also changed my perspective when dealing with individuals who attempt to shame others.

It was during that time I found they were the ones who are weak and insecure – not the other way around.

Think about it – if your position and confidence resided where you felt secure there wouldn’t be a need to fill any type of void by stepping on someone else to prop yourself up. Likewise, there wouldn’t even be a need to respond because your own experience and beliefs override any outside attempts to change that belief.

You’d already be whole or complete.

Seeing random acts of humiliating and alienating has increased for me over the last few years. In part, because I’m involved in a very emotional industry which provides average people an opportunity to run a home based business. On the one side, these same average individuals see an opportunity to get themselves out from under the bottom of the pyramid known as traditional business. (Starting at the bottom and never finding a way to work their way up the ladder, or pyramid.) On the other side, you find those who have either failed themselves in a short stint with MLM, or have bought into all the myths and stereotypes they find from reading.

A simple observation will quickly form the conclusion that those who have the least experience on either side are by far the ones who are the loudest and most obnoxious. Why? They don’t have enough experience or documentation to fall back on to support their beliefs or convictions.

Look at Coach, Scott, and Kim. All three have been extremely successful in MLM and their experiences extend back to the early 1980’s with A.L. Williams. Attempting to insert any of the myths, rumors, or stereotypes about MLM into their belief system is like trying to tell YOU the sky is purple. The opposition can jump up and down – scream at the top of their lungs – provide example of others who also think the sky is purple but you’re not going to budge. All those years of looking up to the sky and seeing blue simply can’t be overwritten or changed.

Think that example is oversimplified or outrageous? Possibly – for you. But those of us who’ve been a part of this industry and work it the right way know exactly what I mean. It’s something you can’t explain – like how kids will change your life. You have to experience it to realize the importance or relevance.

I was talking with my father last week about all the egg tossing and mudslinging that I see others get so wrapped up in. He told me he sees it all around us, and is thankful that he’s somewhat isolated now with my younger brother on their farm up in Pittsburgh. While my father is now retired, he still writes and teaches to keep himself occupied during the winter months on the farm. He sent out a publication to his subscriber base yesterday (of which I am a part of) and this one paragraph struck a chord with me after our conversation last week.

I know that rancor and incivility has existed before in the history of this nation’s politics. But seldom if ever has it been in the ugly stalemate we now experience. Neither major party will allow the other party to press any part of its agenda. Senators who argue vociferously on the floor of congress no longer later sit down to lunch or dinner with their other-party colleagues. The scene is ugly and disappointing.

Ugly and disappointing is something our entire Country appears to be trapped in right now. Incivility certainly isn’t reserved for critics of YTB or MLM. It’s a trait that’s been learned and developed throughout the years that frankly, like my father, makes me sick to my stomach. How humans can treat other humans in this fashion is deplorable and unconscionable. For someone to demand respect or a voice by using these tactics goes beyond any boundaries I’ve ever known. It’s a big reason why I have the rules that I do on this blog.

I’ve spent years documenting about my experience and what I know to be true about YTB and MLM here on this blog. You don’t have to agree with it or even read it if it bothers you. But it does have boundaries for those who are incapable of being civil or rational. It’s simply not a trait I’ve been willing to tolerate since I started this blog – and I’m certainly not going to change that position now.

For the life of me, I can’t think of a single example of how insults or humiliation changed or resolved anything. All it did was heighten emotions, not logic. You’d think some would get that. But as we’ve seen – even the brightest, most talented, most promising of individuals fall woefully short of reaching any resolution because they’re just too wrapped up in their own egos.

We can only hope (and pray) that someday they might grow up to become confident, respectable adults.

You never know…it could happen.

In the meantime, just put these people aside and focus on the things you can control and find enjoyable. There’s no pleasure or knowledge in reading insults.

If I can do it, so can you, and you’ll never know how much better life can be until you actually let it all go.

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Do You ZamZuu?

Remember those goals we wrote about at the beginning of the year? Just wanted to do a little check up with you on how they’re going.

As January comes to a close next week we’re coming up on the time of year when the fitness clubs start to thin out, McD0nald’s and other fast food service restaurants begin to see an increase in profits, and sales for Nicorette gums and patches drop way down. It’s much more noticeable this time of year because everyone comes into the new year with a bang, only to fade off weeks later and go back to a comfort zone they’re familiar with.

If you’re in the Network Marketing or Direct Sales industry, you see this kind of thing all year long. That’s why I never get too disappointed when someone tells me no, nor do I get too excited when they say yes and sign up. You learn very quickly that talk is cheap.

Those who have a big enough “why” however, have a much better chance to achieve the goals they’ve set out before them. My grandfather for example had two heart attacks and a mild stroke when I was young. After his second heart attack, the doctor told him he’d never be able to more than walk the dog around the block for the rest of his life. He was in his 40’s at the time, and that’s all he needed to hear in order to quit smoking cold turkey and start exercising.

When I was 16, the two of us rode together on a 50 mile bike ride. (And I was the one who struggled.)

He’s 90 this year, and still walks to the grocery store, the doctor – dentist – and various other locations to keep him active.

He had a big why.

I got into this industry for a pretty big why too.

Security.

See, both Ronda and I had been burned far too many times in the corporate world. Four months after our son Brian was born, Ronda was laid off at Bellsouth after 6 years of service. I had been in the golf industry with a very large company who filed bankruptcy. I then moved to wire and cable with a company who was shut down by the Securities and Exchange Commission for fraud. (Cooking the books.) I worked for Gateway for a short time in their stores before they closed them and went into the big box stores. And my last stint in traditional business was a company called Hi-Fi Buys which I got out of when rumors started to surface about bankruptcy. (Which they eventually did.)

I’ve been with YTB for 5 years now – which is longer than all those other companies combined.

What YTB did for me was teach me how to be self sufficient. It’s also given me an incredible amount of self confidence. One of the reasons I’ve stuck with the company even with all the doom and gloom I use to hear about – I have the tools, mindset, and skills today to not only survive – but thrive on my own.

I never would have learned all that if I didn’t have a big enough why.

My peers at the time, the companies I worked for, nor did any schools teach me anything about being in business for myself. It wasn’t until I got around others like Coach, my Directors, and other Network Marketers that I needed to think about a company called “You, Inc.”

“You, Inc.”, has taught me how to look at a problem and come up with a solution to solve that problem. Look at my newsletter – now with thousands of subscribers. All started because I was smart enough to see a solution to a communication problem. I look at the market, realize what it needs, and offer services and products that cater to that market. It’s built trust and stability for me that I just couldn’t get in the corporate world.

All because I had a big enough why.

Even with all the ups and downs that YTB has had over the years – it’s a far better alternative and much more rewarding than working in the corporate rat race.

Find your why and you’ll have the same passion and stability. It won’t necessarily make the road less difficult, but it will give you the extra burst to break through to the other side to realize the rewards of the goals you’ve set.

Opportunity will knock for those who are ready, willing, and have a big enough why.

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Do You ZamZuu?

As I think back to my early childhood, there are a couple of events that I can recall. One of them was watching Armstrong land on the moon. The other was a year prior. The day Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. I think one of the reasons I remember the faint flicker on the television, was because the news interrupted the celebration of my fourth birthday.

April 4, 1968

I don’t really recall anything else growing up as a child concerning the Civil Rights Movement. The now famous “I Have A Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial was 8 months before I was even born. Nor did I have any knowledge of the type of segregation or prejudice that existed in our Country. It wasn’t until I reached my Middle School and High School years that I became aware of the Movement as a history lesson – not experience.

I always think about that flicker on the television this time of year. How peaceful Dr. King was. How violent others were. And yet, how he was able to change history. Two score and six years ago, there was a peaceful march in Washington to speak up and say:

“We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.“

Nineteen sixty-three was not an end, but a beginning. There was neither rest nor tranquility in it’s pursuit. Because of one man’s undeniable dream, others followed long after he was gone to produce a true American Triumph for this Country. 

I took some time to read Dr. Kings “I Have A Dream” speech yesterday. How the Civil Rights Movement challenged “that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” – and realize how he had won.

At the same time I read the text, I couldn’t help but think of the prejudice and bigotry that exists for those of us who work in the MLM industry. How people I know and love are ostracized, ridiculed, and spit at with insults simply because they work in MLM. I looked at Dr. Kings words and could feel the frustration of knowing what is right and just – yet the power within him to deny the frustration and insist that there could be change.

Peaceful change.

Along with being a student of the Travel Industry the last few years, I’ve also become a student of the Network Marketing industry. What I’ve come to know without a doubt, is MLM is full of theories and myths. Theories are great, but they don’t mean a thing if they’re not practical.

Or even worse – dis-proven.

One of the best “theories” I know of is this myth about running out of people – that MLM can’t be sustained. I can’t tell you how many times this graph showing the “unsustainable exponential progression of a classic pyramid scheme” is thrown up in my face.

True, the math is correct. Also true, the theory exceeds the world’s population.

Therefore, it should also be true that we should be able to find an example of when it’s actually happened.

But where?

Not only has it never happened, an MLM that’s been around since 1886 is STILL able to sustain itself by sharing the business with friends, family, and acquaintances. You just might have heard them. They changed their name in 1939 to AVON. Then add in an Association that supports and defends the Network Marketing model that’s celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this year. (Created in 1910 as the DSA.) The Direct Selling Association protects and serves another 200 companies who use Direct Sales as a model.

So why do so many use theory that’s not only never happened but proven invalid?

We often think of the fight against prejudice when we think of the Civil Rights Movement. I looked up the word last night and here’s the definition:

an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.

More times than not, that’s exactly what we see when it comes to MLM and Network Marketing. Some were shown this unsustainable graph and without any knowledge of the history behind Avon, Fuller Brush, Tupperware, Mary Kay, and a host of others, they accept it as fact instead of just a theory. Most all staunch critics or cynics of the industry merely come from prior programming like this. And because prejudice comes without thought or reason, it can be extremely difficult to extract the weeds that are now overgrown and choke the sunlight needed to help them grow.

Another word we often think of concerning the struggle of the Civil Right Movement is bigotry. And yes, I looked for a definition of this word as well.

stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one’s own.

I don’t know about you…but boy does that strike a cord with me when you look at the insults, the spitting, the dirt digging and the childish pranks that critics and cynics have pulled over the years. If I had a dime for every time I’ve heard that I need to find another host, what a scammer, a liar, and not so proud member of the dumbass den I am – I wouldn’t need MLM.

I’d be independently wealthy.

Yes, it’s frustrating to read the words of a bigot, especially when you’re the one who has the relationship with their subjects at hand and not them. But remember these words when you see the emotional outburst and anger that are evident on the various blogs and boards concerning our company, our Founders, and our people.

In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

Some try to confuse and muddy discipline with bigotry. It angers and frustrates a bigot that their differing views and opinions have boundaries – that they can’t be heard or express their intolerance everywhere and anywhere. A big reason why I am the subject of much of bitterness and hatred they have.

I fight intolerance and differing creeds with silence. And that’s the worst thing you can do in the eyes of a bigot, because their self worth is tied to their beliefs which need to be heard in order to be valid. Otherwise, like the theories they spit out become invalid.

I’m no Martin Luther King – and I don’t have the fraction of the following or voice that he had. But I can pass his message on, especially on a day like today to help us continue the fight “that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

For me, that includes a dream that I have a right to pursue and promote my YTB business without ridicule, insults, or slander.

Sounds like a long shot I know. But so did the Civil Rights Movement when Dr. King spoke on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial having no idea that 45 years later his Dream would realize a true American Triumph.

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Do You ZamZuu?

I had the following story forwarded to me this weekend by one of my subscribers. I have no idea who the author is, or it’s origins. Heck, I don’t even know if it’s true or not. (Although if it isn’t – it should be.)

If you do an internet search on this piece you’ll find pages and pages of this piece – my guess is because it’s touched a lot of lives. My hope is that’s exactly what it does for you.

Change Your Thinking

It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking.

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room’s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity an color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.

Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.

‘Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.’

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Do You ZamZuu?

I promise I’ll get back to our regular scheduled posts starting next week. I’ve been enjoying my time with family the last two weeks, and honestly, don’t want anything to take away from this current experience. We’re having a blast!

I do however, want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Not only is this the beginning of a new year, but a new decade to boot!

That being said, it’s the time of year when just about everybody makes New Years Resolutions.

Problem? Most couldn’t tell you what resolutions they made last year at this time, let alone change anything in their life during the last year.

Those who fail to plan – plan to fail.

Think about it. You don’t take a trek across the country without a road map do you? You don’t build a house without a set of blueprints, right? Heck, as much as it pains me to say this – being a guy and all – my son and I broke out the directions for the gigantic Lego set he got for Christmas.

We couldn’t have created this massive police and fire station without it.

So why don’t most people follow a plan in life? Most I suspect, simply don’t know how. It’s not something that’s really taught in school or by most peers.

Good friend, President and COO of YTB Marketing, Andy Cauthen, has been helping those of us who plug into his GoodDay@ytb.com column with some great tips and ideas on planning and goal setting. It shouldn’t surprise you that each of our Founders and Corporate Executives consider themselves in part “students” and they’re always looking for ways to improve and expand personally and professionally.

The beauty of it is – like everything else in our company, we share what we find in hopes that it can inspire and benefit others. (Another one of those traits found in MLM that Traditional Business should expand on.)

So here it is…76 tips on goal setting. Not only the WHY – but the HOW in turning your goals into something measurable and tangible.

The reason I like this short piece so much? It’s a real time saver. What Andy has done is take the best of the best from the literally thousands of books, programs and seminars out there dedicated to goal setting and condensed it into one concise and instructive article. It’s one of his key attributes and why the company values him the way they do. (Well, that and an outrageous sense of humor.)

So what do you say? Are you going to create a plan for 2010 – or are you just going to keep driving because you’re to proud to ask for directions? (By the way – guilty as charged when it comes asking for directions.)

But when it comes to a plan in life…since I found most of these tips years ago, I expand on my list and my plan each and every year.

I can tell you from personal experience…when done right, it truly works.

Happy New Year!

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Do You ZamZuu?

If you’re into learning and personal development (which we all should be – unless you’re one of those who think you know everything) the name Jim Rohn is probably a name you’ve heard of in a long list of teachers and philosophers during your journey. If your lucky, you have one of his books, tapes, CD’s, or DVD’s in your collection. If not – you most certainly should.

I just got word that Jim passed away on December 5th after an 18 month long battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis.

I was introduced to Jim many – many years ago just after I dropped out of college and started to break into the radio industry. After landing an internship with a local Top 40 station in Pittsburgh, a 20 year veteran took me under his wing in the industry. It was this same veteran that not only helped me master the craft of radio and audio editing, but this mentor was also responsible for introducing me to a company called Nightingale Conant. It was Nightingale Conant that turned me onto Anthony Robins, Earl Nightingale, Brian Tracy, Dale Carnegie and yes – Jim Rohn.

Jim Rohn has produced dozens of books, audio tapes and CD’s, videos and DVD’s and seminars. I still have some of his old tapes around the house. Many of them have since been torn up or broken because I flat out wore them out. Because I chose to listen to these tapes in the car while transporting myself to remote stations to polish my craft, I found myself being offered and breaking into larger and larger markets. Jim was instrumental in my journey and progression in the radio industry. Jim was even partly responsible for my decision to go back to school years later, when I was older, wiser, and ready to study. (Thanks to what he taught.)

It wasn’t until I got involved with YTB and the MLM industry back in 2005 that I actually saw the impact Jim had on so many lives. One of the reasons I appreciate the Network Marketing industry as much as I do is because just about everyone you come across in this industry also absorbs personal development and professional growth books like Jim’s. Many not only know the name Jim Rohn – but often quote many of his classic one liners and teachings that are so practical from this highly regarded and loved “Business Philosopher”.

Thing is, Jim Rohn didn’t really teach MLM, marketing or sales stuff. Although the foundation of MLM is helping other people either achieve or get what they want is a philosophy that Jim taught. His words however, were more common sense approaches to making yourself a better person. Jim was also really big on increasing your value in the marketplace. Those involved in MLM appreciate how important it is to learn and grow – and the industry certainly supports those who take the time to educate and learn on their own.

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”
~ Jim Rohn

Jim has helped millions set their sails with knowledge and understanding. When the winds appear to pick up or change direction, the ones who have learned to stay the course are usually the ones who succeed in this life.

Jim had five major “Pieces To the Life Puzzle”.

• Philosophy – how you think
• Attitude – how you feel
• Action – what you do
• Results – measure often to see if you are making progress
• Lifestyle – the kind of life you can make for yourself out of the first four pieces

Master these and watch your life change drastically – for the better.

I’m still a work in progress, but thanks to Jim and his teachings – I’ve accomplished far more with being introduced to him than I would have without him. His words and ideas make me a better person – and for that I am grateful.

We lost a good one this weekend. Although I never actually met the man, his tapes enabled me to learn much about him and I felt like he was a friend. I’m sad to see him gone, but his books, CD’s and DVD’s will live on forever.

He left this world a far better place because of it.

Thank you Jim. You always led by example that helping people was were it was at – and you certainly helped me in more was than you will ever know.

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I was looking over my schedule last night for today’s to-do’s. Like a brick – it suddenly hit me.

20 years ago today, October 15, 1989 I was sitting in a bar watching my Pittsburgh Steelers beat up on Bernie Kosar and the Cleveland Browns. After the game I walked across the street to my local AA Home Group, drunk. It was there I stood up and announced that I would be going into Rehab the next day and I would be back in 4 weeks clean and sober.

Little did I realize at the time that I wouldn’t pick up another drink or drug for the next 20 years. To even speculate something like that was far to immense.

If there’s one thing I can think of that’s kept me from picking up all these years – it’s the battle I endured while in detox the first couple of days in Rehab. I can still remember the cold sweats, the shaking, and the craving for a drink like it was yesterday. It’s something I’ll never forget. (And something I’m not willing to go through again.)

I was a functioning alcoholic. I drank from the time I woke up to the time I passed out at night. I didn’t do anything without a beer in my hand and when I sobered up, I had to re-learn everything – this time sober. It was like my right arm had been chopped off and I had no clue how to do anything without the aid of a beer in hand.

1989 was my second shot at rehab. I went for all the wrong reasons 3 1/2 years earlier for my parents who gave me an ultimatum early in 1986. However, I had just turned 21 the year before, and I certainly had no intent of giving up alcohol at that time. I “managed” my drinking for a while, but was soon back to the same ol’ same old when I finally called it quits just 3 1/2 years later.

I was also a very mean drunk. You didn’t want to mess with me back then – or even kid with me. Look at me the wrong way, and I’d find a way to make you’re life pure hell. I damaged a lot of relationships back then.

Thanks to AA and the 12 step program I still use to this day in my everyday life, I made amends to those I hurt and today, I have great relationships with family and old friends. While the 12 Step Program was designed and created for alcoholics – the same steps are used today for gambling, food disorders, even sexual additions that destroy your own quality of life as well as others.

Some say people can never change. I’m living proof that you can. The trick is a willingness to change. You can’t do it for someone else, you can’t do it for superficial motives, and you can’t do it under your own conditions. Change means just that, and when someone makes a drastic change like drinking it’s a whole new way of thinking, acting, and doing.

Life isn’t perfect now that I’m sober. I still have my share of problems and adversity. Because of my experience and the ability to use the tools I acquired during my recovery, I’m far better equipped to handle the challenges that life throws my way. I’ve learned to trust my own instincts and do what’s best for me and my family regardless of how difficult of bad it might look to others. Most importantly, I learned who I need listen to, and who needs to be taken with a grain of salt when it comes to dealing with the problems that arise.

If someone tells you what they think – you can take it or leave it. But if someone tells you something from experience – you better listen.

Because I live my life sober today, I handle and deal with life much differently. I look at things rationally and logically without the cloud of alcohol or drugs. I also deal with issues instead of trying to hide from them or drown them in alcohol. It may not be comfortable, and it may not turn out exactly the way I want, but with every adversity and challenge there is a lesson to be learned which I grow from and makes me a better person.

Micheal Keaton stared in “Clean and Sober” back in 1988. I rented the movie just before I went into rehab. I have to admit, it was a tough movie for me to watch. I hit home on so many levels and is by far the most authentic depiction of the struggles of addiction and getting clean. As the credits rolled at the end of the movie the song Domino, by Van Morrison played. I remember sitting there, stunned at the course of my life at that time.

The morning I drove up to the rehab center, where I would be spending the next 28 days, Domino came up on the radio as we entered the driveway. I asked if I could sit there and listen to the song for a minute as I thought about what I was about to experience and if this song playing at this time had any special meaning for me.

I can tell you that 20 years later, it still does.

I can’t remember the last time I wanted to pick up a drink. It’s just not an option for me. But I don’t think there’s a day that goes by without thinking about being a recovering alcoholic. It’s not something that I need to hide from – or feel compelled to force down anyone’s throat. It’s a choice I made for myself. I have family members and friends who are able to drink responsibly and I’m certainly not going to allow normal behavior or responsibility force me into hiding or prohibit me from living a normal life. I’ve learned to co-exist with alcohol just as long as it’s not consumed by me.

Sobriety has taught me tolerance – it’s given me strength and wisdom – and it’s change my whole outlook on life. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. If you would have told me back then however, that I would writing something like this today, I don’t know if I would have believed you.

But here I am…clean and sober for 20 years. And all it took was one day at a time.

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