In honour of Father’s Day, we spoke to some of our clients to see what this day symbolized for them. Even though they weren’t able to celebrate Father’s Day with their families this year, they were optimistic and knew it was for the best.
Father’s Day #1
My grandfather lived in active addiction his entire life. My father also lived a life in addiction until he was 72. However, my father has now been successfully in recovery for 3 years. Myself, well, I’ve travelled along the same road until I was 38 and have been successful in recovery for just over a year. I look at my two boys, 5 and 7, and I feel so grateful that as a family we have broken that cycle. Better and better!
Father’s Day #2
I hit “rock bottom” and I’m now sitting in rehab. Thinking back to my second week in, I felt as though I’ve hit a wall. It wasn’t until I was in my small group listening to how others were doing in the same moments that made me realize how well I’m really doing and how great I feel! It was like a eureka moment and just like that I slid down from hitting the wall, picked myself up, and continued on with pride and motivation. This Father’s Day I will spend it in treatment, but it’s giving me my life back, the father my children deserve, and a husband my wife will be proud of. This Father’s Day I get the gift of having my life back.
Father’s Day #3
It’s hard to be away from my family this Father’s Day, but I know it’s worth it. It’ll be a bittersweet day this Sunday, but I know I have many more Sundays being the man I want to be – the one I know I am. If there was anything I could say to men struggling with their addiction out there, it would be: Do it. Do treatment. There is no perfect time to go. You’ll always miss a birthday, a holiday, or some family event. It’s inevitable that something is coming up that you won’t want to miss, but be real with yourselves…. Are you really going to be there? Are you really doing your family any good in the state you are in? Probably not. This will be the best thing I’ve ever done for myself that directly affects my family. So this Father’s Day I will reflect on the future and I ask you to do the same.
Final Thoughts
Happy Father’s Day to ALL the men out there. To the fathers that fight tirelessly to overcome their addictions. To the ones that have found the strength to persevere and overcome. To the ones in the maintenance stage of their recovery or for the ones fighting every day to get into recovery. To all those fathers we love, who try so hard – you are loved, cared for and needed. Blessed are we who have fathers and may we celebrate all of them with love today!
