Rehab

It's not quite 6 months (12 days until), but with all of the stuff our family has been going through since I got out of detox, my wife and daughter decided to go ahead and give me my 6 month sobriety coin a little early. I may have teared up a little.

Wup4WVE.jpeg
 
Cotton said:
It's not quite 6 months (12 days until), but with all of the stuff our family has been going through since I got out of detox, my wife and daughter decided to go ahead and give me my 6 month sobriety coin a little early. I may have teared up a little.

Wup4WVE.jpeg
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That is quite an accomplishment, brother. Congratulations.
 
Cotton said:
It's not quite 6 months (12 days until), but with all of the stuff our family has been going through since I got out of detox, my wife and daughter decided to go ahead and give me my 6 month sobriety coin a little early. I may have teared up a little.

Wup4WVE.jpeg
Click to expand...

That's beautiful, brother.

Keep up the great job!
 


Probably the hardest part of my recovery has been forgiving myself. It's not easy. I know I have to so I can move on, but I was a shitty person for a while. I never hurt my family, but I wasn't exactly good company.
 
Cotton said:


Probably the hardest part of my recovery has been forgiving myself. It's not easy. I know I have to so I can move on, but I was a shitty person for a while. I never hurt my family, but I wasn't exactly good company.
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Just realized it posted the untranslated version. Here it is in English.

At 30 years old, drunk and jobless, I sat on the edge of the bed and thought: "Anthony, you can't keep going like this."I had arrived in London from Wales with a dream: to be an actor. But the dream turned into a nightmare.

Alcohol controlled me. I lost roles, my wife left me, my friends abandoned me. I spent my days in dark bars and my nights in empty dressing rooms. One night, in 1967, I walked into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. I was afraid. Not of alcohol, but of myself. Of the weakness I felt in asking for help. I haven't had a single drink in 57 years. Then came sobriety. And with it, work. "The Elephant Man," "The Remains of the Day," "The Silence of the Lambs"... an Oscar and many awards.

A career that continues to this day. But fame didn't heal the wounds. I had to learn to live with myself, to accept my past and forgive myself. A few years ago, during the pandemic, I recorded a video that went viral. I talked about not giving up. I talked about old age, about loneliness, about the courage to keep going. I didn't do it for fame. I did it because that 30-year-old kid needed to hear those words.

If you're feeling lost today, if alcohol or any other drug is destroying you, ask for help. I did. And here I am, half a century later, sober and telling you about it. There's no shame in falling. There is in not getting back up. Anthony Hopkins
 
Cotton said:


Probably the hardest part of my recovery has been forgiving myself. It's not easy. I know I have to so I can move on, but I was a shitty person for a while. I never hurt my family, but I wasn't exactly good company.
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Very common struggle, bro. My natural inclination, especially in early recovery, is to beat myself up for the shitty things I've done and all the people I've let down through my addiction. Unfortunately, loathing yourself and staying sober long-term will not work. I prayed for it (the ability to forgive myself) every morning for months and learned to be a little kinder to myself. Just remember, the past no longer defines you. You are defined by who you are today, this new identity. You are a good guy who always shows people grace. Be sure and show it to yourself.
 
Cujo said:
Very common struggle, bro. My natural inclination, especially in early recovery, is to beat myself up for the shitty things I've done and all the people I've let down through my addiction. Unfortunately, loathing yourself and staying sober long-term will not work. I prayed for it (the ability to forgive myself) every morning for months and learned to be a little kinder to myself. Just remember, the past no longer defines you. You are defined by who you are today, this new identity. You are a good guy who always shows people grace. Be sure and show it to yourself.
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Thank you. I needed that today, brother. I have asked for forgiveness from multiple family members (missed weddings, events, etc) and have been forgiven. But, I am just like you. I am very hard on myself with everything in life. So, it's just something I have got to get past. It's just not been easy to get that part behind me. But, thank you for your words. I woke up with this on my heart and then saw that tweet. Your words have helped. So, thank you, again.
 
Cotton said:
Thank you. I needed that today, brother. I have asked for forgiveness from multiple family members (missed weddings, events, etc) and have been forgiven. But, I am just like you. I am very hard on myself with everything in life. So, it's just something I have got to get past. It's just not been easy to get that part behind me. But, thank you for your words. I woke up with this on my heart and then saw that tweet. Your words have helped. So, thank you, again.
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You're welcome, brother. I'm always available if you need anything.
 
SaveAHorseRideACowboy said:
Nothing but admiration for you my brother.. you were able to conquer one of the beasts of life…I’m glad to see you’ve come out of that darkness
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Thank you, sir. I am glad I came out of that darkness, too, or I might not be typing right now.
 
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