I wrote this post on social media a few days ago… mostly to vent my frustrations and anguish…. It has been taken as low blow, a blindside, a side swipe and a less than honorable way to disparage someone personally…. It was suggested that I say it to someone’s face, rather than on Facebook of all places…. The truth is… I say to this to people’s face all the time… Thus my frustration and anguish and now my story grows beyond Facebook and becomes worthy (I hope) of the Fireside Post.

“Any and All Declarations of Love That Come From Those Addicted to Alcohol, Pot (Yes It’s a Drug) or Other Drugs… Are Very Much Suspect… Because, the Addicted Will Do and Say Anything to Serve, Protect and Preserve Their Addiction.

A Hardcore Statement? Yes, it is. But Addiction is Hardcore. Addiction Does Not Make Life Better. Addiction Drives the Addicted Into a World of Secrets and Secrecy or a World Seeking Only Those Who Support Their Addiction. Your Addiction Does Not Only Affect You. It Affects Everyone Who Truly Loves You.

A Life in This Addictive Shadow is Less Than it Can Be. Better to Deal With the Demons You Say Drive You to Your Addiction, Than to Live With the Demon of Addiction. `Just Saying’.”

I have made some persons unhappy, so now comes this little post note; side note whatever you may want to call it. I am very opinionated on many issues, addiction is a big one, I didn’t get that way easily. It’s been a hard life dealing with the addicts and addictions within my OWN family. A hard and painful life. I have dealt with being called the one horrible reason they had to turn to drugs or alcohol in the first place, from the addicted one and called an enabler from those outside my immediate household. Those who didn’t have a clue to the struggle of dealing with and voicing your objections, standing your ground and trying not to be torn down mentally and physically, at the same time or how to stay and not enable.

Dealing with trying to keep face in a society that doesn’t find drinking or doping particularly objectionable, but do find anyone objecting to their particular pastime, as less than pleasing to them.  Dealing with seeing people I love and care about going down a road of destruction, maybe to no return. I have been dealing with this since I was teenager, trying to instill in my children and all the other young people I have been in personal contact with, that this is not how you want to live your life. Getting my heart-broken when my advice and urgings are ignored.

I have even  made big changes in my life, in order to leave behind the problems of addiction and to shelter my family, only to find there is nowhere to go, to find that reassurance. So now, I don’t run away, but I don’t fight daily (several times a day) I don’t ignore either and I do voice my opinions and experiences on a regular basis. Get used to it or realize it… Yes this is how I have always known her. No surprises here. I will not be muted! I have more than earned the right to speak out.

My final thing to add…. If you think I wrote this about you personally and you are upset about it…. Maybe that’s your sign… Maybe it’s time to change things. I am who I am for reasons good and bad. I am who I am by the Grace of God and Pray always for my children, grandchildren, siblings and friends. Hopefully to never know addiction and if that isn’t the case, then I pray they are able to throw the chains off and live a happier, healthier, hopefully longer life. I have my doubts that this addition to my original post has healed anyone’s hurt feelings or cured a mad, but maybe it could happen. I would like to start living my life free of addiction, don’t see that happening without me being the only person left standing after the Apocalypse.