By: Marilyn L. Davis
From Addict 2 Advocate – Finding My Purpose
“It doesn’t matter how much wealth, fortune, and properties you have acquired throughout your life, but what really matters is whether or not you have found your soul’s purpose on this earth. If so, what have you learned, and if acquired, what have you given back to the community?” –Aiyaz Uddin
Thirty-three years ago, I was a broken, fractured woman. My family was fed up. My children weren’t speaking to me. I had no direction in my life, except for school, and with my increased Xanax and alcohol use, that was not going to continue to be good.
My employers intervened and gave me an opportunity to go to treatment or be terminated from my job. I chose treatment.
When I had ten months in recovery, I met Gray Hawk, a 74-year-old Native American who would change my life and help me find my purpose – opening a house of healing for other women.
Going from addict to advocate was and continues to be my purpose. Writing, speaking, counseling, and sharing what’s worked for me are some ways that I advocate.
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Encourage Other Advocates
But it’s also about providing a platform for others to share what’s worked for them. Why? Because how something is said is as important as what is said, and the more people who are writing about how recovery works, the more people will know how to recover.
Display the Awards or Merely Note Them?
“Awards and recognition are not the purpose of life and not the goal of an activist. The heart of an activist usually donates the money or uses the accolades as a foot in the door for more activism and awareness. A plaque on the wall won’t change the world; it only shows your devotion.” ― Shannon L. Alder
There was conflicting advice from friends and professionals about displaying the awards. Most people said put them on the front page so everyone can see them and know what you’ve accomplished. Others said, who cares?
I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle, so I’ll add them if someone’s interested.
Awards Authenticate the Information
However, as Shannon L. Alder says, they are not what is important, except to let people know that perhaps the information on From Addict 2 Advocate has value for others.
Writing is a way of sharing what has worked for me for 33 years, and the site is a way to share what’s worked for me and provide information from other writers whose voice, style, and tone will touch a suffering addict in ways that mine cannot.
When we share what works, we encourage another addict to recover. That’s the advocacy; that’s the real reward. When you’re ready to advocate for recovery, consider a guest post, thanks.
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