I have always embraced the belief that there is a plan for each of us and things happen for a reason. We don’t always understand it when it is happening, and most of the time, we do not get it until we are well in it.
Two key things happened that I will never forget.
My very adult son called crying and asking for help. His wife had been sent home from her job, under the influence, taken to the hospital by her sister, practically unconscious, incoherent, from a combination of alcohol and prescription medication. He was on his way to take my grandson off to college in another state. During the next months, there would be two more hospital admissions, several resulting medical issues including diminished capacity, a stay at an in-patient care facility for detox, and the beginning of a slow recovery, and all the accompanying family issues.
I spent time there and commuted back and forth to my home, about 7 hours away.
As a family we were hit fast and heavy with a lot, and discovered that we really did not know a dang thing about alcoholism, addiction, the effects, the behaviors and the impact to everybody involved. I learned a lot about secrets, shame and guilt. Well, we shook our heads, cried, cussed denial, and generally wished the “problem” would just go away. Quickly.
We did not know where to turn, what to do, who to talk to, or talk about.
Serendipity? I don’t know.
At about the same time, I met a wonderful woman through a professional organization’s event who invited me to lunch. I was new to Central Florida, was making new friends, and frankly, I was looking for any social outlet. Without knowing that I had just returned from helping my family, she told me that she was a Professional Recovery Coach. OK, from my HR background, I have experience with coaching, but was unaware of this field. As you can guess, I felt like crying. It was as if I had been thrown a life raft. This is what I had been looking for, without knowing it. I had a way to help my family, learn more about the disease of alcoholism, and merge my existing HR consulting and counseling skills to this emerging field.
Talk about gratitude. I am so thankful for every day, every small step forward, and backward.
I have found my life’s work, learn something new about myself new every day. I want to be remembered as “ she made a difference in someone’s life”.
Important Lesson Learned:
Help comes from many places. You cannot take on this very tough journey without love, help, and support from a lot of people in a lot of ways, just be open to starting and staying on the path.
