Overheard in Recovery: Past Dead

One evening a long-sober person in recovery was talking about his journey and the fact that even when a person gets sober and into a strong program their disease continues to grow. Silent. Deadly. Patient. Like with cancer or such diseases if it recurs, goes out of remission, it is often stronger and more virulent than it was before.

This sober individual was talking about how he would probably have been dead ten years ago if he had continued drinking. Then with an awareness of the remission potential and danger he stopped. Paused with a sense of awe- and knowing insight. He looked around the room and simply said:

Wow. I am ten years past dead.

No, he didn't talk about borrowed time, he was talking about the life he would never have lived. Ten years.

And still counting.

Such is recovery.