There exist many programs that one may choose from in today’s world, should they be seeking recovery from addiction. Although each has the same goal in mind, the way they get there can vary widely.
Following this mannerism, the language used to convey the message, also changes. Each has its terms and their reasons for using them.
In my program, we call this process
“Living Clean.”
Last week
At a meeting
I attended
One of our members
Shared a conflict
They were having
At school
They were studying Horticulture
From a college
Associated with the prison
He had memorized
The name of every single plant
In common terms
But
This course required
That the students
Know them in Latin as well
He just didn’t understand
This necessity
He disliked it
Was totally against it
But
The question arose
Does his understanding of things
Hold any basis
On the curriculum
Of their course
This college
Was not going to change
To fit him
It was not
His program
What he makes it to be
It’s theirs
It has been around
For a long time
For a reason
A lot of degrees
Have already come from it
It is proven to work
If a student wants the degree
Has the desire to get
What this college
Has to offer
Then they must
Surrender
To the program
As it is
Not
As it is thought
That it should be
Or
Their program and his
Are bound
To repeatedly
Conflict
All of this
Over language
I too
Believe
Language is important
And
If anybody knows about language
We do
Labeled as felons
Reintegrating
Back into the world
Jobs
Education
Community
Things can be altered
Roadblocks put up
Detours appear
Issues arise
Due to these obstacles
Some of us don’t make it
Some of us
Return to prison
Some of us die
In 1994
Paroled from prison
State of Iowa
My release earned
Having completed
Successfully
Alcohol AND Drug treatment
I set out
To live
A different life
I knew
I could no longer use drugs
They had ruined my life
But
I was not an alcoholic
I did not identify
The attributes
Related to alcoholism
Drinking
Had never caused me problems
I did not
Wake up with the shakes
Have withdrawals
Or
Detox from alcohol
Matter of fact
If I did get drunk
I was
For sure
Not starting my day
With a drink
I probably would not drink
For another 2 weeks
But
If I got high
2 weeks was just a warm-up
But
I did not have to stay sober
Let me tell you
Just how well that worked
For me
That was my 1st sentence
I am now
On my 7th
I never figured it out
Until it was explained to me
In this program
Alcohol is a drug
I have the disease
Of addiction
Once I start using
Any drug
I will eventually
Progress back
To my drug of choice
Wow
Who knew
In this program
We stay abstinent
From all drugs
The term we use
To define
This new way of living
Is clean
That made sense to me
It still does today
When I hear people talk
About their sobriety
Or
Being sober
I cringe inside
I fight myself
But
It is not for the reason
Most think
When I hear these words
I remember
I remember
My confusion
My misunderstandings
The hurt
It caused in my life
My reason
For disqualifying myself
From Recovery
I know that
No matter my
Personal views
Or
Previous pain
This is not
A Dennis program
It is not
What I make it
It has been here
For many years
Worked for millions of people
If I continue to want
What this program has to offer
Then
I need to continue
To surrender
To this program
As it is
Not as I think it should be
There is only one requirement
For membership
In my chosen program
That is
The desire
To stop using
How members share
Our message
The words that we use
We are each
Free
To pick them
Express them
On our own
As we see fit
I have lived
The distortion
I do believe
In the unified language
Of this program
I do believe
In living clean
And now
You know
Why I choose to do so
More on Living Clean
Sobriety – The Unpopular Social Norm
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