It is always on this day that I reflect not only on this past year but all previous ones before and since leaving the Orchard. Each year I think I will send out pages on pages of all the times, whether it’s been in celebration or in sorrow how grateful I am to have had lived them in sobriety.
This summer we celebrated our son’s wedding. He and his bride asked if they could have their reception here at our home. As anyone would tell you hosting such an occasion can be quite daunting and in that moment I truly felt the weight of such a responsibility. They went on to explain that being here on their special day amongst family and friends was the most meaningful to them both.
I felt very honored by their choice. Our son was born here and raised here. The ten years leading up to me checking into the Orchard were years I look back on as one long drinking roller coast after another. To know that even though those times must have been filled with so many negative emotions, the 13 years of not drinking had made our home a positive, beautiful place to be.
I once again, send you my heartfelt thanks and profound gratitude for enabling me to turn my life around. My time at the Orchard gave me such great tools to quite literally rebuild my life. I never would have seen, shared in or celebrated my son’s wedding day if it hadn’t been for all of you there providing such an amazing place to help people like myself.
Wishing you all another 24 hours of freedom,