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by lisbeth west
"I had relapses in the beginning because I didn't know how to handle my feelings for shit..." she admits. Theresa's invisible father, along with her sisters and brothers, don't share or support the life she has chosen. She recognizes her blessings, though. "I am still with my husband of thirteen years and we are both in recovery."
One can't help but notice the events in her life leading up to her recovery. "My little sister passed away a little over two years ago due to a heroin overdose."
Almost immediately after sharing this with me, Theresa talks about another family member, who was an alcoholic.
"My mother died of cancer about two years ago."
"I am thirty-five years old and celebrated two years clean on May 4th." She glows with pride as she tells me. "I am overwhelmed by the strength that I have been empowered with by trusting my higher power in this journey."
Theresa did not go through treatment, she kicked by talking with her sponsor and "just allowing me to be me, for the most part!" She embraced her higher power's love early in the process of her recovery.
To hear her talk today shows her deep wisdom of recognizing that recovery is a process, not an event. "Today I have gratitude with just the simple things in life," she beams. "I am very proud of who I am!"
"I think the one person I hurt most in my addiction was myself." She is just now discovering many wonderful truths about herself that were hidden by the the muddied world of dope's betrayal.
"I am honest, fun loving, and I have integrity today," she shares. "I never really loved myself.
That has changed."
As if she is just seeing herself against the torn world that was her life, Theresa shares a secret (that she found was hidden all along.)
"I am very proud of ME. Wow! Who would have thought, huh?"
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