At a treatment program graduation this evening a client who is returning home to a northern state said that he wanted to "stay sober for his three-year-old daughter."
While some purists might question staying sober for others, I've always been a firm believer that anything that helps us stay clean and sober is positive. I see people get sober for love. Because of religious beliefs. For health. And to me, none are bad reasons.
Perhaps if we get sober for another person it helps us rise beyond our own petty self-interest. We realize that we have a responsibility to someone besides ourselves. And this can be very healing for a self-centered, self-absorbed addict or alcoholic who's never considered anything but their own self gratification.
Often we rampage through life in total disregard of others. So it was refreshing to see this graduate put the interests of his child at the forefront.
We wish this client well and know that if he keeps his promise he’ll enjoy a fruitful life.
