A Real Hero

Yesterday I was privileged to have dinner with an American hero.

The dinner was a celebration honoring both his birthday and his graduation from the college where he obtained his bachelor's degree.

This veteran was wounded more than once in Iraq. On one occasion his Humvee hit an explosive device.  On another he was shot in the back four times. These injuries forced him to give up his active military career and resume life as a civilian. He doesn't talk about his injuries, his lengthy rehabilitation, or the challenges he faces with pain.

His courage resonates with me is because we alcoholics and addicts find lots of reasons why we can’t succeed. We were abused as children. We didn’t get an education. We've been in jail. We didn’t have the same opportunities as others. The excuses go on and on. 

If our clients could hear his story some of the challenges they face in staying sober, or finding work might not seem as significant. While I know emotional pain can be challenging it’s important to have positive examples in our lives.

A tool I use when challenged is to find others who have real issues. And they can be found in many corners of our lives. Every day the news presents us with those who've suffered setbacks or tragedy. Or we can see them on the streets during our daily commute.

We don't have to look far to find those who face daunting challenges, much larger than what we're experiencing.