He often volunteers to help others to the point where he's exhausted. And I think one of the reasons he's so generous with his time and energy is that he lives a live of gratitude. Much of his conversation revolves around the blessings he's found in his life of sobriety. And while this is only my opinion, I think his generosity is based on what sobriety has brought to his life. His walk is an example to others.
While I've been sober for much longer than he has, I only wish I had a portion of the helpfulness he gives others. He's a person who asks for nothing, who seldom displays anger or ego - all qualities we could strive for.
He does his best to make the world a more beautiful place. Because he likes to garden, new plants and flowers appear all the time whenever he finds an empty plot of dirt. A picture will appear on a bare wall. Once in a while he'll show up at my office with a lunch he's prepared in our community kitchen.
Because he has training in barbering and hair care, he often volunteers to cut a newcomer's hair at no cost. And while he's doing it he gets a chance to tell them what recovery has brought to his life.
For the past few years, in the midst of all his busyness, he's been acting as a caretaker for an elderly relative who is fighting a terminal disease. Any of you who have take care of a sick relative knows how stressful and draining it can be to care for some who is in the final stages of life.
If you have a challenge, ask what he would do. You may not know who I'm talking about. But ask me and I'll introduce you to him.
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