I received a DWI back in 2020. Actually finishing my probation this year. I was fortunate enough during that time period to get several things back on track and of course I decided to start drinking again. It’s a repetitive story that never ends. I am lucky enough to have a job with people who actually care about me. I made the mistake of drinking on a Saturday like I had been the past couple Saturdays, staying at home and making sure no one knew or could tell because why not, I’m not hurting anyone. Low and behold, I got into a stupor and decided to drive all the way to my place of work and take care of a managerial issue and it didn’t go well. I proceeded to drink while at work, take shots, and overall make myself look really bad. When waking up the next morning, I was hit with a very familiar feeling of existential dread. Those mornings I’m sure many of you are all too familiar with; questioning what did I do. I spent the entire day wondering how I could be so stupid and how I could ruin so many good things I had going for me. Not to mention almost wrecked my car, blowing out my tire. I could have ended up in jail or worse. I thought it’d be OK to drink if I could manage it outside of work, and as long as no one knew no harm.

Well, I got called into my boss and his bosses office Monday morning and to my surprise I wasn’t fired on the spot. Instead, the owner of the company stressed to me that he grew up around alcoholism and he knew how serious it was. He let me know that he can’t require me to do anything, but I can voluntarily supply information if I choose to do so. Now I’ve entered into a 12 month recovery program, I’ve signed up for therapy, I went out and got a gym membership, and I bought a breathalyzer. I will voluntarily supply him with all this information as I go through this process and he said if I do so, I can redeem myself and keep my position. I have to realize right now Iucky I am. I have to realize that if I even touch another drop, I will never be given an opportunity like this again. A lot of people I work with came out of the woodwork and I realize so many care about me, and it brings me to tears. I don’t know why I ever thought I was alone. This is the moment, I will not be drinking with you today.