33 YEARS CLEAN & SOBER

Every year on this date I post something related to my sobriety anniversary but I make a point of saying I DO NOT celebrate this date. I simply mark it as a point in time … a significant day for sure in my life, but nothing I want to celebrate because I feel the true accomplishment would have been avoiding drinking and drugging as I knew I was biologically predisposed.

OK … with that out of the way, I want to speak to a couple of subjects related to my sobriety which have been on my mind of late.

I have been on LinkedIn for over a decade and for years, I would get messages from head-hunters trying to place me in a position they have available from one of their clients or asking me to suggest someone for a position … the later I always felt was laziness on their part.

About two years ago, on the very first line of my LinkedIn profile I added, “31 YEARS CLEAN & SOBER.”

Ever since I added that moniker, I have never heard from a head-hunter again … why do you think that is?

Now, let me be clear, I don’t give a shit … I don’t have a lot respect for most head-hunters and at my age, I’m looking at the finish line of my career, and I am BLESSED to be working for Bathica where I plan to retire from … not any time soon.

So, not hearing from annoying head-hunters is a positive for me … but I ask the question again, why have they stopped inquiring?

OK … lets give them the benefit of the doubt, I am now 63 years old and ageism is REAL. People would never think of asking your faith, how you identify sexually or your nationality but they don’t think twice about asking “when are you going to retire?” Look, I’m not playing victim here … again, I don’t give a shit … but you have to admit ageism exists and with all the issues that are no longer “politically correct”, it surprises me that ageism remains active and untouched by the PC establishment.

So here is where I’m going with all this …

I believe why I no longer get approached by head-hunters is because of that item I added to me LinkedIn profile … “31 YEARS CLEAN & SOBER” … now 33 years.

Do I care … not particularly, but it makes me admire young people who make similar statements on their profiles that state their term of sobriety … for a young person that is COURAGEOUS! They still have their careers ahead of them … they deserve the same options and opportunities that people who do not make a statement of sobriety are afforded and if I’m any example, they may not receive that consideration because of their honesty and openness about their recovery.

I’m not brave or courageous … I’m just old and I share my journey in hopes to inspire and / or encourage someone else struggling with addiction to reach out for help … I am living proof that you can change your life.

I encourage employers to look closely at young people who are in recovery … I guarantee you they are some of the most self-disciplined, hardworking and dedicated people you will find … why? Because they have to be … it is life or death for them and work ethic, dedication and ambition are all elements of successful recovery.

OK … one more thing that is bugging me.

I am really annoyed with how Hollywood portrays people in recovery … its always them “falling off the wagon.”

Really?

You would think people in Hollywood would be particularly sensitive to this subject so why would they consistently portray characters in recovery as being weak and fragile? Oh, let me guess, it makes for better TV shows and movie plots? Recovery isn’t dramatic enough? Drinking and drugging are more interesting?

I would be hard pressed to think of a single TV or movie character that has a history of addiction that is in recovery and is depicted as successfully in recovery … I thought I had one … Sam from the TV show, “Cheers.” No, I was wrong … even Sam has a “relapse”.

Here we are again … with all the political correctness in Hollywood with everything from pronouns to sexual identity and racial identity, why do we still see characters in recovery being portrayed as weak and fragile? Do people in recovery not have a voice? Do people in recovery not deserve to “see someone like them” portrayed on TV and film?

OK, I’m done and I’m sorry for my post this year being a bitch session, but these two issues have been on my mind and I think deserve some attention … if not from me, then who?

As always … LOVE to you all!