Honesty Is the Best Policy: Recovery with Sam C.

The single most important lesson that I have learned in recovery is being honest. It’s the foundation of life itself. Not only in recovery, but with everything I do on a daily basis. I finally had to become honest with myself about my alcoholism.

With the help of Mountainside and all the people there that supported me with my recovery, I now understand the importance of making drastic changes in my life. I had to set boundaries with family and non-family members, open up about my feelings, and know that it’s OK to say what’s on my mind. I had to act in a way that I never thought I’d act before. I simply can’t drink – bottom line. I have to be honest with myself and with everyone around me so I can stay on the path to recovery.

The freedom of being able to be honest with everyone is helping me day by day, and hour by hour, to embrace my new way of thinking. My mantra has always been: “love a lot, trust a few, learn to paddle your own canoe.” The problem in the past was that I was dependent on other people. I was trapped in a world where I thought that I was always wrong and everyone else was right. Dependency is a disease in and of itself. I was addicted to it and now I realize that I can be independent and go forward with my life feeling confident and blessed. I can rely on myself to make me, and everyone around me, happier. If you’re not honest with yourself, then none of this matters and you will never have peace in your life.

I thank God, my higher power, and of course Mountainside, for giving me the tools to help me become the man I want to be. It’s never too late to realize that you can be happier with yourself and truly push on through life each day with integrity, honesty and love. God Bless you all!