Tiffanie is a 35-year-old transgender addict and alcoholic. She is divorced with two young children ages 8 and 6. She used to want to kill herself and tried to commit suicide twice. She received her 3rd DWI in the last 5 years 24 months ago and has been working the steps of the program and been In These Rooms since her last arrest. She says she has remained drug and alcohol free during this period. As a result of working this program, she now feels she has much to live for. In her In These Rooms share, Tiffanie stated “…tomorrow isn’t promised. Sometimes we need to live like we’re dying. Dreams do come true but for how long? I need to share my story while I have time.”
Promise 9 of the Big Book In These Rooms states “…no matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others”. I describe Promise 9 as a Cosmic Return on Investment. I call understanding the value of the power found in our pain a Cosmic Return on Investment in our shit.
“…On this journey called life, I have come to understand the greatest symbol on earth of love, truth, power and freedom is greatly misunderstood. The Cross is not a detour to the Kingdom. The Cross is not something gone wrong. The Cross is the Kingdom Come. It has taken hardship, pain and tragedy, personal and corporate, for me to understand and internalize this important and powerful lesson…”
the Professor
“…I played the fool a time or two. I’ve had people get the best of me. I don’t make a habit of that shit but it’s happened. I pity the fool who tries to fuckin take me off today. I disregarded the shit that’s been revealed to me about judgin’ a mark. Got me every time It’s said ‘…If you walk in a room and don’t spot the mark, it’s cause it’s you…’ Learned my fuckin lesson. Ain’t rollin that way any fuckin more. Take that shit to the bank…”
Esteban
“…I’m not a big believer in the ‘no pain no gain’ mindset. I don’t ascribe to that paradox. But I get this storytelling fact. If there is no conflict, there is no story. If there is no antagonist, there is no protagonist. If there is no crisis, challenge or controversy, there is no heroic tale to be told. No, I’m not down with ‘no pain no gain’ but I do roll with ‘there is power to be found in the tales of our wreckage’…”
Hunter
I’m at the gas station the other day and was pumping my gas. I went to step over the hose from the pump to my car. I fell. Lying on the ground in the pain of at least two badly bruised wrists, I kept saying “…Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus…” I contemplated all the other terrible things that just could have happened to me. Thank you Jesus for showing me the power of pain found in gratitude. I am blessed. I have unique messages for Sharing WHY. I am blessed with having found the power in pain.
“…Sweet are the uses of adversity, which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head; and this our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything…“
William Shakespeare
I was sitting in this meeting feeling slightly envious because this guy was carrying on about his business and life success. Then I said “…wait a minute. Why am I at all envious? I am one on the most blessed people I know…”
I remembered how blessed it felt sitting there on the ground, in pain but knowing this shit could have been so much worse. I could have face planted. I could have fallen and had brain damage as a result. This is a fall that could have crippled my black ass. I feel extremely fortunate I’m still here with just two sprained wrists but not a scratch on me. Yep. I am the most blessed person I know even with the pain. Like Tiffanie, I know and want to be about Sharing WHY of the power I found in pain thru gratitude with the world.
Read more about X, Yalie, Fr. Esteban, the Professor, Sean Anderson and Hunter and tell your story. Listen to Hunter’s Podcast. All on wreckedamerica.com. In Wrecked America, #SharingWHYMatters
The Struggle Continues….
