I haven’t fought the battle myself,
but I’ve seen it,
with friends,
with family,
with acquaintances.
When someone struggles with dependency on a substance,
or a liquid,
and their life becomes a downward spiral
of temptation,
of resistance,
of failure,
of struggle,
of self-doubt,
of grief,
…of victory?
That is their experience,
their individual crisis,
their individual opportunity
for triumph.
And there is
also,
always,
collateral damage.
The people who love the person,
they watch the struggle.
They question the outcome.
They ask how they can help.
If they can help.
What is their fault?
Whether it will ever end?
Whether it will end well,
or just end.
They grieve,
they worry,
they make their attempts,
they make their entreaties,
they make their invitations or interventions.
They offer support,
and they go through the cycle of collateral damage,
as collateral damage.
Feeling hopeful.
Interpreting events optimistically,
deciding to be generous or to be disciplined.
To be harsh,
to be unforgiving or forgiving,
to rejoice or to fear.
They mourn when another opportunity for victory is missed,
when a temptation is succumbed to again.
Their hopes are dashed, and sometimes restored.
And they are collateral damage
in the lull between the highs and the lows,
between the crises and the silence.
They wait, as collateral damage, who love.
They who care,
who are inextricably linked,
unavoidably linked,
eternally linked,
linked by choice, too,
in affection and concern and hopefulness.
So much collateral damage.
So many human beings affected when one human being struggles with dependence on a substance, or a liquid.
When any person overcomes addiction or dependence, it is a victory for them and for many.
It is freedom for them and for many.
It is freedom for them and for all who are,
who were,
collateral damage.
Healing for one becomes healing for many.
Healing in a moment heals moments before,
and all the moments after.
Collateral damage can become collateral … collateral!
Collateral damage can become renewed strength,
renewed skills,
renewed faith, hope, joy, love,
renewed relationships,
renewed family,
renewed bonds,
renewed opportunities for one and for many.
To those who are struggling with dependence
on a substance or a liquid,
keep fighting.
Keep choosing.
Keep knowing that there is always the opportunity
in every new day,
for a better new day,
and a better new life.
Collateral damage can become collateral pride and joy and hopefulness and opportunity.
Your yesterday does not define your tomorrow.
Find the help that you need,
in the people or the tools that can help.
There are many available.
And every new day is a chance
to choose
to start
again.