Re “Wealth no guarantee to addiction recovery,” March edition:
Behind the prospect of an expensive legal fight and contentious City Commission meetings, there is something that is even more ludicrous: Money-making executives thinking that wealthy people recover differently from those who are not.
Regardless of your education, or the type of car you drive, or where you reside, or how much money you make, everyone’s recovery process is exactly the same: Learn to be humble and remove shortcomings.
I am speaking out of firsthand knowledge, as I am a recovering alcoholic gratefully and happily celebrating my 13th year of sobriety.
I know through experience that by living, learning and rooming with fellow alcoholics who run the gamut of being below the poverty level to the top 1 percent of wealth is the only way to a tried, true and lasting recovery. Learning “how to be humble” is key to recovering sobriety, and you cannot learn humbleness by sequestering oneself in a lavish luxurious oceanfront home and feeling above other alcoholics. This means learning to lower one’s pride or rank. Continuing that relationship with yourself and fellow alcoholics through attending AA meetings in your local community is also a huge part of the recovery process.
Taking responsibility for what got you where you are and understanding that those reasons are the same exact reasons that got other alcoholics there are all the same, no matter what your level of wealth is.
Susan
Delray Beach
Editor’s note: Our policy is to not publish anonymous letters, but because anonymity is a key element of Alcoholics Anonymous, we agreed to publish this letter using a first name only — the same as members are known within their AA groups.
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