Living From the Ashes
The definition of thrive according Webster is, to grow or develop vigorously; to prosper or flourish. In other words a person who is thriving is constantly growing in order to reach a more vibrant state. What is evident about human beings is that in spite of the challenges that most will face, there are those who will choose to give up and there are those who will choose to thrive.
Earlier this month I had the distinct pleasure of attending the annual fundraiser to benefit The Caron Foundation. This non-profit’s main focus is to provide treatment for individuals who are suffering with substance and alcohol abuse issues and to provide support for their families. Since this was my first time attending one of their events, I did not know what to expect but by the end of the evening I can say that it exceeded my highest expectations.
There was a lot of interest for many, I imagine, in the celebrity line up beginning with Dr. Mehmet Oz of the acclaimed, Dr. Oz television show, to stellar performances by Art Garfunkel and Patti Labelle. And although I found those moments to be quite enjoyable, the highlight of the evening was by far the sharing of a personal journey by the evening’s keynote speaker, Craig Esposito. For a total of thirty minutes, this handsome, well-spoken young man shared his struggle with alcohol and substance abuse. He made no excuses for the years of binge drinking and pill popping that threatened to end his life had he not agreed to accept a gift from his mother that would ultimately bring to an end the downward spiral of his life.
Among other things, he described the last time he saw his father while coming out of yet another one of his episodes; only to learn later that day that his father was among the thousands who would die on that very day in one of the September 11th attacks. His father was, as he described it, “murdered” while he lay in bed at home coming down off of his high. The hundreds of people who had gathered for the evening were completed engaged and hanging onto every word of this young man as he shared his painful and compelling story. I think what was most compelling was the incredible sense this young man has of his journey and what he is to do with what he has learned. He is very aware of the fact that he is a miracle and that it was indeed amazing that he was there in that room, standing and sharing and, in spite of all that he had gone through and lived through, he now believes that life is good.
Craig Esposito is thriving! He had survived the challenges, he recognized and grabbed hold of what remained as possibilities and because of, rather than in spite of, he learned how to live again. He owned who he was and is and the fact that he will always be an addict and his outlook today is not that of a victim but rather of someone who is a victor.
How I wish his message could somehow be captured and shared with the thousands of people who struggle each day with similar plights. I think one of the key components to his healing was the fact that he was fortunate to be able to receive care from a place such as Caron Treatment Centers. One of the things that impressed me about Caron is they have an understanding of how important it is when treating a client that the support and care of the family unit is critical to their overall success. This is of course is the underlying philosophy of our work here at Recipes for Good Living Magazine — “strength in the family unit.”
In the meantime Craig is sharing his message, one event at a time, to the various organizations who have discovered the blessing that this young man’s words brings to hungry ears.
Caron Treatment Centers is a nationally recognized non-profit provider of addiction treatment with more than 50 years of experience in the field. Caron’s comprehensive approach to treatment incorporates proven medical and psychological protocols with spiritual, family and physical activity to help those affected by addiction begin a life of recovery. The overall mission of Caron is deeply rooted in the 12-Step tradition.
If you or anyone you know needs to be cared back to the state of thriving, love them enough to seek help. There are people whose mission in life is to care. On another important note, in 2009, because of the generous donations of many, Caron was able to provide over 9 million dollars in financial aid to addicted individuals and families with limited resources. For more information, please visit, www.caron.org.