You're wrong, @True concern. You are worthy of respect. Like @SkarMar710 said, you have made a huge commitment to bettering yourself and accomplished a lot. And your willingness to talk about it will no doubt help and inspire others. That, my friend, is worthy of respect. Sure, you may have done some stupid, terrible things in your past. But we are not our past. And if we dwell on our negative past, we just take away from the here and now, which is all we really have. You are a ray of sunshine in this world, my brother. And I'm grateful for your presence here.
it's ok to give credit where it's due. you're worthy of respect..others and your own. confidence is different than arrogance be confident in the shining light that you are. shine brightly!
Thank you to everyone who has listened to my rambling. I don't at all want this to be a forum for my victimhood. I've been very blessed in so many ways. And I just want to say I'm grateful to find so much support and such unique and diverse perspectives. The reality is, I've loved this man very, very deeply. There are great nuances, and there is a lot of goodness mixed in/trying to break free from, the tortured reality and the addiction. I think that's why we struggle so mightily to get away, to move on. We see the potential. We see what has been. We see what could be again. We sincerely and genuinely love, and in spite of the often nasty behaviors, we see the real ability to love come through just often enough to hang on. Anyway, it's a battle. But good to have understanding and empathetic ears and voices. Thanks to all of you.
You may be guilty of wrongdoing. We all are. I've been guilty of A LOT of wrongdoing in my life. But you are willing to own up to it, and to make big, difficult changes. That is rare, and it's worthy of respect. The end.
you bring up a very good point... we do love the addicts.... some madly in love!!! but the addiction - that monster - that's what can become intolerable... the behaviors associated with that... and it is challenging to know how to cope... how to still be in love and not go mad with the behaviors... it's a process and a journey for sure.