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Nature Set Me Free...

Just another day.

By Sean P. MuchlerPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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Top of Dutch Hill overlooking the valley.

It started out just like any another ordinary Monday in early winter 2020, when two drunks were on a drive, on the backroads of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It was just me and my certified recovery specialist (CRS) chatting about old times. This time, however; we were on the road for our usual, weekly, 2-hour appointment because we couldn't go to any of our regular spots, due to the governor shutting everything down, in response to a rise in Covid-19 cases. I remember, it was cold and we weren't sure how we were going to have a productive meeting, since we couldn't sit across the table from each other, looking into each other's eyes, getting the full effect of one alcoholic helping the other. So, we had to just make due with driving along, with the hopes as to make our time worthwhile. He quickly fell into the setting and began sharing some memories of times in the past, when he would cruise this very road we were on (How fitting!). Somehow, in orderly fashion, he made his narrative relate to my recovery. He told me a lot that day, but there were three, unique parts to his chronicle, all involving a guy named Bo, which I now, feel like I know even though he died many years prior to my coming to the 12-step program.

My CRS, first divulged the account of when, he and Bo, befriended each other in a 12-step program after embarking on this journey called sobriety. They had the type of caring and loving relationship that anyone in recovery could only dream of. The juncture began at a time when my CRS had about two years sober, when his acquaintance, Bo, reached out to him for some advice on a situation he had been confronted with, involving his daughter and her use of drugs. My CRS responded with discontent, because he didn't see how someone who only had two years under his belt could be of service to someone who had a considerable amount more 24's. Subsequently, this didn't matter to Bo, for in his sobriety he learned that it doesn't matter how much time you have, in order to be helpful to another fellow alcoholic. Like it or not, my CRS had the unfortunate experience of raising a son with a drug and alcohol dependency, and Bo needed his expertise because he lacked the understanding of what to do about his daughter, who was progressing further, and further, down the rabbit hole as time was passing. Fortunately for Bo, my CRS's son, and Bo's newly addicted daughter, happened to be about the same age, making my CRS's wisdom that much more viable. My CRS explained to me the same experience, strength, and hope that he told Bo on that very day, thirty years ago. He was right on point with the subject matter, as to resolve and alleviate Bo's, and now my, trepidation. Additionally, we were completely relieved of the anxiety that accompanies all issues related to drugs and alcohol, especially when it coincides with offspring in their adolescence.

Coincidentally, that wasn't the end of my CRS's story, in fact it was only the beginning. He went on to tell me quite a bit more about Bo, including his dreadful fight with cancer, and the ill-fated consequences he faced. All the while, my CRS continued to expose the entire vulgar scenario of having this good friend that he would ultimately lose, because the malignancy would spread throughout his body and would be inevitably terminal. In the duration, my CRS continued to correlate this entire dialogue to me, the disease of drug addiction, and how we must stay vigilant in our recovery, in order to stay clean and sober! Also, keep in mind that we were still on this windy, back road, of which I didn't think twice about, but my CRS knew exactly where he was and what an impact he was about to make.

I thought we were just going on a country drive. (Anyone from a rural area knows what I am referring to, those spins you take out in the boonies, not knowing if you're going to get lost or not.) Just about halfway through my CRS's ceremonious discourse we began going up a hill, of which I had never been on before, but one that, he and Bo, had frequented many times before; well at least three times before. For, on another occasion, towards the end of Bo's life, my CRS took him on another drive up this hill and asked him, "Do you have any special requests that I could provide for you during this time of impending doom?" Bo eloquently said that he was fine and deferred. He said to my CRS I just want to enjoy the time I have left.

While telling me this story, my CRS was utterly riveting! He has a way of producing an emotional response few people have the capabilities of doing. He managed to illustrate his relationship with Bo so well that I felt like I was there. Comparatively, he mentioned that on those occasions he and Bo had also been driving up this same exact hill! My CRS even timed his story perfectly, because as he ended the story, we had simultaneously reached the apex of the mountain, called Dutch Hill! This was the same place he and his friend Bo had frequented in each of the occurrences, which were previously dictated to me!! (The photos you see were taken by myself that day!)

Top of Dutch Hill looking North.

The best part of this day was that just as we reached the pinnacle of the mountain my CRS's story had climaxed with him notifying that this was the exact place, he and Bo would come to to clear their heads! At that point we got out of his Jeep Grand Cherokee. Never in my experience here on this planet named Earth, did the serenity and peace ever rush over, and/or into my body the way it did that Monday afternoon! I felt like I had been abruptly immersed into a deep meditation, with no obstructive thoughts, negative emotions, or bad vibes, intruding this awesome zen-like state-of-being I had achieved! It hit me like a ton of bricks, as soon as I opened the door! It was unparalleled! Imagine, the shift from just hearing a 25 minute description, of the devastation of alcohol and drugs on a man's children, and a terminating fight against cancer that would eventually take someone's life, immediately followed by a moment where you are amazed by, a view, as far as the eyes can see! All that I could focus on was the beauty and perfection of God's creation!! The kicker to me was, that it was the very same place where these two extraordinary men used to come to this very spot to rid themselves of all the stressors going on in their lives! It was supremely surreal!

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