Be Proud. Be Sober
"So I got clean in Washington, D.C., in 2016. Got a little job, busboy at a suburban restaurant. It's a really hot day. My acne's the worst it's been in years. I got scars up and down my arms, and I'm wearing this thick shirt, and I'm sweating. But I'm afraid, because I don't want people to see me. But it gets too hot, and I can't take it anymore.
So I roll up my sleeves, and someone asks me, 'Hey man, what's up with those scars?' And I froze. But it was at that point that I made the most important decision of my life, which is that, you know, my scars might never go away, but I don't have to be afraid of what people think. I don't have to be afraid of who I am. I don't have to be ashamed of who I am.
So I looked that person right in the face and said, 'I'm a recovering addict. These scars are from my active addiction. I'm working hard to make sure that I don't go back there.'
I've got scars within myself as well; everyone does. At the end of the day, our scars are the most beautiful thing about us, and make us who we are. Today, I manage my depression by picking up the phone and calling people in my recovery fellowship to ask for help or seeking advice on the All Sober message boards. Being open and honest about my addiction and sobriety is a vital part of my recovery."
Benjamin Lerner confronted his IV drug use. Now, he is a successful singer, songwriter, pianist, rapper and recovery advocate. Hear him in the studio channeling the emotions of recovery into song, and get inspired by his sober journey!
Benjamin Lerner