When I was 12 years old my parents sat my brother and I down and told us that we would be having a house guest, a family friend would be moving in with us until he got better. Naturally, I asked what he was sick with. My mother explained that he was not sick in the way I was used to- but addicted to heroin.
Now, I'm sure at this point you're wondering why my parents would expose my brother and I to the very real horrors of addiction at such an impressionable age. This article is in no way meant to glorify drug addiction however, I learned many valuable lessons from this experience.
Here's a few of them:
I learned unconditional love.
The reason my family took our friend into our home with open arms, is love. I learned to love your family and friends unconditionally and to help them whenever you can. To this day, I still go above and beyond for the people I love.
I learned that there is a dark side to every neighborhood.
It does not matter where you are from. You could live in the most middle-class, suburban area in America and there would still be a dark side that you don't always see. However, once you get a glimpse of it, you always notice it.
Your upbringing does not matter.
Just like the place you're from doesn't matter, your upbringing doesn't matter either. A rich kid can get addicted just as easily as a poor kid. Drugs do not see race, income, or social status. Drugs don't discriminate.
I learned to say no.
After watching someone you love struggle with addiction, you learn to say no. I learned to weed toxic people and things out of my life as quickly as they came in. I learned to resist the pressure to experiment with drugs and I learned to stay away from those dark sides of the neighborhood.
I learned resilience.
I saw first hand how someone could face down their demons and come out on top. I learned the true meaning of the phrase, "fall down seven times, stand up eight". I learned that the road to success is not always a straight one. Above all I learned that in this life, you need to fight to get from where you are to where you want to be.
For Shaun,
I never lost faith in you. Keep fighting, always.
