Now that I am sober, I can see that even the smallest things that I do can turn out to be something wonderful for someone else. If I was never clean, some things might have never happened – possibly even a wedding reception that I just attended.
Both Mandy (who I mentioned in last week’s blog A Mind Blowing Experience), and Keenan are two good friends and co-workers of mine, and this past week, I was able to travel up to Steamboat, CO to celebrate their recent nuptials.
About two months ago, Mandy and Keenan got married here in Orange County, but since both of their families live out of state, they arranged a few days up in Steamboat for everyone to get together and celebrate. Needless to say, those few days were amazing. We had a couple of amazing days snowboarding on the mountain, and even had a big, home cooked feast one night. We were able to take a ride up to the top of the mountain, and then participate in a delicious four-course meal the night before the reception.
The day of the reception was a blast. Not only did we get to continue to snowboard and enjoy some snow, but the reception itself was held in a barn that had such a cool vibe to it. It was unlike anything I had seen before. One thing that really stuck out in my mind was when everyone started making speeches about Keenan and Mandy. They kept mentioning how they might have never gotten married if I hadn’t introduced them, which I did. When I was setting them up, I had no idea that a date would eventually lead to their marriage, and that I would get to watch the whole thing progress.
To me, seeing them so happy and knowing that I had a small hand in that meant the world to me. I was so grateful, and the moment was so gratifying. I couldn’t help but think that if I wasn’t clean, that relationship might have never happened.
While being sober enough to set someone up on a date might seem like a small thing in the grand scheme of life, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t count towards something. Not everything in life has to be extravagant, and even the smallest things that I do can greatly impact someone else. I am happy to say that now that I am sober, my impact on others is no longer negative, but positive on a number of levels.
Author
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Paul Alexander is the CEO, President & Founder of Northbound Treatment Network in Newport Beach, California. He believes wholeheartedly in transformational leadership, organizational health and effective, fully integrated substance use disorder and mental health treatment. With over 27 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Paul has extensive knowledge of “in vivo” treatment modalities, clinical development, operations, strategy, marketing and financial planning. He has been widely recognized for his development of collegiate-based residential treatment programs for students in recovery and authored a research study at The University of California confirming this modality’s effectiveness.
Paul’s comprehensive professional experience, willingness to innovate, and emphasis on organizational health are vital factors in Northbound’s continued success. Paul received his Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist training at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, and was awarded Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2002. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society, Summa Cum Laude, from University of California, Irvine, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. Paul currently serves on The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) board. In addition, he serves on The Family Recovery Foundation board and The CarePossible board in Orange County; both organizations are committed to raising funds for family recovery and treatment for former military personnel. Paul is in recovery himself and lives in Orange County with his wife Silvana and his two young sons, Noah and Dean.
