I met a man today
he stood with so much pride.
he had so much pain,
but still he did survive.
the way that he spoke
sent chills down my spine
the stories he shared
opened up my eyes.
this man has made an impact
i never will forget;
how he kept pushing,
how he never quit.
so think you very much for sharing your time
and making me believe I can shine.
J. Smith

Last week I had the opportunity to speak at the gateway foundation to their alumni group and men who are in residential substance abuse treatment. I discussed my journey into recovery and tried to share a vision of hope and motivation. A young man wrote the above poem about me and I felt humbled and thankful. Hopefully he will continue on his path to recovery.

This is my 100th post; something that seemed unimaginable when I started this process. For the 5000 people who have come here thank you and to Mr. Smith I am honored
B