It was around this time three years ago that I was in the middle of my 100Day Challenge. That challenge — ride my bike for an hour a day for one hundred consecutive days — was created to help me find strength and clarity in the face of my son’s addiction driven life. I experienced, celebrated, and learned a great deal through the successful completion of my challenge. It was the beginning of an incredible and significant transformation in my life.
Though I had always secretly wished Brandon would follow the experience of this path as a route to his recovery - I rarely encouraged he try it. When I did, it was met with much reluctance and resistance. Though he would always encourage me on my path, he rarely seemed openly interested in following a similar one in his life.
This is why I am so pleased to be able to celebrate Brandon’s accomplishments with him today. About eighty-eight days ago, Brandon posted on Facebook that he had quietly been engaged in a 100Day Challenge. It was the first time he freely volunteered and shared a commitment like this. I was shocked, surprised, and grateful.
This morning, I joined Brandon on the walk that marked his 100th Day. He had completed his 100Day Challenge. He has devised and created a routine for this life that provides him the focus and clarity for the balance of his day. As a parent who knows the struggles he has faced and the challenges he faces daily, I cannot be more impressed, proud, and grateful for his accomplishments today. Every day is a challenge for an individual dealing with addiction. Inserting a positive addiction into his daily routine is a wonderful gift.
Brandon, I know your journey. I understand the road you are on. You have created a path that works. I pray you stay on it and hope you inspire others to join you along the way. Congratulations on your accomplishment!! Love, Dad!
Proof the best thing we can do for our children is find our own happiness and sanity. Our light gives them permission to shine bright in their own way and in their own time. Congratulations!
Gail, thanks. A great reminder that we can only give our children what they need when we have the physical, mental, and emotional strength to deliver. When they need us, we need to be in a place to be there for them. We can’t do that if we ourselves are broken down.
Congratulations! So happy to hear Brandon reached this milestone! May he continue to find and follow routines that give him focus and clarity each day. Peace be with you both.
Thanks for the encouragement and the kudos. Very impressed with how Brandon took this upon himself to act and follow through. Something I learned early in my lessons with addiction — you can want them to find their way all you want, but they won’t find it until they want it bad enough for themselves.