To all the fathers in recovery: thank you!

Thank you for being in the rooms--my father never made it here.

Thanks to you, I know what it feels like to have a dad look me in the eye and say: you belong here,
you're doing great, I believe in you, keep going, you're not alone.

Thanks to you, I have an example of a man who has the courage to face his past and take responsibility for his actions today, willing to be the best man he can be today, and making the effort to change for the better, no matter what it takes, one day at a time.

Thanks to you, I can watch a dad, over time, make changes he can not see himself--even as we all witness day by day the often dramatic transformation to increasing wisdom and  compassion. We see your efforts to become a useful person, in your family and in the world, and your willingness to be a worker among workers, a human among humans, showing up with hard work and reaching for humility. We see you becoming more useful, more at peace and more mature. We see you discovering a new way to exist in this world, and we are inspired by your example.

Where once there was only fighting, and proving, or running and using--we see a true backbone and stability emerge--and where once a hard heart and harsh ways, now a more caring heart and more loving ways. This is the true meaning of strength. We see you becoming more a protector than one seeking protection, a source of strength instead of a cause for fear or confusion.

Thanks to you,  when I hear the word dad, I might think of you, and the kindness and patience you showed me when I faltered. Thanks to you, on Father's Day, I have someone special to remember and my heart glows with pride and sincere gratitude.

Whether you have 28 years or just one day, these steps you take to abandon what is harmful and to turn to what is good--helps me to believe that I too might change--and that perhaps, if they want to, many more could.

It doesn't matter if you are old enough to be my grandfather or young enough to be my son, you
who are a recovering dad, have been there for me as a human. Some of you have changed my life by giving me rides to meetings--and even the grocery store--when I could hardly walk, and some of you have lifted me up when I was most scared, with just with a genuine smile, or by saying with your quiet presence that we are in this together. This is the meaning of unconditional love.

And for those who are not dads, I know there are sons, and uncles and brothers in these rooms, who
deserve support and recognition--as we are all in this together as recovering humans.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, I LOVE YOU and THANK YOU, and keep coming back ODAT!