I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Today, we’re celebrating another ¤ JohnnyO Gratitude Day! ¤
A large part of my Recovery, (Sober since December 28, 2020) has been my involvement in various Writing Groups, both for fun and to have new Community away from the Bars and Drinking.
June 15th 2024 was my 66th Birthday, the next day I was able to celebrate with my son, Stefan who is over the moon that I am finally not just Sober but in full blown Recovery. I was able to celebrate an excellent Father’s Day with him the following Day. The following Night, the prompt for “Shout” was particularly timely, as follows:
The writing prompt for tonight’s session is: What might they write to you?
For this session of The Story Writing Workshop, we are going to write a letter. We have written letters before in SHOUT, but those have always been your words, your feelings, and your expressions. This time, you are going to write what they might write.
Please write a letter to you from a person of your choosing. It can be alcoholism related, but it definitely doesn’t have to be. It could be about an adverse childhood experience. The letter could be from a family member, a close friend, or someone who had an impact on you – good or bad. Write the letter from someone from whom you wish you could hear the words:My piece written by me, from my Son to me.
June 15, 2024
Dear Pops,
I am writing this letter on your Birthday, which overlaps celestially in the same 48-hour period with Father’s Day this year. A Happy coincidence indeed. Wait, there are no coincidences or are there? Only the shadow knows for sure. And your shadow wasn’t talkin’, certainly not with any coherence.
This Father’s Day is so special to me. We both know why. You finally did what we and for that matter, the entire universe knew had to be done. First, you finally quit drinking. Then you accepted the help of others to get well, and now there is no turning back.
My pride in being your Son grows each day as I begin to contemplate and realize what good ideals and activities we can collaborate on, truly “being good persons” together. I have to admit that I never thought that I would be supremely confident that you would never relapse, or once again become that terrible side of Jekyll and Hyde which drugs and alcohol render you. But I am supremely confident today, this Father’s Day, 2024.
I look forward to sharing together those unexpected moments of joy which emerge from the privilege of the day to day slog of just being a good, loving person. It isn’t always easy, but it is almost always worth it. Proud to be the Son of a man, a gentle soul who overcame his most terrible demon, alcoholism, with both resolve and humility.
Love,
Your proud Son,
Stefan-John Olander
under1000skies 