Reflecting on a Journey Through Alcohol
My Story In A Nutshell
Jeff
4/15/20242 min read
Reflecting on a Journey Through Alcohol
The journey through alcoholism is intensely personal, yet universally relatable for many. For me, it began innocuously enough — my first beer at the age of 12 during a work party at my Uncle Ronnie's cottage. It felt like a rite of passage, a well-deserved sip during an adult celebration. Little did I know, this was the start of a long and complicated relationship with alcohol.
High school brought weekend parties, the thrill of hot rods and motorcycles, and my love for music, playing drums for 20 years then guitar. Alcohol was always part of the scene, a constant companion at celebrations and gatherings. During these years, my passion for photography also took root, an early sign of the life I would circle back to decades later.
In 1991, at the age of 23, I ventured into business, purchasing a vacuum truck company. The work was demanding and often lonely. The roads and the solitude of long drives left too much room for my thoughts and too many opportunities to drink. What began as casual drinking to pass the time or unwind after long hours morphed into a necessity to get through the day.
The real challenge began in 2014 when my then-wife and I opened a BBQ restaurant. Neither of us knew what we were truly in for. It was meant to be a dream come true, but it quickly turned into a living hell of relentless work. We clocked in over 90 hours a week for more than a year, and this grueling schedule persisted throughout the eight years we owned the place. The restaurant became my world — a world filled with too many great times, overshadowed by many more bad ones, all soaked in alcohol.
By 2022, the battle with my own demons and the end of my marriage left me to start afresh on my own. Those were tough, revealing years. I saw the best and worst of myself. The journey toward sobriety was painful but necessary. It wasn't just about giving up a substance, but about rediscovering who I was without the haze of alcohol.
Now, seven months sober, I am rekindling my old love for photography. This time, it's different. Every landscape, every candid moment I capture is a testament to a clearer vision — both through my lens and in my life. Photography has become more than just a passion; it's a way of seeing the world anew and reconnecting with a part of myself long overshadowed by alcohol.
I've learned that sobriety isn't just about stopping drinking. It's about starting life over, understanding the deep-seated reasons behind why we drink, and addressing them. It's about filling the void that alcohol leaves behind with things that heal and build us up. For me, that’s the beauty of nature, the thrill of capturing an unscripted moment, and the quiet joy of living a life free from alcohol's grip.
My story is one of many, but I share it in hopes that it resonates with someone else struggling out there. Whether it’s through music, the thrill of a motorcycle ride, or the click of a shutter, life is filled with passions that can help pave the path to recovery. Here's to fresh starts and new perspectives.
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