I recently read a research article published in 2011[i]. It talked about how prejudice comes from a deep psychological need to categorize our environment in order to remove uncertainty. Not just about situations and events but also about the people we meet.
If you hang around the rooms of 12-step programs or treatment centers, you will likely hear many say something like, "I am a grateful recovered alcoholic," or "every day I thank God that I’m an addict." To someone outside recovery circles, this may seem like a clashing sentiment. Why would anyone be grateful for all the angst and pain that accompanies an addiction?
My son Elijah died one month before his 22nd birthday.
This is a sample of what I shared on Facebook right after he died. I wanted 100 people to share it and I hoped it would help one person. To my surprise, it has had more than 9,600 shares. I became an advocate overnight. I continue to share "Eli-ism’s" because no one should have to endure a loss as I have. That his family has. That his friends have.