Road Trip – Perfect Time For a Dip? Not Anymore
I found out late last week that I’d been asked in for an on-site interview with a company that I’d be very excited to work for. Â SCORE! Â The interview / role is in a location about 4 hour from home so you know what that mean… ROAD TRIP! Â After I came down from my initial high of making it to this point in the interview process I had another thought. Â This thought however, wasn’t so awesome. Â A road trip and a night away from the family in a hotel room would be an awesome time for a dip!
Wait… what?
What did I just say?!?!??!
You see… that’s not me anymore.  I’ve been quit for over 5 years now.  Yet in that moment, the thought of driving 4 hours with a fatty in crossed my mind.  The thought of sitting in my hotel room with a lip full of Kodiak crossed my mind.  And honestly, it’s pissed me off.
This wasn’t a crave. Â Far from it. Â In fact I can honestly tell you it’s been years since I’ve had anything that I’d consider a real crave. Â This was nothing more than a passing thought that I brushed aside. Â But as I thought back on it, it really upset me because it once again reminded me that I will always be an addict. Â And while there’s no chance that I’m going back to the can at this point in my life, it made me realize how people can do it. Â It showed me how people can throw away hundreds and thousands of days quit… just like that.
It’s very easy. Â When you start to romanticize your addiction in your mind it’s very easy to think back on the “good old days”. Â Remember when you’d go on a road trip with your buddies and pack a log or 2 just to get you through? Â Remember when you were sitting around the campfire drinking a few dozen beers and chewing the whole time? Â Yep, I can see how it’d be very easy to fall back into those old routines.
But then I remember other things.  I remember the horror that I felt when I walked out of the house without my can.  I remember the sheer terror I felt on my wedding night when I realized I was leaving on my honeymoon the next morning and only had a half can of Kodiak left.  I remember just a few weeks back when I thought cancer had finally caught up with me.  I remember how shitty I felt when I held my son in my arms and started to cry thinking about someone else raising him.
Don’t be afraid of your addiction. Â Face it head on. Â Recognize what it is you’re dealing with and realize that you’re not alone. Â Head over to our Discord server or the forums and start talking. Â Post roll and remember why you quit. Â Don’t forget.
As for my road trip? Â I’m gonna go nail this interview. Â I’m going to do it dip free and then I’m going to come home to my family. Â Now THAT is a road trip worth making.
Amazing post, you summed it up perfectly. It’s just not worth the 15-20 minute buzz for a lifetime of regret.
@Jim – thanks! Just got back from my trip last night. Nailed the interview dip free!
Preach it Chewie! This one hit home for me! I work in outside sales and am in a hotel room away from my family every other week. I’m 21 days quit and fighting this road trip battle constantly! Thanks for the encouragement!!!
I’m done! I choose to live!!
@kysteve – Happy to help my man. Congrats on 21 days free!
Amen brotha!!