Writings

Kristen R Willingway 6/19

If I didn't know what it hurt like to be broken, then how would I know what it feels like to be whole?

If I didn't know what it cost to be rejected, then I wouldn't know  your love coming home?

The troubles of my heart have enlarged. Bring me out of my distress. Look on my affliction, my pain and forgive all my sins. I may never be forgiven by some but I must accept that. Not being able to make it up is the price I have to pay. But I will stand my ground where hope can be found. God must think I am strong, it looks like more than I can handle. I was not strong enough. I gave up and hit rock bottom with grave depression and hopelessness. Maybe it's okay if I am not because the one who holds the world is holding on to me. So I lift my arms up and I know there is a power greater than myself that can restore me to sanity. If you stay sober good times will happen in your life. I am not afraid to leave my past. My fear doesn't stand when I stand in God's love. It's no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then. I have peace knowing God forgives me. I feel so alive in you. It's the best I deserve! I let go of God's hand and got lost. We are holding hands again and I am found.

#39 Kristen R-Willingway

Ashli S Willingway 6/19

I was 36 days sober the day I relapsed. I woke up with no intentions to buy or consume alcohol. Instead, I made a summer bucket list with my two sons and took them to play and eat at McDonald's. It brought me joy seeing their excitement. I found myself pulling into a liquor store on the way home. My oldest son said "more alcohol mom". That, right there, I should have left but my weakness guided me in. The guilt I felt had me stumped by another store to buy them candy and water toys. When we arrived home I set them up for fun while I indulged in my selfish weakness. My husband came home and my actions were exposed. I fled to the closet with a 9 mm. I could only see darkness. My life was over. I pulled the trigger but my body was unharmed. I was asked if I wanted help end the call came over me. "Yes I do." My life is not over. I have a new beginning.

#40 Ashli S.-Willingway

This life I thought was life, I am learning, has never been a life at all. 25 years of running from myself trying to find myself. 25 years of dodgy opportunity after opportunity expecting success and happiness only to find misery and despair. 25 years of using complete and utter selfishness to find love only to find hate and rejection. All I ever wanted was to be accepted and understood only to find that I didn't even understand or accept myself. 25 years of seeking. All I ever seemed to find was drugs and alcohol accepting me but it's return was only a deeper and darker place. Further away from unconditional love and acceptance. Maybe this time I found the key through the grace of God. Maybe this time I finally see who I really am and can share it. Maybe these 25 years can finally be worth it. Maybe these 25 years can finally let me free.

#41 Chris W at Willingway

Artie P-Willingway 6/19

My entire life has been about leaving. I've never learned how to come home. I left my family for the first time in 1991 for Desert Storm and it all began. It is as if each time I went, my life was completely different and I didn't know who I was. I kept going and going until I couldn't go any more. The fallen hang with me and my family struggles to see. Alcohol grabbed me as I started to run away. I am starting to get a grasp now for the first time in years. I'm opening the doors to all these old fears

#42 Artie P-Willingway

Christine A. Willingway 6/19

All of my life I was surrounded by alcohol. Food and wine brought our large Italian family together in unity to laugh and enjoy one another's company. Drinking to excess was the norm that I learned, not an addiction. Unfortunately for me, with an addictive personality, drinking to excess became a very frequent occurrence. Then a few negative events(assaults-physical and sexual) occurred which spin my drinking out of control. I could see how my life and everything I'd worked for both professionally and personally was suffering. Therefore, I came here before it was too late and more negative outcomes resulted. I am hopeful that this was the best course of action and look forward to what is to come.

#43 By Christine A.-Willingway

Matthew B-Willingway 6/19

There was a time when I enjoyed time with friends and family. They were good times full of laughs and libations. Those days fizzled out with age, marriage and children. I was left in the wake, alone drinking like I always had but with little to no interaction with all the people I loved so dearly. I began to feel lost, alone and isolated. But still I drank. It was the only thing that helped the hopeless feeling of depression. It consumed me. It was all I thought about. When was my next drink going to happen? Soon I could not function without it. Morning drinking, day drinking, night drinking. It was not too long before I had completely ruined my life and making it miserable for those who cared about me. Now a new chapter will soon be written unknown but different. Yet to be seen but only time will tell.

​

#44 Matthew B.-Willingway

Zach W-Willingway 6/19

My name is Zach. I am 25 years old with a baby girl (Paisli Ann Williamson). Her mom passed away August 23, 2018. Three months after Paisli was born. She got into a car wreck. After she passed I lost all hope and took a turn for the worse. I turned to drugs as a coping mechanism. To escape reality it worked for nine months. Or so I thought. I finally came back and realized I wasn't being a father. I was being a drug addict and abandoning my daughter. I came to get help and have now 27 days sober. I now realize that I can do this without drugs and have to be the father my little girl needs and the son my parents actually raise. Not the drugs turned me into.

#45 Zach W.-Willingway

Cindy J-Willingway 6/19

Something greater than myself saved me. I have another chance. I've been through just about everything in my past. After the death of my son I turned to alcohol and never dealt with their grief of losing that precious boy. That wavy blonde hair and big blue eyes have left a scar in my heart that only God can heal. I've looked to you Lord and prayed for many years. Somehow, you have kept your Angels close to me because there were many times I should not be here. I know I've heard myself but now it is my time to finally let God have that baby completely. I will let go somehow with the help of the Angels you have put in my life now. Help me old Lord to love the children here you have blessed me with and to love my family. Thanks you for all you have done for.

#47 Cindy J.-Willingway

Marcus S.-Willingway

Depressing country song of my life.

I've been through the wringer with my own mind.

So far down this dark road I am facing time.

The life that I built sober was a family in the making.

This family built on abstinence. This family built with God.

But a man ain't ever as perfect as sometimes I convince myself to believe.

My job and what I had became just things to feed me lies about who actually gifted them to me.

The life that I built sober was a family in the making.

This family built on abstinence. This family built with God.

#46 Marcus S.-Willimgway