Ensuring Their Legacy Lives On

When my dad told me back in 2005 that most of the friends I had in high school would be dead before they turned thirty-years-old, I didn’t believe him. In fact, I laughed when he said this.

But, you know what? He was right. Most of my friends are now six feet under, never to see another day—and I’m only twenty-six-years-old.

Unfortunately, this is a common theme for many recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Each day, we wake up to find out that yet another friend lost their fight with addiction.

This year alone (and we’re only two months in) I’ve gotten the news of at least another three former close friends that were taken far too soon.

Each and every time the news comes, I think to myself, could I have helped them more? Could I have reached out to check on them? Could I have offered assistance that would have saved their life? What could I have done to change this outcome? After all, I made it out alive, so why couldn’t everyone else?

The short answer—maybe I could have helped, maybe I couldn’t have. Now, I will never know.

What I do know is that it’s now my duty to ensure their death was not in vain. After all, I did make it out alive for a reason, right?

Each and every day, we strive to carry their legacy on by helping people find the path to recovery. While losing loved ones is one of the toughest things to deal with in life, especially when their lives were cut far too short, we must continue to push forward.

We must continue to reach out and help others.

We must continue to share their story.

We must continue on this journey called life.

Because reaching out could save a life.

Because continuing to help others will help us and others heal.

Because their story will inspire others.

Because this journey called life isn’t over for you and me.

We have a message to share with others—their story.

But, how can you help when you feel so powerless?

I thought the same thing. As I watched friend after friend be laid to rest, I couldn’t fathom what I could do to make a difference that would really count.

What I didn’t realize is that even the smallest action can make a big difference.

Simply by telling their story, I could change lives.

Simply by checking in on friends and family, I could change lives.

Simply by showing them that there was a better way to live, I could change lives.

Simply by remaining sober and spreading hope, I could change lives.

And, you can too. Our friends and family may not be here anymore, but their legacy lives on through us. We are the ones who will share their stories each and every day in an effort to help as many people as possible overcome the obstacles our loved ones were unable to conquer.

Whether you know the person struggling or not, reach out. It is through the action of helping others that we will ensure their legacy lives on by assisting each addict to get help on the road to recovery.

(To preserve privacy, the photos does not show the people featured in this article.)