Addition vs. Addiction

Let’s care more, not less. Shimi asked me to write a blog about Addiction. Years ago, Shimi’s mom called me and said:

My son is addicted to drugs. It’s been a problem since he was 14 years old. Would you help him?

I told Shimi’s mom I don’t know anything useful about addiction. She persisted.

She said Shimi was already in the program and rehab many times. She pleaded.

Please. Just talk to him.

Shimi and I met only because his mom is a force of nature. He didn’t want to meet me. And, I didn’t want anything to do with addiction. My first words to Shimi were:

I can’t tell you anything useful about addiction. I can tell you there is a feeling in life better than any drug can ever make you feel. Would you like a new experience?

Shimi smiled. He didn’t say yes and he didn’t say no. He only agreed to keep talking. 

Instead of talking to Shimi about the things to take out of his life. I talked with Shimi about the things to add to his life.

We talked every week for more than a year. We talked about his hopes, his dreams, his fears, his skills and his talents. We talked about love and what it means to care deeply for yourself and others. We talked about intuition and destiny. 

We didn’t talk about life in terms of problems to be solved. We talked about choices and the right action of power. 

And then one day it happened. Shimi called me up and said:

You were right. This feeling is better than any drug. 

We both laughed. For the first time, Shimi was loving his life. 

Highs and Lows

Shimi learned the experience of loving life isn’t about highs and lows. Our Planet Earth is a duality, and we can’t control the tides. There will always be ups and downs, left and right, good and bad, hardships and blessings. The only thing we can control is our ability to care.

Caring is the one constant in Shimi’s life. He’s learned to consistently care for himself and others.

It helps when you are surrounded by others who consistently care. Shimi’s mom never stopped caring about her son. And, neither did I. 

Let’s care more, not less, together. I can’t tell you anything useful about addiction. I can only tell you the addition of caring makes the highs and lows of life easier to navigate.