Janice, a 32 year old professional, recently came to my office and exclaimed “I don’t know how I could have gotten myself in this situation. I graduated college with honors, had my master’s degree by the time I was 24, and landed my dream job just after graduation. I don’t know anything about drugs and alcohol!! This isn’t how I usually run my life!”

Janice went on to tell me that over the past year she became involved with a man who was newly in recovery. About 4 months into their relationship he began using alcohol and drugs again. She found herself at a turning point. As his drug abuse increased, she avoided friends and family for fear that they would find out about his chemical use, started making up stories to bail her boyfriend out of trouble at work, and bought into some unlikely stories that he told her. “Before I knew it” she commented “I eventually accepted drug use in my home.” She wondered how things got so out of control without noticing it sooner.

“You’ve boarded the crazy train and it has become your new normal” commented a friend to her during a lunch time conversation. “When did you give yourself permission to make the unusual, your usual?” As Janice was telling me this, I couldn’t help but wonder if we all “board the crazy train” at some point in our lives and while some make a life out of being a passenger on this train, others decide that they need to get off at the next stop. I recently talked to a friend who had an experience that was similar to Janice’s situation. I think she summed it up well—“people often accept situations that life deals them, the real test is what they decide to DO about this acceptance.”

The crazy train’s whistle is blowing …..will you get onboard?

“And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.”
–Libba Bray