Your Own Prison.

I cry out to God, Seeking only His decision, Gabriel stands and confirms, I've created my own prison. 

 - Creed

I know of a drunk that went to a concert, grabbed a 6 pack of beer, because the place was serving it up to slow for his needs. Got caught, got handcuffed, and hauled into the security office.  Told a sob story of his divorce, and was let back into the concert.  Luck? God?  I don't know, but he did enjoy the rest of the concert and behaved. 

But what if it hadn't gone so well, what if he HAD been pulled into a real jail? It could have gone so much worse for the man.  And he would have had no one else to blame. 

I'm glad today, I don't have to be a six pack stealing thief. I can enjoy the freedom of sobriety. 

Party like a Pumpkin?

"I wanna rock and roll all nite and party every day"
- Kiss

Oh the sad extremes we would go to. The great lengths we'd subject ourselves to, just to "have some fun". The underbelly of the party. Going to a party and not remembering it. Embracing the Porcelain and praying to God. Waking up with wet sheets, because we were too passed out to get up and make it to the bathroom. Waking up with Vomit in our hair.... Waking up in a jail cell, and not knowing what we did to get there.

These are the good times we're giving up?

Be Gone "Evil Good Times!!!" Be Gone I say!!

I have gotten honest with myself. My life had become unmanageable.

I got on my knees and prayed to God.
A God that I don't, and will never completely understand, but greater then myself.
In the depths of despair, that was enough.

My Prayers have been answered. I am sober today. I am happy.

Drinking and Druging and Musicians

"I only got drunk once, for twenty years" 
 -  Joe Walsh

It's a pity that so many artists are lost due to drugs and alcohol.  I've thought that it's that part of  us that wants more of feeling good, that drives us to seek new levels. Or should I say,  Seek higher highs?  I'm not an artists, but I've been in front of a group of people, and it's a total rush.  For me, it's like trying to walk on ball bearings, I feel that I could slip and fall, say the wrong thing. It's very un-nerving for me. But still, it's a rush.

I think it's part of the thinking, that if a little is good, More is Better.  Is there a part of us that just thinks that? Is it a Societal thing? I do know that it's a common theme for those in recovery. We don't know when to say, "enough, is enough".  We're over doers, some of us are even over achievers.  Smart as a whip. Butt's kicked by addictions.

Great Talents like Amy Whinehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Bon Scot, etc fell prey to the "Feeling Gooder" effect.  Thankfully there are others that gave up that pursuit, before it killed them. Stevie Ray Vaughn, Warren Zevon, and Joe Walsh..

Can you name a few artists that have gotten clean over the years that you've enjoyed?

* Photo Credit

Rock and Roll Dysfunction

How many of us have spent hours just listening to some rock and roll, headphones on, and tuned out from the rest of the world? 

Ok, I can see from the show of hands, that most of you have.  It's a great way to escape. Drunk or Sober. But we've got to be careful, as we become what we ingest. 

I want to talk about that Dysfunction Junction that rock and roll seems to intersect with.  The slippery parts are where we lay our heart and souls down for someone else to trample on them. Because we're "so in love".  Then we're so torn up after that goes bad, that we get the blues, and have a "reason to drink and drug"...  

But we put ourselves in that position.  One of my favorite artists does it all of the time with his lyrics.  

"Hey, What Do You Say"

If I could put myself at ease for awhile

Maybe I could learn to appreciate your smile

I got a lot to give but I never give enough to you

Oh to you

I'm not tryin' to make you feel uncomfortable

And I'm not trying to make you go away

All I really want to do is be with you

For awhile or just today

I said hey, what do you say

Now dont you tease me, dont you mess me around

I got alot of friends and I dont need one now

So baby don't you let me down

Don't get me wrong, don't stop listening to music that makes you feel good, want to dance sing and/or shout.  Just make sure that you're not soaking your brain in so much music that's going to help create some serious self-pity. 

What are some of your favorite artists or tunes that might bring on serious blues if you were to listen to them? Or What's some of your favorite "Headphone Music"?

* Photo Credit