Lessons From My Time With The Bottle

by Derrick How

Overview

When people imagine their life's adventures, alcoholism and addiction aren't part of the dream. For Derrick How, he carried alcohol and addiction through his life, always hoping alcohol would get him through life's unexpected turns and wicked twists. His journey to sobriety opened up a whirlwind of personal turmoil, an undercurrent of unresolved conflicts with himself. The journey became a life-jarring quest to help him learn who he was and gain the self-love he needed to replace his self-loathing. Much of his life had been privileged, and he was grateful. He deprived himself, however, of the internal richness of the experiences he was surrounded by. He'd never taken the time to find out what his life had been missing. There was always an internal dissonance he couldn't shake. Profound experiences felt short-lived and lacked the potency he craved. Even joyful events set him back because of the added pressures he placed on himself. This resulted in accidents, setbacks, low moments, and failed efforts at recovery. Only through the fusion of philosophy into his healing did he begin to see life through a new lens, uncovering a path to genuine self-awareness and fulfillment.

When Derrick realized the importance of evaluating his life on a more intimate level, he was able to release the self-judgment and shame, welcoming in a new transformative approach to healing, health, and recovery. Free from active addiction, he began walking a path that embraced clarity and proactively recognized his personal limits, while expanding his worldview with his newfound freedom and purpose.

With this book, Derrick shares a powerful message, going beyond alcohol being the solution to his self-perceived inadequacies to exploring the source of his problems. If you desire understanding, healing, and inspiration, this story is the ultimate resource to help you surrender addiction and embrace life's greater meaning.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798331462949
Publisher:	Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date:	08/26/2024
Pages:	166
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.35(d)

About the Author

Derrick How has written this book to share his lived experiences about addiction and recovery. These are more than just tales from the dark side, they are lessons from his time with the bottle—impact points that have generated a greater philosophical conversation about addiction and the individual. He is helping broken people understand their actions in ways which help them face their pain, hurt, and vulnerability. He knows how the other side of the disease has a more well-defined purpose and life.
It took Derrick well into his adulthood to finally reach his breaking point. And, like many people, it happened after several unsuccessful attempts at rehab. The road was laced with highs and lows, moments where he gave up, and plenty where he chose to be an unapologetic addict—stopping caring about anything and lying about so much, especially to himself.
A moment of self-actualization in Derrick’s life opened up his receptivity to rehab. This time, he chose to go for himself—and it worked. He expresses that “the biggest difference in succeeding was I chose to change my path. It was for me, not for others.” In turn, he has discovered the power of moving onward and finding peace in the process, whether it is fly fishing, contemplating, or golfing with a new desire to connect with the ball through the lens of appreciation, not competition. It turns out life holds gems to be explored around us and inside us, too. It's these insights that have provided Derrick with a renewed sense of purpose and clearer direction to follow, knowing he’ll have challenges yet be willing to face them. He knows that day by day, strength can be found to tackle the beast that once destroyed life; we have the choice to move forward without feeding the dark side that created our chaos.
Today, Derrick has restored his optimism and knows his actions are what can make amends with his two sons. He understands there is still hard work to do, and when he hesitates, he finds comfort in God and with reflection. The biggest difference is he no longer fears his truths, even the uncomfortable ones. Connecting with a circle of friends with whom he can speak openly about his life provides hope and sparks on life’s greater meaning—we need to connect with others to be at our best. In a sense, Derrick is reborn, and now is his time to extend the branch of hope for change to others who struggle with addiction or are impacted by this far reaching disease.