as always, good perspective, fred. for this ex drunk, i have been blessed to be able to see from both sides of the bottle( but not til i got sober). i have seen the path of destruction that i left in my wake and what didnt work for the people that stayed around while i was still drinking.
openmindedness is a valuable asset of either side. if someone doesnt want to hear the perspective from my side, so be it.
even after 7 years in recovery, you friends and family talk about me when i was drinking. i am blessed to remember how i was and not that man any more and also blessed to be able to see what didnt work too good for those ones the other side of the bottle.