WritingFromLife

Wow. I just read completely through ArtFriend's thread titled "What do you do for a living". Great question, AF, and great answers. This may seem redundant--I want everyone to really grasp the caliber of people we have on this site-most of society still sees "alcoholism" as the homeless man in the street with the brown paper bag. Yes, he is there....still the fact remains that the faces of alcoholism (or however you label it) proves to me that this isn't just a choice or a weakness. (I know it is a choice at some points, no debate here....I say this just to drive home the fact that Phd or not, it can get you, too. So don't judge. Here is the list of all who posted--some have retired.

1. Several writers of non-fiction, fiction, true crime, travel,
2. Several artists-painting, photography, woodworking, musicians,
3. Several Stay-at-Home Moms (I wish there were a better term for this!)
4. Several government workers
5. a police officer (thank you for serving!)
6. 2 firemen (you too....thanks for keeping us safe!)
7. several attorneys, corporate
8. Editor
9. several Scientists-medical, computer et al
10. Retired former business owner grandfather who now ranches
11. CPA
12. Financial work by day, exotic dancer by night (gotta luv it!)
13. Self-employed freelance real estate copywriter
14. EBay store owner
15. graphic designer
16. nuclear engineer
17. psychology student
18. several teachers
19. Olive Oil Farm owner in Italy (ahhhhh)
20. pro-golfer
21. clinical pharmacy tech
22. Manager of business analysts at large corp.
23. Big 3 assembly line worker/Engines
24. Commodities Distributor--I LOVE this one. Fancy name for Truck Driver
25. Librarian
26. Actuary
27. Several Customer Service Reps
28. Non-profit/cause founder
29. Decorative Wall Painter
30. Legal Assistant
31. Several Registered Nurses--including one ER
32. High end retail
33. Event coordinator
34. Construction Mgmt/US Govt.
35. Sober Recovery Angel (moderator)
36. Hotel housekeeper/groundskeeper
37. Electrician
38. Flight Attendant
39. Clothing Label Owner
40. Bra Fitter! (yay!)
41. government paralegal
42. marketing
43. alcohol business
44. Chef and also a Personal Chef
45. Dog groomer
41. Psychologist
42. Homeless advocate and worker
43. Nuclear/military calibration technician
44. model
45. traveling retail buyer
46. legal editor for large company with degree in history and criminology
47. Bank Teller
48. Photo Booth owner
49. NYC Social Service
50. EMT
51. Surgical Administrator for Senior Med students
52. Medical Lab Assistant
53. grocery store customer service
54. small retail business owner - Hippy stuff (my LOVE!)
55. Event Coordinator
56. Skilled Gambling (ok, before you turn your nose up, this actually works the same as skilled stock trading and investing--same thing)
57. Several IT workers (PLEASE come live with me)
58. Physical Therapist
59. USAF Vet (thank you for serving!)
60. Pharmaceutical Engineer
61. machine work
62. Handy Man (you and the IT guys---come live with me!)
63. Clinical Coordinator for a Pedorthist (modifies footwear to address foot and lower limb conditions)
64. Special Ed Instructional Coach
65. Compensation and Benefits Consultant
66. Sonar Tech
____________________
I hope I haven't left anyone out--feel free to add yourself if I did. Thing is, look at this diverse, intelligent group! Do you wonder if that man in the street with the brown paper bag had a similar background....and just kept drinking?

Love to all of you.

Hobbers

National Sales Director. Multi-degreed. Published. :-(

I didn't 'lose it all', and I started coming here/being sober to KEEP it that way. Sobriety sucks, but I imagine losing what I have and living in an alley would be worse.

(That's about all that keeps me going on this sober-train, to be honest.)

ArtFriend

Thanks for putting that list together Writingfromlife! That must have taken forever! What a cross section of life represented here. Yes... alcohol is an equal opportunity killer!

WritingFromLife

ArtFriend - it DID! But I knew it would be worth it! Thanks for starting that thread!

snowbunting

My PhD supervisor once told me about her former supervisor back in the day. He was a brilliant professor of literature: prolific, high-profile, and internationally esteemed. One day about fifteen years after she'd gotten her PhD, she received a call from police in [name of US city where she worked] to say they had arrested a drunk hobo who wouldn't talk to them except to ask for her. Same guy.

At the time I never thought I'd be at risk of the selfsame disease, but six years later, here I am. Tbh, at least a third of the academics and writers I've known down the years have had an obvious alcohol problem. It seems to be fairly common among perfectionists and over-achievers.

Soberwolf

Wow when we see it like that

great post btw

tommyinphilly

Thank you Writing for posting that. It's an impressive list. Thank you Art for starting the thread.

Nonsensical

GS-0132
I read a lot.

WritingFromLife

uh oh, Nonsensical! Am I in trouble? for the record, my father is very high up in a major US government agency :-/

Nonsensical

I already knew that.

WritingFromLife

Nonsensical, you ROCK.

HappyBlue

Thanks for taking the time to make that list.

WritingFromLife

Hobbers- It gets way better than you ever imagined. You will wonder why you even drank and/or used when you see how rich life can be. Right now, so many of those things have been taken from you by alcohol.

TRUST THE PROCESS. And the process takes time and work. Hugs!