thomas11

I found out last night that a good friend of mine, a special friend, has died at the young age of 56. I met him in 1993 through bodybuilding. He was a hulking Greek man and for some reason took a liking to me, and we spent 4th of July weekends on my boat with his wife.

How does this tie into addiction?

My friend worked a full time job at Ford his entire life. But he used and probably abused steroids, and on the weekends did cocaine and hard liquor. Every weekend. Still a great fricking guy, super nice and a gentlemen always. But he liked to party and he liked to look good. In the end it killed him and I worry my fate may be the same.

Dee74

I'm sorry for your loss Jeff.

You've entirely changed your life tho - why the worry?

D

Anna

I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend, Jeff.

There's no reason to believe that your fate will be the same.

thomas11

He changed his life as well, he moved to Texas about 10 years ago and found a new wife and god. Lived a clean life since then. He still died young. That's what worries me.

Dee74

ah OK - that wasn't immediately apparent to me in the first post

You can only do what I and the rest of us try to do Jeff - live right, live well and have regular check ups?

D

teatreeoil007

Sorry to hear this, thomas. Sending warm thoughts your way.

Numblady

It’s terrifying. But possibly motivating. Whether we lived right all our days on the earth or we start living right today none of us knows how long we have. Let your big heart help you live the best days you can. I am also sorry for your loss. I had a sweet friend die far too young of ALS. It’s a horrific illness that for some ravages quickly (it did for her; it was less than 1.5 years from diagnosis to death). When I’m feeling low I try to think how lucky I am to be here, hugging my daughter and son, walking to get what I need, feeding myself.

It feels like I’m trying to talk you out of your grief, which is not really what I meant to do. It’s terrible to lose a friend, espeicially so young. Lots of support to you.

Delilah1

I'm so sorry for your loss Jeff.

Fearlessat50

I’m so sorry for your loss. As for your worry, I do know what you mean. I worry about getting cancer, Alzheimer’s, all sorts of stuff as a result of past drinking. Just like I worry about skin cancer from past, not current sun exposure. But.... we can’t dwell on our past lives, only learn from our mistakes, keep moving forward and being the best version of ourselves. You don’t have control over the future, just your own choices and actions. The same thing happened to a close family member. He had 20years of sobriety and died from a hard past life. But he died at peace knowing he lived his life sober till the very end. He had inspired so many people and his celebration of life ceremony was amazing!

thomas11

Yes Dee, I should have clarified that up front. I have lived a clean life from alcohol for 3 years and any drugs for 20 years now.

Way too many people I know dying this year. I'm afraid my father will be added to that list. He is not well.

Regular check-ups is right. In fact I have the unenviable task of scheduling my first colonoscopy this week.

Thanks everyone.

Branches

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Many of us on here "do the review" and think about what we might have done to our bodies. Worrying doesn't change anything. All one can do is try to be grateful we've reduced the odds by putting down the hooch and take the best care of ourselves that we can going forward. I wish you peace at this time.

Mattq2

Sorry you lost a friend Jeff. If I remember correctly you and I are around the same age . I think we got another forty years in us Pal!!!😀