I don't know about crowing but, if all we were to hear about were the tragedies or the relapses or seemingly impossible struggles with addiction, it wouldn't exactly fill people with a belief in the power of the program to save lives. I think it's equally important, or even more important, to hear about the successes as it is the failures.
John
Successes come only a day at a time, but failures are too often sudden and permanent. The program has given me hope, though, and optimism.
This year I was away from home on Father's Day and woke to a text from my wife that said "Call when you get this." Not usually good news waiting at the other the end of that kind of text.
But when I called, she told me that our oldest, who has been a concern for several years, had checked himself into treatment.
"Did he wreck his car...again?" No...
"Did he get fired...again?". No...
"Anybody hurt?". No...He said he's tired of being miserable all the time, and tired of being a drunk.
By far the best Father's Day ever! So far, so good. He's made some hard choices about playmates and playgrounds, is working his program with a sponsor, and I'm free to just be his dad.
So, I don't think of it as a "success" like "this is finished and we won", but rather a step in the right direction to be followed by another step, and another, and another until we all become happy, joyous and free or some such thing.