Go! Set the example
January 25th, 2008 by Mighty MorganMighty Morgan here with my latest post.
For those of you who don’t already know this…for over 12 years of my life I was….
A criminal.
A liar.
A junkie.
I couldn’t get the needle out of my arm.
I was a waste of a lot of space.
I was part of the problem.
I certainly did not set an example.
It takes great courage and perseverance to completely and totally change ever aspect of one self; to make a choice to be a better person on a daily basis. But I learned that it was possible by those who have walked the path of recovery before me and who knew well the power of setting the example.
I now know the power of setting the example.
I now set the example for other who struggle in their own lives.
Yet, there are days and moments in time in which….. I DON’T WANNA.
Willingness to be a better person is often not something I want to do. But is something I choose to do. I know that by actively being more then I could have ever conceived in any given circumstance or situation, I allow other the same opportunity for change within the framework of their own life.
I made a decision over 2 1/2 years ago to change my life for the better and since that day I have been presented with the opportunity in sharing this process of change with the people that I meet each and every day.
So my question to you all is…
What example’s are you setting?
Do you make a choice to be part of the problem…or part of the solution?
Oh Morgan
YOU ROCK GIRL!!!
Such courage to get through it and stay on the other side…
I try these days to set an example of thinking for yourself, using your brain, and questioning everything around us.
My kids have learnt this and it has held them in good stead….
I am one of the lucky few who have seen the effects of drugs, alcohol, abuse along with other things and choosen not to follow that path…
To date We have been lucky in that our children have managed to leave drugs and alcohol alone thankfully although they have tried a few things, they did tell me and we talked about it, discussed what effects it had and how it made them feel. If they liked it, we talked about why. the rule we have had is if you try something tell us, so if there is a problem we know what to do and luckily they always have told us…
Its a long road, you are inspiring……
Good luck to you Morgan
You Go Girl!
And what an example you are setting Aussie…too many kids don’t have that “safety” net where they know that they can share ther lives and mistakes with their families.
The environment I grew up in did not offer that type of relationship, so i felt the need to hide what i was doing (I’m not blaming my parents btw.)
But if the world had more relationships like the one you offer your children..the world would be a more balanced place.
Thanks for your support girlie!!!!!
Thanks MM but I must say and dont tell anyone I said this..
I do find inspiration from people like you …
who go to the depths swim back to the surface and then swim like billy-oh to come back to shore…
you are an inspiriation… Girl..
And dont you ever forget it…..
We loves ya Mate..
Much love right back at you girl!!!!!!!!
I’ll second that! You rock Morgan! Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing.
Do tell us more about your actual parcours girl - what kept you going when the going got rough no doubt at times, the milestones, the hard moments, the lessons learnt along the way. I’m sure there’ll be loads to inspire there too.
Bridget loves this post!
There came a point in which I could no longer deny who I had become….and that who I was, was nothing close to who I ever imagined I could be…
I had become a negative force of destruction, not only in my own life but the lives f those who had the unfortunate experience of crossing my path.
I was tired of being the problem…so I choose to be part of the solution….
Excellent post! I didn’t know this was the path you were on…very impressive. And I like when you said ‘ i don’t wanna’! lol very honest.
I like to try and set a good example…but I slip…once in a while…okay often. I like to think that’s normal tho. It’s not so much the slips that set the example…it’s the getting up & moving on, I think.
I volunteer on a help/crisis line … listening to people who are struggling. We don’t give advice…we listen & support. I hope it’s a small way to be part of the solution…
You know your right when you wrote…
“it?s the getting up & moving on”
I never thought about it that way..thanks for the insight. I think that is where the courage to be who we truly are comes from…..
a string of failures that leads us to wear the necklace of success that is our lives, our experiences, our strength and our hopes!!!!!
I think Edison said…something like this when his 453 attempt at the light bulb failed..
Thats 453 steps closer to the one that works…..
you get the idea..
every failure is just one step clsoer to success in all things….
Thanks for this Mighty and it’s great that you are on board here as a flowers founder - as your chronicle you’re awesome tale over at your blog with really provides a grounded form of inspiration to countless people…as you clearly ‘get up and move on’ as Dorwsey beuatifully summed up…
Any plans for a book Mightymorgan? Seriously - few would tread with their heart on their sleeve as you do. We’d love to know more about you here at flowers and tales from New York that you come across.
Our example - well discovering and enjoying being our authentic selves (as you clearly are on every post you write at flowers) part of it is through this community, our coaching and trying to lose our labels of judgement and bring people together, inspire them to realise what unique bundles of talent they are.
Problem, plenty of those but they = opportunity, right and as AC said about ‘failure’ - its the child of success!
Group hug, anyone?
I’m down for a group hug
Seriously though…the book thing is still on …it’s just me owning up to completing the task…the feedback that i have received so far in relation to the tales of my life, the scars of the journey as well as the healing that has occurred through my own process of life is been WELL received by those i have shared it with….the only thing is me working through my own fears and actually “LETTING IT” go…….
Hi Mighty’
I led a really sheltered life - growing up in a small village community where fashion and trends were just not things people bothered with. Crime and other ’society problems’ like drugs were just not there. Thw whole village would be in uproar if someone graffiteed the bus shelter (the only one in the village).
Its very easy to get a very narrow minded view of the world - and its problems.
I like to think stepping outside that bubble and moving to derbyshire nearly 20 years ago, although it really threw me in at the deep end to everday life, made me a more tolerant person.
I’ve never taken drugs (apart from on the advice of a doctor but certainly nothing stronger than antibiotics), never smoked and if I had a vice, it was a couple of pints on a friday night (litearlly) but I don’t do that anymore.
I can’t beging to imagine what must drive people like yourself to the steps you felt you had to take, so I feel a bit of a fraud offering practical advice.
I try to lead by my own example - polite, considerate of others, tolerance and caring. I’m sorry if that sounds syrupy sweet but that’s who I am.
What I would say is well done for (in my view) getting your life back on track, and having the courage to be open about your past - especially as a way to helping others overcome.
Jonathan (aka purple13)
Good for you Jonathan - such n honest reply back from the other end of the Spectrum to what Mighty Morgan has gone through, hat’s the beauty of it here - a right eclectic mix of folk.
Inspirational stuff mighty and thank you - I’ve honestly not thought about the examples I set, will give it some thought.
Thanks Sarah and again thanks to Jonathan as well for allowing the contrast of our lives to be shown.
Jonathan I do not think that what you wrote is syrupy sweet…it’s real. Just as my life was real the contrast of yours is as well. i would never wish the life I had lived on anyone…but I also know down to the deepest parts of my being that is has created a path of healing for myself and others that struggle with these aspects of their life.
My experience is that addiction is a DISEASE…some will argue with that but there are many more that will agree that it is a dis-ease of self that manifests and the most obvious symptom of this inner discomfort is the uncontrollable use of mind and mood altering substances.
It doesn’t discriminate…and it kills.
I’m fortunate…..I lived….I escaped…many don’t and never will.
an excellent post - and an example for all of us, not only because you have got to where you are now, but also for having the courage to tell us about it. Today there is this pressure to always be the best, earn the most or whatever, creating a place where there is no space for making mistakes or asking if you could try it again, but you have said in a very public place that people do get it wrong and can come back.
Me? I don’t think I could ever offer a very good example for anything. I try to help our daughter by advising her and sometimes pointing to myself as an example of what not to do. Outside of that, Paul and I are trying to say that there are alternatives to living in the fast lane and the first step towards finding out how, is to step off and taking time out to think - travelling/pilgrimages being an ideal way.
We don’t preach, we are not religious, but we hope that by writing our guides we can make this option open to anyone - irrespective of age, belief, atttitude and income.
Thats an excellent example to be setting. I know that for myself I spent many, many years, time and energy chasing the outside aspects of life to define who I was….only to discover later on that it’s only the inner aspects of oneself that could ever define.
Oh my god MM, you have been trhough so much. It is so moving to read and see that you now try and set an example for others. I don’t believe that you try however, I believe that you DO!
Good for you. It makes me realise how much I am cocooned in my comfort zone. THanks for waking me up!
I know that I have been through a lot…but I never allow it to be more tan what it was…..a part of my story. We all have our stories in life, our hardships our pain…whatever it may be…the strength of who we are though comes about when the decision to change is incorporated into the aspects of our daily lives.
My story may not be someone else’s experience…but underlying it all it the “feelings” that drive our experiences and our strength.
Thanks as always Mel for your words of support.
Heh Morgan you are an inspiration.
So many people are stuck in despair and on self destruct mode, but say they can never change and point the blame for where they are at others or the situation.
Contrast that with:
“I couldn?t get the needle out of my arm.”
“I was a waste of a lot of space.”
“I was part of the problem.”
Thankyou for being so honest. I think you are going to get the oppurtunity to inspire and help lots of people here when the crowds start clicking on.
Many of them are going to be hurting and looking to connect with people that can demonstrate hope in the face of despair. You are one of those people.
Seconded Mike! A hard one to follow that I GO! mighty Morgan - GO! The more I learn about the founders here the better it gets,
Thanks.
Thanks Dave…..I’m not looking to trump anyone with my tales….just learning that there is a power that can help others through the tales of my own life…..
Sure but just take the praise Mighty - you’re porving to be an inspiration here!
Enjoy
Thanks Dave….sniff…sniff
Okay…I need to admit that when I read your comment…it gave me the chills (In a good way.)
I hear what you wrote a lot…sometimes it scares the hell out of me, because the way I look at it is that I am just another person in this life, doing what i have to do in order to be more than who i have allowed myself to settle being.
I think that regardless of the “stories” we all have…that we all, each and every one of us has the power to change our lives for the better, to be better people on a daily basis…once we accept that responsibility for our lives..begins and ends with us!
Wow! MM I am humbled. What have I ever overcome that can compare with your achievement? Being a published author and writing mentor I must say that you write very well, with a rawness and honesty that is worth something. If you ever do want to write about what you have done, you know where I am. If a book is too daunting, try an article. What better way to change lives than to write about what you have done so that more people get to be inspired and empowered by you.
The blog was a great place to start.
What have I done? What do I do? Well, I am a writer so I write. I am a mother so I mother. I try to walk my talk as much as I can - but Morgan, nothing compares to you.
Thank you for you words of encouragement…but I humble decline the praise….Just because i lived an insane life does not qualify me as someone with a better story to tell…it just makes me another person living this life, walking the path and finding my way.
WE ALL HAVE A STORY, whether it be one like my own or one very different…..the aspects of our stories and what we do with them is the power…not me.
But still thanks!
GOOD FOR YOU MIGHTY MORGAN! It’s great having you here smelling those flowers….
Mighty Morgan - what a great moniker. It takes great courage to conquer addiction. And so, you are mighty.
Setting an example is kind of a scary issue for me. I have been outspoken and adventuresome in my life, and have paid a price. So, I tried to be quiet and lay low, and paid a bigger price. A year or more ago, I started to do stand-up comedy. It was the hardes thing I’ve ever done, because it’s so personal. You have to talk about your life, things you love, things you hate. But when I conquered my fears, I realized that, as a 50-year-old woman, getting up on stage and telling on myself, I was giving other women the permission to be themselves, to be human, to make mistakes, and laugh at themselves. So, I guess my comedy, and my blog, where I tell outrageous stories of my life, is an extenson of that.
You rock girl….and that’s the whole point for me. When I find the courage to be me….with all the good, bad and ugly…I have found that it allows others to do the same….
Thanks