After the Documentary, People Open Up to Paul About Their Alcoholism/Problems

I knew the honesty of my documentary, The Redemption Race, would resonate with many people. I actually had no idea how many people would reach out to me to tell me their stories. Here are some of the things I heard from my Facebook friends and listeners.

A friend of mine from high school that I used to drink with shared this

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I just wanted you to know that what you shared moved me to tears...because you were, in OUR way, telling MY story. SO much of your documentary resonated with me because I am also a recovering alcoholic, coming up on 5 years sober this January and am also in a 12 step program. I too drank constantly from '99 to '09 and got to the point where I had to keep drinking morning, noon, and night so I wouldn't get those horrible hangovers. And I did what you did when you finally asked for help, WHATEVER I was told to do, lol! My sponsor always calls me her blessing because I never fought with her and was WILLING to do WHATEVER I had to, even though I was scared to death. I know how hard it must have been to get this out there, I am very open about my sobriety but there are a lot of people, especially from high school that don't know. I can't wait to see part 3 of your documentary...anyway, thank you again, and keep trudging that Road of Happy Destiny!!!!

 

That was amazing to see. Another friend that I knew very briefly reached out and shared this

Hey there.

So I saw your documentary last week and it was absolutely amazing. I just want you to know that I am so proud to know you and so impressed by who you are and the decisions you made. It takes so much honesty and courage to take those steps. And I recognized that. And I think it was God-inspired timing to hear such clear words from a man in recovery. It shows.

I also wanted to share with you that I am about 8 months expecting. (!) It's been a crazy wow but amazing.

Paul, after hearing your story I wanted to share with you a little bit more of my last ten years. A few years after leaving Colorado, when I was living in Seattle, I was sexually assaulted. Raped, by a slight acquaintance. I didn't realize it fully at the time, but it totally shattered my life. Rocked my world. It's taken several years to come back from, and really I just started to enter my own "recovery" this past spring. That's when I found out I was pregnant. It was both extremely painful and the most healing experience I have gone through.

Anyways, I've been sharing with those close to me and when I heard your own words about recovery and reconciling for lost time, it spoke very dearly to me.

After my time in Seattle, I also started dating someone long-term who had issues with alcohol. To see you recovered, to hear your clarity and strength meant more to me than I can say.

Thank you for sharing. Thank you for recovering and speaking to it.

I admire you and am so so happy for you.

I feel proud to know you.

 

Then, I took this call in the studio

Another one of my lifelong friends who does not have a problem with addiction, but just wanted to support me wrote this

damn. i'm proud of you. I miss you and I love you. very tough thing to go through, and even tougher to record it and put it out there for all the world to see

A high school friend that I had just reconnected with wrote this to me on Facebook

I just watched your video and all I can say is "Wow!" Thanks for sharing your amazing story. My dad is a recovered alcoholic of 30+ years, so your story hit a personal side for me. Glad to see that you're so happy and doing awesome.

Do you have a story you want to share?