Face your addiction..!

This happened a few years ago, and today, the man has retired. It wasn't a very pleasant evening at the officers club where I spent the evening: "I'll have another drink," he told the waiter.
"It's your fourth," I said feeling bothered.
"So you're good at counting," he acknowledged.
"I think you've had enough!"
"I know when to stop," he said, looking at me red faced and eyes glazed, "I need this to get over my problems! D'you know what my commanding officer called me today?"
"No," I said.
"He called me a drunkard!"
I looked at him that day, a senior officer in the armed forces, a talented man who seemed to have got carried away with the good life. "So what did you tell your officer?" I asked.
"I told him I knew when to stop!"
"Maybe you don't," I said.
"I know when to stop! Waiter pour me another!"
I accompanied him to his car. His driver looked at me and looked upward helplessly. We put him into the back and he tried to wave. "I know when to stop," he groaned, "I know when to stop!" He fell asleep.
I looked at the retreating car and knew the officer had a problem. My thoughts that day had gone to two others, Swami Vivekananda and Mother Teresa.
Once upon a time, the young Swami Vivekananda was known as Narendra. One day Narendra was going to the temple of Durga in Kashmir, when a troop of monkeys started following him.
Narendra was scared not knowing what to do. He decided to run and escape. With all his might he began to run. But the monkeys were equally fast.
A Sanyasi was watching the scene. He cried out, "Don't run. Face them!"
Narendra did as he was told. He stopped running and turned around. The monkeys also stopped and after a while, one by one slunk away.
The same happened to Mother Teresa.
One day while nursing leprosy patients in a Calcutta slum, a ferocious bull charged towards her. It was about to butt her and the patients were terrified.
But Mother Teresa courageously stood up and stood her ground.  Seeing her so calm, the animal lost its rage and left the place.  I had stared at the retreating car with the army officer. He had been taught to fight from the day he joined defense college. He knew how to handle the latest guns with the best ammunition. He could manage missiles, rockets and bombs. But when it came to facing the enemy of alcoholism he ran and the drinks ran behind him.  I wonder how many of us face the same situation? How dowe face our addictions?
We pour ourselves our next glass and next glass and next. We puff at cigarette after cigarette and tell the world we don't have a problem; or maybe its women or the card table?
That man has now destroyed his family, his home and career. It's time we faced our addictions..!
    
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Face your addiction..!

This happened a few years ago, and today, the man has retired. It wasnt a very pleasant evening at the officers club where I spent the evening: Ill have another drink, he told the waiter. Its your fourth, I said feeling bothered. So youre good at counting, he acknowledged. I think youve had enough! I know when to stop, he said, looking at me red faced and eyes glazed, I need this to get over my problems! Dyou know what my commanding officer called me today? No, I said. He called me a drunkard! I looked at him that day, a senior officer in the armed forces, a talented man who seemed to have got carried away with the good life. So what did you tell your officer? I asked. I told him I knew when to stop! Maybe you dont, I said. I know when to stop! Waiter pour me another! I accompanied him to his car. His driver looked at me and looked upward helplessly. We put him into the back and he tried to wave. I know when to stop, he groaned, I know when to stop! He fell asleep. I looked at the retreating car and knew the officer had a problem. My thoughts that day had gone to two others, Swami Vivekananda and Mother Teresa. Once upon a time, the young Swami Vivekananda was known as Narendra. One day Narendra was going to the temple of Durga in Kashmir, when a troop of monkeys started following him. Narendra was scared not knowing what to do. He decided to run and escape. With all his might he began to run. But the monkeys were equally fast. A Sanyasi was watching the scene. He cried out, Dont run. Face them! Narendra did as he was told. He stopped running and turned around. The monkeys also stopped and after a while, one by one slunk away. The same happened to Mother Teresa. One day while nursing leprosy patients in a Calcutta slum, a ferocious bull charged towards her. It was about to butt her and the patients were terrified. But Mother Teresa courageously stood up and stood her ground. Seeing her so calm, the animal lost its rage and left the place. I had stared at the retreating car with the army officer. He had been taught to fight from the day he joined defense college. He knew how to handle the latest guns with the best ammunition. He could manage missiles, rockets and bombs. But when it came to facing the enemy of alcoholism he ran and the drinks ran behind him. I wonder how many of us face the same situation? How dowe face our addictions? We pour ourselves our next glass and next glass and next. We puff at cigarette after cigarette and tell the world we dont have a problem; or maybe its women or the card table? That man has now destroyed his family, his home and career. Its time we faced our addictions..! [email protected]