I have some people that I would like you guys to meet this is my family now for a
guys to meet this is my family now for a
guys to meet this is my family now for a while I felt that my family was
while I felt that my family was
while I felt that my family was different now I know what you’re
different now I know what you’re
different now I know what you’re thinking you look at this picture and
thinking you look at this picture and
thinking you look at this picture and you think they don’t look different they
you think they don’t look different they
you think they don’t look different they look perfect and polished and happy well
look perfect and polished and happy well
look perfect and polished and happy well I felt different for a very long time
I felt different for a very long time
I felt different for a very long time the reason I felt this way is because of
the reason I felt this way is because of
the reason I felt this way is because of the little boy on the left side of the
the little boy on the left side of the
the little boy on the left side of the screen that is my oldest brother he was
screen that is my oldest brother he was
screen that is my oldest brother he was diagnosed with the disease five years
diagnosed with the disease five years
diagnosed with the disease five years ago and it’s changed my life in ways
ago and it’s changed my life in ways
ago and it’s changed my life in ways that I couldn’t fathom before the
that I couldn’t fathom before the
that I couldn’t fathom before the disease I’m referring to his addiction
disease I’m referring to his addiction
disease I’m referring to his addiction my oldest brother is an addict and he’s
my oldest brother is an addict and he’s
my oldest brother is an addict and he’s been struggling with substance abuse for
been struggling with substance abuse for
been struggling with substance abuse for about five years now now it’s really
about five years now now it’s really
about five years now now it’s really important for me to frame this to you as
important for me to frame this to you as
important for me to frame this to you as a disease because that’s exactly what it
a disease because that’s exactly what it
a disease because that’s exactly what it is it’s been a really long time for me
is it’s been a really long time for me
is it’s been a really long time for me to grapple with that idea in my head
to grapple with that idea in my head
to grapple with that idea in my head when I first heard about addiction and
when I first heard about addiction and
when I first heard about addiction and saw it in action I thought it was
saw it in action I thought it was
saw it in action I thought it was something monstrous scary but my brother
something monstrous scary but my brother
something monstrous scary but my brother described it to me in this way he told
described it to me in this way he told
described it to me in this way he told me that it feels like if someone put a
me that it feels like if someone put a
me that it feels like if someone put a cup of water in front of you and you
cup of water in front of you and you
cup of water in front of you and you haven’t had a drink in three days you’re
haven’t had a drink in three days you’re
haven’t had a drink in three days you’re incredibly thirsty then they try to have
incredibly thirsty then they try to have
incredibly thirsty then they try to have a conversation with you while sitting
a conversation with you while sitting
a conversation with you while sitting right next to it odds are you’re not
right next to it odds are you’re not
right next to it odds are you’re not gonna care about what they’re saying
gonna care about what they’re saying
gonna care about what they’re saying about the relationship or about how
about the relationship or about how
about the relationship or about how you’re behaving the only thing you can
you’re behaving the only thing you can
you’re behaving the only thing you can think about is having that glass of
think about is having that glass of
think about is having that glass of water now imagine if you were in that
water now imagine if you were in that
water now imagine if you were in that kind of survival mode all the time how
kind of survival mode all the time how
kind of survival mode all the time how you would act and how you would think
you would act and how you would think
you would act and how you would think and how you would feel this survival
and how you would feel this survival
and how you would feel this survival mode is what has caused a lot of
mode is what has caused a lot of
mode is what has caused a lot of internal psychological repercussions in
internal psychological repercussions in
internal psychological repercussions in my family I learned about all of this
my family I learned about all of this
my family I learned about all of this when I first went to a rehab when I was
when I first went to a rehab when I was
when I first went to a rehab when I was in high school as far as my friends knew
in high school as far as my friends knew
in high school as far as my friends knew I was on a fun beach vacation in Palm
I was on a fun beach vacation in Palm
I was on a fun beach vacation in Palm Beach on my snapchat it was all pictures
Beach on my snapchat it was all pictures
Beach on my snapchat it was all pictures of palm trees and the pool
of palm trees and the pool
of palm trees and the pool and fun but in reality we were going to
and fun but in reality we were going to
and fun but in reality we were going to rehab for a family weekend had addiction
rehab for a family weekend had addiction
rehab for a family weekend had addiction center that’s where they told me
center that’s where they told me
center that’s where they told me something that changed my life forever
something that changed my life forever
something that changed my life forever they told me that addiction is actually
they told me that addiction is actually
they told me that addiction is actually more dangerous for family members than
more dangerous for family members than
more dangerous for family members than for the addict themself and I know that
for the addict themself and I know that
for the addict themself and I know that doesn’t make much sense it didn’t make
doesn’t make much sense it didn’t make
doesn’t make much sense it didn’t make any sense to me at all
any sense to me at all
any sense to me at all I didn’t understand how a drug that I
I didn’t understand how a drug that I
I didn’t understand how a drug that I wasn’t using could be dangerous to me
wasn’t using could be dangerous to me
wasn’t using could be dangerous to me over the years it unfolded and they
over the years it unfolded and they
over the years it unfolded and they understood why the reason this is is
understood why the reason this is is
understood why the reason this is is because in the very worst moments of
because in the very worst moments of
because in the very worst moments of addiction and the overdoses and the
addiction and the overdoses and the
addiction and the overdoses and the relapses the suicide threats the addict
relapses the suicide threats the addict
relapses the suicide threats the addict is numb
is numb
is numb they’re completely unconscious to who
they’re completely unconscious to who
they’re completely unconscious to who they are and what they’re feeling but
they are and what they’re feeling but
they are and what they’re feeling but the family is sober not only do they
the family is sober not only do they
the family is sober not only do they have to watch somebody that they love
have to watch somebody that they love
have to watch somebody that they love turn into somebody that they don’t know
turn into somebody that they don’t know
turn into somebody that they don’t know but they also have to watch them turn
but they also have to watch them turn
but they also have to watch them turn into somebody that they might fear which
into somebody that they might fear which
into somebody that they might fear which is what I’ve experienced I first
is what I’ve experienced I first
is what I’ve experienced I first experienced the psychological effects of
experienced the psychological effects of
experienced the psychological effects of the family disease that I like to call
the family disease that I like to call
the family disease that I like to call addiction when I was 16 years old I was
addiction when I was 16 years old I was
addiction when I was 16 years old I was 16 I woke up one morning my parents were
16 I woke up one morning my parents were
16 I woke up one morning my parents were out of town and my other brother was
out of town and my other brother was
out of town and my other brother was gone as well and it was just me and my
gone as well and it was just me and my
gone as well and it was just me and my oldest brother in the house I was
oldest brother in the house I was
oldest brother in the house I was ecstatic because we were finally at that
ecstatic because we were finally at that
ecstatic because we were finally at that age where we could be friends and we
age where we could be friends and we
age where we could be friends and we could start getting to know each other
could start getting to know each other
could start getting to know each other on a deeper level I woke up that morning
on a deeper level I woke up that morning
on a deeper level I woke up that morning with plans of what we were gonna do that
with plans of what we were gonna do that
with plans of what we were gonna do that day how we were gonna spend it bonding
day how we were gonna spend it bonding
day how we were gonna spend it bonding and doing our favorite activities I went
and doing our favorite activities I went
and doing our favorite activities I went to his room to wake him up for a brunch
to his room to wake him up for a brunch
to his room to wake him up for a brunch reservations knocked on his door and
reservations knocked on his door and
reservations knocked on his door and there was no answer so I walked in
there was no answer so I walked in
there was no answer so I walked in that’s when I saw him on the bed
that’s when I saw him on the bed
that’s when I saw him on the bed motionless I thought he was just
motionless I thought he was just
motionless I thought he was just sleeping so I went over and sat on his
sleeping so I went over and sat on his
sleeping so I went over and sat on his bed that’s when I saw him trying to
bed that’s when I saw him trying to
bed that’s when I saw him trying to murmur words to me that didn’t make any
murmur words to me that didn’t make any
murmur words to me that didn’t make any sense and he was trying to move and cut
sense and he was trying to move and cut
sense and he was trying to move and cut in and I felt his hand it was cold and
in and I felt his hand it was cold and
in and I felt his hand it was cold and it was beating so
it was beating so
it was beating so slow his heartbeat it’s going so slow at
slow his heartbeat it’s going so slow at
slow his heartbeat it’s going so slow at that moment the only thought in my head
that moment the only thought in my head
that moment the only thought in my head was is my brother dying I’m sixteen I
was is my brother dying I’m sixteen I
was is my brother dying I’m sixteen I don’t know what that looks like I don’t
don’t know what that looks like I don’t
don’t know what that looks like I don’t know if this is an overdose or relapse
know if this is an overdose or relapse
know if this is an overdose or relapse he’s just sleepy I couldn’t tell but I
he’s just sleepy I couldn’t tell but I
he’s just sleepy I couldn’t tell but I knew I was too small to pick him up and
knew I was too small to pick him up and
knew I was too small to pick him up and put him anywhere and taking the hospital
put him anywhere and taking the hospital
put him anywhere and taking the hospital I didn’t know who to call or what to do
I didn’t know who to call or what to do
I didn’t know who to call or what to do and the only thing I could think is how
and the only thing I could think is how
and the only thing I could think is how do I save my brother’s life at that
do I save my brother’s life at that
do I save my brother’s life at that moment I couldn’t decide anymore if I
moment I couldn’t decide anymore if I
moment I couldn’t decide anymore if I wanted to have a childhood I couldn’t
wanted to have a childhood I couldn’t
wanted to have a childhood I couldn’t decide if I cared about who I was taking
decide if I cared about who I was taking
decide if I cared about who I was taking to homecoming that weekend or if I had a
to homecoming that weekend or if I had a
to homecoming that weekend or if I had a math test on Monday
math test on Monday
math test on Monday all of those seeing things suddenly
all of those seeing things suddenly
all of those seeing things suddenly seemed very arbitrary when it came to
seemed very arbitrary when it came to
seemed very arbitrary when it came to something so life and death at that
something so life and death at that
something so life and death at that moment everything changed and I started
moment everything changed and I started
moment everything changed and I started to harbor these feelings of fear every
to harbor these feelings of fear every
to harbor these feelings of fear every day it would be a happier story for me
day it would be a happier story for me
day it would be a happier story for me to tell you that that was a one-time
to tell you that that was a one-time
to tell you that that was a one-time occurrence but it wasn’t that’s
occurrence but it wasn’t that’s
occurrence but it wasn’t that’s something that I’ve experienced so many
something that I’ve experienced so many
something that I’ve experienced so many times over these past five years and my
times over these past five years and my
times over these past five years and my family has as well
family has as well
family has as well the phone calls and the suicide threats
the phone calls and the suicide threats
the phone calls and the suicide threats and the terrifying moments when you
and the terrifying moments when you
and the terrifying moments when you think it might be your last words to
think it might be your last words to
think it might be your last words to that person now imagine with me for one
that person now imagine with me for one
that person now imagine with me for one moment somebody you love more than
moment somebody you love more than
moment somebody you love more than anything in the world imagine them in
anything in the world imagine them in
anything in the world imagine them in your head now imagine if every morning
your head now imagine if every morning
your head now imagine if every morning every night you woke up with the thought
every night you woke up with the thought
every night you woke up with the thought I went to sleep with the thought that
I went to sleep with the thought that
I went to sleep with the thought that they might be dead the next day imagine
they might be dead the next day imagine
they might be dead the next day imagine what that would do I can tell you what
what that would do I can tell you what
what that would do I can tell you what it did to me at first it was just
it did to me at first it was just
it did to me at first it was just anxiety then it turned into chronic
anxiety then it turned into chronic
anxiety then it turned into chronic anxiety and then chronic depression
anxiety and then chronic depression
anxiety and then chronic depression eventually and recently and turned into
eventually and recently and turned into
eventually and recently and turned into suicidal thoughts of my own which was
suicidal thoughts of my own which was
suicidal thoughts of my own which was terrifying and even more recently
terrifying and even more recently
terrifying and even more recently self-harm which is something I never
self-harm which is something I never
self-harm which is something I never thought I would do to myself but
thought I would do to myself but
thought I would do to myself but addiction and seeing it in action
addiction and seeing it in action
addiction and seeing it in action effects your mind in a different way you
effects your mind in a different way you
effects your mind in a different way you start to become numb to the idea of
start to become numb to the idea of
start to become numb to the idea of death and you start to become numb to
death and you start to become numb to
death and you start to become numb to these terrifying events more than that I
these terrifying events more than that I
these terrifying events more than that I knew that
knew that
knew that if I came and told my family what I was
if I came and told my family what I was
if I came and told my family what I was feeling or if I went and told my friends
feeling or if I went and told my friends
feeling or if I went and told my friends it would seem stupid because what do my
it would seem stupid because what do my
it would seem stupid because what do my emotions matter when somebody’s life is
emotions matter when somebody’s life is
emotions matter when somebody’s life is at stake why should I share my
at stake why should I share my
at stake why should I share my experience I thought of myself for a
experience I thought of myself for a
experience I thought of myself for a very long time in one word a burden I
very long time in one word a burden I
very long time in one word a burden I thought that I was going to be a burden
thought that I was going to be a burden
thought that I was going to be a burden if I opened up and shared what I was
if I opened up and shared what I was
if I opened up and shared what I was feeling I thought it didn’t matter
feeling I thought it didn’t matter
feeling I thought it didn’t matter I decided silently to myself that I
I decided silently to myself that I
I decided silently to myself that I would be anonymous that I wouldn’t talk
would be anonymous that I wouldn’t talk
would be anonymous that I wouldn’t talk about it but no one was going to know
about it but no one was going to know
about it but no one was going to know about this because I didn’t want to put
about this because I didn’t want to put
about this because I didn’t want to put any extra stress on my family and my
any extra stress on my family and my
any extra stress on my family and my friends put them through anything more
friends put them through anything more
friends put them through anything more than they needed to go through it wasn’t
than they needed to go through it wasn’t
than they needed to go through it wasn’t just me who decided to be anonymous my
just me who decided to be anonymous my
just me who decided to be anonymous my family silently and collectively decided
family silently and collectively decided
family silently and collectively decided to do this as well we thought together
to do this as well we thought together
to do this as well we thought together this will be the best way to conquer
this will be the best way to conquer
this will be the best way to conquer addiction we won’t talk about it it’ll
addiction we won’t talk about it it’ll
addiction we won’t talk about it it’ll be hidden no one will know and we
be hidden no one will know and we
be hidden no one will know and we continue life as normal the show must go
continue life as normal the show must go
continue life as normal the show must go on same way it always has the reason we
on same way it always has the reason we
on same way it always has the reason we started doing this at the beginning was
started doing this at the beginning was
started doing this at the beginning was because we wanted to save my brother we
because we wanted to save my brother we
because we wanted to save my brother we thought that anonymity would be the way
thought that anonymity would be the way
thought that anonymity would be the way to make him safer to put him in the
to make him safer to put him in the
to make him safer to put him in the shadows so that people wouldn’t judge
shadows so that people wouldn’t judge
shadows so that people wouldn’t judge him differently as see him differently
him differently as see him differently
him differently as see him differently maybe that he would not get a job or his
maybe that he would not get a job or his
maybe that he would not get a job or his friends would leave or something like
friends would leave or something like
friends would leave or something like that
that
that but then we started realizing it wasn’t
but then we started realizing it wasn’t
but then we started realizing it wasn’t working and maybe the real reason we
working and maybe the real reason we
working and maybe the real reason we wanted to be anonymous wasn’t to save
wanted to be anonymous wasn’t to save
wanted to be anonymous wasn’t to save him but to save ourselves there’s a
him but to save ourselves there’s a
him but to save ourselves there’s a stigma against addiction in our culture
stigma against addiction in our culture
stigma against addiction in our culture that we don’t like to acknowledge we
that we don’t like to acknowledge we
that we don’t like to acknowledge we like to think of families of addicts as
like to think of families of addicts as
like to think of families of addicts as almost bad families often I hear when I
almost bad families often I hear when I
almost bad families often I hear when I say that my brother’s an addict people
say that my brother’s an addict people
say that my brother’s an addict people ask me what happened in his childhood to
ask me what happened in his childhood to
ask me what happened in his childhood to make him become an addict
make him become an addict
make him become an addict what traumatic event triggered this
what traumatic event triggered this
what traumatic event triggered this right well I’m here to say we were
right well I’m here to say we were
right well I’m here to say we were raised the same way it could have easily
raised the same way it could have easily
raised the same way it could have easily been me that became an addict and that I
been me that became an addict and that I
been me that became an addict and that I just equate to luck
sometimes it’s not necessarily about a
sometimes it’s not necessarily about a traumatic event or a bad family it is a
traumatic event or a bad family it is a
traumatic event or a bad family it is a disease inside of your brain but having
disease inside of your brain but having
disease inside of your brain but having that stigma for us and thinking that we
that stigma for us and thinking that we
that stigma for us and thinking that we were going to be viewed as a bad family
were going to be viewed as a bad family
were going to be viewed as a bad family and that we were all bad in some way may
and that we were all bad in some way may
and that we were all bad in some way may just want to stay hidden it’s not just
just want to stay hidden it’s not just
just want to stay hidden it’s not just my family and I that decided that
my family and I that decided that
my family and I that decided that Anonymous was the best way to go Society
Anonymous was the best way to go Society
Anonymous was the best way to go Society has done that as well think about the
has done that as well think about the
has done that as well think about the biggest weapons we have against
biggest weapons we have against
biggest weapons we have against addiction in our society Alcoholics
addiction in our society Alcoholics
addiction in our society Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous they even
Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous they even
Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous they even have family groups but they’re all
have family groups but they’re all
have family groups but they’re all anonymous my question is why do we think
anonymous my question is why do we think
anonymous my question is why do we think that this helps why do we want to stay
that this helps why do we want to stay
that this helps why do we want to stay anonymous well I believe we only want
anonymous well I believe we only want
anonymous well I believe we only want anonymity for two reasons the first is
anonymity for two reasons the first is
anonymity for two reasons the first is fear we they’re afraid of the addict of
fear we they’re afraid of the addict of
fear we they’re afraid of the addict of what the disease is of what they’ve done
what the disease is of what they’ve done
what the disease is of what they’ve done about what people think of us or we’re
about what people think of us or we’re
about what people think of us or we’re ashamed we’re ashamed to have them in
ashamed we’re ashamed to have them in
ashamed we’re ashamed to have them in our life that they’re part of our family
our life that they’re part of our family
our life that they’re part of our family that we might have done something to
that we might have done something to
that we might have done something to caused them to be this way and that’s
caused them to be this way and that’s
caused them to be this way and that’s not true we’re ashamed to recognize that
not true we’re ashamed to recognize that
not true we’re ashamed to recognize that this is a part of our society and for me
this is a part of our society and for me
this is a part of our society and for me I was ashamed to recognize that this was
I was ashamed to recognize that this was
I was ashamed to recognize that this was a normal occurrence in my life that was
a normal occurrence in my life that was
a normal occurrence in my life that was just something that was happening after
just something that was happening after
just something that was happening after all the years of seeing how addiction
all the years of seeing how addiction
all the years of seeing how addiction affects families I can tell you two
affects families I can tell you two
affects families I can tell you two things number one I am Not Afraid of
things number one I am Not Afraid of
things number one I am Not Afraid of addiction anymore
addiction anymore
addiction anymore I’m not afraid number two I am certainly
I’m not afraid number two I am certainly
I’m not afraid number two I am certainly not ashamed of my brother I love my
not ashamed of my brother I love my
not ashamed of my brother I love my brother I think he’s brilliant and the
brother I think he’s brilliant and the
brother I think he’s brilliant and the fact that he has disease saddens me but
fact that he has disease saddens me but
fact that he has disease saddens me but does not make me ashamed to call him my
does not make me ashamed to call him my
does not make me ashamed to call him my brother and to have him in my family
brother and to have him in my family
brother and to have him in my family what I propose is vulnerability we also
what I propose is vulnerability we also
what I propose is vulnerability we also have a belief that vulnerability equates
have a belief that vulnerability equates
have a belief that vulnerability equates to weakness we think of it as our
to weakness we think of it as our
to weakness we think of it as our Achilles heel something that can
Achilles heel something that can
Achilles heel something that can completely destroy us but I think
completely destroy us but I think
completely destroy us but I think vulnerability might be the only way we
vulnerability might be the only way we
vulnerability might be the only way we can fix the
can fix the
can fix the I’m not here to necessarily bring
I’m not here to necessarily bring
I’m not here to necessarily bring awareness to addiction if you’ve seen
awareness to addiction if you’ve seen
awareness to addiction if you’ve seen addiction in your life you know what it
addiction in your life you know what it
addiction in your life you know what it can do
can do
can do you’re pretty aware what I’m here to do
you’re pretty aware what I’m here to do
you’re pretty aware what I’m here to do is to give it a face different than how
is to give it a face different than how
is to give it a face different than how you’ve imagined it before as I bet when
you’ve imagined it before as I bet when
you’ve imagined it before as I bet when you first came in here you might have
you first came in here you might have
you first came in here you might have viewed it addiction as something dark
viewed it addiction as something dark
viewed it addiction as something dark and scary and dirty but what if I told
and scary and dirty but what if I told
and scary and dirty but what if I told you addiction looks something more like
you addiction looks something more like
you addiction looks something more like this my family we keep addiction in the
this my family we keep addiction in the
this my family we keep addiction in the dark and that is our biggest mistake
dark and that is our biggest mistake
dark and that is our biggest mistake because addiction is an interesting
because addiction is an interesting
because addiction is an interesting disease and that it completely thrives
disease and that it completely thrives
disease and that it completely thrives in the darkness that’s where it does its
in the darkness that’s where it does its
in the darkness that’s where it does its absolute best work darkness thrives in
absolute best work darkness thrives in
absolute best work darkness thrives in the darkness which is why I think we
the darkness which is why I think we
the darkness which is why I think we need to bring this problem to light
need to bring this problem to light
need to bring this problem to light vulnerability is amazing to me it’s
vulnerability is amazing to me it’s
vulnerability is amazing to me it’s absolute courage vulnerability is a
absolute courage vulnerability is a
absolute courage vulnerability is a mother sitting down her child’s like my
mother sitting down her child’s like my
mother sitting down her child’s like my mother did last summer she held my hands
mother did last summer she held my hands
mother did last summer she held my hands and I saw her cry for the first time in
and I saw her cry for the first time in
and I saw her cry for the first time in my life when she cried she told me that
my life when she cried she told me that
my life when she cried she told me that she was afraid never in my life have I
she was afraid never in my life have I
she was afraid never in my life have I had more respect for another woman
had more respect for another woman
had more respect for another woman than in that moment because to admit
than in that moment because to admit
than in that moment because to admit you’re afraid to a child somebody that
you’re afraid to a child somebody that
you’re afraid to a child somebody that you’ve tried to be composed around for
you’ve tried to be composed around for
you’ve tried to be composed around for so many years that means the world
so many years that means the world
so many years that means the world phoner ability is watching your sister
phoner ability is watching your sister
phoner ability is watching your sister talk about addiction and talk about your
talk about addiction and talk about your
talk about addiction and talk about your family in front of you and hope that she
family in front of you and hope that she
family in front of you and hope that she says the right thing vulnerability is
says the right thing vulnerability is
says the right thing vulnerability is telling the world that you’ve self
telling the world that you’ve self
telling the world that you’ve self harmed not knowing if they’re gonna see
harmed not knowing if they’re gonna see
harmed not knowing if they’re gonna see you differently to me that is not how I
you differently to me that is not how I
you differently to me that is not how I show weakness
show weakness
show weakness it’s how I show strength through all of
it’s how I show strength through all of
it’s how I show strength through all of this my anxiety and sadness hasn’t
this my anxiety and sadness hasn’t
this my anxiety and sadness hasn’t necessarily come from a place of worry
necessarily come from a place of worry
necessarily come from a place of worry it’s more come from a place of feeling
it’s more come from a place of feeling
it’s more come from a place of feeling voiceless feeling completely unseen my
voiceless feeling completely unseen my
voiceless feeling completely unseen my brother’s expressed this to me as well
brother’s expressed this to me as well
brother’s expressed this to me as well that not only does he feel voiceless but
that not only does he feel voiceless but
that not only does he feel voiceless but that no one even cares to listen no one
that no one even cares to listen no one
that no one even cares to listen no one cares well by listening to me today I
cares well by listening to me today I
cares well by listening to me today I have to thank you
have to thank you
have to thank you because you’ve given me a voice now if
because you’ve given me a voice now if
because you’ve given me a voice now if everyone would do me a favor and please
everyone would do me a favor and please
everyone would do me a favor and please take out your cell phone and turn on the
take out your cell phone and turn on the
take out your cell phone and turn on the light and hold it up high like I said
light and hold it up high like I said
light and hold it up high like I said addiction makes you feel voiceless I
addiction makes you feel voiceless I
addiction makes you feel voiceless I think we need to give it a voice the
think we need to give it a voice the
think we need to give it a voice the world that I envision to be perfect is
world that I envision to be perfect is
world that I envision to be perfect is not one where we completely mask
not one where we completely mask
not one where we completely mask everything bad and shove it to the
everything bad and shove it to the
everything bad and shove it to the ground and pretend it doesn’t exist the
ground and pretend it doesn’t exist the
ground and pretend it doesn’t exist the world that I envisioned to be perfect is
world that I envisioned to be perfect is
world that I envisioned to be perfect is one where we can say yes these awful
one where we can say yes these awful
one where we can say yes these awful things happen has happened to me it’s
things happen has happened to me it’s
things happen has happened to me it’s probably happened to you and yet even
probably happened to you and yet even
probably happened to you and yet even then we can be brave and strong and
then we can be brave and strong and
then we can be brave and strong and we’re going to continue because there is
we’re going to continue because there is
we’re going to continue because there is so much love in this world in an ironic
so much love in this world in an ironic
so much love in this world in an ironic twist fate tonight I am also celebrating
twist fate tonight I am also celebrating
twist fate tonight I am also celebrating my 21st birthday well as you can imagine
my 21st birthday well as you can imagine
my 21st birthday well as you can imagine there’s not gonna be any alcohol in
there’s not gonna be any alcohol in
there’s not gonna be any alcohol in celebration of my 21st birthday and I
celebration of my 21st birthday and I
celebration of my 21st birthday and I could not care less
could not care less
could not care less I really couldn’t because while there
I really couldn’t because while there
I really couldn’t because while there will be no alcohol tonight
will be no alcohol tonight
will be no alcohol tonight the lack of alcohol there will be
the lack of alcohol there will be
the lack of alcohol there will be absolutely no lack of love because in
absolutely no lack of love because in
absolutely no lack of love because in the end I don’t think my story’s been
the end I don’t think my story’s been
the end I don’t think my story’s been one about pain and sadness and fear it’s
one about pain and sadness and fear it’s
one about pain and sadness and fear it’s been about every single person along the
been about every single person along the
been about every single person along the way who has encouraged me and supported
way who has encouraged me and supported
way who has encouraged me and supported me and held me up when I thought I was
me and held me up when I thought I was
me and held me up when I thought I was going to fall down
going to fall down
going to fall down who have given me a backbone who have
who have given me a backbone who have
who have given me a backbone who have been someone to cry to someone to hug
been someone to cry to someone to hug
been someone to cry to someone to hug someone to love one that is what my
someone to love one that is what my
someone to love one that is what my story’s about it’s all the people in
story’s about it’s all the people in
story’s about it’s all the people in life in my life and in your life that
life in my life and in your life that
life in my life and in your life that make life worth living an addiction
make life worth living an addiction
make life worth living an addiction worth surviving thank you
worth surviving thank you
worth surviving thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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