Alcoholism: A Cautionary Tale, 0317 COBJ, Vol. 46 No. 3 Pg. 89
| Author | Anonymous, J. |
Wellness: Your Job, Your Career, Your Life
Anonymous, J.
Wellness: Your Job, Your Career, Your Life
This article was written anonymously in accordance with the Alcoholics Anonymous principle of anonymity It is one person ’s personal experience and is not endorsed or approved by AA
I have been asked to pen the cautionary tale that is the story of my life. I hope to highlight the fact that alcoholism is an insidious disease that the sufferer rarely admits to having until it is too late.
My Journey to Becoming an Alcoholic
I was born and raised in Colorado. Both of my parents were successful professionally. This is particularly true of my father, who was an AV-rated attorney, a founding partner of a prominent Denver law firm, and a notable political figure in Colorado. Throughout my childhood, I lived in what was a happy and healthy nuclear family. It was everything professionals tell us that a child needs. There was no alcoholic drama, no midnight moves, and no police visits.
After graduating from high school, I was accepted to the University of Denver School of Accountancy. There, I excelled academically and in extracurricular campus activities. Even though I was a heavy drinker during this period, I maintained my academic success while also working and being involved in other campus activities.
It was at this time that I realized that I really enjoyed drinking alcohol. I was thoroughly convinced that my drinking habits were normal in every way. This was supported by the fact that I had no negative consequences related to my drinking. While I drank more than my peers, I saw no reason to be concerned or to attempt to limit my alcohol consumption Besides, isn’t college a time to study hard and party hard? That seemed to be the recipe for being successful and not boring.
I graduated with a degree in accounting and passed the CPA exam. I also applied to and was accepted by the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Again, I had no trouble keeping up with the academic rigors while still working and maintaining my drinking lifestyle. If anything, law school surrounded me with more people with similar drinking habits. It seemed like every event on campus boasted free liquor. I knew that the practice of law was going to be a good fit for me.
During this time, a few of...
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