who am i?

when i hear folks stating that they are
first and foremost an alcoholic, i have to
ask myself; is that how i view who i am?

i choose to identify myself first as a father,
son, partner and friend, before applying
the label of alcoholic. i am a person who
happens to have a malady; what i refer
to, as an avoidable allergy.

it's not in the air or the water, is not
malignant and has no known cause or cure.

there are those who only associate with
others in the program; the "stick with
the winners" crowd.

while that is a safe way to begin
sobriety, it can become an impediment
to continued recovery.

the majority of the world is not in
recovery, and i choose to associate
with a variety of people, provided
they respect my decision to abstain.

today, meetings, sponsors and service
are a part of my life; however they
are not my whole identity.

i digress from those who resign
themselves to separate the world
into an "us vs them" mentality.

women are not from venus,
and men are not from mars;
i am no different from what
"program speak" refers to,
as earth people or normies.

we are all sons & daughters,
mothers & fathers,
husbands & wives...
before we announce-

i am _______, alcoholic.