Story by Leslie Strange, 20years "It Works it Really does"

[Lea]

Yeah it's long as heck but talking about beginnings usually is. . .

I was talking to someone who was sad because he had major losses and had to start all over. He was sober but he had to start some things over. . thing he'd worked so hard for. He was sickened at the thought of begining again.

I understood that. I came to Georgia and lost everything. . . I had to start all over. . from living arrangements, to income; from the man, to the house. I had to let go of EVERYTHING that I was used to. . .take financial steps backwards, go into a cave, file emotional bankruptcy. I had to minimize and condense; recalibrate, evaluate, redefine. I had to tear down the structure, not try to repair, but level the whole foundation of my life; reconstruct. I had to start all over!

But the most profound thing is this. I told my good friend "but I don't want to start all over." He said "But life is a series of start overs!." Wow! Then I was watching something on tv one nite. The guy on this station said "God will not bless you to move forward if you do not accept where you are right now." That stuck with me. So I started with being grateful for the small 3 bedroom apt, the car, the long drive to take my son to school, the fact that I had a job . . still, and I was sober and had people who I could tell everything, every feeling to. . . Once I did this I was able to begin a new beginning, laying a stronger and wiser foundation.

So if you have to start all over in whatever it is (especially if you are still sober when starting). . .no big deal, life is a series of jumpstarts. . .what's so wrong with starting all over? Even the best have had to begin again. So aren't you one of the best? I know I am. . . On your mark, get set, GO!

Love,

Leslie "The Green Light" Strange