A few weeks ago, I dedicated an entire blog entry to my partner Chris for all the things I felt make him truly unique and special. But something that’s always been a lot harder for me to do is look for the same things in myself. More often than not, I’ve found it far easier to find those qualities in everyone else instead. In fact, I’ve spent more time beating myself up over the years than able to see those attributes in me, hence the reason for today’s entry. So this article is dedicated to you Andrew Arthur Dawson, someone who is just as much truly unique and special in this world.
Look, I know you’ve had plenty of ups and downs in life Andrew, many of which you feel you didn’t do so well in. Yet, the truth is you’ve successfully navigated through every one of them, always taking a hard look at yourself in each and spiritually moving forward through them all. The biggest one of which is without a doubt, your recovery from your life of addictions.
You seem to easily forget all those days you lost due to submersing yourself in each of them. But look at yourself these days Andrew, you aren’t engaging in any one of them, not alcohol or drugs, not caffeine, nor even the sex and love based one that plagued you the most. Now you’re dedicated to going to recovery meetings on just about every single day of the week. You’re also diligently sponsoring five different individuals through the steps. And don’t forget how at every chance you get, you share your experience, strength, and hope with only one intended desire, to guide others to find the same within themselves.
Another huge achievement in your life is with your writing Andrew. Do you remember when you first discovered your joy of it and spent two years being a motivational columnist for several newspapers in Virginia, as well as finishing your first novel, Sebastian’s Gift? I know how often you’ve forgotten those accomplishments and instead focused on all the years you stopped writing after that. But look at you now. You’re maintaining a spiritual blog and writing new entries on a constant basis for it, consistently finding some amazing ways to expand your talent. And the last time I checked, you have composed over seven hundred original articles, which is definitely an impressive feat in itself.
But what’s even more impressive is the dedication you’ve had over the past three years to healing yourself from within. Not only have you walked through great levels of pain without any medications the entire time, you also have never given up any of your spiritual routines out of frustration. Instead you’ve remained steadfast every day listening to your spiritual teacher’s audio attunement, meditating for 40 minutes, writing in your gratitude journal, praying, and doing your list of affirmations that at times has even exceeded over 250 repetitions. Many would have given up on your quest long ago, discarding the holistic healing process you’ve chosen to remain on, and opted instead for an easier solution. That’s why I’m so proud of you Andrew for sticking with it and keeping your faith in God, because I know you are on the cusp of reaping the fruits of your hard labor.
There is one more thing that should not go unmentioned as well Andrew and that’s the success you’re having in your relationship with Chris. Don’t your remember in each of your prior relationships how you usually thought of yourself first. Take a good look now and you’ll see how more than not, you continue to place Chris’s needs, wants, and desires ahead of your own, even on days when your pain levels have been great and you’ve wanted to be selfish. Even more importantly is the fact that you continually own when you’ve been at fault with something, which is a far cry from the days when you blamed your partner for everything, especially your own mistakes.
There are many more things as well Andrew you’re doing today that show just how far you’ve come on your spiritual journey in life. From saying grace at every meal, to offering unconditional love to everyone, to removing all the anger and resentments from your life, to learning how to have greater patience in even the silliest of things like doing 1000 piece puzzles, you truly are very unique and special, and I’m so very proud of you for how far you’ve come.
So thank you Andrew for being a much stronger beacon of light for the world nowadays. It’s become a far better place for others to live in because of all your hard work and spiritual growth. Never forget that and never give up. And know I love you unconditionally Andrew Arthur Dawson, always and forever.
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson