No, not an Addiction

I was a bit concerned when I started thinking; “if I could just sell some art, I could buy more art stuff!”
That sounds dangerously close to a drug addict, who deals drugs, to make money, to buy drugs.
In AA we say, “I am a friend of Bill’s,” or “I am a friend of Bob’s.”
These two being the founders of AA.
If an alcoholic is in dire need of the company of another alcoholic (if relapse is near) a call can go out for a “friend of Bill’s”. We were on a cruise ship when the intercom announce the need for a friend of Bill’s. It was the first time I had heard that.
When two people meet and one gets a hint that the other might be in the program. The first person can ask, “are you a friend of Bill’s?”
Many new members often need to keep their affliction under wraps; it is Alcoholics Anonymous after all.
Then, there is cross-addiction. Give up drinking and start chasing women and or men. Smoke more, watch TV all night.
I drew cartoons, painted, drew doddles, and wrote short stories (yes,writting is art); anything to keep busy and not get a bottle.
Then, feeling I had a handle on being sober; I just moved away from art. Over the years I took it up again and drooped it, on and off.
Until I heard a speaker say something funny and drew a cartoon.
Now, I am doddling and painting and spending money on canvases, brushes, paint and ink.
Art stuff is expensive! If only I could sell something. …I could buy more stuff!
So, am I addicted?
No!
In the old days, one drink was never enough. As soon as I finished one I had to have another and another! And all the while, I could never catch that dragon. I could never again get the old buzz that alcohol had once given.
And then there was something else. Alcohol was no longer fun. I did not enjoy it and it never felt complete.
There’s an old song, “…is that all there is…?”
In the last days of my drinking; I would be drunk, ashamed, confused and sad. I would also feel….incomplete and empty.
Now, when I finish a image, or writting, I can call it done and move on to something else. I often start another picture right away. But unlike drinking, it is because I want to, Not because I have to. I can walk away and be happy.
And, I don’t wake up hung over.
Hi, my name is Rocket.
I am NOT a friend of Bob’s (Ross).
He was an oil man, I paint in watercolors and acrylics!
Thanks for letting me share!
