My name is Fausto Zuniga. I am an alcoholic and drug addict who has been sober for nine months and three days. Today, my life is great, but it hasn't always been this way. I endured many trials and tribulations to gain the understanding I have now. I grew up in a broken home; my father abandoned me when I was six years old. As a confused young boy, I was verbally and physically abused and forced to grow up quickly. By the age of 11, I joined a gang, searching for answers in all the wrong places, living by the motto "fuck it." For many years, my core beliefs and priorities were severely misaligned. It took me 40 years to realize this and a lot of hard work to reach where I am today. I had to surrender, be open-minded, and be willing to change if I wanted another chance at life. I had to change the way I thought, spoke, walked, and reacted to situations. It wasn't easy, but I accepted that my way wasn't good enough. I had to learn to crawl before I could walk, so I took suggestions and got myself a sponsor who guided me through the 12 steps. I conducted a personal inventory, made amends, and, most importantly, learned to forgive myself so I could learn to love myself. |
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