Message from a Stranger

This weekend was amazing.  Absolutely AH-MA-ZING.  I got my books on Saturday, had two interviews with two remarkable women (have I mentioned how many fabulous people I’ve met since I’ve started this book journey?), and last night I got a message that made every bit of work I’ve put into this endeavor 100% worthwhile.

The message was from a lady who I’ve never met in person or talked to via any other form of communication.  She thanked me for one of my posts.  She said she grew up in an alcoholic home and never had any friends to talk to about it.  She also said how embarrassing it was throughout school.  She went on to tell me more and then suddenly a message pops up that says something like, “I can’t believe I’m telling all this to a complete stranger.”

Y’all, THIS is why I wrote the book.  THIS is what I want to happen.  She reached out to me because she knew I understood.  She knew that I’d been there and wouldn’t judge.  I hate that young people feel embarrassed over their parents or other family members who are alcoholics or addicts.  After all, it’s not their fault they’re stuck in the midst of someone else’s madness.  I want them to know that there are a lot of other people who are going through what they’re going through.  I want them to know that they can talk about it.

When I was brainstorming with my publisher and her marketing & publicity team, one of them suggested buttons as promotional items for the book launch on April 27th.  What would we put on them though?  What, in one or two lines would convey what my book was about…what it stood for?  Together, we came up with “My Name is Erin.”  So, I had buttons and stickers made (the stickers, thanks to a suggestion from someone at work) and they say, “My Name is Erin.”  What does it mean when someone wears that button or displays a sticker?  It means “I get it, and you can talk to me about that stuff.”  It means “even if addiction has never affected me personally, you can still talk to me.”  It means “I don’t judge you because your mom’s an alcoholic or your dad’s an addict.”  It means “I care, and I will listen.”

I think one of the best, and cheapest forms of therapy is talking to someone who will listen without judging.  My new friend told me that after messaging with me, she felt like a weight had been lifted, and she thanked me again.   She didn’t need to thank me though.  The fact that she felt like she could reach out to a complete stranger and talk about this stuff made my already great weekend even better.  She confirmed that what I’m trying to do with this book may end up happening; maybe doors will open for discussion, helping to dissolve the shame and embarrassment that goes along with having an addicted family member. 

This post is to let her, and all the Erins of the world know that there’s plenty of people who understand, who care, and who are here to listen.