Lost a Tooth, Won the Battle
Many of us know of friends or relatives who have battled with drugs and drug addiction. There are far more stories that end in tragedy than success.
This is not one of those stories.
The gentleman who shared this story with me was sitting behind the main desk of a local tattoo shop. As I always do, I ask people about their favorite tattoo or the one that has the deepest connection/story. He shared this tattoo story with me.
The image shown is the tattoo of two teeth, strategically places on the left side of his neck. I made no immediate connection until he smiled at me. No teeth. His addiction and treatment, like so many, had cost him his teeth but clearly not his humanity.
He smiled with the confidence of someone who had won the battle, having being clean for over two decaded. Not “off drugs, but in treatment” clean….real clean.
While the tattoo has faded over time, clearly his resolve has not.
