The Joy of Being Sober
Oscar-winning songwriter enthralls luncheon crowd with the joys — and secrets — of staying sober
The gospel of recovery according to singer/songwriter Paul Williams, as he shared it with the 900 attending The Council on Recovery's annual fall luncheon, held at the Hilton Americas-Houston:
* “I have a life today that I couldn’t have imagined. I fell in love with recovery. I found a home in recovery.”
* “Let’s be open about our recovery because we need to be. I love my life today. I love knowing there’s hope for the hopeless.”
* “Someone dared to reflect the truth back to me, and I finally got sober. At that point, I realized I had been taken prisoner by my addiction.”
* "The fact is, it’s OK to tell the truth.”
* “It’s not about willpower or morality, it’s about a disease.”
These were just a few of the points that Williams made in the program that he shared with author Tracey Jackson, his friend and creative partner. They co-wrote the New York Times’ Bestseller Gratitude and Trust – Six Affirmations That Will Change Your Life.
Jackson added to the conversation, highlighting the universal wisdom of the 12-Step recovery program, observing that “although I am not in the program, I have always felt we all have something to recover from.”
Williams, who penned the lyrics of the Oscar-winning song "Evergreen" among his many hits, has been drug and alcohol free for 25 years.
The annual Waggoners Foundation Speaker Series luncheon, co-chaired by Tammy and Howard Lester, David Taylor and Eva Garcia raised more than $400,000 for The Council.
