Tom Fay, Author at Tiny Buddha

Posts by Tom Fay

Tom Fay is the founder of Gambit Recovery, a national sober living network built on structure, honesty, and connection. With over 14 years of sobriety, Tom’s passion is helping people stop lying to themselves long enough to find purpose again. Learn more at gambitrecovery.com or follow him on Instagram @gambitrecovery.

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The Hardest Person to Be Honest with Is Yourself

By Tom Fay

“You cannot heal what you refuse to confront.” ~Yasmin Mogahed

At sixteen, I walked out of my mother’s house with track marks and a half-packed bag. No big fight. No slammed door. Just the silent resignation of someone who couldn’t look his mother in the eye anymore. I wasn’t leaving home—I was bailing on it. On everything.

I didn’t know the word “addiction.” Well, I knew it; I just didn’t understand it. I didn’t know that the flu I kept getting was withdrawal. I thought I was just weak. A loser. A burnout who couldn’t even use the …