Aftermath

 

After someone dies there is always some sort of aftermath. There are things left undone that the people left here have to deal with. There are the speculations about the death itself. There are the mourners trying to recover.

Whitney Houston’s death was tragic and yet so common in a way. Yes, we should remember all the good of her but we shouldn’t idolize her and only believe the good. We should learn a lesson from what she went through. We still don’t know the cause of death, but there is speculation of prescription drugs and alcohol. First, I think we should learn that no matter what we consume (pills, drinks, etc) that we are risking our lives. Just because a doctor prescribes it, that doesn’t mean that it is ok or good for you. It’s scary because these are the people you think you should be able to trust. But there is some personal responsibility as well. We know that mixing drugs and alcohol can be a deadly cocktail and yet people still do it. You’re playing Russian roulette with your life.

Second, we should learn from the tragic lives of these celebrities and use that knowledge in our own lives. While there have been many celebrities who have died from accidental overdoses, it seems fewer people really get it and have the mentality that it won’t happen to them. Don’t be a statistic. Learn. Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse, and Brittany Murphy were all extremely talented people and yet they died way too young and for no good reason. Demi Moore is in a rehab facility now. I hope that she has learned something and can get her life on track.

Addiction and substance abuse isn’t for the very rich only, though. No, you see it daily. It’s scary. I have known several people with addictions and loved them and hurt because there was nothing I could do to help them. I tried many ways and times to do something to make them stop the self-destruction. There is nothing you can do when someone is bent on tearing their lives up. Sometimes you just have to let them go and pray for their well-being. I have had to do that and it was the hardest thing in the world.

I am praying for the family of Whitney Houston. I don’t know who said it, but “a child lost her mother and a mother lost her child.” That kind of pain never goes away. I can attest to that. I lost my mother 15 years ago. Not a day passes that I don’t think of her and need her. I also pray for the people I know who are troubled with addiction and substance abuse. They may no longer be in my life but I still have a heart full of love and care for them and wish them peace to deal with their problems in a healthy way.

Much love…

Related articles

• Whitney Houston death ‘teachable moment,’ U.S. drug czar says (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• Whitney Houston’s doctors in drug quiz Questions over pills in hotel suite (blogginghounds.wordpress.com)
• Chaka Khan Talks About Whitney Houston (lukewilliamsgossip.wordpress.com)
• Coroner issues subpoenas for Whitney Houston’s medical, pharmacy records (nj.com)
• White House drug czar: Whitney Houston’s death is a “teachable moment” (hotair.com)

Addiction Wins Again

Today Amy Winehouse was announced dead. She was extremely talented. She was also well-known for drug use. We don’t know the exact cause of her death but I don’t think it would be too far-fetched to believe that her addiction had something to do with it. People don’t realize that what they are doing to themselves will eventually kill them. So many people think that drugs and alcohol are glamorous and fun. Drugs and alcohol are a way to self-medicate when you refuse to deal with real life. You are altering your state of mind in order to tolerate yourself and the world. Why not try to change who you are so that you can deal with life better? Why not try sobriety? Many people live sober every day and do just fine. You don’t have to use drugs or alcohol to be a great artist. Art is within you. You have the power to let that loose and do not need chemicals to assist you.

Today’s news was sad but it wasn’t shocking. And that makes it sadder. Nobody seemed shocked or surprised. It was like an inevitable fact. But it didn’t have to be. I hope people will realize that this was preventable. She didn’t have to die so young. I hope people will think about this and recognize they can stop their own self-destructive behaviors and possibly prolong their lives. I hate that addiction wins again and don’t want it to anymore. I’m just sad.