Ralph Lifshitz was a shy boy, who was constantly ridiculed because of his last name. By the age of 16, he was relegated to the back of every classroom, picked last on every sports team, and without a hint of a first date.
Tired of the ridicule, by the age of 30, Ralph did something that changed his world. He officially changed his last name. Uninhibited by the label of a swear word for a last name, he embarked on a career as a fashion designer. Perhaps you’ve heard of Ralph.
Ralph Lauren.
What Ralph needed was a new identity. And he obviously found it.
In your addiction, you can continue as things are, with constant slips and relapses. Or you can change the game up. When you get serious about recovery – really serious – you will essentially become a whole new person. And this will change the way others see you.
I’m guessing that when Ralph Lauren attended his 50th high school reunion, he was treated differently that on his 10th. Ralph Lauren decided to not let his past define him. In recovery, we make that same decision.
Recovery Step: You have a past, and some of it’s not good. That is all of us. But what matters most is not whether you have a past, but whether you continue to live there. God offers an amazing promise for a better future: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3).
