Mr. Joshua D. Fuller
Journal Entry
June 8,2025 4:20 Am
Sobriety is of the utmost importance if I desire durable riches.
Today marks a very special day in my life because on this day in 2023, I received SOBRIETY, and although I have read of individuals who claim to have found success while simultaneously using mind altering substances, and furthermore, have read of individuals who actually attribute their successes to some form of narcotics: (i.e.. LSD and Marijuana etc.. etc.. etc..), I personally agree with the quote written at the top of chapter one in a book entitled “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” wherein it says:
“There is no real excellence in all this world which can be separated from right living.”
-David Starr Jordan
It is easy for me to recall my sobriety date of June 8, 2025 because it is distinguished by an extremely powerful Proverb from the bible: Proverbs chapter eight. When I am tempted to use any kind of mind altering substances, I recall verse thirteen of this chapter and realize that in order to retain this precious sobriety, I must “hate” drugs and alcohol.
There is also another quote from the Proverbs that helps me in time of temptation: This quote apparently comes by the hand of Queen Bathsheba to her son Solomon: “It is not for kings oh Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princess strong drink:”
There are folks who are of the school that it is alright to have social drink here and there, but when I look back on my life to see the wake of hurt, and destruction caused by the use of drugs and alcohol, I know that I must stay clear of strong drink altogether. I may not be a king, but I can apply this proverb to my own life by saying “It is not for a CEO,it is not for a CEO Mr. Fuller, to drink wine, nor for successful business men to drink strong drink.”
Interestingly, Our President Donald J. Trump played a part in my journey to sobriety. Early in my incarceration I read his book entitled “The Art of The Deal”. In it, he describes a scene wherein he had been invited to an event [that really marked his rise into “high society”] at the top of a sky scraper: It was supposed to be a really big deal with famous doctors, lawyers, senators and congress men in attendance. He recounts how astounded he felt when he saw many of these famous men and leaders rolling on the floor drunk. He recounts in the book thet he realized in that moment that achieving huge success was going to be much easier to accomplish than he had originally thought because his competitors used alcoholic intoxicants – and he did not. The Proverb says that strong it is not for kings, but I believe that it is not for any leadership whatsoever.
Growing up, I never heard my dad say a curse word or saw him light a cigarette or even take a sip of wine. I think this is just one of the attributes that makes my dad such a great man. He no longer travels as an evangelist but he is currently pastoring a church in Savannah Ga. One day when I was very young, my dad gave me a lesson in channeling anger. He had offered to pay me ten cents for every single piece of firewood that I had split and stacked, but I was so little that I could barely hold the maul to split the firewood: He knelt down beside me, looked me right in the eyes and said: “Son, you’ve got to get angry at it.” By the time that dad made it home from work that day I had split and stacked a whole pile of firewood. I used what he had taught me about channeling anger into productivity for many years to come, and was able to gain quite a bit of success in the tree removal industry at a very early age.
I am now using what dad taught me in my own personal recovery from a life filled with addiction. I am so angry at the evil that has destroyed my life that it has caused me to hate drugs and alcohol. For the rest of my life I will use every possible oppertunity to speak against the industry that is crushing our nation. I would also like to find oppertunities to help individuals who have been affected by the chains addiction and allow the God of Heaven to use my life to show them the love of a merciful and forgiving Heavenly Father who will gladly restore their lives as He is doing for me.
I must give all the credit for my sobriety to my God. I thank God for His son Jesus Christ who has delivered me from this horrible addiction.
Two Years and Counting….
