Why "Clean Time" Doesn't Impress Me

Any idea how long it took to construct the Empire State Building? A hundred and two stories, 1,400 feet tall, 2,000,000 square feet of office space, 3,400 laborers – and it all came together in just 410 days!

You heard me. A year and some change, and the building became an iconic fixture of the New York City skyline.

So why’s one of the first questions we ask a person in recovery: “How long have you been clean?” As if, somehow, that metric will tell us something about the quality or sincerity of their commitment to change their lives? Shame on us! We ought to know better.

I’d much rather know what about a person’s character and their circumstances have improved in the time they’ve not allowed themselves to be overwhelmed by substances.

Are you less of a jerk than you used to be? Are you back in the lives of your kids and a more reliable employee or partner? If so, GREAT! and I couldn’t care less how much or little time it took to wrap your head around the problems that drew you to drugs or alcohol.

Although we’ll be working out the details of our recovery our entire lives, a firm resolve not to abuse substances (and allow them to abuse us) can happen in an INSTANT – the blink of an eye. And it’ll be every bit as worthwhile and praiseworthy as the next guy’s.