Posted on Facebook on October 17, 2018, by Michael Hopkins:

Today I am 34 and as I sit here thinking back I have realized the person I once was is gone, the person who I was is who I cannot stand. I’m almost at 2 years without a drop of alcohol! I never once thought I would have this time, I never thought I wanted to be the person I am now. Looking back that person/monster was a fool!!!! I tried to be who everyone wanted for so long that I lost myself!

I’ve repaid my debts 10 fold, and I’ve fixed my mistakes! I don’t ask for much. I don’t take much for granted. I take pride in myself and my work. I strive for perfection on a daily basis. I’m not greedy. I love my life. I wouldn’t change much about it. I love what I do for a living, and I’m really damn good at it! I have a talent that most cannot ever achieve. I don’t take no for an answer. I hate liars, thieves, and crooks! I strive to be the best father, husband, son, brother, cousin, nephew, friend and grandson that I can be! I think I’m on the right path! I’m the strongest mentally that I have ever been!! I’ve never had this confidence or the amount of positivity that I have now! I am humble with my life! I know it might not seem that way but I am!

I am beyond blessed!

I want to thank all of you who have helped me throughout recent years of life, that never took advantage of me, that always looked out for my best interest, and always gave an ear to listen to what I had to get off my chest!

If it wasn’t for my very close family, friends and children I don’t know if I would be here today!!!

Happy birthday to myself, you’ve made it one more year; you’ve made it 365 more days on this earth! And you are no longer controlled by a substance that took a hold of your life so fast and so hard in 2003!

I can finally spread my wings!

Huge shout out to my family and friends who have supported me and taught me so many things! Without your love and support I wouldn’t be the man I am now!

Huge shout out to my wife, mother of our children, and my best friend!! You mean the world to me even when I want to run and hide from your crazy ass! Thank you for putting up with my drunken rants, bullshit and for giving us 3 beautiful girls and another child on the way! I don’t know where I’d be without you!!! Stay positive!!!

Huge shout out to the woman who stepped up in so many freaking ways!!! Eileen you know you are loved! Thank you so very much! Your wisdom, and drive has taught me more then I can explain! You have pushed me farther then I would have ever thought possible!

Huge shout out to my cousin Rob, my vent, my voice of reason, my shoulder! Without you my dearest friend/cousin/big brother I would make a lot of bad decisions! Looking forward to building so many more memories!!

Huge shout out to my in laws! Chris and Connie without your love and support I’d be lost! You both are amazing people!!! Most people don’t like their in laws, but I love you both!! Thank you so much for all your help through some dark times in my life!!!

The biggest shout out goes to my father, without you guiding me through the years I’d be lost or dead. Thank you for everything you have ever done! Thank you for showing up! Thank you for being my most favorite person! You aggravate the shit out of me some days but I think that’s normal..... much love!

I could write for days of how much appreciation I have for all of you! I hope you all know words cannot describe the impact you have made on my life!!! I love you all so much!!!

If you’re not on this list, well sorry but we must not be that close or we don’t talk often....

I know I have forgotten or didn’t mention a few, most of the people not mentioned are no longer alive or in my life.....

Serenity!!!!!!!!