There is no place like home. ~ L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Like many, I have fond memories of the story The Wizard of Oz.
My husband and I visited the Smithsonian in Washington DC a few years ago. There they were – the ruby slippers. My childhood memories of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” returned to me.
I was about eight years old and in a small production of the story. Somehow, I was chosen to play the good witch, Glinda. I’m not sure how I managed to secure that role, but it was fun nonetheless. Like many others, the story has always stayed with me.
Dorothy is a popular Halloween character. On one of our many Halloween adventures, my daughter dressed up as Dorothy. We had a Cairn terrier, who, for that evening, became Toto. You never really know if dogs appreciate being part of the Halloween costume.
We know we can find our way home when we have our brain, heart, and courage.
Self-reliance is the story’s theme, and the excellent book and beautiful movie with Dorothy and her friends gave us that message. But when you are suffering from substance abuse issues, home is often lost to you. It isn’t easy to find your way home. You have lost your brain, your heart, and your courage.
When We Have Lost Our Brain
The scarecrow says, “Oh, I’m a failure because I haven’t got a brain!”
All logical thinking would tell us that continuing to abuse drugs or alcohol is not healthy. How could we not know that? Who would choose to spend their days living on the streets, digging through garbage for food, stealing to get money for their next fix, spending time in jail, and basically ruining their lives?
Ask any 12-year-old if this is the life they envisioned for themselves. I’m sure we all know the answer.
The brain is not functioning properly when amid addiction.
According to NIDA The National Institute of Drug Abuse, “When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and change how the brain performs its jobs. These changes are what lead to compulsive drug use, the hallmark of addiction.”
When addicted, we may feel like we are left with a head made of tin, but healing the brain is the first step in becoming a healthy, functioning adult with a new perspective on life.
When We Have Lost Our Heart
“When a man’s an empty kettle, He should be on his mettle, And yet I’m torn apart. Just because I’m presumin’ , That I could be kinda human. If I only had a heart,” sings the Tin Woodman.
For families, the addicted heart feels cold. They seem self-absorbed because their addiction comes first. Family and friends are a distant second place. Addicts cannot be responsible for themselves, be there for their family, take care of their children, or manage their money, as the addiction has a stranglehold on the addict and their life.
The physical effects of drug use is not any better. According to the American Heart Association, “…cocaine deprives the heart of oxygen by constricting the blood vessels and making the blood more likely to clot and cause a heart attack. The chest pain, called angina, is a symptom of the heart being starved for oxygen.”
If we reconnect with our inner self, let down our walls, and ask for help, the heart can begin to heal physically and emotionally.
When We Have Lost Our Courage
And from the Lion, “Read what my medal says: ‘Courage’. Ain’t it the truth? Ain’t it the truth?”
It takes courage to seek help, whether it is the person who has substance abuse issues or the family member. Addicts may feel more frightened of trying a new way of living, even though it is healthier. It probably seems easier to stay with their old and comfortable habits, even if they destroy their lives. There are many examples of people who have overcome their past addictions and have become powerful examples of courage. They can lead us forward into a more positive lifestyle when we shine the light on recovery.
The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion all follow the Yellow Brick Road to seek The Wizard’s magic, and like many of us, they fail to realize that they already have the qualities that they are seeking. We follow the Yellow Brick Road, hoping to find a cure, hoping to find a way out of our struggles. We may be the ones dependent on drugs or alcohol, the ones watching the addiction from the sidelines.
And yet, is there a Wonderful Wizard for any of us, someone who will magically solve all our problems?
Dorothy and her friends finally learn the answer from Glinda, the good witch.
“You don’t need to be helped any longer. You’ve always had the power to go back to Kansas.”We all have the power to recover and to find our way back home.
It was fun being in the play as a child. The magic of the story captivates us.
As inviting as it all sounds, we don’t need the Wizard, the glowing lights, or the yellow brick road. It’s there inside each of us. If we reach down deep, we will find it. We all can find our power, our recovery, and our life.
We can find our way back home.
What helped you find your way home, whether you are someone who struggled with substance abuse or a family member?
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Cathy – this is FANTASTIC!! It makes so, so much sense the way you’ve interwoven the family disease with the stories of the Wizard of Oz characters. I can’t wait to share this.
Thank you Lisa! So often these ideas just come out of the blue, but I liked the connection between the story and the idea that we all do have the strength we need inside of us. Take care.