Justin Nadeau's Journey to Sobriety and Self-Reliance

Hello,

My name is Justin Nadeau. I am raising funds for a canvas hot tent and winter weather living essentials along with some minor living expenses.

On October 5, 2022 I made a choice. At the end of my third visit to the ER in a two week time span I was told I had acute pancreatitis. The nurse that saved my life with the truth said " Justin, you are an alcoholic. If you do not stop drinking and using drugs you are at the start of a very slow and painful death." That night I made a phone call to Charles River Recovery in Weston, MA.

October 6, 2022 about 3;30pm in the parking lot of that recovery center was the last time I put any alcohol or drugs into my body. I admitted myself to what I thought was just going to be a seven day detox program. On day four I knew seven days was not going to be enough for me. I asked to stay for the most time I could. 30 days. I stayed 29.

After close to 25 years of drinking and drug abuse, it took the threat of death to scare me straight.

In the last almost two years I have done this on my own. Not alone, but buy my own self accountability. No sponsor. No meetings. No step work. I'm not down playing those buy any means, they work. Just not for me.

I do not see progress in me sitting around always telling my "story". Thats in the past. I'm trying to move forward. I will gladly tell it to anyone who would like to listen.

I made a choice that night, which also happened to be the best drunk dial I ever made, to better myself. To live. I am now making the most clear headed choice I've ever made. That is to live in this tent in the north woods of Maine while I build a log cabin buy hand.

While I have many reasons for doing this, society, people, places, things ect. The main reason is to prove more to myself.

The human ego is addicted to more. I have proven, and prove to myself, every morning and night, just for today, I'll stay sober. My mental power over that is strong. The next best thing in my mind is that physical power fueled buy mental desire. I have a void to fill and refuse to fill that cup with booze.

The property I'm building on was left to a friend of mine buy his late father. This is all legal. There is a small town miles away and a large town 35 miles away. A lot less people, places and things to set off triggers and urges. We as people are powerless to all of them. So if I reduce all of those.....

The tents I'm looking at range between $800-$2000. I will also need some quality winter boots. Some more long undies. Some tools ect. I have a stove already to was given to me buy my best friends parents. Three things needed for survival in the woods in winter are, water, fire and shelter. There is a working well on this property. The left over money will be for food and provisions for life.

The community I am moving to is large enough to get odd jobs when I need. Being a man that can work with his hands and mind, I can get a job anywhere.

I ask for this money at this time because time is of the essence. I need to get up there so I can start cutting firewood. To get the tent setup before first snowfall. And, to feed my addiction to more.

I never knew I could get sober until I tried. I'll never know if I can build a cabin unless I try. I had a counselor that told me, if I put in the same work and attitude I did in rehab, on the streets, I'd be okay. I plan to put that same effort into swinging an axe and rowing a saw.

At 13 I made that choice to drink from that cup.

I ask of you to help me facilitate a choice I've made to further better myself.

Thank you for your time,

Justin