Recently we learned that a homeless man named Ted Williams exploded into fame due to the sound of what is called his golden voice. He stood on the side of a street wearing a camouflaged Army jacket holding a sign, while he was video taped by a passer by. He gave a pitch of his radio voice to the passer by and we can all imagine that he probably never dreamed of what would happen next and how fast. Later the video went viral and soon the entire country knew Ted Williams as “The Man with the Golden Voice.”
Williams who is truly gifted, was given opportunities to step into a career in broadcasting and things moved very quickly. About two weeks into his new-found fame there were news reports of his having a rap sheet for various crimes, casting a shadow over Williams.
Yet Williams remained optimistic and kept on going with his new-found fame. Fast forward to a sudden altercation with a loved one which lead to police having to show up at his hotel room and detaining Williams and his daughter, who during an argument had thrown an ice bucket a Williams head.
After Williams release from the police station the news reported Dr. Phil had stepped in to aid Williams with his dispute and other family problems. Dr. Phil also took it upon himself to help Williams with alcohol and drug abuse issues.
Today we have learned that Williams has checked into rehab. Dr. Phil is truly a good Samaritan for helping Williams and Williams should thank his lucky stars for this intervention. Too often do we see people striking it rich in Hollywood, not understanding that they have been given a voice with which they can do a lot of good and then they chose not to. Dr. Phil may have very well saved the life of Ted Williams.
There is something however with which I take issue. Getting a start in recovery by being exploited by major media as an addict who ”lies every time his lips are moving” as Dr. Phil expressed in last night’s show, is not and should not be part of the message in recovery. Shaming an addict is not what an addict needs to find recovery. Addicts know that lies are part of addiction and it is up to the addict to admit this if he or she is going to grow out of addiction. Addicts being prodded into a solution that “sounds good” is not progress. Regardless of positive events in life, for many addicts that state of hopelessness is difficult to overcome and it does take time.
In recovery as in addiction, we are not oblivious to what we have done to ourselves. After all, we were not born imbedded with the deceptive ways of addiction. These behaviors have befallen upon us through addiction itself. When addiction leads to homelessness it is extremely devastating. Hope is lost and it is hard to imagine for it to ever return.
There is no doubt in my mind that Williams held on to his dream and had a vision for what he would like to become one day. He probably never envisioned that it would happen for him in the way that it did. He should be able to heal from his addiction and learn the new required skills to live a meaningful life that is healthy, loving, productive and without the toxic influence of people who help drive the addiction.
Shaming an addict who has found new hope and wants to recover is like betting on the inevitability for that addict to relapse. Therefor we must be careful and mindful.
God speed to you Ted Williams! Take it one day at a time and remember if it doesn’t feel good, you’re not doing it right.
Dr. Phil, please keep up the GOOD work!
Alexandra Datig, Sober 12 Years
