The Unimaginably Good Life

The Unimaginably Good Life

Share this post

The Unimaginably Good Life
The Unimaginably Good Life
'Don't rock the boat' and other lessons I'm unlearning

'Don't rock the boat' and other lessons I'm unlearning

How growing up a witness to addiction shaped my need for control—and how I’m slowly letting it go

Megan DeMatteo's avatar
Megan DeMatteo
Oct 23, 2024
∙ Paid

Share this post

The Unimaginably Good Life
The Unimaginably Good Life
'Don't rock the boat' and other lessons I'm unlearning
Share

Growing up a witness to addiction can put you on a spiritual path, whether you want it or not. I didn’t carry prayer beads or wear a nun’s habit, but I learned about mankind’s inner demons early on. By the time I was 5 or 6, life-and-death stakes were part of my everyday life. I worried daily about a grown man who passed out drunk night after night, and…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Unimaginably Good Life to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Megan DeMatteo
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share