Time

As Ross Perot sagely observed in the 1992 Presidential debates (and yes, I am that old), "Tahm is the enemy!" Translated from Texan to English, that's roughly "Time is the enemy!" (I've lived in Texas for a bit, so I've picked up some of the lingo.) Kratom helps give me the energy to pursue activities that I love, including software development, banjo, guitar, yodeling, and trying to trick my son into thinking I'm the greatest dad ever. I'm also a bit of a social media butterfly, and appear on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and About.me. When I find some free time between all that, I write. I suppose the lack of posts is, in a way, a good thing; it means I'm pursuing the things I really like to do.

I'd like to spend more time working to ensure kratom remains legal, and I do find time to write the occasional letter to a legislative body when the legality of kratom is called into question. That's where I think this blog may play a role. I'm a pretty regular guy by most standards: I have a wife, kid, one too many pets, and a full-time job. The only difference between me and my colleagues, family members, and friends is that I use a misunderstood plant to help with some conditions that have troubled me for years. I hope that by writing about kratom and its relevance to my life, I can enlighten people and show that neither kratom -- nor those who benefit from it -- should be demonized. We're real people with jobs, families, and a smelly dog (well, some of us, anyway). Thank you for your time, and all you do to help ensure kratom remains a natural alternative medicine for us!

Getting Started

On weekend mornings when I'm too lazy to make my morning kratom concoction, I'm reminded of why I incorporated kratom into my life several years ago. Without kratom, I would wake up at 10am on the weekends, be ready for a nap an hour later, and then take another nap in the middle of the afternoon. It's difficult to be a good dad and husband when you are constantly fighting fatigue and the urge to lie down. I don't miss those days, and sometimes regret the times I felt too tired to be fully present during my son's toddler years. Kratom has given me a second chance to be a decent father. I have my flaws, but I'm awake to experience my son's life.

For My Family

If we're being brutally honest, I found kratom at a time when I was searching for legal psychoactive drugs, about four years ago. I was searching for something that would be somewhat recreational, and also treat my anxiety. I hesitate to admit that I found kratom at a local head shop, which cost half my weekly allowance for three days' worth. (I've since become much more sensible with my kratom purchases.) The first time I tried kratom, I found it interesting, but it wasn't really what I was seeking at the time. Nonetheless, I finished the remainder of the package over the course of the next few days.

After a few days, I started to experience two things that improved:

1. My energy and mood. I was able to stay awake after work, and engage with my wife and son.
2. My acid reflux became a thing of the past.

My lack of energy, and inability to stay awake at both work and at home were a heated point of contention for my wife and me. I knew that I shouldn't feel as exhausted as I did, and had tried a sleep study, along with prescription nighttime sleep aids. The new-found energy began to change my life. I would now come home from work and want to play with my son, instead of fall asleep on the couch. I no longer nodded off at work, which meant an instant increase in productivity. Over the course of the next few months, I found my desire to consume alcohol also decreased (another heated topic for me and my wife).

Four years later, I do sometimes regret the years when I was too tired to be actively engaged with my family, but I continue to take kratom so that I can keep striving to be the best father and husband I can. My professional life has also improved; I'm much more productive, and am learning so much more about my field. Since my drinking has decreased, I still go out with friends, but for the primary purpose of socializing rather than "getting drunk." Oh, and remember that search for recreational, legal psychoactive drugs that started this journey? That search is now a thing of the past.

I use kratom because my family needs an involved husband and father. How about you?