How an addict's world got so much bigger

Jordan Rogers spent eight years as an addict (five of those years tangled up with heroin). In his new I Am Second film, he talks about that dark experience and how he ultimately found sobriety. But something that you won't see in the film is also something he has become extremely passionate about: his world.

I'll let him explain:

It's been said that addiction is a disease of isolation. What begins as a gregarious and social activity, usually progresses to a sad and solitary ritual.

By the end of my addiction, I was shut up in the bathroom of a pink motel room and eventually I was locked up in a concrete box. These are lonely, dark, and ugly places. My world had become very, very small.

But in recovery, the world can become a very big place. I gained the freedom to walk anywhere a free man could go. I gained an appreciation for life, both my own and others. After existing in the nocturnal and institutionalized lifestyle of addiction for so many years, I gained a special appreciation for life-giving creation like plants, flowers, and sunlight. Beauty began to show itself in all kinds of places. I began to seek experience, education, and adventure to new and interesting places. Through school, work, and play, I've been afforded some incredible opportunities to see so much around the world. I've driven across the United States, studied Shakespeare in England, played golf in Scotland, and visited amazing cities like Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Prague...and many more.

The world has become a very big place indeed.

To show just how big his world has become, Jordan sent some amazing pictures from his world travels. To celebrate the message of hope he found, we wanted to share them with you. Take a look:

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

 (Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

  (Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

 (Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

 (Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

 (Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

(Photo: Jordan Rogers. Used with permission)

You can watch Jordan's film on addiction below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo4u8vHnp0k