The Aftermath: Reflections on Loss and the Impact of Our Choices

Sobriety isn't just about abstaining from alcohol—it's a transformative lens through which I now view my past and my future. Unfortunately, alcohol still plays a major role in many lives. Lives like the intoxicated driver who killed #DJSickness (Chris VanZant) just hours after he left the studios. 

Listen to my candid reflections on the profound impact of our decisions and the importance of cherishing every fleeting moment. Whether it’s editing photos on lonely Saturday nights or grappling with the emotional aftermath of see lives end too soon, this episode is an unvarnished look at the life-altering consequences of our actions. Tune in for an honest conversation about vulnerability, the power of making better choices, and the hope that sharing this story might help others navigate their own struggles.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Life Inscripted, with Kevin Shook talking about the
time that we were at birdies andI was drunk spilling my nachos

(00:30):
on the DJ booth.
So I quit drinking 438 days ago.
So I haven't really like beeninto the bars and one bar that
he DJed I was actually barredfrom alcohol.
That he DJ'd had alcohol.
I was actually barred fromalcohol, acting fucking stupid,

(00:54):
doing dumb shit years ago.
And what's crazy is you knowI've driven drunk before.
You know I feel like if you sayyou haven't, you're lying
unless you just never drank,which gosh.
I wish I could say that I don'tknow where I'd be if I never
drank.
But he was like sitting righthere, kind of you know we were

(01:18):
just talking about making somecontent for his DJ business,
talking about making somecontent for his DJ business, and
then had some cool ideas aboutdaytime parties and stuff like
that.
It was crazy.
We were talking shit.

(01:40):
I recorded the video, you know,because we were just setting
cameras up in here and we wererecording video but we weren't
recording audio.
We were just messing around.
And I'll kick myself in the assevery day now for not recording
that audio Because it was cool.

(02:06):
You know passionate creatorsand you know we kind of grew
apart since I wasn't in the barall the time.
But he would livestreamsometimes from the bar and DJing
and I would put it up on one ofmy computer monitors and watch
it while I was editing photos athome.

(02:28):
You know, Saturday nightsediting photos Life of sobriety,
I guess.
But it's like a few hours laterhe got hit by a fucking drunk
driver.
I can't, I can stand that.

(02:53):
Most likely if you've ever beento Richmond, indiana, and
you've ever been to a bar with aDJ, it was Chris Jay, it was
Chris.
He just threw down the beach,you know.
But he was up here Friday.
We were just talking some coolstuff.

(03:16):
He left the family, my wife andkids behind.
You know, like decisions we makein life are so profound and we
don't, we don't alwaysunderstand the circumstances and

(03:41):
until sometimes it's too late.
You know I've made a lot of baddecisions, I've said a lot of
bad things to people and I'mreally fucking sorry.
And this I don't know.

(04:02):
It's just really, really,really, really, really fucking
weird that that was the lastperson that sat in this chair
playing with this microphone andit got killed by a drunk driver
.
I have a hard time doing thisby myself.
This is like uncomfortable shitfor me, but a lot of emotions

(04:26):
going down.
This is like uncomfortablebullshit for me, but a lot of
emotions going down.
You know about a lot of things,not just that.
And then someone else I knew onFacebook died as well, you know,
over a tragic accident.
He was like probably youngerthan me, you know, over a tragic

(04:51):
accident.
He was like probably youngerthan me.
He was in his 30s, maybe late,yeah, probably mid-30s.
But people are dying and it'slike like way too early, like

(05:12):
they're not even living a lifeyet.
You know they're just gettingstarted.
All I know is life is so fuckingshort.
Like we gotta quit takingthings for granted.
You know, everyone works to bethe best at everything the best
realtor, the best this, the bestthat and it's like what's that

(05:35):
doing to us overall?
You know, like who are webecoming?
We've lost track of who wereally are.
That's kind of like why I wantedto start this podcast, life
Unscripted, about the power ofvulnerability and sharing my
stories and all my fuck ups.

(05:55):
Hopefully, like other people,don't go do the same stuff, you
know, and end up driving drunk.
This is fucking hard.
I can't like articulate a wholewelcome to life.

(06:18):
I can't do that shit.
I'm by myself, one camera.
I got so many things to do, butI thought I would sit here and
just share some thoughts.
You know, 438 days sober, it'sfucking hard.
It's hard not drinking and notmasking feelings.

(06:45):
I live in a lot of regret.
Okay, miss, regret that I'llprobably take with me, but
drinking and partying, that wasthat's my biggest regret.
Relationships, you know wastingaway all kinds of relationships

(07:06):
, whether you know wasting awayall kinds of relationships,
whether you know friends orwhatnot.
But it's life's.
Life's just real fucking hard,especially when you don't mask
it.
I'm trying really not to,because I know I you got to sit

(07:35):
there with your feelings.
You can't run from yourfeelings.
I don't.
I don't know what to say.
I usually have like guests inhere and we have conversations.
Sometimes it's animals, legitanimals, but everyone was kind

(08:05):
of busy and I just I got a loton my mind, you know.
So doing this, it's likethey're puny shit.
You know whether, like oneperson watches, you know one
person watch, that's cool,that's cool.
Hopefully, like you, can joinme in not taking life for

(08:30):
granted anymore.
You know it's wild love, youguys.