Many people living in one day at a time recovery receive what can only be described as a profound glimpse of their lives. This usually happens to us when we are a little older in years and such a glimpse portrays to us the reality of the mistakes we have made and the pain we have caused others. In as such our awakening has almost come to its fruition. Part of this awakening is that we are far better people today and we have probably been so since we’ve come into recovery. Even with such a reality some of us cannot say that we have no regrets because our past reality reveals to us that to have such regrets would only be human. We are not, never were, or never will be saints. We were broken and ill and are now left with the remnants of such ill-adventurous living. Our reality today is that we know and accept that we were ill. Many of us have spent years trying to help others to become or to continue being well. We did so and we do so simply because it is the right thing to do and helping others helps us to help ourselves. This is part of the inextricable connection that we have with those we are akin with. We are people living with humility who accept our imperfections. It’s the gift of reality and compassion. Our awakening continues one day at a time. It’s part of the journey. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality that every new day is always a beginning. For those of us who have experienced the scenario of same crap different day, we often succumb to the belief that repetition is often troublesome and depressing. What we learn to understand is that we need a break from the doldrums of a stagnant reality. Many of us need this especially if we are wrapped up in the confines of our own minds. We all need a break and getting or taking such a break is important. When we are healthy we get to see that reality can be inviting and that every new day can be the possibility of a welcomed beginning. Some of us take medication as prescribed by a practicing physician and we also receive professional counselling. When we do so we are learning to reach out to break free from the confines of our own minds. In doing so we become resilient and healthy. We overcome adversity. Life is good. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the endless joy of participating in their own one day at a time recovery. The joy of this is the reality of hope of freedom from active addiction and the reality of living in recovery, or coping with mental health disorders. In other words we can do well and thrive as we understand and live the endless joy of participating in our lives and in our recovery. As we experience the freedom of choice we uncover the reality of the gift of humility. Such a gift reveals to us the inextricable bond that we have with others. In our reality we know that those we are akin with can help us understand this inextricable bond that we share when we learn to identify with their struggles and also their wellness. The joy that they share with us comes from the endless joy of participation. Many of us believe such participation is of paramount importance. In this we understand gratitude, commitment, and belonging. Peace.
Some people living in one day at a time recovery know the reality of everyday collisions. What we often collide with is the reality of repetitive and cumbersome sharing of our experience, strength, and hope. What many of us discover is that our attempts to help others is old news to many people who are struggling with mental health disorders and active addiction. Even with the everyday collisions we experience as we continue to put our experience, strength, and hope with one day at a time recovery out there, our reality is often we are only helping ourselves. Or so we think. As we continue to try and help others we find that because of trying to share our one day at a time recovery we become more available to those closest to us. We also find our setbacks are less frequent. In addition to this we discover that there is no such thing as helping only ourselves when we are in recovery. Most days we discover that such imagined collisions are egoic imaginings. In knowing this we understand the gift of humility. We understand that one day at a time recovery is a humble reality that we cannot understand unless we understand the reality and importance of helping ourselves. Then, and only then can we help others. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of being let down. What we try to understand is that when being let down happens to us, and it will, we try to roll with the punches of disappointment. If we have basic understanding of the human condition we know that feeling disappointed is a natural human emotion when we experience a let down. Many of us have developed coping skills to help us find a level of resilience that enables us to move past such disappointment. Some of us come to a point of acceptance even if such acceptance is extremely painful. In resilience when we accept we might say – it is what it is. We might even do this with broken hearts and shattered dreams. What many of us do is we put one foot in front of the other one step at a time one day at a time. We turn to those we are akin with and we remain abstinent. We will find that we do have a second wind. This means we will be okay. This is the reality of living in recovery. We now understand the gift of resilience. Peace.
There are some people living in one day at a time recovery that live with chronic anxiety. Chronic anxiety is a reality. Our reality is our social, occupational, and personal functioning can be significantly impaired. Chronic anxiety is a condition that develops over time and for some of us it is a condition that can ebb and flow. Socially we can be awkward and nervous. We can appear crass in regards to displaying empathy or concern when in all reality we are just trying to catch our breath and harness the debilitating fear that has overtaken our physical and mental being. In as such we fear we are already living the reality of being social outcast which is already complicated from the social phobias that are already developed in pre-existing chronic anxiety. It can be a sort of fear that perpetuates more fear. Traditional employment in which where one works full-time hours can be extremely difficult. Sometimes medication helps. We need to discuss this with our doctors. What most of us living with chronic anxiety have come to understand is the reality of reaching out. A decaf and a break from the pressure of everyday life complicated with chronic anxiety helps. We also understand the reality of the breath. It might sound foolish to us but when our breath is well our life is well. Once again reach out, breathe, and take a break. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery know everyday brings hope. We don’t have to feel, experience, or know we have hope. It’s not a matter of faith, trust, good deeds, or anything that we have done that merits us this reality. There is hope everyday because of pain, sickness, death, and tragedy. It is because chains, terror, cruelty, and ill will supersede any act of decency or kindness. It is because want gets twisted into greed, addiction, and to the very least obsessive want. It’s because life gets so selfish we don’t even care enough to share the air that we breathe or the water that we drink. It’s because we wage war with our neighbors because we want what they have or they are a threat to our sanctimonious belief of ourselves, our God, and our society. Everyday we awaken we know this pain, this wrong, and this truth. We shed the tears, we heave the sighs, we sob the sobs, and we know the dark deep days of depression. But still we sing, we smile, we work, we laugh, and we can be exceedingly grateful. People marry or form unions of togetherness. Kindness and charity is a part of our lives. Children are born and they sing their funny rhymes. And even poets can smile. What else could we do but believe their is hope everyday. Hope is because it has to be. It’s a kin to love. There is no other reality.
There is a reality that occurs for some people receiving care from mental health services and that reality which can occur is the reality of having our fears, our worries and our woes dismissed or not heard. It can be a shaming experience. Our concern is lack of care for those of us who are high functioning. Often those of us who are high functioning need to understand that we are a part of reality in which we have an inextricable connection with others and in that connection we understand that we can be alright even in the midst of struggle. It is our own intestinal fortitude and knowing that our lives are doable that keep us going. Some of us call ourselves people living in one day at a time recovery in order that we can be resilient enough to adapt to the every day changes that occur in life. We learn to transcend the reality of disappointment and in doing so we evolve while living in a healthier reality. Some of us develop or are developing a relationship with the other. In doing so we feel the need to tell others who struggle that they’re not alone. Life gets better and adversities will pass. It’s an absolute truth. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery after a short period of time in such recovery often confuse the reality of growth with the concept of being recovered. Too many people who have lived for years as chemically dependent people believe that they have ascended to a non-existing level of superiority in which they no longer need to learn or experience the ever growing lessons and gifts of one day at a time recovery. Although the delusion of being recovered is usually common in people living in the early years of recovery it can also rear its egoic imaginings in the minds of people who have been in recovery for many years. If we are lucky, constant and continuing self-examination will uncover the reality that we are still very much people living in one day at a time recovery from active chemical dependency. Understanding, and continual practice of such basic realities of recovery keep us living in a world that continues with growth, recovery and reality. We are all just an arm’s length away from relapse. We need ever be vigilant of this. Our daily freedom from active addiction is a gift. Growth reveals this to us. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery can fall into the trap of disturbed thinking. What we discover is that our egoic imaginings can disturb us to point that we take offense when no offense was intended. Simple misunderstandings occur and our ego often misconstrue realities from being truthfully nothing into realities of being purposely hurt and belittled. Sensitive egoic imaginings tend to feed into thoughts of egoic fear that often become our initial reaction when we imagine insult or disrespect which if we let it, it will result in disturbed thinking. In as such we can become bitter and resentful people. After living in recovery for a while, and this while might take years, we learn to challenge the imaginings of our ego. When we practice this we learn to let go of fear induced disturbed thinking. In other words we will no longer be controlled by the ego’s sensitivity and paranoia. Such egoic imaginings will continue to happen but we know this and we are capable of letting go of these thoughts, especially when we are doing well. This is the reality of living in recovery and in such recovery we understand the gift of letting go. We are being welcomed into healthy reality. Peace.