Those of us who live in one day at a time recovery do not feign modesty. Our reality is that we try to subscribe to the concept of humility, and in this humility we know that we do not have all the answers as to how to find or stay in the reality of recovery. We know we are no better or no worse than any other person and we know we are just an arm’s length away from consuming what in all reality could lead to a full-blown relapse. Feigning modesty could be a form of self-righteousness and many of us believe we lost our ability to be self-righteous when we proclaimed ourselves to be addicts. Our reality is we try to live with a bit of humility but there are still times we fall short. It leaves a bitter taste on our tongue that we don’t like. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand that when we feel that we must stand alone we are in all actuality standing with the other. The other, which is the reality of what we call God, the spirit, or the universe will always stand with us. The truth is that he, she, they, or it will actually pick us up when we fall. The other actualizes the concept and the materialization of grace. We all know this. We just need a few moments of awareness, freedom, and a one day at a time hint of gratitude for grace to sink in. When it couldn’t or wouldn’t many of us reached out for professional help. Some of us needed medication and guidance to find this reality. The other is the inextricable connection that lives in us all. People living in one day at a time recovery simplistically reveal this to us. This is the other’s way of making awareness easy. We stand together. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the concept of individual togetherness. Individually and together we share a belief that we abstain from our addiction of choice one day at a time. Some of us seek togetherness in the rooms of recovery with similar yet individual beliefs and stories. What recovery and reality tells us is that when we lose the terminal uniqueness we so desperately tried to hold onto is we do believe that someone else in recovery has lived a story so identically to ours that we are blended almost exactly alike in individual togetherness. The concept that we are inextricably connected to other recovering people is an absolute truth. We can say that we are no longer alone. Peace.
Many of us who are living in one day at a time recovery live with gentle bombardments reminding us that we have to be vigilant and aware that we are people who live with mental health conditions that can often be accompanied by substance addictions and sometimes behavioral disorders. What we discover is many of us in all honesty are seemingly dependent to our own unhealthy thought patterns and egoic imaginings. Vigilance in being active in one day at a time recovery accompanied by self-awareness helps to keep us out of chaotic behaviors and dangerous thinking such as denial and believing that we are unique. We are in all honesty just recovering people being vigilant and awake to the belief and the practice that we are recipients and givers of recovery’s grace and purpose. We keep what we have by giving it away. Gentle bombardments and reminders that we have to be vigilant and aware that we need to participate and be responsible for our recovery are a gift. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery live our lives holding on to reality. Reality tells us we need to take care of ourselves. Recovery tells us we need to try and help others. If we are paying attention we understand that if we are holding on to reality we will discover we are living a life of selfless selfishness. In as such some of us thought we were being unique but sooner or later we do discover most communities are based on this concept. When we take care of ourselves we can help others. When we try to do this we believe we are making God, the spirit, or the universe smile, and through such efforts we are making the world a better place. We hold on to this reality one day at a time. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery know that life is not always easy but when it is we need to appreciate it. This is the reality of gratitude and more than lucky the acceptance of when life becomes difficult there are better days ahead. The concept of gratitude can only be held by those of us who participate in the spiritual principal of giving and receiving grace. Many of us try to hold our egos at bay long enough to understand that grace is a God thing. Both the giving and the receiving. The reality of grace made it possible that we have survived our bottoms and discovered one day at a time recovery. We have been given a second chance. Maybe even numerous times. For this we are grateful. Peace.
Those of us who struggle at times in one day at a time recovery can understand a world of intermittent realities. One such reality is when we find ourselves in situations where we are incapable of taking care of ourselves because of mental health problems and lack the ability to partake in executing good, reasonable and healthy life skills. Active addiction often causes this intermittent reality. So does untreated or uncontrolled mental illness. The inability to find recovery or to stay in recovery for some of us is a reality. The sad thing is that living in recovery is a personal responsibility. The good thing is that if we respond to treatment and get a bit of support, recovery is a personal responsibility. In reality we need to understand we all need help. Needing help is not an intermittent reality. It is the basis of social democracy. Anything less goes against the existence of a healthy society. Peace.
Some people living in one day at a time recovery have a fair amount of resistance in regards to letting go of fears, phobias, and anxiety. Such feelings are a little more intense than the average non-one day at a time recovering person. When we have grown to a point in our recovery where fears, phobias, and anxiety become simply episodic we wonder are such adversities really any more intense than anyone else’s. Probably not. Our reality is we need not turn to active addiction to cope. Perhaps what we discover is when such conditions are chronic we do learn to cope with fears, phobias, and anxiety. One day at a time, one step at a time. Many of us need professional help. Be strong and reach out. It is the brave thing to do. Letting go can be hard. Maybe we just need a push in the right direction. Peace.
There are days that some people living in one day at a time recovery have spurting moments of being defensive and angry. Anxiety has a tendency of bringing such spurting moments to life. During these days we just as soon prefer to have no extra responsibilities or undertakings because our manner tends to become belligerent and unkind at such moments. Too long, and too much stress tends to do this to some of us. The sad thing is that this can happen during the preparations leading up to such events as Christmas and other festive times of the year especially when our anxiety level is already high because of other stressors. We need to remember we need to take mental health breaks. It’s important. By doing this we and those close to us will benefit. Peace.
There are many of us who have lived in one day at a time recovery who know that there are days when we will be afraid. These days, or these times tend to happen when things get out of sorts and we cannot do what we had hoped to do. This happens when circumstances say no to our plans and we fall short of being able to do what we had hoped to do. There are times financial shortages create such circumstances. We fear that we are not measuring up when in all reality we are doing the best we can. If we cannot accept when circumstances say no to us fear and disappointment can wreak havoc with our peace of mind. It’s the people pleaser in us that makes us afraid. We know this. Acceptance is our only answer. We let it go. Peace.