Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of reality is if it isn’t simple it might become extremely difficult. Extremely difficult reality is often based upon founding our realities on the complicated belief that we must always be in charge and we must always explore our journeys by ourselves not seeking the experience of those who can help us with their experience, knowledge, and tried and tested reality. Such endeavors complicate the hell out of life, recovery, and in all reality our reality. It’s a difficult reality to follow. Experience has shown us the reality of simplicity works out better. Remember that. Others can help us. It’s what recovery and reality are all about. Keep it simple and reach out. It’s a better reality. We need to let go of our fear. We don’t need to make reality difficult. Reality is a gift. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand that difficulties occur more often than usual when we partake of endeavors all on our own without solicitating support from others who can and will be supportive to us when such difficulties occur thereby helping us to complete such endeavors one day at a time. Such support is imperative for such completions and we know that we don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell unless we remain abstinent from whatever we must be abstinent from just one day at a time. When we are in recovery and we do have support most endeavors are doable for us. When we do have support most endeavors are more often than usual completable. We learn this one day at a time. It’s the gift of togetherness which is just another name for the face of the other. It helps us all. Peace.
Most people living in one day at a time recovery understand the utmost importance of living in the reality of one day at a time abstinence. In our abstinence we eventually come to realize that when we are in recovery we automatically but not purposely become people who are being of service to other people including our family members and those who are closest to us. When we become healthy in our abstinence and in our recovery these people begin to find a peace because their concerns for our safety become less and less to the umpteenth degree. Wellness becomes a reality. We also become of service to people who are still using. Our abstinence and our recovery becomes quite a testimony of wellness to those who still suffer. Sometimes they want to be like us. This is a great service to all people. Our recovery becomes a humble reality. For this we are grateful. Peace.
Some people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of only seeing the big story in regards to life and recovery. We become so hell bent on saving the whole world we forget about the small groups of people who participate day in and day out in the rooms of recovery, coffee shops, and kitchens while helping each other to stay clean and sober one day at a time. In our inner-circle these people are the ones who listen to our woes and share their experience, strength, and hope with us. When we understand this we understand what it is like when people call each other friend which means our inner-circle is where our friends are and together we are making the world a better place. It’s our tried and tested reality and it works. That’s the basics. Us and our friends. We work together. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery come to understand that they are living in a world full of teachers. As we pick and choose who our teachers are we are discovering that the teachers we have chosen can be, or were, every bit as messed up as we are or we were. We also discover few are our teachers who we can put up on pedestals. They too are human, and they can fall and stumble just as badly as anyone else can. Another reality we understand is our teachers who tell us what we must do are definitely walking on thin ice. Those of us who have found the rooms of recovery know this. A good teacher is someone who remains a student and leads by example. It’s our greatest strength and it’s our humble reality. We’re always students. For this we are grateful. Peace.
Some people living in one day at a time recovery understand that if we don’t let go of whatever we don’t let go of it will consume us. This is the reality of addiction. We seemed doomed to use and using was an all powerful entity that consumed every moment and every breath that we lived. Situations and circumstances can do the same to us while we are living in recovery. It is an untasteful title we are bearing but in all reality we have become control freaks who must control every stressor, every challenge, and every hiccup that we encounter as we live this journey that we call recovery. Many of us turn to centering prayer to help us let go (something like “The Serenity Prayer”). Centering prayer helps us to let go of adversity. We have been told “Let go and let God”. It saves us a lot of trouble. It’s a new way of life for us and it works. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the importance of us being abstinent from actively using whatever it is that in all reality impairs our thinking. In the grand scheme of things our living in recovery is more than important to not only ourselves but many others as well. Our families, our friends, our co-workers, and just about everyone else we know benefits from our one day at a time recovery. Our abstinence causes a chain reaction of joy in all of us. Many thought that we wouldn’t measure up to much but we have. We are living and breathing miracles of freedom in God’s magnificent one day at a time garden. For this, we and many others are grateful. Peace.
Most people who are living in one day at a time recovery understand that when they are becoming overextended that they need rest. It appears when we have an iron in one fire and another iron in another fire and yet another iron in another fire we need to understand that we are actually and quickly burning ourselves out. Burning out is not a good place to be. Burned out can lead to a need for days of rest or what some people call a depressive period. In all reality if we had set healthy limitations on ourselves we would have been okay. There is no need for ourselves to get down on ourselves. We simply need to recoup. There are always possibilities of having tasks to do. It’s a reality of life. We just had a reminder of where overextending ourselves takes us. The fact that we are even living in recovery is all grace. We are in all truth grateful. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand that everyday becomes the reality of a re-beginning. This means we are not wiping the slate clean everyday forever and ever it means that we take the the lessons that we have learned in life and carry them with us when we begin and re-begin in the reality of every new day. This is building upon and not actually having to create our recovery all over again. This helps us to remember what helps us in our lives of what we call recovery. It also helps us to avoid the dangerous things we have done that had put us at risk for relapse. We re-begin because it works. It’s a healthy thing that leads us into growth. It’s an amazing gift. We have learned this one day at a time and will continue to do so. Peace.
Most people living in one day at a time recovery know the reality of fear. If we do not know fear we are not living. When we live our lives of recovery there will be times when we feel that pit in our stomach and that anxiety in our breath. We might be attacked by thoughts of aloneness and we might lose our sense of belonging with others. We need to understand that this happens to all of us from time to time. Many of us pray centering prayer to ground us in wellness again. And most importantly we don’t isolate. We reach out, fear disappears and belonging is found once again. We all know what it’s like. We’re all in this together. Remember that. Peace.