Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand that planning to use just once can become a catastrophic event should we decide that we are going to go ahead and chance it. Our reality is – It’s Not Just A Treat! This is the reality of addiction. We know that we were not given enough grace to find recovery because we were more powerful than our disease. We found one day at a time recovery because we admitted we were beaten and broken. Today we have a choice. We know that using is not just a treat and we choose to remain abstinent just for that day. We reach out and participate in a life-style called recovery. Thoughts of using will pass. Think it through. See reality. Remember that desperation we once had. It’s our greatest advantage. It’s a gift. Peace.
Many people who have been living in one day recovery for a fair amount of time remember the desire that we had to be accepted and praised when we were new to one day at a time recovery. We found ourselves beginning to belong when we had became people who were members of the rooms of recovery. As people who were members of the rooms of recovery we were given ample opportunity to share our stories of what it was like, what happened and what it was like now. Doing so at the anniversary of one year of continual abstinence we found ourselves being met with joyous and appreciative applause. We felt like we were rock stars receiving a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall. Honestly, we deserved to. We were becoming beacons of hope. Grace became our stories and we then found humility. Recovery becomes a gift. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the determination of our callous egos who wish to instill their power so that they may be in control of our desires, our words, and our choices. In other words they want to be the “I Am”. Our experience in early recovery (a year or two of abstinence) is just about the right amount of time for our egos to try and assert their importance claiming that they have done all of the work which has made our recovery possible. They can even become quite callous in their need to dominate or be in control. Little do they have the ability to know when they are hurting someone. Upon this realization our egos become quite humble. Reality occurs and we know that recovery was done unto us by nothing other than grace. Even our egos find humility. One day at a time recovery becomes more than a reality to us and we make better choices. We become a small part of the whole. It’s a natural part of our one day at a time maturation. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of finding and holding onto that little flicker of light. Once we find and then learn to hold onto that little flicker of light nothing, and we mean nothing, ever makes us ever let go of the reality of hope. Even on that day in which they throw dirt on our face life’s challenges will never be insurmountable. What we cannot help but to discover is the bond that we have with other recovering people. We cannot break it, we cannot lose it, and we cannot throw it away. God, the spirit, or the universe revealed themselves to us through these people. We have seen and we have lived in the reality of grace and because of this we see the reality of eternal belonging. That little flicker of light is our never ending joy. Peace.
Most people living in one day at a time recovery understand that recovery isn’t a holiday. Yes we are happy that we found abstinence and recovery and reality but recovery’s work continues every single day. We know this because we were told that everyday we are just an arms length away from using. We also know that even after years of one day at a time recovery thoughts about using though few and far between are a natural occurrence for us. When we know this we know that we are granted a daily reprieve from active addiction. Without any reservation we understand that we cannot pick up that first one. Not for Christmas, not for New Years, not for job promotions, and especially not for the birth of a child. We know recovery is never a holiday. It is work and it is grace. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery eventually become aware of the silent tears that were being shed by our loved ones. While living a life caught up in active addiction we were totally unaware that we thought only about ourselves. After years of recovery we got to understand how impaired and self-driven our own unhealthy desires really were. When we became aware of this conundrum which is often called the bondage of self many of us suffer deeply. We know the reality of remorse and regret. Even after years of recovery we still struggle. We eventually learn that in our impaired thinking we lived with an illness that took us by the hand and then dictated our actions. To put this illness in remission we became and remained abstinent. We discovered that recovery is in reality grace. It’s a gift that we truly appreciate. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand that gratitude is followed with work. We continue to work after good news, good outcomes, lessons learned, and other gifts that we graciously appreciate. When we recognize our gratitude we cannot help but to live with a more positive frame of mind. In doing so we become better equipped to be of assistance to others and we know that when we help others we are actually helping ourselves. What we learn to understand is that grateful people help to make other grateful people. It’s a reality of living in one day at a time recovery. Gratitude is always followed by work. It’s our way of passing the torch. It’s an act of humility. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery know that hope always is and we believe that hope always springs forth even in the most difficult of times. Often when hope springs forth we find that we felt alone and maybe even abandoned but a breath, a wish, or a cry for help becomes a moment of trust which is that even though we feel totally unprepared to deal with difficulties that seem insurmountable we find a moment of calm, a flash of courage, and a peace that comes calmly out of the blue. Some of us believe that this is what some religious people call receiving a peace that surpasses all understanding. The peculiar thing is we might even have to fall apart before this peace finds us. This is reality; hope springs forth. It’s a one day at a time reality. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery discover that we have continuing gratitude for being able to find continuing strength to remain abstinent and also being able to hold it all somehow together when the chips appear down and also when we are in midst of any other difficult periods. Our reality is we are stronger than we know and we have become so because we know how to reach out to our supports, families, and friends who have been there for us. Also we discover that even should we fall apart we can find a peace because God, the spirit, or the universe decides to intervene. We know that such events occur and will occur and we know from experience of either ours or others we know we can reach out. So we do. It’s the gift of togetherness. For this we find gratitude. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand that in times of fear they might have to put on a brave face not only for others but also for themselves. This is a reality that we might have to subscribe to because without putting on a brave face we might totally fall apart. We know that we don’t have to fall apart especially when things or situations have the good possibility of turning out well. We understand this and often pray with hope, need and the desire for wellness. Experience has taught us to do this. In addition to this we also turn to people who are our supports because we definitely need to remain abstinent at such times. This is our reality. Pray, reach out, wait, and breathe. It’s our hopeful reality. Peace.