Some of us who are living in one day at a time recovery learn when we are blaming others for our struggles we are actually in all reality paying no attention to what our struggles really are. This is the reality of scapegoating which can make us bitter people opposed to love, belonging, and the inextricable connection between all people. When we understand this we understand we can disagree without opposing love, belonging, and the inextricable connection we all share. Scapegoating and dehumanization should happen less when we live in one day at a time recovery and perhaps we learn to drop the word blame in regards to the reasons for our own unhappiness. Struggles become less as we discover our own reality. It’s the simplicity of love. Peace.
People living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of creation is that we eventually learn to be responsible for ourselves. Being responsible for ourselves does not mean we take complete control of ourselves, others, and everything around us. It means that we take simple steps, or reasonable precautions to remain abstinent and let go of trying to control others who we may or may not have taken hostage while in the throes and the confusion of active addiction. In recovery we let go of such oppressive behavior. When we do it sets us free and we learn to take responsibility for ourselves only. It’s a liberating experience. It’s the reality of creation. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery live with the hope that in all reality most people who live part of their lives as wayward souls or prodigal children will not need our help to manage their lives. These are the people who have developed a history of addiction or addictive behaviors who come to their senses on their own and either stop and abstain by themselves, or moderate, rather easily and successfully. Such people simply are not addicts. The reality of life though is that we all suffer and in our suffering most people need help. This is often the reality of stinking thinking. Grace, hope, one day at a time living, and the practice of gratitude can really help. They can help us to be compassionate people. We can stop looking to complete that futuristic endeavor that will finally complete us. Deep down we need to understand that we are already and we will always be, enough. It’s a stone-cold sober reality. Enjoy it. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery know what it is like to escape the Netherworld. The Netherworld is a place of bondage, pain and suffering which which creates nothing but confusion and doubt. Its reality is real as real can be. Our new reality is that we actually escaped the Netherworld with the understanding that freedom from bondage cost us nothing, that pain and suffering still exist, and that confusion and doubt still visit us, leaving us a bit bewildered and unsure. The difference is that we need no longer need to face life and its struggles alone. We have joined the world of the living, and although life is imperfect, we travel a road of contented life. It’s the gift of gratitude that we find in one day at a time living in a world that is really quite manageable. We have discovered grace and in grace we have escaped the Netherworld. You can too. Join us. Peace.
Many people who are living in one day at a time recovery know that living in recovery can be a difficult endeavor. One of the ways that we can make recovery more purposeful, more doable, and more meaningful is that not only are we in it for ourselves, we are in it to help others who truly need to find the reality of abstinence find it. We call this participating in recovery. We are part of the solution not only for ourselves but for others too. Should those who need to find abstinence reach out for help, they will discover that they can find us in the rooms of recovery. Any addiction counsellor or mental health professional should know where we meet. We are the participants of all the support groups that participate in helping each other in remaining abstinent from active addiction. Reach out. We help each other. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand and experience the gifts of a clear head and freedom from the bondage of active addiction. Both of these two little joys help with the evolution of our souls, or what we also call our journey in which we discover and witness the reality of our true-selves. This is the part of us that for recovery’s purpose is loving, compassionate, kind, and resilient even in the face of adversity. We share this reality with others, be they family, close friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We will not be perfect but we will share in the workings and responsibilities of life and recovery. For most of us it is a staggered reality of peace and grace. It’s the gift of our growing reality. Peace.
Most people living in one day at a time recovery will encounter the reality of chaos which attacks their spirits interfering with their peace of mind, or what we could call our one day at a time wellness. We all have suffered, or will suffer, in such times. Such chaos is a reminder of when we had bottomed, or were bottoming out, and in desperations we thought, or even cried out, “God help me”. At that time such words might have been as foreign to us as is the language of a lost civilization. Now while in recovery, either new or even well seasoned, the chaos that sometimes appears in our lives brings us to these words again. “God help me”. The repetition of such words can bring us to a place with a new peace. Prayer does work. We don’t have to know how or why. We call it the reality of grace. Peace.
Those of us who are living in one day at a time recovery need to hear the sounds of recovery. We need to hear “We are not alone” and “Reach out”. We need to hear “Keep coming back” and “Accept what we cannot change”. We need to hear “The gift of desperation”, “Turn it over” and “Let it go”. We need to hear “This too shall pass” and “It gets better”. These phrases, which are nothing more than sounds when we are in early recovery, eventually reveal the knowledge and the feelings of the inextricable connection that recovering people share. In time, we understand our reality. We all want the unmanageable chaos to stop and for life to become manageable, doable, and well. The sounds of recovery become wisdom and the monkey falls of our back. We are gifted with grace. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery know the reality of peace interrupting anxiety and depression. As both anxiety and depression lay claim to our beings with the scourges of obsession and addiction, the gift of desperation brings forth a bottom (perhaps a forced intervention) which leads us to the reality of an interrupting peace. This interrupting peace (desperation) gives birth to abstinence and abstinence in turn gives birth to another interrupting peace often found in coffee shops, therapist’s offices, and the rooms of recovery. Discovering togetherness (being no longer alone) is a great healer. It interrupts both anxiety and depression with again another interrupting peace. We call it grace. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery discover that there are streams we need to cross to live and experience reality and life. Often we do so by using the stepping stones of recovery. What we realize is that these stones can be dry and secure or they can bet wet and difficult. We need to use these stones to be able to participate in reality and life. They’re part of our journey. Those we are akin with, and professional advisers can show us how to navigate these crossings. We don’t need to brave the wilderness without guides. Most of us believe reaching out is the first stone we step on. We are entering a new reality. We are to become well enough to be responsible in life. Even if we get wet we’ll be okay one stone at a time. Welcome to recovery. Welcome to life. Peace.