Many of us living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of when the light shines. When we witness the light shining in others we get to see the happy, joyous, and free lives that others participate in, live in, and share with us on a regular basis. This is more and more apparent in the realities of one day at a time recovery when others grow freer one day at a time. The light often shines in people fairly new to recovery ( a year or two of abstinence) and we should encourage them to keep doing what they are doing. The proof is in the pudding when we see that turmoil, upsets, and adversities still occur to them but in grace, with grace, and through grace they stay in the reality of recovery living life one day at a time. It reminds us of the inextricable connection we share. Those of us who have been in long term recovery often see the light still shining in those of us who who be around for a long time. In all and all it keeps us humble. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery either carry or carried a heavy load in regards to the realities and the non-realities of living our lives as human beings. Our realities are we try to carry the heaviness of life all by ourselves. As hard as we try to face our realities alone, we find aloneness is or should be a non-reality for recovering people. For some of us the heaviest load we carry is the noise in our own minds. We need to invite someone in to help us navigate through the realities and non-realities of life. Many of us have sought guidance from empathetic individuals who have been trained to help people deal with the heavy loads of being people. Perhaps then we will learn that too much aloneness can bring with it a fair amount of toxic thinking. In all humility we have been gifted with the reality of one day at a time freedom. Peace.
What most of us learn in living a life of one day at a time recovery is that there will be disappointment. Disappointment is a reality of living in an imperfect world which is inhabited by imperfect people. The reality that we’ve learned to help us through disappointment is that we roll with the punches. We have experienced enough love, care, concern, and grace to understand that things will be alright. When someone disappoints us we try to give grace because we know it will free us of resentment. Some of us will struggle in such situations and wonder when will we feel free from disappointment. All we truly know is it happens in time. Sometimes quickly – sometimes slowly – but it happens. It happens because we don’t want to be bitter, resentful people. Grace and forgiveness – seventy times seven. Sometimes we have to give it to ourselves. Peace.
Some people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of when anxiety is deep within. If we could describe it we might say it’s like the edginess experienced by gulping down six large cups of coffee. Anyone who has nervously tried to calmly function in such a state knows such a reality. We just breathe deeply. Some of us use a centering prayer to calm us. Some of us, well – just don’t drink so much coffee. And some of us just stop catastrophizing and focus on the task at hand. Some of us simply let go, let God, and trust in the process. We also reach out for support. We will be okay. Peace.
Many of us living in one day at a time recovery know what it is like to be individually gathered by a spirit of togetherness to be participants in sharing both our struggles and our joys in a world of reality’s growing and everchanging journey. In this we learn what one day at a time living is all about and we get to experience and comprehend recovery’s fragmented freedom. In our individual gathering our shared experiences make life doable and inviting. We learn from each other. Our journey is not about perfection and it isn’t about being better off spiritually or emotionally in regards to dealing with or handling adversity. We simply believe we are individually gathered by a spirit of togetherness in which our collective experience reveals to us we no longer have to be alone. This is the reality of belonging as opposed to just fitting in. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery cautiously subscribe to the concept that we see ourselves as being humbly unique. When we humbly accept our uniqueness, we are actually admitting that unlike other people we cannot consume or partake in substances because they can, and will very easily make our lives a hodgepodge of unmanageable emotional pain. This is the reality of active addiction. When we understand this reality, we become people actively living in one day at a time recovery who now see life as doable and good. Being humbly unique reveals to us the inextricable connection between all recovering people. We are no longer alone. It’s a gift. Peace.
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.