Those of us living in one day at a time recovery are given continuing purpose by the other. For many of us our continuing purpose is to trust in reality, live in recovery and also to share in the responsibility of the other in and with those we encounter which often happens in ways unbeknownst to us. We eventually understand we are part of the mystery of life. In pain or in joy we share the inextricable connection with all people but we especially have a purpose to either assist or be assisted by those we are akin with. What we understand is that God, the spirit or the universe gives us ample opportunity to be a part of our own journey and as we do we understand the reality of the other which is we become instruments of the others’ peace which is a very simple task. This task is we help each other in an open kind and continuing purpose as we furthermore experience our own one day at a time recovery. In other words we live in today, we laugh in today, we cry in today and we love in today. As we do so we are fulfilling the continuing purpose given to us by the other. We are not really all that unique. We understand this. Life is a gift. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of being inextricably connected to other people living in one day at a time recovery. We also understand the reality of being inextricably connected to those who are living with mental health disorders that are coinciding with active addiction. In all reality we understand that all people are inextricably connected to each other and in as such we become witness to such connections through the experience of God moments or acts of grace of which we can only say – it must be a God thing. Such experiences do happen and many of us firmly believe that God, the spirit or the universe often works through others. When we understand this reality we can understand how humble we have really become – just a speck of dust drifting through the cosmos but none the less a speck of dust that can become a major part in the grand scheme of things. As some have done for us we might do for others which is to help others break free from the bondage of self and the chains of active addiction. In gratitude and in humility we understand this reality and we understand that it must be a God thing. This understanding comes to all of us born from the spark of desperation. Reality and recovery are one day at a time gifts. We welcome them. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of mythological independence. We are all dependent upon someone, some group, or some existing thing to keep us healthy, functional, and alive in one way or another. Such healthy dependence reveals the reality and the possibility of finding and maintaining one day at a time recovery. To think we are totally independent from anyone or anything is a dangerous and delusional train of belief. Our belief in an inextricable connection with each other is a healthy mode of thought which reinforces the togetherness of our one day at a time bond with other recovering people. We understand the reality that God, the spirit or the universe is working in each of us to help each other to be well. We know reality and we are not saying that we cannot live the reality of being healthy and independent in many facets of life and recovery. What we are saying is that we understand the reality of healthy independence. We understand that living in recovery is a personal responsibility. In our inextricable connection with each other we understand the reality of togetherness as opposed to the reality of mythological independence. Mythological independence is a lonely, lonely place. Recovery is a gift that lets us know we are not alone. Let’s enjoy it. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery know that our teachers and our mentors become tired as all teachers and mentors do but they continue to teach and we continue to to learn. Our teachers are the joyous and torrid paths found in this thing called life. It can leave us with a tiredness because our lives can do this to us. Our teachers become tired because we are often worn out by responsibility and adversity. Life teaches us this during economic difficulties, health problems and at times from such things like the weather. Heat and humidity also can play a major role in bringing us into a state in which we are lethargic, listless and just plain over-heated. Our mentors know this. They remind us to hydrate, rest and live life one day at a time. They tell us that this too shall pass. There are even times when we go out for a soft drink and cool off in an air-condition place. (That is if we don’t already have air-conditioned homes.) Also we rest as much as we can. We need to take care of ourselves. Our teachers and our mentors teach us this. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand that being in recovery and staying in recovery helps create freedom for the future. Our reality according to our history reveals to us that if we stumble back into active addiction seeking freedom from life or whatever we believe we are seeking freedom from we are opening the cover to Pandora’s Box. In doing so we are actually embracing all the chains, cages and adversities that come with active addiction. Our reality is that when we live in active addiction we can actually harm important relationships which while living in recovery we were actually in the process of repairing and developing trust and commonality. In the act of remaining abstinent and trying to amend our wrongs we are developing a freedom from active addiction. In as such we are beginning to understand the reality of the other. One day at a time recovery builds freedom for the future and in as such we have stopped burning bridges. Growth takes time. Freedom is a process. They bring with them the gift of reality. Peace.
What many people living in one day at a time recovery really appreciate is the encouragement we receive from other people in regards to us finding our niche in recovery and in developing our ability to live life one day at a time. Because of such encouragement we understand the importance of reality, abstinence and manageable living. Hopefully it will curb our need to make everything certain and controllable. Hopefully when we understand that certainty and controllability are not always possible we will understand the importance that we are being encouraged to play to our strengths in recovery and to live in the ability of taking life one day at a time. What many of us get to understand is our niche in recovery is our ability to be resilient. Developing resilience is an absolute truth for recovering people. We need it. When we do we will live with the doable lives that are common in people living in one day at a time recovery. We will also understand that the encouragement we have received has given us the gift of reality. We will be amazed in the freedom we will get to experience in our lives. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of responsibility. Even though we understand that ultimately recovery is a personal responsibility many of us share such responsibility by being people who actively try to be supportive towards others who are trying to be active participants in being responsible for their own recovery. What we believe is that we help each other and in doing so we help ourselves. It doesn’t take long for us to catch on to such altruistic endeavors. Listening while paying attention becomes an important part of our recovery. In time we all develop our own way of being supportive towards others. In doing so we are capable of letting others know the importance of one day at a time abstinence. One day at a time recovery cannot be fully understood without this. It’s important. What we know is it took a number of attempts for many of us to be able to find abstinence. If this is real for us we can take comfort in knowing that this can be a reality for others. Many of us struggled and still struggle. We are not alone. We encourage others to not give up. We all have hope. Recovery is a better, doable and happier life. It’s reality. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand the reality of being ransomed. People protect us and offer us safe environments in which we can experience one day at a time abstinence. In recovery’s reality we will eventually get to understand we had actually paid quite a price to hit a time in our lives where we knew we just had to stop. We lost the freedom of living healthy, adjusted and doable lives. Our pain was so abundantly immense that not only did we hurt ourselves but we also hurt our loved ones and those around us too. Time after time we were rescued and ransomed from the mess that we had made of our lives. When we cried out for help and when we finally realized how desperate we really were we realized the reality of total abstinent as being the only way to freedom from active addiction. In as such we knew that we needed support and we joined the rooms of recovery. In doing so we discovered that we had paid our dues. Then we learned that now we had to pay our own ransom and we had to pay for the ransom of others. Everyone does this in the rooms. We all keep each other free from the bondage of active addiction. We ransom each other. It’s part of being inextricably connected to the other. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery know the reality of grace. What we have discovered about grace is it is usually gentle, caring and kind. This is an absolute truth and what we know about grace is it gently helps us off of our knees. It tells us we are never alone and that we belong. It often reassures us that life is doable. When we refuse to get off of our knees and we simply will not be gentle, caring and kind to ourselves grace becomes frustrated. Grace then decides to gently shakes us. God, the spirit or the universe then gives a good dose of reality and because of this we realize we are recipients of kindness, care and love. It is the nature of living in one day at a time recovery and we become kind, gentle and caring with ourselves. We can also be kind, caring and gentle with others. All of such happens over time. When we think of God, the spirit or the universe we understand the reality of agape love. Grace had to gently shake us for us understand this. It’s the reality of grace. We are loved. Peace.
The reality of all people living in one day at a time recovery is to spend time in simple reflection. Simple reflection can mirror the realistic and non-realistic recollections of our past and present days. Sometimes such recollections are extremely difficult for us to process. Such are the realities of a broken and ill existence. In such reality we are moved to prayer – (God bless the lonely, the tormented, the misguided and the ill). If we could amend the harms we have done we would. And mostly we’ve tried. We suffer the reality of an ill-begotten life-style. We understand that such thoughts are not simple reflections. They are the reality of shame and guilt. What we realize is that we are punishing ourselves for being ill and very much misguided. We need to treat ourselves with inherent dignity. We know if we don’t we will become bitter and resentful people which is something we wouldn’t wish on anyone and yet so to this day we say a prayer – (God bless the lonely, the tormented, the misguided and the ill.) The funny thing about reflecting upon present days is we find we are decent people. One day at a time we understand this yet we keep praying – (God bless the lonely, the tormented, the misguided and the ill.) The gates to hell are always open. We can leave anytime we so choose to. Peace.