Some people living in one day at a time recovery spend time ruminating about the simplest of slights that seem to offset a sense of belonging or perhaps even their God given sense of valued self-worth. Our over-sensitive egos understand this all too well. When we reality check with our inner-most being (our true-selves) we ask these simple questions – “How much will this slight matter in 5 years, or 5 months, or 5 days?” Inner reflections formed with a basis of love (not only for ourselves but for others too) most often reveal – “not much”. Thus comes the reality of the practice of letting go. We have better things to do than to ruminate about slight offenses which stir the egos’ need for resentment. We need to trust in grace. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery practice the realities of hope and faith which we believe are the foundations of our wellness and doable living. Wellness and doable living help us to maintain one day at a time abstinence and keep us attuned to a love for life giving us the resilience to live and to survive the adversities which interfere with our peace of mind. In all reality we get to understand that hope and faith are the strongholds of life and recovery keeping us alive so that we can thrive and maintain the realities of recovery. We make the choice to survive and live one more day one day at a time. We reach out. We’re not alone. In doing so we will see that life gets better. We know this from experience. Peace.
Those of us who live with mental health disorders and addictions need to come in out of the rain. Depressed, lonely, and tired is the rain no-one should live in. Those of us who are living in one day at a time recovery know this. We came in out of the rain. We reached out for help. Reaching out is the courageous and brave thing to do. We received professional help and some of us found our way in out of the rain. Many of us found tools to help live well lives. Many of us live one day at a time. Whether we believe it or not, we deserve to feel good. We deserve to come in out of the rain.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery understand what it is like to live within the midst of joy. What we discover is that living within the midst of joy is not a complicated or difficult reality. It is not a quest we must diligently seek. Most of the time joy just happens. Usually, when we live our lives while simply practicing gratitude, joy will find us. It is gratitude that helps us to see the beauty of a sunrise, and the calmness of a sunset. It also helps us to bear witness to the simple joy of abstinence and the freedom that abstinence brings. If we measured our wealth in freedom recovery would make us rich people because it grants us the ability to be aware and often present as we live within the midst of joy. Welcome to the reality of grace. It’s a one day at a time gift. Peace.
People living in one day at a time recovery are people who find direction in the darkness. What we have discovered is when darkness comes, or when darkness came, it was, or is, the really dark. The darkness ropes us into reality, but while living in reality we find the darkness can only lead us in its ever present luminous recovery. What we are saying is that we get to know ourselves and we get to experience the reality of resilience. We become the recipients of grace. Pain has a way of lighting the dark. So does love. By looking into the face of the other we find one day at a time recovery. We understand the joy and freedom in abstinence. The darkness blinds us no more. Peace.
Most people living in one day at a time recovery understand that they are allowed to have feelings. We do understand that feelings are not always factual but we really must acknowledge another person’s feelings without automatic dismissal. Sometimes others just need to be heard. If we don’t listen without prejudice others might feel as if their feelings do not matter especially with the implications of “So What”. Feelings matter. Even if they are misgiving. This is why many recovering people have mentors and advisors. It’s to help us untangle the webs of reality and navigate our thoughts and emotions. We all need to realize we all matter. It’s all about grace. Peace.
Many People living in one day at a time recovery discover that living in recovery is the reality of finding we are one in the many. Another equally important discovery is that we are many in the one. This is the reality, and the gift, that recovering people have a special inextricable connection with each other. This is more than evident in our emotional togetherness and our sometimes shared egocentric shortcomings. It can take years for us to realize that our uniqueness is not all that unique especially when our minds become open enough to accept that we are one in the many and we are many in the one because of the more than similar stories and experiences shared by people living in one day at a time recovery. Others have lived our experience. Our reality is our togetherness. It’s all grace. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery know that life and recovery are often like the reality of shooting free-throws. This reality happens after life has fouled us (hurt us in some way) so God, the spirit, or universe places us at the free-throw line (one day at a time recovery) and tells us to take a couple of shots. In our hesitancy we hear a team-mate say, “Don’t worry. You’ve got this.” It is then that we learn that we are part of a team, and the utmost reality for all people is grace. Another reality is we have to take the shots. They are stepping-stones in one day at a time recovery. Such a practice helps us to grow and when in recovery we learn that no-one is keeping score. It’s about participating even when the chips are down. We are becoming healthy. It’s called resilience. Peace.
After living in recovery for a while we come to a crossroads in our realities of adaptability. What we discover is that sometimes we cannot learn what we need to learn to be capable of overcoming the over-obsessive needs that we have which are hindrances to our own peace of mind. When we see this we see we have difficulty in letting our obsessions go and the reason being is that such obsessions have become our coping skills. Some people say that we have found the reality of substitution. What we need to learn is that if we are not hurting ourselves or anyone else, and in all reality we are living with peace of mind, we will be okay. We don’t need to be conformist when we are already okay. Perfectionism is a false belief. Acceptance is usually our answer. Peace.
People living in one day at a time recovery have the reality of seeing the possibility of freedom from active addiction. Not only do we see it but we live it, and in living it it we see the freedom of living a manageable life. Manageable living is not always perfect but it is always a doable manner of living. Those of us who have found recovery in the rooms of recovery see it modelled before our eyes every time we step into these rooms. Seeing the possibility of freedom teaches us the reality of being responsible for our recovery and in doing so we live the reality of one day at a time freedom. It’s a gift. Peace.