There is a common delusion many people share which is that we can only be happy when we find Utopia. This is because we believe that Utopia is a place where all of our desires and dreams will be fulfilled. Such a place is the vision of people in bondage. It is the hopes of people in pain. Such is the pain of people living with concurrent disorders. The delusion we share is that we need perfection to be happy not the idea of does Utopia exist. If we believe that Utopia is a state of being, rather than a place to live, we will have moments of Utopian peace. And we can have a lot of serenity, happiness, and joy. It happens one day at a time. This is when we experience freedom from the bondage that active addiction places on us. We can be free from the delusion that happiness is anything other than the happy, joyous, and free lives recovering people live. Our pain is real. We can acknowledge that. When we are reasonable about what Utopia is, which is the freedom for people in bondage, we have the gift of gratitude and the gifts brought to us when we escape our delusions which some call the bondage of self. Thank you for reading.
People living in one day at a time recovery know that some days are not always the best days. Communication with others doesn’t seem to be working, and expectations end up going by the wayside. We can look at it as disappointment, bitterness and lack of control. Or maybe it’s just a some days. What do we mean? We mean some days the timing’s off. It’s a reality. Some days in regards to our relationships with other people it’s better to retreat back into differing neutral corners so we can fight fairly another day. Maybe when we do this we’ll claim ownership of our own issues and let go of the blame. This works better than throwing stones. Throwing stones hurts people. We know better. Peace.
People living in one day at a time recovery can have all or nothing thinking. Such thinking is effective when used in regards to total abstinence. If we don’t take that first one we won’t get high or loaded. When we think this way because we have been introduced to difficulties or stressors that will cause changes in our lives and we have to adapt, or give and take, in these situations it doesn’t always mean that it’s an all or nothing thing. It’s like buying a previously owned vehicle. Even if we have to compromise it can still be a good thing. Another reality is if the car is a bad thing, we don’t have to buy it. We don’t need to compromise here. It’s our reality. Adaptation is a skill that evolves with time. Total abstinence is a good thing. So are wisdom and boundaries. Think first. Peace.
Many of us who live in one day at a time recovery are not leaders. We do not follow a certain set of principals other than we try our best to stay healthy, and we try and let others know that they too can become healthy if they respond to support from others, and stay clean and sober one day at a time. Some of us take medication under the direction of competent practicing physicians. Some of us have been in rehab programs and have had professional counselling. And some of us belong to 12 step programs and other support groups. Some of us believe in God, the universe or a spirit. Some of us believe in nature or energy. We are a flexible bunch of recovering people. In addition to this most of us just want to be heard and valued as people. This is a common reality of most people whether they are in recovery or not. And we know both recovery and life can be hard. We also know their joys. We matter. Everyone does. One day at a time we want to be well and we wish you the best. Also we believe in grace. May it be yours. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery live with thoughts that can jump all over the place. These scattering thoughts often happen at bedtime. Some of us believe that some of these thoughts are the workings of our mind seeking safety at night. We want to tie up loose ends. We want to better prepare ourselves for the mental, physical and emotional struggles that we might have to face. And we might even want to prepare ourselves for unreal threats that we are imagining. Our minds are trying to tie up loose ends. The reality of scattering thoughts is journaling strategies help to harness the noise. Often taking care of our physical health helps. Also it is helpful to practice good sleep hygiene. Some nights it just hard. Talk to your doctor. Be well today or should I say be well tonight. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery know that wellness has its limitations. We cannot all do whatever we set our minds to. Few people can. Even though our wellness has it limitations we understand that we can have limited limitless wellness. This means we can become well far beyond the beliefs and hopes of our families, our doctors or even ourselves. Even though we have surpassed any degree of wellness anyone had ever hoped for us, we as everyone else have our limitations. Like it was said – we cannot do everything we might believe we can. We’ll deal with the disappointment. We will adapt. Most of us learn this through trial and error. And in all reality we become perfectly alright with this. We are recovering people who discover our limited wellness is limitless in regards to our one day at a time recovery. When we do so we can participate in life to its fullness. It’s an amazing experience. We know when life gets difficult we can reach out to our supports. Another reality is we can also help others. We understand what limited limitless wellness is all about. It’s called life. Enjoy it. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery have limited incomes. Often just paying our bills becomes a challenge for many of us. It could happen to anyone. Right now, as it usually is, the world is facing an economic conundrum. The system of meritocracy needs merit most of us just a little more. Or so we believe – just a little more. A reality is – is that many of us need to curb our obsessive want. Community has told us this for a long time. Our unbridled greed interferes with the fulfillment of a community’s needs. Unbridled greed interferes with the growth of community and creates economic injustice. Community’s existence is the attempt to hold unbridled greed at bay. We know greed is not a good thing. Many of us who struggle economically still attempt to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. When we do so we are doing so because of the benefits of one day at a time recovery. We have become reasonable souls. Also we know what struggle is like. Conundrum or not many people choose to be kind and generous. We all benefit. Maybe kindness and generosity will solve the problem. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery are fighting a war. Many us us call, or have called this conflict, spiritual warfare. We believe that we are off to slay a dragon. What we discover is the dragon is within. We understand that this dragon is want. We understand this dragon is need. Also we understand this dragon is ignorance. We understand this dragon is every fear that we have ever had or still have to this very day. This dragon is our existence of imperfection. Invite it to have company with us as we entertain its whims. We have served it well, and it has protected us. It is time we have accepted it. It is our broken reality. In all our simplicity this dragon is ours to accept and in doing so we let it be. When we do so the spirit of wellness can tame and diminish its power. The spirit of wellness comes to us one day at a time. This spirit will not make us perfect but it will bring us peace, and in doing so it often puts the dragon asleep. When this happens we understand the meaning of grace, acceptance, and freedom. Wellness is a much more manageable place to live. We have grown and have found humility. And when we have done so we have found compassion not only for ourselves but for others too. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery start their day by surrendering to wellness. Many of us call this wellness God, the spirit or the universe. In all reality we stop fighting a battle we cannot win. We accept that we cannot control everything, and everyone in our lives. Absolute certainty is not possible for it isn’t a reality. We live with the premise that as long as we don’t pick up that first puff, hit or drink manageable wellness will be within our grasp one day at a time. We understand that at times we will need help, and we will need to reach out but in all reality we will live to be another day. When we surrender to wellness we will see its power work through other people. We will understand the meaning of living happy joyous and free lives because we have surrendered our being to wellness. It’s a paradox that in surrendering we win a battle that we have no chance of winning. One of the reasons we surrender daily is because we are just an arms length away from that first puff, hit or drink. We don’t need to do this alone. Recovery is meant to be shared. Reach out. Give back. Peace.
People living life one day at a time have periods in their lives when they feel dismally alone. It’s reality. The paradox of such reality is often we need time to be alone for self-reflection and self-care to deal with the adversities of feeling dismally alone. Sometimes even those of us who are introverted people struggle when we feel too alone. We all need to feel in connection somehow or someway to someone or something to feel that we belong. Without such belonging despair and depression are knocking at our door. For some of us this is the reality of being human. Self-reflection and self-care can give us the resilience to reach out and be in community with others. No-one needs to face life alone. Many of us receive or have received professional treatment to help us. We need not be afraid to seek such treatment. Participate in recovery. Peace.