Many people living in one day at a time recovery know everyday brings hope. We don’t have to feel, experience, or know we have hope. It’s not a matter of faith, trust, good deeds, or anything that we have done that merits us this reality. There is hope everyday because of pain, sickness, death, and tragedy. It is because chains, terror, cruelty, and ill will supersede any act of decency or kindness. It is because want gets twisted into greed, addiction, and to the very least obsessive want. It’s because life gets so selfish we don’t even care enough to share the air that we breathe or the water that we drink. It’s because we wage war with our neighbors because we want what they have or they are a threat to our sanctimonious belief of ourselves, our God, and our society. Everyday we awaken we know this pain, this wrong, and this truth. We shed the tears, we heave the sighs, we sob the sobs, and we know the dark deep days of depression. But still we sing, we smile, we work, we laugh, and we can be exceedingly grateful. People marry or form unions of togetherness. Kindness and charity is a part of our lives. Children are born and they sing their funny rhymes. And even poets can smile. What else could we do but believe their is hope everyday. Hope is because it has to be. It’s a kin to love. There is no other reality.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery like to write. Often when we write we are organizing melancholy. Some of us do it in our journals, our poetry, and our song lyrics. Organized melancholy is a creative tool. Melancholy is a feeling of pensive sadness typical of poets and songwriters somberly creating works of art in relationship to and of a depressive, broken, or breaking heart. Most people can relate to such works. We all experience it. Some call it heartache. Such works let us see where we are, and where we were at certain parts of our lives. Many of us journal in such a way so we can learn how to deal with, and recognize our feelings. It’s a recovery tool. Many of us have, and still share our organized melancholy with our professional supports. When we do so we get feedback and support in order that we are instilled with a sense of belonging and hope. We also learn coping skills. Some of us share our organized melancholy with our friends, or our natural supports. It helps. Just listen to the song “Sad Songs” sung by Elton John. It’s reality. We’re human. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery have learned how to turn weakness into strength. The reality of our disorders made it so that many of us suffered immensely. We discovered we could no longer manage our own lives. Addiction has a way of doing this to people, good people who are ill. Most of us need to bottom-out in order that we can become ready to receive the gift of desperation. The gift of desperation is a gift so powerful that it can be a life changing event. It becomes the weakest and strongest moment of our lives. The gift of desperation is a paradoxical reality. It is our strength. We learn and live one day at a time recovery. We discover that we can help others. Our recovery is inspirational and our lives become manageable. When we come to this reality we realize we have been given the reality of living good lives. Our unrealistic expectations fade away (we can all have unrealistic expectations) and we learn true humility. We are people who have turned our weakness into strength. In all reality it’s our saving grace. Peace.
Many of us living in one day at a time recovery know that we have to contribute to others in general. We cannot always just take. The reality of contributing is it is a gift. It isn’t just a gift for others because if we can contribute to others it means we are doing okay. In other words our recovery is a reality. Perhaps we develop healthier self-esteem and responsibility. The miracle of one day at a time recovery is happening. Perhaps we get jobs (full-time, part-time or casual) and we learn how to manage our money better. Others appreciate this. Often this is a heroic effort for us, just like it is for many others. Our reality is that we don’t throw stones at those of us who can’t. Maybe we volunteer to contribute. This is a noble and valiant contribution. Non-profits need us. Also there are those of us who feel far more comfortable contributing while at home. Perhaps we share our stories and our recovery during our visits to on-line support groups. Some of us have much experience and a little wisdom to share with others. Some of us are more comfortable contributing at in person meetings. When we find our niche we will find a way to to contribute. Some of us do dishes, and the funny thing is it’s a spiritual undertaking for us. The biggest thing is when we participate in recovery we automatically contribute by being, or becoming well. Peace.
Many people who live in one day at a time recovery are good at catching stones. They became good at catching stones meant for us because of their unselfish endeavors. Also they believe our inherent dignity should be respected by all people. These people advocate for our health and welfare. They believe we need opportunity. They create opportunity. In order that we can take advantage of such opportunities, they teach us how to catch stones ourselves. We toss these stones aside and walk away to find one day at a time recovery. Some of us catch stones for those of us who are yet unable to catch them for themselves. We strive for the day that others will stop throwing stones. This is the realistic hope of a selfless society. Our reality is that we need to participate. When we do we believe that others will probably throw way fewer stones. Thanks to the stone catchers, we can become responsible recovering people. Perhaps we will all take our stones and build a road towards a better tomorrow. Maybe we will even start building one today. It’s not an unreasonable reality. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery know when we are in need of catching our breath. This is the gift of a second wind. When troubles are many and the journey is hard we know we have to catch our breath by stopping and resting. In doing so we often get a second wind. When we have caught our breath we understand that others are there to help us. These people might not be able to carry us, but they might help to make the journey doable and less difficult. Very often these are special people who also have caught a second wind. Mostly they encourage us to keep going one day at a time even when the journey seems insurmountable. These people will even lend us their hope until we can find our own. This is reality. When we realize that the journey is doable, and that we too can continue on, we find the importance of stopping and resting. It gave us our second wind and we now know the reality of reaching out to continue on our journey. It’s important. You matter. You really do. Peace.
Many people who are new to one day at a time recovery find life gets easier after a bit. We realize this with our new found growth. Personal independence brings with it the motivation to participate in such endeavors. Our reality is to trust in the process of recovery even when our journey is difficult. This is how we learn to grow one day at a time. Trusting in the process of recovery is important. Trust is something that grows and develops. For ourselves and for others. We learn the reality of discernment. One day we will suddenly realize life is good even with its complexities, heartaches and struggles. Living in recovery is a life affirming continuing event. Enjoy it. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery have very sound minds. We have developed the gift of reason. This is a very much appreciated reality by those of us who live with mental health disorders. For some of us there was a period in our lives when reality was a difficult process for our minds to hold on to. At some points in our lives we succumbed to very unsound and at times insane thinking. We justified our delusional beliefs contrary to the reasoning of others. After all, we believed we were just misunderstood. More often than not a hospitalization, medication, and one day at a time recovery enabled us to become people of reason. We returned to sanity and in becoming so we understood we had received the gift of reason. Many of us continue to use medication to stay well. We use medication under the care of a licensed doctor. This is an important reality. Reason tells us this. Also we learn to monitor our mental wellness. Reason and learned experience give us the ability to trust others. We don’t have to face life alone. When we have developed reason the sky is the limit, and our lives become manageable. We will understand joy, happiness and freedom. We can deal with adversity one day at a time. Peace.
Many people who live in one day at a time recovery are strong people. We become so because not only do we use our strength, but we surrender to it. We can call this the spiritual principle of surrender. Not only does surrender build strong character, we are able to do so because we are growing into a wiser reality. Our developing reality is that we no longer need to face recovery and life alone. When we reach out to others the delusion of believing we can do all things in and by ourselves ends. Our fear dissipates and we learn how to deal with our addictions. We begin to recover by not having that first one. We know this is our strength. Our reality is we are no longer alone. When we realize this our lives slowly but surely become manageable. Not perfect but manageable. We learn the difference between perfect and good. Mental health and addiction support groups might become a part of our recovery. The same goes for 12 step fellowships. We might even receive one on one professional support. We experience the importance of a life affirming community and personal humility. Life is good. Peace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery cope with life better now that they have learned certain realities. One of these realities is we have to deal with difficult conditions. Some of us are pretty resilient in doing so. Another reality is some of us, like many others, struggle with difficult conditions. We need support in order to be resilient enough to face certain adversities. There is nothing wrong with needing support. This is the reality of resilience. Even the most resilient of people have to turn, ask, and accept support when life’s conditions become too difficult for any one person to deal with. Reaching out helps to develop the most resilient of people. Sounds a bit like a paradox but it isn’t. People grow to become resilient. Some of us even pray. When we do this we learn to understand that God, the spirit, or the universe just might be on our side and we will be okay. When we have a support network of helpful people we understand what being resilient is all about. It’s give and take and growing one day at a time. Supportive people make resilient people. Become resilient. Reach out. Peace