Many people living in one day at a time recovery know they are a part of a large benevolent group. In reality, we are a community trying to help each other to find, and remain in one day at a time recovery. In that community there is a small portion of us who are like me. We are the people who live with chronic and persistent mental illnesses that leave us disabled. We are the misfits of one day at a time recovery who have to worry about health and money. Some of us are humble people, living one day at a time vulnerable lives, hoping that somehow our recovery matters. As we get older we will see it does. What is important is that our loved ones really depend on it. Being a misfitted part of a benevolent community we have learned that if we help others, it makes us feel good. It gives us purpose. Another reason we want to help others is because we are directed to do so by our kindness and our compassion. Being a large part of a benevolent community pulls this out of us. Also we begin to understand the reality of the imperfections of our community. When we see this we can understand ourselves, and our own imperfections. We all belong in some way. Misfits and all. In reality most of us already understand this. It’s people helping people. This is the reality of community. Peace.
