Many people living in one day at a time recovery know that we cannot force freedom. In reality we didn’t understand freedom. When we were not in recovery we couldn’t take responsibility for our own well-being. Without responsibility we thought we were free. We did not see that the disabling affects of our disorders had us leading an unmanageable and sometimes distraught life. Some of us lost touch with any sense of reason while we pondered such things as suicide as a final act of freedom to escape the bounds and the pains of human existence. Some of us wept uncontrollably so depressed that we felt nothing but pain. And still we thought we were free. Today those of us in recovery know freedom is taking responsibility for our recovery and we know we cannot force freedom on anyone. We reached out for help. We stopped the using and drinking. Some of us needed medication to be healthy. Some of us started to realize being responsible for our recovery is freedom. We started to accept that life could be hard. Even those of us who yet to this day live with the disabling affects of our disorders have manageable lives, maintain healthy relationships, and live as reasonable and happy people. We know when we responsibly participate in our own recovery we have escaped our chains. We, like so many others, know we couldn’t have our freedom forced on us. Today, even during the days that are difficult, we are grateful that we can be responsible and free. This is a gift of one day at a time recovery. It’s free.
