Blog entry for:
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 08:15:59 AM
‰ in recovery, i am finding it essential to accept reality. ‰
posted: Tue, Jun 22, 2010 08:15:59 AM
once i do this, i no longer find it necessary to use drugs to change my perceptions. it has been quite a busy past few days, in fact, my normal response to the amount of hours i have put in, would be to run and hide in a silly computer game for the next four days. i could do that, BUT there are folks clamoring at my door for me to do some work. instead of burying my head in the details of a game i am struggling to get better at, i think i will face the reality of my situation and pump out what needs to be done.
the topic this morning has a few layers in it for me, and although there was a lot there i had difficulty zeroing in on one theme in my quiet time. i was all over the place as this blog shows. my desire to run away from what i NEED to do is not that much different for the relief from reality i sought in the comfortable numbness of my using days. relief was just a whatever away, and i excused myself from reality on a daily basis. so it is no wonder that after a disastrous Saturday, and a busy Sunday and Monday, pounding my life away in front of a keyboard, that Tuesday i do not want to do any work at all. in fact, i want to shut off my e-mail and phone and disappear into the unreality of whatever i can that does not involve using drugs. this is certainly a symptom that addiction is still alive and well in me, and that if i do not address it head on, i may not like the consequences. those consequences may include in the long run, a desire to once again partake in chemically induced escapes from reality.
so on the hopeful side, i do not see a bit of work as really that heinous of an alternative. it is the end of the month, and i can always use the extra bucks in my bank account. more importantly i have agreed to get some stuff done, and part of who i am these days, is a man of my word, at least most of the time. the reality of my life is far from the nightmare it seemed like in active addiction. quite honestly, if i pound out what needs to be pounded out this morning, i can have some down time this afternoon. it really is that simple, do the next right thing, which is a workout, then a shower, then finish what i have agreed to finish today, and then take some time for myself. a full day and one where my expectations focus on getting a bit of time for myself. the consequences of these decisions will more than likely lead to the fulfillment of that expectation. so it is off to the streets and into my day i go.
the topic this morning has a few layers in it for me, and although there was a lot there i had difficulty zeroing in on one theme in my quiet time. i was all over the place as this blog shows. my desire to run away from what i NEED to do is not that much different for the relief from reality i sought in the comfortable numbness of my using days. relief was just a whatever away, and i excused myself from reality on a daily basis. so it is no wonder that after a disastrous Saturday, and a busy Sunday and Monday, pounding my life away in front of a keyboard, that Tuesday i do not want to do any work at all. in fact, i want to shut off my e-mail and phone and disappear into the unreality of whatever i can that does not involve using drugs. this is certainly a symptom that addiction is still alive and well in me, and that if i do not address it head on, i may not like the consequences. those consequences may include in the long run, a desire to once again partake in chemically induced escapes from reality.
so on the hopeful side, i do not see a bit of work as really that heinous of an alternative. it is the end of the month, and i can always use the extra bucks in my bank account. more importantly i have agreed to get some stuff done, and part of who i am these days, is a man of my word, at least most of the time. the reality of my life is far from the nightmare it seemed like in active addiction. quite honestly, if i pound out what needs to be pounded out this morning, i can have some down time this afternoon. it really is that simple, do the next right thing, which is a workout, then a shower, then finish what i have agreed to finish today, and then take some time for myself. a full day and one where my expectations focus on getting a bit of time for myself. the consequences of these decisions will more than likely lead to the fulfillment of that expectation. so it is off to the streets and into my day i go.
∞ DT ∞
The views expressed on this page are solely the opinion of the author.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.
Another Look!
self-acceptance?? 104 words ➥ Tuesday, June 22, 2004 by: donnotδ practice, practice, practice δ 305 words ➥ Wednesday, June 22, 2005 by: donnot
Ω it is difficult to let go of my expectations and accept life as it is Ω 368 words ➥ Thursday, June 22, 2006 by: donnot
δ i discover how to change my attitudes and let go of character defects. δ 277 words ➥ Friday, June 22, 2007 by: donnot
μ drugs buffered me from the full force of life; when i stopped using and entered recovery, i found myself confronted directly … 566 words ➥ Sunday, June 22, 2008 by: donnot
δ the self-centeredness i cultivated in my addiction has distorted my perceptions of life δ 436 words ➥ Monday, June 22, 2009 by: donnot
⇒ the more i practice the spiritual principles contained in the steps ⇐ 718 words ➥ Wednesday, June 22, 2011 by: donnot
† when i stop using and practice a program of ACTIVE recovery † 542 words ➥ Friday, June 22, 2012 by: donnot
∅ i will practice self-acceptance by practicing the Twelve Steps ∅ 529 words ➥ Saturday, June 22, 2013 by: donnot
∉ i no longer need to distort the truth ∉ 785 words ➥ Sunday, June 22, 2014 by: donnot
½ accepting life ½ 715 words ➥ Monday, June 22, 2015 by: donnot
⅚ letting go of my ⅚ 848 words ➥ Wednesday, June 22, 2016 by: donnot
☕ as difficult as it ☙ 552 words ➥ Thursday, June 22, 2017 by: donnot
🌌 the full force of life 🌈 312 words ➥ Friday, June 22, 2018 by: donnot
🌬 changing my attitudes 🌫 574 words ➥ Saturday, June 22, 2019 by: donnot
🍳 attempting to change 💫 539 words ➥ Monday, June 22, 2020 by: donnot
😢 my distorted 😢 504 words ➥ Tuesday, June 22, 2021 by: donnot
😡 disappointment, 🤪 574 words ➥ Wednesday, June 22, 2022 by: donnot
👋 self - supporting 👏 600 words ➥ Thursday, June 22, 2023 by: donnot
🙆 taking responsibility 🙇 519 words ➥ Saturday, June 22, 2024 by: donnot
☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 2
2) If heaven were not thus pure, it soon would rend;
If earth were not thus sure, 'twould break and bend;
Without these powers, the spirits soon would fail;
If not so filled, the drought would parch each vale;
Without that life, creatures would pass away;
Princes and kings, without that moral sway,
However grand and high, would all decay.