Blog entry for:
Sun, Jul 11, 2010 08:56:09 AM
♣ as i learn to share comfort and encouragement with others, i learn to accept it as well ♣
posted: Sun, Jul 11, 2010 08:56:09 AM
there are many times i feel like i cannot take another step in recovery, it is those times i rely on a POWER greater than myself and addiction to pull me through, that POWER works through the members of the fellowship that gave me this manner of living. they encourage me to do the next right thing, work that next step, and just hold on, because “this too shall pass.”
i have commented in the past about my opinion about this metaphor, so there is no reason to even repeat that opinion today. this morning, although settling in was not in the cards, i did manage to quiet my hyperactive mind long enough to hear something, that something was: ‘to hang in there, hope is always here.’ not that i think i was feeling particularly hopeless, but i am working through unmanageability in my step work, and i can see where the hopelessness could be creeping into my attitude as the FIRST STEP does its work on me. however that is a tangent into an entirely different topic.
so where was i? oh yeah, getting what i need from the fellowship that saved my life. the encouragement i have been taught to offer, comes back to me when i am uncertain, unwilling or just plain living in FEAR. those members that were here when i got this recovery gig started and those with whom i share my recovery with today, GIVE ME what i need to do whatever it takes to JUST NOT USE, TODAY. it is my task to return that same encouragement back to the fellowship by being present for what is going on in me as well as what is going on for others. the real trip in my head this morning? all of this is great, BUT how do i offer encouragement in general, when i attend very few meetings, even fewer events, less and less service committee meetings and generally live my life like a so-called ‘normal’ person. i could quite easily pass for someone like that these days, and in fact writing that down removes a bit of power from that statement. very interesting and i am beginning to see what happens to us as we stay clean for what feels like the shortest forever in creation. that is also a topic for another day, just for day i will accept the encouragement and suggestions from my peers and my associates and i will offer mine. i can and will do that, just for today.
i have commented in the past about my opinion about this metaphor, so there is no reason to even repeat that opinion today. this morning, although settling in was not in the cards, i did manage to quiet my hyperactive mind long enough to hear something, that something was: ‘to hang in there, hope is always here.’ not that i think i was feeling particularly hopeless, but i am working through unmanageability in my step work, and i can see where the hopelessness could be creeping into my attitude as the FIRST STEP does its work on me. however that is a tangent into an entirely different topic.
so where was i? oh yeah, getting what i need from the fellowship that saved my life. the encouragement i have been taught to offer, comes back to me when i am uncertain, unwilling or just plain living in FEAR. those members that were here when i got this recovery gig started and those with whom i share my recovery with today, GIVE ME what i need to do whatever it takes to JUST NOT USE, TODAY. it is my task to return that same encouragement back to the fellowship by being present for what is going on in me as well as what is going on for others. the real trip in my head this morning? all of this is great, BUT how do i offer encouragement in general, when i attend very few meetings, even fewer events, less and less service committee meetings and generally live my life like a so-called ‘normal’ person. i could quite easily pass for someone like that these days, and in fact writing that down removes a bit of power from that statement. very interesting and i am beginning to see what happens to us as we stay clean for what feels like the shortest forever in creation. that is also a topic for another day, just for day i will accept the encouragement and suggestions from my peers and my associates and i will offer mine. i can and will do that, just for today.
∞ 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!
encouragement 181 words ➥ Sunday, July 11, 2004 by: donnot∞ seeking encouragement ∞ 253 words ➥ Monday, July 11, 2005 by: donnot
α many times i feel like i cannot take another step in recovery Ω 360 words ➥ Tuesday, July 11, 2006 by: donnot
↔ just like a child learning to walk, i sometimes stumble or fall. ↔ 316 words ➥ Wednesday, July 11, 2007 by: donnot
α accustomed to living a life crippled by addiction, full of fear and uncertainty … 420 words ➥ Friday, July 11, 2008 by: donnot
σ i learn to live this new way of life because others who have gone before me σ 237 words ➥ Saturday, July 11, 2009 by: donnot
¢ i share comfort and encouragement with others ¢ 554 words ➥ Monday, July 11, 2011 by: donnot
¥ i will seek encouragement from others AND ¥ 596 words ➥ Wednesday, July 11, 2012 by: donnot
♣ as a newcomer, i arrived in the rooms much like a small child; ♣ 691 words ➥ Thursday, July 11, 2013 by: donnot
◊ i DO remember taking ◊ 459 words ➥ Friday, July 11, 2014 by: donnot
↑ encouragement ⇑ 587 words ➥ Saturday, July 11, 2015 by: donnot
♮ walking towards ✶ 515 words ➥ Monday, July 11, 2016 by: donnot
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🌄 a full life 🌃 480 words ➥ Saturday, July 11, 2020 by: donnot
🚧 the right direction 🚧 399 words ➥ Sunday, July 11, 2021 by: donnot
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☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 1
3) Great, it passes on (in constant flow). Passing on, it becomes
remote. Having become remote, it returns. Therefore the Tao is great;
Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the (sage) king is also great.
In the universe there are four that are great, and the (sage) king
is one of them.