Blog entry for:
Wed, Mar 18, 2015 07:23:34 AM
⁄ the full message ⁄
posted: Wed, Mar 18, 2015 07:23:34 AM
so last night i had my recurring dream of trying to scream and grab someone and not being able to. my significant other once again, roused me from that dream and it is unfortunate that i actually do scream, in the real world when i am having this nightmarish dream. the reading yesterday was all about FEAR, and this morning it is about the message i carry, when i choose to share in meetings. so i am not one of those who slings together a bunch of catch phrases and clichés. nor am i one to speak of all the rainbows, daisies, and unicorns that my life has , as a result of recovery, leaving the darker side unspoken and ignored. the nice part, is both of the roles are adequately filled by my peers, so i need not share “to hear the sound of my own voice,” or “share for the newcomer,” as it were.
it is nice not to have to live up to the expectations of others and share just for me, and i do. it is also nice, to be able to present a balanced message instead of one skewed to the good side or one that says nothing at all.it is just as i tell the men i sponsor: i know what the literature says, what i do not know is what you THINK it says. the literature is an excellent jumping off point for me, but i have a brain that is capable of going beyond what the book says. i may not agree with every single statement and there are certainly inconsistencies, but on the whole, the body of written literature that was written by the fellowship i choose for my recovery, provides an excellent means to getting a life beyond active addiction. qyuite honestly when i start to look at what the book says and how it applies to my life, i get to leave the recovery lobby and actually enjoy the resort, to use a very mixed metaphor. when i am afraid, i can share that i am afraid. when i behave in a less than stellar manner i can share about that as well. neither of those events means my world is crashing down around me and neither needs to be hidden under the cloak of sharing for the newcomer. the HOPE is there because one) i take responsibility for reporting what is happening and two) i can be real, share my pain, shame or embarrassment and stay clean. i do NOT need to look good all of the time.
anyhow, got an early meeting at work this morning, so i have to get rolling down the road, and when i go to the meeting tonight and if i share, you can bet that i will not just be sh!tting rainbow after rainbow!
it is nice not to have to live up to the expectations of others and share just for me, and i do. it is also nice, to be able to present a balanced message instead of one skewed to the good side or one that says nothing at all.it is just as i tell the men i sponsor: i know what the literature says, what i do not know is what you THINK it says. the literature is an excellent jumping off point for me, but i have a brain that is capable of going beyond what the book says. i may not agree with every single statement and there are certainly inconsistencies, but on the whole, the body of written literature that was written by the fellowship i choose for my recovery, provides an excellent means to getting a life beyond active addiction. qyuite honestly when i start to look at what the book says and how it applies to my life, i get to leave the recovery lobby and actually enjoy the resort, to use a very mixed metaphor. when i am afraid, i can share that i am afraid. when i behave in a less than stellar manner i can share about that as well. neither of those events means my world is crashing down around me and neither needs to be hidden under the cloak of sharing for the newcomer. the HOPE is there because one) i take responsibility for reporting what is happening and two) i can be real, share my pain, shame or embarrassment and stay clean. i do NOT need to look good all of the time.
anyhow, got an early meeting at work this morning, so i have to get rolling down the road, and when i go to the meeting tonight and if i share, you can bet that i will not just be sh!tting rainbow after rainbow!
∞ 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!
↔ the rest of the story ↔ 284 words ➥ Friday, March 18, 2005 by: donnotα my experience in walking through adversity may benefit someone else? α 395 words ➥ Saturday, March 18, 2006 by: donnot
∞ sometimes the most positive message i can carry ∞ 475 words ➥ Sunday, March 18, 2007 by: donnot
μ recovery does not happen all at once; it is an ongoing process, sometimes a struggle. μ 327 words ➥ Tuesday, March 18, 2008 by: donnot
· the wealth of my recovery is too good to keep to myself. · 384 words ➥ Wednesday, March 18, 2009 by: donnot
± no one likes a whiner, HOWEVER, distressing things happen ± 555 words ➥ Thursday, March 18, 2010 by: donnot
¨ i get a special feeling when i discover that ¨ 881 words ➥ Friday, March 18, 2011 by: donnot
µ i will remember that my experience µ 617 words ➥ Sunday, March 18, 2012 by: donnot
$ i have heard it said, that when one shares in meetings, $ 607 words ➥ Monday, March 18, 2013 by: donnot
¥ i will honestly share both the good times ¥ 568 words ➥ Tuesday, March 18, 2014 by: donnot
“ remember the newcomer ” 653 words ➥ Friday, March 18, 2016 by: donnot
☁ life on life*s ☂ 609 words ➥ Saturday, March 18, 2017 by: donnot
🐾 recovery does not 👣 739 words ➥ Sunday, March 18, 2018 by: donnot
💸 the wealth 💸 403 words ➥ Monday, March 18, 2019 by: donnot
🌊 no one 🌄 649 words ➥ Wednesday, March 18, 2020 by: donnot
🎁 the wealth 💎 490 words ➥ Thursday, March 18, 2021 by: donnot
🌪 recovery is sometimes 🌤 595 words ➥ Friday, March 18, 2022 by: donnot
🤔 thoughtful awareness 🤔 426 words ➥ Saturday, March 18, 2023 by: donnot
😡 learning to 😢 530 words ➥ Monday, March 18, 2024 by: donnot
☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 1
3) Therefore he who would administer the kingdom, honouring it as
he honours his own person, may be employed to govern it, and he who
would administer it with the love which he bears to his own person
may be entrusted with it.