Blog entry for:
Fri, Dec 16, 2016 05:38:04 AM
✍ the full range ✍
posted: Fri, Dec 16, 2016 05:38:04 AM
of my recovery. Surprise, posting at oh so dark thirty, I am not used to being up and awake for twenty -four hours and I still have a few more. Well I exaggerate, I actually got a bit of sleep on the flight from Denver. there are all sorts of notions running through my brain, as I compose my last piece before going off the grid. I want it to be pithy, edgy and a blog to remember and yet as I sit here at the bar finishing my eggs, listening to the East Coast attitude spill out over the whole area.
As I think about where I have been and where I am going, figutaively and literally, there is one theme that seems to keep playing out. Just as shark, in theory, needs to keep moving to live, so I have discovered in my recovery process. When I stop, I start to die, bit by bit. the “smoke” of complacency quickly overtakes me and the body at rest part of inertia seems to rule the day. When I stop, it is hard to get started again, so the easier, softer way for this addict is just to keep moving on.
I do need to comment on my friend Brian, as I may not get the chance to gather with those who knew and celebrate his life. Yes, that is the literal part of moving forward., as in space. Currently I am sea level in Miami and in a few mor hours I will be off the grid sailing the Windward Islands. Brian and my vacations, never seemed to mesh very well, but today, as I am sitting and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for my next flight, I feel an emptiness that can no longer be filled. I miss his accurately insightful look at the world and wonder what if anything I can do, to honor him, now that he is gone. I am not a broken up, emotionally over his death today, but I still feel the pain, which I can see as a good thing.
Just as I am up for twenty four hours, it will be another 8 days before I get to a meeting. Honestly I am not used to ten to twelve day streches. What that means is I need to be diligent about the rest of my daily program, stepping up my practice of these principles in all of my affairs. It also means that even when I have not been totally shut-down since 5 AM yesterday, I still need to bracket my day with STEPS 10 and 11, which I think I will take care of right now.
As I think about where I have been and where I am going, figutaively and literally, there is one theme that seems to keep playing out. Just as shark, in theory, needs to keep moving to live, so I have discovered in my recovery process. When I stop, I start to die, bit by bit. the “smoke” of complacency quickly overtakes me and the body at rest part of inertia seems to rule the day. When I stop, it is hard to get started again, so the easier, softer way for this addict is just to keep moving on.
I do need to comment on my friend Brian, as I may not get the chance to gather with those who knew and celebrate his life. Yes, that is the literal part of moving forward., as in space. Currently I am sea level in Miami and in a few mor hours I will be off the grid sailing the Windward Islands. Brian and my vacations, never seemed to mesh very well, but today, as I am sitting and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for my next flight, I feel an emptiness that can no longer be filled. I miss his accurately insightful look at the world and wonder what if anything I can do, to honor him, now that he is gone. I am not a broken up, emotionally over his death today, but I still feel the pain, which I can see as a good thing.
Just as I am up for twenty four hours, it will be another 8 days before I get to a meeting. Honestly I am not used to ten to twelve day streches. What that means is I need to be diligent about the rest of my daily program, stepping up my practice of these principles in all of my affairs. It also means that even when I have not been totally shut-down since 5 AM yesterday, I still need to bracket my day with STEPS 10 and 11, which I think I will take care of right now.
∞ 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!
∞ complacency and commitment ∞ 335 words ➥ Thursday, December 16, 2004 by: donnotα where is all that smoke coming from, anyhow? ω 472 words ➥ Friday, December 16, 2005 by: donnot
∞ recognizing complacency in my recovery is like seeing smoke in a room. ∞ 370 words ➥ Saturday, December 16, 2006 by: donnot
… i will participate in the full range of my recovery. my commitment to the fellowship … 447 words ➥ Sunday, December 16, 2007 by: donnot
μ i must learn to recognize complacency. in the fellowship, i have all the help i need to do that. μ 196 words ➥ Tuesday, December 16, 2008 by: donnot
π regular participation in my recovery will enable me … 506 words ➥ Wednesday, December 16, 2009 by: donnot
⌈ complacency is the enemy of members with substantial clean time ⌋ 529 words ➥ Thursday, December 16, 2010 by: donnot
⊗ i need to spend time with other recovering addicts because ⊗ 397 words ➥ Friday, December 16, 2011 by: donnot
“ recovery literature kept in easy reach ” 965 words ➥ Sunday, December 16, 2012 by: donnot
ℜ my commitment to recovery is far stronger ℜ 897 words ➥ Monday, December 16, 2013 by: donnot
½ with continued complacency, i will not be able ½ 678 words ➥ Tuesday, December 16, 2014 by: donnot
😓 where there*s smoke … 565 words ➥ Wednesday, December 16, 2015 by: donnot
🤯 preventing an inferno 🤯 425 words ➥ Saturday, December 16, 2017 by: donnot
🔥 the enemy 🔥 396 words ➥ Sunday, December 16, 2018 by: donnot
🔎 complacency 🔬 519 words ➥ Monday, December 16, 2019 by: donnot
🎈 substantial clean time 🎈 507 words ➥ Wednesday, December 16, 2020 by: donnot
🕯 my commitment 🕯 619 words ➥ Thursday, December 16, 2021 by: donnot
🛠 participating in 🛡 788 words ➥ Friday, December 16, 2022 by: donnot
🤗 embracing 🤗 410 words ➥ Saturday, December 16, 2023 by: donnot
☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 2
3) He who knows these two things finds in them also his model and
rule. Ability to know this model and rule constitutes what we call
the mysterious excellence (of a governor). Deep and far-reaching is
such mysterious excellence, showing indeed its possessor as opposite
to others, but leading them to a great conformity to him.