Blog entry for:
Tue, Nov 8, 2005 05:44:52 AM
α restoration to sanity ω
posted: Tue, Nov 8, 2005 05:44:52 AM
well first off i am grateful for all of my friends who called me yesterday and asked if i was okay. the truth is that when i wrote my morning musing i was not in a very good space , but i have let go of that anger and moved on -- at least for right now.
today i get to ponder on the nature my insanity and contrast that with how i have been restored to a semblance of sanity today.
when i got to recovery, i really did not believe that i was insane. the disease of addiction had stripped away any rational thought when it came to looking at me and my behaviors and had replaced it with justifications, rationalizations and denial. after all, insane people do not go to work on a consistent basis and i did. insane people do not pay their bills and i did after a fashion. and insane people are incapable of running their own lives and i was not. even though i used against my will, even though i had collection agancies calling me incessantly, even though i used in my sleep, and even though i could not form and maintain any sort of relationships with those around me, i did not see that any of these behaviors were symptomatic of insanity, i just thought it was the state of affairs for all people.
looking back from my current perspective, i see how insane i really was, especially believing that i could do what i wanted to without any consequences and that i was in control. truthfully i was incapable of living in the "real" world and everything i did and thought was set-up to deny that reality.
am i more sane today? well i really do show-up for work on a daily basis. i am more dependable and reliable. i pay my bills and i have learned how to be a friend and a significant other. and most of all i have not used any mind-altering substances for two thousand, nine hundred, and eighty days. not that i am free from bouts of insane thinking and behaving, but they are easier to spot and correct.
and that brings me back to this morning's reading. today i am truly grateful that THE POWER THAT KEEPS ME CLEAN AND PROVIDES FOR ALL MY NEEDS has seen fit to provide me a manner of living that allows me to see the path to sanity. i understand about the process of restoration and i am grateful that i am a participant in that process. is it easy? HELL NO! is it simple? without a doubt! is it something i want to continue? well at least just for today!
∞ DT ∞
today i get to ponder on the nature my insanity and contrast that with how i have been restored to a semblance of sanity today.
when i got to recovery, i really did not believe that i was insane. the disease of addiction had stripped away any rational thought when it came to looking at me and my behaviors and had replaced it with justifications, rationalizations and denial. after all, insane people do not go to work on a consistent basis and i did. insane people do not pay their bills and i did after a fashion. and insane people are incapable of running their own lives and i was not. even though i used against my will, even though i had collection agancies calling me incessantly, even though i used in my sleep, and even though i could not form and maintain any sort of relationships with those around me, i did not see that any of these behaviors were symptomatic of insanity, i just thought it was the state of affairs for all people.
looking back from my current perspective, i see how insane i really was, especially believing that i could do what i wanted to without any consequences and that i was in control. truthfully i was incapable of living in the "real" world and everything i did and thought was set-up to deny that reality.
am i more sane today? well i really do show-up for work on a daily basis. i am more dependable and reliable. i pay my bills and i have learned how to be a friend and a significant other. and most of all i have not used any mind-altering substances for two thousand, nine hundred, and eighty days. not that i am free from bouts of insane thinking and behaving, but they are easier to spot and correct.
and that brings me back to this morning's reading. today i am truly grateful that THE POWER THAT KEEPS ME CLEAN AND PROVIDES FOR ALL MY NEEDS has seen fit to provide me a manner of living that allows me to see the path to sanity. i understand about the process of restoration and i am grateful that i am a participant in that process. is it easy? HELL NO! is it simple? without a doubt! is it something i want to continue? well at least 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!
my insanity 111 words ➥ Monday, November 8, 2004 by: donnotμ to be grateful for the degree of sanity to which i have been restored, μ 471 words ➥ Wednesday, November 8, 2006 by: donnot
δ the program, the fellowship, and my concept of a Higher Power have worked worked a miracle. Δ 527 words ➥ Thursday, November 8, 2007 by: donnot
α in active addiction. i was not in my right mind. each day i courted … 465 words ➥ Saturday, November 8, 2008 by: donnot
δ it has been said unless i am insane, i cannot remember what insanity feels like δ 543 words ➥ Sunday, November 8, 2009 by: donnot
⊥ do i believe it would be insane to walk up to someone and say ⊥ 472 words ➥ Monday, November 8, 2010 by: donnot
∏ i will take some time to recall how insane i have been ∏ 524 words ➥ Tuesday, November 8, 2011 by: donnot
¾ the Second Step is not a vain hope -- it is reality ¾ 579 words ➥ Thursday, November 8, 2012 by: donnot
‡ each day i practiced active addiction, ‡ 644 words ➥ Friday, November 8, 2013 by: donnot
“ may I please have a heart attack or a fatal accident? ” 440 words ➥ Saturday, November 8, 2014 by: donnot
⁄ freed from insanity ⁄ 703 words ➥ Sunday, November 8, 2015 by: donnot
❖ on being released ❖ 668 words ➥ Tuesday, November 8, 2016 by: donnot
😲 even death 😱 841 words ➥ Wednesday, November 8, 2017 by: donnot
🌄 on being grateful 🌄 871 words ➥ Thursday, November 8, 2018 by: donnot
😵 how truly bizarre 🤪 632 words ➥ Friday, November 8, 2019 by: donnot
🤪 in active addiction 🤨 501 words ➥ Sunday, November 8, 2020 by: donnot
🙄 not a 🙃 505 words ➥ Monday, November 8, 2021 by: donnot
😰 recalling my insanity, 😳 526 words ➥ Tuesday, November 8, 2022 by: donnot
📿 praying 🙏 317 words ➥ Wednesday, November 8, 2023 by: donnot
🤪 from time to time, 🤫 528 words ➥ Friday, November 8, 2024 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 lightly promises is sure to keep but little faith; he who
is continually thinking things easy is sure to find them difficult.
Therefore the sage sees difficulty even in what seems easy, and so
never has any difficulties.