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๐Ÿ›ฌ only one requirement ๐Ÿ›ธ

Posted: Wed, Dec 13, 2017 07:35:18 AM

for membership in the fellowship that has given me this new manner of living and for the first eighteen months of my clean time, i did NOT fulfill it. ah, but that long sad saga of denial and obstinacy has been told and retold so many times, in this space that i all i need to do is acknowledge it and move along. as much as i would dearly love to claim some moral high ground here, by stating the fact that i was one of those who was “coerced” into attending meetings, the fact is, i only attended meetings to keep myself from being further entangled in the legal system. it was never my intent to find a “new way to live,” nor do this gig the rest of my life, just for today.
this morning, as i attempted to wake up and face the world, i “heard” a bit of gratitude for the fact that no matter how hard i resisted, i was assimilated. living the lie of those first few years of my recovery journey, because yes once i became a member by having the desire to stay clean, i still did not want to claim my membership, as it did not fit my plans, my dreams, my hopes and my aspirations. in fact if someone back then, would have given me a glimpse of what i have become today, i most certainly would have bolted for the hills and never looked back. my life, in both the real world and in recovery, is nothing i would have ever wanted, back in those days, as now i have commitments, responsibilities, knowledge of who and what i am and a desire to be something more.
i often feel envy at those who waltz in and out of the rooms, and spend their lives between couch surfing and the local county jail. as perverse as it sounds, there is a certain simplicity to the life of finding the “ways and means.” i know that is romanticizing a lifestyle that i would quickly tire of, as i like having my own roof over my head, taking daily showers and as insane as it may sound, someplace to go and perform a task for money, on a daily basis. the life i have today, is nothing like the life i came in with, and it is because of membership, despite my resistance, that i have it today. ii GET to live a life that is so similar to the other 85% that i can pass for one of them. one may see that as living a lie, but i do not. if what they see, makes them conclude that i am one of them, so be it. i know i will never cross into actually being one of them., as i have come to believe that i am an addict and that will never change. it is the fact of life, that drives me to be better than i was yesterday and is getting me to the place where perhaps, it is time to write all about the powerlessness i feel in my daily life, beyond the base facts.
HMMMM, 🤭. on that thought i think i will hit the dusty road and see what i can accomplish today. it is after all a good day to be clean and nyes i am grateful for a manner of living that does not leave mu relying on the couches of others.

∞ DT ∞


Another Look

This day in older entries

๐Ÿ˜‰ it has been said, ๐Ÿ˜‰
336 words ➥ Saturday, December 13, 2025 by donnot
๐ŸŽˆ honoring the ๐ŸŽˆ
446 words ➥ Friday, December 13, 2024 by donnot
๐Ÿ˜Ž individuality ๐Ÿ˜Ž
386 words ➥ Wednesday, December 13, 2023 by donnot
๐Ÿ˜’ still suffering ๐Ÿ˜ต
549 words ➥ Tuesday, December 13, 2022 by donnot
๐Ÿคจ making THE choice ๐Ÿคณ
577 words ➥ Monday, December 13, 2021 by donnot
๐Ÿ‘ grateful ๐Ÿ‘Œ
503 words ➥ Sunday, December 13, 2020 by donnot
๐ŸŒฐ my desire ๐ŸŒฑ
641 words ➥ Friday, December 13, 2019 by donnot
๐Ÿค’ finding my way ๐Ÿค”
581 words ➥ Thursday, December 13, 2018 by donnot
โ‚ today, i am โ‚
607 words ➥ Tuesday, December 13, 2016 by donnot
โœฏ membership โœฏ
705 words ➥ Sunday, December 13, 2015 by donnot
ยซ coerced meeting attendance does not, ยป
480 words ➥ Saturday, December 13, 2014 by donnot
ยฅ sadly, those who need a program of recovery the most, ยฅ
678 words ➥ Friday, December 13, 2013 by donnot
ยน my choice to become a member was made in my heart ยน
749 words ➥ Thursday, December 13, 2012 by donnot
โ†” many people i encounter from all walks of life could really use โ€ฆ
272 words ➥ Saturday, December 13, 2008 by donnot
ฮฑ only addicts who are still suffering, if given the opportunity, ฯ‰
480 words ➥ Thursday, December 13, 2007 by donnot
ฮฑ belonging or just attending ฯ‰
470 words ➥ Tuesday, December 13, 2005 by donnot
โˆž membership โˆž
202 words ➥ Monday, December 13, 2004 by donnot

Tao Te Ching

☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯

The Tao Teh King, or The Tao and Its Characteristics
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge

Book 2

1) 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.