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Sun, Aug 18, 2019 05:57:26 AM


🎫 i cannot pretend 🎫
posted: Sun, Aug 18, 2019 05:57:26 AM

 

that i am not an addict, or delude myself into believing that somehow, long-term abstinence equals a cure. the program of recovery may have given me a ticket to ride through life, regaining everything i never had. recovery has offered me freedom from active addiction. for me anyhow, recovery means that i still need to do those things that started this ball rolling, which includes regular meeting attendance.
as i was sitting this morning, i flashed back to one of the conversations i had last night at the celebration i attended. i was speaking to a friend about how to change the physical shape he is in, when one of our peers chimed in about how much of a “work-out” riding a motorcycle is. ironically, i would not consider him in any better physical shape than the friend i was speaking to. as they are both quite round. that is certainly their choice, but my friend has invested a ton of resources in trying to find a path to better physical fitness, but for one reason or another. is unable to find the willingness to do what it takes. i totally understand that mind-set, as it was mine, up until about sixteen months ago. i wanted to be fitter and be able to do more things, but desire did not change into action, until i finally “owned” that i was worth doing the work to get in better shape.
i have to admit, judging anyone else's fitness, spiritual or physical, is more than a little hypocritical, given that i only attend two meeting a week and both of them over in a neighboring town. i know that more meetings is probably a better trend for me than less. already i could hear the justifications being formed in my head as to why i am “okay” with that number of meetings. the fact is my life is good today and the life recovery gave me was founded in going to a sh*t-ton of meetings. perhaps, and this is crazy talk, i might consider a “ninety in ninety” as a gift to me, after my clean date. who knows, the seed has been planted, no telling what may come of it.

∞ DT ∞

 

djtConsulting Brand
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.

Another Look!

recovery first?? 234 words ➥ Wednesday, August 18, 2004 by: donnot
α how long? ω 319 words ➥ Thursday, August 18, 2005 by: donnot
∞ there is the disease itself to consider --  ∞ 391 words ➥ Friday, August 18, 2006 by: donnot
↔ i cannot pretend i do not have a fatal, progressive illness, because i do. ↔ 497 words ➥ Saturday, August 18, 2007 by: donnot
α can i live and enjoy life without effective treatment for my addiction? No! ω 453 words ➥ Monday, August 18, 2008 by: donnot
⊄ each day, i have used what i have learned in the meetings to continue in my recovery. ⊄ 660 words ➥ Tuesday, August 18, 2009 by: donnot
¡ how long do i have to keep coming to these meetings ¿ 640 words ➥ Wednesday, August 18, 2010 by: donnot
ℜ the way to remain a productive, responsible member of society ℜ 833 words ➥ Thursday, August 18, 2011 by: donnot
≈  i want to live and enjoy life ≈ 856 words ➥ Saturday, August 18, 2012 by: donnot
℘ meetings give me the support and direction i need ℘ 783 words ➥ Sunday, August 18, 2013 by: donnot
♣ the demands of everyday living sometimes ♣ 654 words ➥ Monday, August 18, 2014 by: donnot
¿ how long ? 675 words ➥ Tuesday, August 18, 2015 by: donnot
👌 remaining 👌 763 words ➥ Thursday, August 18, 2016 by: donnot
🚆 chronic self-centeredness, 🚇 717 words ➥ Friday, August 18, 2017 by: donnot
‽ i am not ‽ 305 words ➥ Saturday, August 18, 2018 by: donnot
🎖 productive and responsible 🎖 603 words ➥ Tuesday, August 18, 2020 by: donnot
🏃 fatal and progressive, 🏃 443 words ➥ Wednesday, August 18, 2021 by: donnot
🌪 i certainly 🌅 455 words ➥ Thursday, August 18, 2022 by: donnot
😣 perseverance 😌 612 words ➥ Friday, August 18, 2023 by: donnot
🤔 am i getting 🤔 459 words ➥ Sunday, August 18, 2024 by: donnot
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☯ 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 1

1) Who knows his manhood's strength,
Yet still his female feebleness maintains;
As to one channel flow the many drains,
All come to him, yea, all beneath the sky.
Thus he the constant excellence retains;
The simple child again, free from all stains.

Who knows how white attracts,
Yet always keeps himself within black's shade,
The pattern of humility displayed,
Displayed in view of all beneath the sky;
He in the unchanging excellence arrayed,
Endless return to man's first state has made.

Who knows how glory shines,
Yet loves disgrace, nor e'er for it is pale;
Behold his presence in a spacious vale,
To which men come from all beneath the sky.
The unchanging excellence completes its tale;
The simple infant man in him we hail.