Blog entry for:

discipline builds good character, as for me anyhow, it means i carry the principles i have learned in recovery, out into the real world as well. it has been an interesting sixteen hours or so, starting with watching the three hours of chaos and over-stimulation called Babylon and ending with finally getting a friend bailed out of jail. the former was interesting as i can see that the intent was to create a movie of those times that was the antithesis of the Singing In The Rain. Babylon did that very well, as no one was left untouched by the transition to “talkies,” at least in Hollywood. the latter has been a shit show since May, as the last two times he though he could get out, they would not let him. today was the day he finally was eligible to get out and he made sure he fVcked that up for as well, by not waiting for me to do the dded and sending his ex in to “save me time.” that cost him several hours of freedom and cost me the piece of mind that i was done with his drama for now. now as i finish my Sunday routine and head out for an afternoon of sitting and smoking cigars with a friend, i know that this epic is not quite over yet and will prepare for round ninety-nine: getting him a roof over his head.
moving into the topic of the day, spiritual discipline, as i once saw it, was flogging myself severely and with extreme prejudice, when i failed to live up to the expectations i set for myself. the scars on my spiritual back would make a Penitente envious, as i abused myself with no mercy. i much prefer the definition of “A specific branch of knowledge, learning, or practice.” practicing a program of daily, active recovery may not make me a good character, but it certainly allows me to live in a manner where the chaos i cause just by moving through this world, is severely reduced. what that means, in the here and now, when my friend calls and needs something from the stash of funds i am holding for him, i will need to allow myself the freedom to say sure, let us take care of that. it also means that it is time to post this little ditty, before i go down a path where any humility i might have, flies out the window. just for today, i can practice the discipline of living a program of active recovery.

∞ DT ∞