Blog entry for:

to encourage my peers in recovery, regardless of how much or how little clean time they may have, is a much better way to express what the source material was trying to convey. the actual headline sounding more like a self-help book or the title of a motivational podcast, rather than a reading on a spiritual principle for today. be that as it may, it certainly spoke to me with regards to some of those who are now part of my life on a daily basis and who are having struggles adapting to the real world, where their days are their own and what they do or do not accomplish is purely their responsibility. i am concerned that they will not make it to a “safe haven” before getting deeper into the morass of problems they have brought with them. there is, however, little i can do to assist them in finding their own way, as that would be enabling them not to learn how to live. all i can do is encourage them and provide them with suggestions when asked to, and moral support all the time. oh yeah, and help them up, if they stumble and fall. i am already holding on to confidences that they should be sharing elsewhere, but that is on me and i can take that burden and pitch it into the bit bucket this morning.
i have to admit, i am a hard ass when it comes to recovery and life in general. i know it is a reaction to what i was when i came to recovery and the length of time it took me to reach the point of actually having the desire to participate in a life of active recovery. not that i think that everyone needs to follow my path of recovery, but i certainly believe that encouragement does mean that i do not coddle the newcomer by tempering my message with a kinder and softer tone. it does mean that i allow my peers to express themselves, in a manner best suited to them, even if they fall into the “pronoun” trap to keep from themselves safe from what they are sharing. i DO recover, i AM an addict and the WE i share my recovery with, is my friends, peers and acquaintances in recovery. my path and my story, may be similar in nature, but is mine and mine alone and need not be tempered by deflecting way any responsibility for what i did or do.
oops there i go again, getting up on my soapbox about what others share and being all fVcking self-righteous about it. the fact is, i can be encouraging without being condescending or patronizing. i can pull someone aside and give them my number, rather than telling them we do not do that here. i can allow my peers to see me when i am vulnerable and hurting and demonstrate that no matter what, i can stay clean today. most importantly, just for today, i can encourage those around me, to do the best they can do, with what they have and if they find their ass in any sort of sling, to reach out and touch me. 🤗

∞ DT ∞