I have been clean for:
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๐Ÿ˜ rediscovering ๐Ÿ˜

Posted: Fri, Dec 22, 2023 09:06:20 AM

and redefining joy, certainly takes me back to those **good old days,** when all that was joyful in my life was **enhanced** through a bit of chemistry, until there was very little joy left in my life. my wedding day started with drinks at eight AM and non-stop using until we started our drive towards Vegas for our honeymoon. that one example is more than ample to illustrate my point, on what should have been one of the joyous days of my life, i was FUBAR all day long. it goes without saying that is no longer how i handle those experiences that bring me joy today.
seeing the landscape from on top of everything, after climbing for hours on end, certainly brings me joy, even though i am bone tired by the time that day ends. hanging with my friends, enjoying a cigar and talking about nothing and everything, is yet another. spending time with my family, extended or otherwise, without the chaos of politics and“theories” is just one more example. this list could go on and on, what all of these samples of events have in common, is that i am not high before, during or after them and if i minded my P's and Q's i do not have any wrongs to clean up. my life is better than it has ever been and with a bit of diligence over the course of this day, it just may be a bit better tomorrow.
i may not know what situation may elicit a joyful response for me, as i have stopped expecting outcomes, as that has left me sorely disappointed in the past. for me to be okay and allow myself to feel what i am feeling, it is certainly nice when i feel a bit of joy, without warning. life is certainly more than a bit ironic in that manner, situations that once baffled me have become opportunities to shine and those that i used to dread have become the springboard into a bit of joy.
before this morning gets away from me, i think it is time to pack this up, get the dawg leashed and ready to walk and step out into the sunshine of the first day the sun starts its journey back to the North. it is a great day to celebrate that i have made it through the darkness of the season, once again, without the aid of chemistry or less than stellar behavior. that fact, in and of itself, does warm the cockles of my heart and perhaps makes me feel a bit joyful as well, just for today.

∞ DT ∞


Another Look

This day in older entries

๐Ÿ˜Š as an addict, ๐Ÿ˜Š
370 words ➥ Monday, December 22, 2025 by donnot
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๐Ÿ’™ loving myself, ๐Ÿ’™
505 words ➥ Thursday, December 22, 2022 by donnot
๐ŸŒ„ seeking to ๐ŸŒ†
518 words ➥ Wednesday, December 22, 2021 by donnot
๐Ÿ‘ป a walking ghost ๐Ÿ‘ป
489 words ➥ Tuesday, December 22, 2020 by donnot
๐Ÿ becoming a healthy, ๐ŸŽ
437 words ➥ Sunday, December 22, 2019 by donnot
๐ŸŒ• going on ๐ŸŒ
425 words ➥ Saturday, December 22, 2018 by donnot
๐Ÿง› living like a ghost ๐Ÿง›
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โ˜ฏ here for a reason: โ˜ฏ
416 words ➥ Thursday, December 22, 2016 by donnot
โ™ฆ a new way to live โ™ข
586 words ➥ Tuesday, December 22, 2015 by donnot
โ€ก what was the worst aspect of active addiction? โ€ก
500 words ➥ Monday, December 22, 2014 by donnot
โ™ฅ i have found a new way to live. โ™ฅ
1004 words ➥ Sunday, December 22, 2013 by donnot
ยง when at the end of the road i find ยง
681 words ➥ Saturday, December 22, 2012 by donnot
โ‰ก my days of living like a ghost are past โ‰ก
559 words ➥ Tuesday, December 22, 2009 by donnot
โˆž in recovery, i have come to believe โˆž
373 words ➥ Monday, December 22, 2008 by donnot
ฮฑ welcome to my new life or how i am learning to be real ฮฑ
409 words ➥ Thursday, December 22, 2005 by donnot
โˆž a ghost no more โˆž
169 words ➥ Wednesday, December 22, 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 1

1) When one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a
(previous) expiration; when he is going to weaken another, he will
first strengthen him; when he is going to overthrow another, he will
first have raised him up; when he is going to despoil another, he
will first have made gifts to him:--this is called 'Hiding the light
(of his procedure).'