Blog entry for:
Mon, Jul 31, 2006 06:42:04 AM
μ when i am tempted to compare myself to these seemingly more affluent members, μ
posted: Mon, Jul 31, 2006 06:42:04 AM
it is good to remember why i came to the rooms of this fellowship. and it was not to get a shiny new car, a beautiful wife and more money than i could ever spend.
although....
.... all of those things are nice and worth the effort to achieve them. but the sign of recovery in my life is the fulfillment of the single promise that was made to me when i was finally ready to recover in the fellowship that gave me this new life -- that is the freedom from active addiction, nothing more, nothing less. that simple, yet powerful promise, had its subtle hooks in me long before i decided to get recovery exclusively in this fellowship. in fact the first time i heard it i laughed out loud, after all the fellowship i thought i belonged in had twelve promises and a very "LARGE TOME" with all sorts of implied promises hidden between the lines. the part of those promises that i did not get was that they were conditional on working the first nine steps. freedom from active addiction has only one condition, that i work the program to the best of my ability day by day. a simpler promise with a much lower threshold to cross, what‘s not to love?
and best of all i do not have to strain for examples that this promise has come true in my life. i have not had the desire to use since i got out of bed, granted that has not been very long, nor did i have the desire to use yesterday -- in fact i would have to work pretty damn hard to remember the last time i had the desire to use. so lacking the desire to use is definitely one of the symptoms of freedom from active addiction for me anyhow. the fact that i have not used since september tenth, nineteen ninety-seven is the symptom of freedom that i share with all of the members of the fellowship that gave me this brand new life -- shiny new car, college degree, beautiful home, loving girlfriend and a job that i love! what more could an addict ask for, why everything of course after all it is all about me, and i can never get enough!
although....
.... all of those things are nice and worth the effort to achieve them. but the sign of recovery in my life is the fulfillment of the single promise that was made to me when i was finally ready to recover in the fellowship that gave me this new life -- that is the freedom from active addiction, nothing more, nothing less. that simple, yet powerful promise, had its subtle hooks in me long before i decided to get recovery exclusively in this fellowship. in fact the first time i heard it i laughed out loud, after all the fellowship i thought i belonged in had twelve promises and a very "LARGE TOME" with all sorts of implied promises hidden between the lines. the part of those promises that i did not get was that they were conditional on working the first nine steps. freedom from active addiction has only one condition, that i work the program to the best of my ability day by day. a simpler promise with a much lower threshold to cross, what‘s not to love?
and best of all i do not have to strain for examples that this promise has come true in my life. i have not had the desire to use since i got out of bed, granted that has not been very long, nor did i have the desire to use yesterday -- in fact i would have to work pretty damn hard to remember the last time i had the desire to use. so lacking the desire to use is definitely one of the symptoms of freedom from active addiction for me anyhow. the fact that i have not used since september tenth, nineteen ninety-seven is the symptom of freedom that i share with all of the members of the fellowship that gave me this brand new life -- shiny new car, college degree, beautiful home, loving girlfriend and a job that i love! what more could an addict ask for, why everything of course after all it is all about me, and i can never get enough!
∞ DT ∞
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.
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!
too busy 32 words ➥ Saturday, July 31, 2004 by: donnotδ recognizing the difference δ 508 words ➥ Sunday, July 31, 2005 by: donnot
∞ when i remember why i came to the fellowship and in what condition i arrived, ∞ 412 words ➥ Tuesday, July 31, 2007 by: donnot
α the fellowship offers no promises other than freedom from active addiction. ω 437 words ➥ Thursday, July 31, 2008 by: donnot
α for any addict, even one day clean is a miracle. when i remember why i came … 675 words ➥ Friday, July 31, 2009 by: donnot
˜ a great many of addicts in recovery never achieve financial success. ˜ 381 words ➥ Saturday, July 31, 2010 by: donnot
— i came to the fellowship, because my life was unacceptable — 758 words ➥ Sunday, July 31, 2011 by: donnot
* the fellowship i CHOOSE for my recovery, offers only one promise : 449 words ➥ Tuesday, July 31, 2012 by: donnot
$ outward signs of prosperity are not the lot of all of the members $ 672 words ➥ Wednesday, July 31, 2013 by: donnot
$ i have been given a spiritual gift greater than material wealth : 493 words ➥ Thursday, July 31, 2014 by: donnot
∞ one promise and that is ∞ 640 words ➥ Friday, July 31, 2015 by: donnot
⤹ the solution is ⤸ 785 words ➥ Sunday, July 31, 2016 by: donnot
🛫 freedom 🚿 344 words ➥ Monday, July 31, 2017 by: donnot
🚔 because i was beaten 🚑 601 words ➥ Tuesday, July 31, 2018 by: donnot
😭 no promises 🍼 455 words ➥ Wednesday, July 31, 2019 by: donnot
🎟 the solution 🎯 489 words ➥ Friday, July 31, 2020 by: donnot
🎆 one day clean 🎊 435 words ➥ Saturday, July 31, 2021 by: donnot
🧪 the quality 🧪 453 words ➥ Sunday, July 31, 2022 by: donnot
🌬 simplicity 🌫 468 words ➥ Monday, July 31, 2023 by: donnot
😌 a simple program 😌 548 words ➥ Wednesday, July 31, 2024 by: donnot
☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 1
2) Therefore when one is making the Tao his business, those who are
also pursuing it, agree with him in it, and those who are making the
manifestation of its course their object agree with him in that; while
even those who are failing in both these things agree with him where
they fail.