Some memes

ought to be one of loving acceptance toward all addicts, regardless of any other problems they may experience. yes that is the ideal, unfortunately i fail to live up to it all of the time. it is not how they look, smell or dress that causes me to lapse into judgement more, it is generally what and how they share that triggers that response. i understand in this day and age of everyone going to treatment and therapy, that some of the language the newcomer uses are leftovers from well meaning therapists and treatment counselors. i can hardly expect any of those folks to use the &8220;proper” terms that are fellowship-wide endorsed. i also cannot expect them to come in and be honest, open-minded or willing. i have come to accept that s fact. no what trips me off into judgement land is when they start pontificating on what “we” should be doing this recovery gig, offering advice based on their limited experience or somehow get the notion that meetings are group therapy where feedback is encouraged. i just want them to shut the fuck up and listen to what we, as a group of addicts in recovery, have to offer.
ah, but i just may be one of those crusty OGs that i myself used to complain about, way back when. it is true, i am quite set in my ways and have the desire to get something more out of meetings other than a bucketful of judgements and bitterness. when i choose to let go of my shit and allow myself to hear the message behind the words, i actually get something close to what i am looking for and can find room in my heart and head to let go of whatever garbage is keeping me from accepting that they, too, are doing the best they can with what they got. when i change my perspective in that manner, i get more than i ever asked for, in abundance.
it may seem at time that i profess to know everything about how this recovery gig is done, when in actuality what i know is what has worked for me, for the minute i have been in active recovery. i do know a lot, but what i really “get” is that there is a shit-ton of stuff i do not “know” and the only way that knowledge will be revealed is through the mouths of my peers, whether it is at a meeting or one-on-one at the meeting after a meeting. just for today, i will do my best to reach for acceptance when my judgement machine kicks in and see what it is i might be missing. 🤐 🤔

∞ DT ∞