Blog entry for:
Fri, Sep 22, 2006 07:34:00 AM
∞ recovery is a gift, and i have to care for it if i want to keep it. ∞
posted: Fri, Sep 22, 2006 07:34:00 AM
while my recovery does not come with an extended warranty, there is a routine maintenance schedule.
and as silly as the analogy of an organic flesh and blood process, to an inorganic metal and plastic machine, may appear on the surface, the analogy is not about the object but what i do or do not do when i a given one or the other objects as a gift. i could run with the example and flesh it out for a couple hundred words or so talking about each of the things i do to maintain the gift of recovery i have been given, and i probably have done so in the past. no the train of thought that is triggered today is one gratitude for the gift itself and out of that gratitude comes a desire to care for the gift of recovery that i have been given. this morning, after a night of snoring my honey awake and wild dreams, none of them about using, i am grateful that i can wake up to the real world, have a gallon or two of coffee, ask for the power to stay clean today and move on with my life. i am grateful that i have a gift that apparently others want, as i have not been fired as a sponsor for a couple of years and have accumulated a few more sponsees and members who trust my recovery enough to share their stuff with me. so does that mean i get to rest on my laurels and take my recovery for granted? i wish, then the real interesting fun and games would commence. no what that means is that what i have been doing to maintain my recovery has to this point been sufficient and necessary to those who wish me to share my gift with them. that is no way saying that the gift will remain as it is, unless i continue to do what i have been doing and keep my mind open to the possibility that i may have to do more in the future. and what is it that i do? read the literature, work the steps, work with a sponsor, build my relationship with GOD through prayer and meditation, clean-up the stuff i need to clean with a daily inventory, and oh yeah, get my ass to a meeting. nothing too heinous or time-consuming, just a few more things to cram into my busy days. after all, my days would not be so busy if i did not have the gift of recovery!
and as silly as the analogy of an organic flesh and blood process, to an inorganic metal and plastic machine, may appear on the surface, the analogy is not about the object but what i do or do not do when i a given one or the other objects as a gift. i could run with the example and flesh it out for a couple hundred words or so talking about each of the things i do to maintain the gift of recovery i have been given, and i probably have done so in the past. no the train of thought that is triggered today is one gratitude for the gift itself and out of that gratitude comes a desire to care for the gift of recovery that i have been given. this morning, after a night of snoring my honey awake and wild dreams, none of them about using, i am grateful that i can wake up to the real world, have a gallon or two of coffee, ask for the power to stay clean today and move on with my life. i am grateful that i have a gift that apparently others want, as i have not been fired as a sponsor for a couple of years and have accumulated a few more sponsees and members who trust my recovery enough to share their stuff with me. so does that mean i get to rest on my laurels and take my recovery for granted? i wish, then the real interesting fun and games would commence. no what that means is that what i have been doing to maintain my recovery has to this point been sufficient and necessary to those who wish me to share my gift with them. that is no way saying that the gift will remain as it is, unless i continue to do what i have been doing and keep my mind open to the possibility that i may have to do more in the future. and what is it that i do? read the literature, work the steps, work with a sponsor, build my relationship with GOD through prayer and meditation, clean-up the stuff i need to clean with a daily inventory, and oh yeah, get my ass to a meeting. nothing too heinous or time-consuming, just a few more things to cram into my busy days. after all, my days would not be so busy if i did not have the gift of recovery!
∞ 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!
cherishing my gift 319 words ➥ Wednesday, September 22, 2004 by: donnot∞ my recovery is not a car ∞ 395 words ➥ Thursday, September 22, 2005 by: donnot
∞ while my recovery does not come with an extended warranty, there is a routine maintenance schedule ∞ 357 words ➥ Saturday, September 22, 2007 by: donnot
α my recovery is a gift, and i have to care for it if i wish to keep it ω 586 words ➥ Monday, September 22, 2008 by: donnot
∫ neglecting my recovery is like neglecting any other gift i have been given ∫ 541 words ➥ Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by: donnot
¿ life takes on a new meaning, when i open myself to the gift called recovery ¡ 541 words ➥ Wednesday, September 22, 2010 by: donnot
‰ the gift of recovery is one that grows with the giving ‰ 447 words ➥ Thursday, September 22, 2011 by: donnot
+ in sharing my recovery with others , 345 words ➥ Saturday, September 22, 2012 by: donnot
‡ would i go to great lengths to maintain ‡ 515 words ➥ Sunday, September 22, 2013 by: donnot
$ recovery is a gift, $ 396 words ➥ Monday, September 22, 2014 by: donnot
¢ keeping the gift ¢ 249 words ➥ Tuesday, September 22, 2015 by: donnot
⋇ i have to care ⋇ 664 words ➥ Thursday, September 22, 2016 by: donnot
🍩 a new meaning 🍩 749 words ➥ Friday, September 22, 2017 by: donnot
💤 the required maintenance 💦 518 words ➥ Saturday, September 22, 2018 by: donnot
😱 what NO 🤔 455 words ➥ Sunday, September 22, 2019 by: donnot
🎂 the gift 🎁 385 words ➥ Tuesday, September 22, 2020 by: donnot
🖐 great lengths 🖑 454 words ➥ Wednesday, September 22, 2021 by: donnot
💪 routine 🔧 520 words ➥ Thursday, September 22, 2022 by: donnot
💯 the value 💯 608 words ➥ Friday, September 22, 2023 by: donnot
💫 removing my mask, 💫 320 words ➥ Sunday, September 22, 2024 by: donnot
☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 2
2) The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having
much knowledge. He who (tries to) govern a state by his wisdom is
a scourge to it; while he who does not (try to) do so is a blessing.