"When we were using, our lives became an exercise in survival. Now we are doing much more living than surviving."
Basic Text p. 50
"I'd be better off dead!" A familiar refrain to a practicing addict, and with good reason. All we had to look forward to was more of the same miserable existence. Our hold on life was weak at best. Our emotional decay, our spiritual demise, and the crushing awareness that nothing would ever change were constants. We had little hope and no concept of the life we were missing out on.
The resurrection of our emotions, our spirits, and our physical health takes time. The more experience we gain in living, rather than merely existing, the more we understand how precious and delightful life can be. Traveling, playing with a small child, making love, expanding our intellectual horizons, and forming relationships are among the endless activities that say, "I'm alive:' We discover so much to cherish and feel grateful to have a second chance.
If we had died in active addiction, we would have been bitterly deprived of so many of life's joys. Each day we thank a Power greater than ourselves for another day clean and another day of life.
Just for Today: I am grateful to be alive. I will do something today to celebrate.
-- Edited by avid on Saturday 14th of November 2009 08:17:00 AM
Morning Avid! yes thanks for the message right "up my tree" (get it!!I kill myself with these jokes!!!!) This morning I was able to watch a squirrel put acorns in his tree for later use.The diligence of rumagging thru the leaves,acorn in mouth ,up the tree ,storage and then back down reminded me of how we need to 'work' everyday for the diligence and strength to put our trust in a HP than ourselves and know that the future will be taken care of,not by our will but by our surrender.Hope today doesnt get too 'SQUIRRELY FOR ME"(crack myself up!!!)but for this 24 I will enjoy every minute and work to spread the joy! Have a great bike ride,I have a 'MARAVISTA" 21 SPEED tHAT I ENJOY RIDING(back roads and trails)Very relaxing and good time for reflection(as long as not dodging cars and trucks)Glad you found us Avid,nice to see your shares of gratitude and recovery.peace!
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
