Just curious, anyone active on the forum with more than 30 years Clean? Yeah I know Clean time does not necessarily equal quality of recovery. Just could be good for my ego to know so I could ask them to beat me into submission now and then. Don't think for a second I'm kinding!
If the answer is no, I hereby give myself permission to give anybody permission regardless of clean time to beat me into submission should I need it.
And Happy Holidays one and all, may your Higher Power be with you during what can be trying times for some.
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
Morning Mike! I can only say that drugs and active addiction beat me into submission for 25 years...I put my faith and trust in the God of my understanding and no longer have to self flagelate or beat myself up,life can do a pretty good job of that.We are all "newcomers" each day as this is the day we are given!I believe putting down the substance was just the tip of the iceberg(I know for this addict anyway)Living life God centered and as my "good friend" says "using" spiritual principles in all my affairs,allows me not to have to "beat myself into submission and my process only asks me to share my ESH and suggest what has or has not helped me as I relate to others....As God loves me I love you.I continually learn and remain teachable because of God's grace..I am clean because of my Higher Powers grace and mercy and I am clear not to get that twisted.I fall often but its not because of 'clean time' or any type of status I may think I have attained.I think if we remember that"the newcomer " is the most important person because we keep what we have by giving it away,our perceived status can remain in a humble,serving state.My stuff..I seek God's will to see my "clean time" through others eyes by the actions of my life.When I stop doing that I have lost my focus.A daily,before rising,resitation of our 3rd/11th step helps me rise to the world with the day beginning with that focus.Have a blessed and productive day ,enjoy the holiday period and keep coming back....peace
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
"We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable."
The challenge is often for me Step One part Two. Clean time does not mean I can manage my own life on my own today! I alone can do it, but I can't do it alone. I must remain ever vigilant remembering I need NA and God's help. Something I sometimes forget facing the challenges of daily life and running a business in the middle of a recession responsible not just for me, but a dozen employees.
While you may hear me say Recovery is a Journey not a Destination, I don't always listen to what I know to be true. And so for me, today in my Journey it's doing what I need to do, actively working the Steps to the best of my ability again from Step One.
When I asked for help, beating me into submission, it's if my posts here sound self centered and ego based to you just go ahead and knock me up side the head through cyberspace!
Call me on my crap if need be, I've been around long enough to accept Tough Love.
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
27 years (of single days) here, but my sister has 30, and I was the one who 12 stepped her in, so does that count for an extra point? LOL
Sharing experience, strength and hope is just that...sharing. So, be glad to share anytime. And grateful to know that is a two-way street
Extra point? Heck I can count that as 57 years so really make it easy for my ego to submit!
Hope all that celebrate Christmas are finding peace, serenity and gratitude remembering the true meaning of Christmas, not the mass merchandising mania out there everywhere.
Right now I'm grateful for and practicing patience waiting for that clove studded 21.8# chunk-o-brined-pigs-leg (aka bone in uncooked ham:) to be done I put on eariler with apple and maple wood for smoke. Like I ever did this kind of thing back in my using days! Oh yeah, life gets better Clean the NA Way!
-- Edited by Mike M on Saturday 25th of December 2010 06:34:43 PM
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
Don't think for a second I'm kinding! 
Like I ever did this kind of thing back in my using days! Oh yeah, life gets better Clean the NA Way!
