The Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous are a progressive recovery process established in our daily living.
Basic Text, p. 99
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After some time in recovery, we may find we are faced with what seem like overwhelming personal problems, angry feelings, and despair. When we realize whats going on, we may wail, But Ive been working so hard. I thought I was... Recovered, maybe? Not hardly. Over and over, we hear that recovery is an ongoing process and that we are never cured. Yet we sometimes believe that if we just work our steps enough, pray enough, or go to enough meetings, well eventually... well, maybe not be cured, but be something!
And we are something. We're recovering recovering from active addiction. No matter what weve dealt with through the process of the steps, there will always be more. What we didnt remember or didnt think was important in our first inventory will surely present itself later on. Again and again, well turn to the process of the steps to deal with whats bothering us. The more we use this process, the more well trust it, for we can see the results. We go from anger and resentment to forgiveness, from denial to honesty and acceptance, and from pain to serenity.
Recovery doesn't happen overnight, and ours will never be complete. But each day brings new healing and the hope for more tomorrow.
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Just for today: I will do what I can for my recovery today and maintain hope in the ongoing process of recovery.
-- Edited by Dave R on Monday 6th of June 2011 05:28:25 AM
-- Edited by Dave R on Monday 6th of June 2011 05:29:01 AM
I really needed to read this today........ I have thought that I was "CURED" before, only to end up back in active addiction......... It's hard to sit in my anger and dismay at nearly 3yrs clean wondering what it's all for, only to be reminded that I am an addict with the incurable disease of addiction............
Whether 30 days or 30 years Clean the disease of addiction doesn't go away. Recovery and life is an ongoing Journey, not a destination. The challenges I face to day are far different than they were when new in recovery to be sure, yet make no mistake 30 years Clean doesn't mean life's challenges simply disappear! They are just different, new learning experiences, new opportunities to grow.
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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
Thanks for that Mike, sometimes the little girl inside me chucks a tantrum and I get the f*** it's. Thank God for MIP and the gentle reminders I get from this forum.......