Surrendering Hesitations About a Brighter, but Unknown Future — July 16, 2012 “When one door closes, another opens.” I’ve had to remind myself of that a lot lately. I’ve been sending out a lot of resumes, earnestly trying to improve my financial situation and at the same time, not wallow in self-pity or self-defeat. Money is huge stressor for…

Recovery’s Ancillary Benefits Affect My Day-to-Day Living — June 25, 2012 A Buddhist teacher named Cheri Huber, whose work I revere, sent out a message today which read: “Be just the way you have always been, with this difference: do not believe any of it, and pay close attention to all of it.” The fact that I got…

Relentlessly Seeking Sobriety Over Addiction’s Relentlessness — June 12, 2012 The other day, I wasn’t feeling so joyful. My wife and I were having a hard time, and although we kissed and made up, I was still emotionally hungover from our arguing. The next day, I was triggered what seemed like the whole day. I was distracted…

In Sobriety, I Can Hurdle Whatever Comes My Way — May 29, 2012 The day-to-day challenges of my life are much more easily dealt with in sobriety than they ever were in my full-blown acting-out days. Back then, there was a sense of tension and anxiety casting a pall over everything. These days, life can be all the things that…

Listening and Sharing Builds Up Sobriety and Trust — May 22, 2012 Communication is key. When people call into the line I do service on, when we phone each other, or meet in person to share our stories — that’s an act of communication, a healthy reaching-out in recovery. When I do work on the hotline, when I listen…

Helping Others in Program Also Helps Me — April 30, 2012 The program works if I work it; that’s the simple message I’m conveying today. As service work, I’ve shared my recovery experience, strength, and hope on a program-based phone hotline for two years now. I keep doing so because by being open and honest with my fellow…

Life on Life’s Terms in the Loving Light of a Higher Power — April 23, 2012 The challenges of sobriety are nothing compared to the hell of addiction. In fact, by allowing myself to experience life’s regular course — good and difficult — by working hard in recovery, I find that life, of course, is going to be equally painful and joyous. What’s…

A Regret-Based, Self-Sabotaging Aspect of My Persona — April 17, 2012 In program, I’m learning to live in the present and in many respects, that’s very difficult for me. Now that I am doing pretty well in my sobriety, I’m learning to even out the other aspects in my life affected by the addiction. I’m learning to address…

Rare Self-Consciousness About My Relationship (In)Stability — April 10, 2012 I’ve been self-conscious for some time now — in my shares at meetings and with my sponsor — and, at first, I wasn’t sure why. It’s the first time in program I recall not feeling free to express myself to others in fellowship. I soon realized part…