Daily Recovery Blog
Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
"Garbage In, Garbage Out." - Johnny B.
YOU ONLY GET OUT OF IT WHAT YOU PUT INTO ITMy attitude toward making any investment of time and money used
to be was about what is in it for me. I believe my early recovery
was by osmosis. All I was capable of doing was showing up. I was
fortunate that other members asked me to help. Most of the tasks
were simple; things like sitting up chairs, taking out the trash,
and putting the literature on the table were some of the tasks I
remember. I was told I was needed. That made me feel better. The
person I got rides to meetings with was into showing up early.
Showing up early somehow put me in the spotlight. Other members
asked my name. The new members thought I knew what was going on
just because I showed up early. Once I joined a home group, I
realized I was making an investment in my recovery. I was to be
accountable to others. My home group's members reminded me all
the time that I needed to find a sponsor. It felt like I was
being nagged. To appease others, I asked a man to be my sponsor.
That was my next major investment in my recovery. I learned about
making an investment in my recovery. This man shared his
experience, strength, and hope. He told me he cared about helping
me in my recovery. He said if I was willing to follow some simple
instructions, he could show me how he stays clean. I liked his
approach. I remember he spent hours listening to me share my
writings. Today I am truly grateful for that time. His guidance
helped me grow up.
"It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and
resolute courage that we move on to better things." - Theodore
Roosevelt
Tuesday Apr 23, 2024
"A hug is a handshake from the heart." - Ohio Suzie
HUGS NOT DRUGSI must admit that this slogan seemed childish the first time I
heard it. I was full of false pride when I arrived. I wanted
others to see me as a tough guy. I had drug dealer mentality. I
made sure I gave you the leave me alone look after the meeting
was over. I was not into other males hugging me. I could not tell
you the last time I had hugged my dad. After a week or two of
meetings, and a few pretty girls, I started tolerating the hugs.
Later in my recovery, and a few thousand hugs under my belt, I
looked forward to the hugs. I even recall reading in a health
magazine that a child should get three hugs a day. I guess I was
making up for lost time. One awakening I had about hugs was when
I was about 5 years clean. My friend, Sam and I, were giving a
rather young addict rides to meetings. His name was Todd and he
was 13 years old. One evening his mother called us into her house
to ask us a question. She explained her concerns. She said when
Todd was using drugs he was seldom home with his family. Now he
was in recovery every night, we would pick him up to go to a
meeting, and still he was seldom home with his family. She asked
if we put the meetings on television. That way he could have a
meeting and still be home with his family. Sam and I were
somewhat taken back by her comments. We looked at each other
hoping one of us had a response. There was a moment of silence.
Then Todd spoke up, and he said "Mom, you can't hug a TV".
"I love hugging. I wish I was an octopus, so I could hug ten
people at a time." - Drew Barrymore
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