Great points. For me, pursuing recovery after a lot of years is a lifestyle and a commitment to continuous improvement. I've been part of one 12 Step group for about 45 years. In almost every meeting, someone says, 'gee, I've read this a thousand times but I didn't see it quite this way before'. We are students of recovery in many ways and, I believe, that makes us better people in every respect.
Congrats on 45 years! I love that idea - that we, collectively, in recovering together, can show one another new ways of learning. Someone in a meeting just this morning made reference to sobriety being a "lifetime sentence to freedom". Aren't we the lucky ones to be in this classroom!
Friends, your words are very timely as I have felt a huge shift in my sobriety in the last 9 months or so. Coincidentally around the time that my son was born. Either way, I really started getting curious about the "where to now?" and the "what next?" in my journey. My recovery is woven into the fabric of everything I do in my life, and yet some days I don't even think about it. But, I never forget where I came from. I honor and cherish all the parts of Kezia who brought me to the 42 year old woman I am today. Thank you both for helping me feel seen 💗
I can relate so much to the notion that recovery (and life) changes so much in motherhood, especially those early days of infancy. For me, it was a rediscovering of a new recovery. Because motherhood, in all senses, changed so much of who I am. I’d love to explore this topic more ❤️🩹
Oh I love this Kezia: “My recovery is woven into the fabric of everything I do in my life, and yet some days I don't even think about it. “ That’s just it: we live into our sobriety - it doesn’t rule our life. It absorbs our life. The distinction is clear. We are more, indeed.
Basically, it's the idea that too many times we look at someone who struggled or is struggling and think, "How can they do that?!" And yet, we need to approach it with this idea: yes, that person is struggling with it today — but I am not immune from giving into something too. Even the same thing. "He today, and yet it could be me tomorrow." I think it originally came from St. Augustine, but I can never find the exact quote. Instead of looking down on others for their struggles, we need to realize that we could trip up just as easily ourselves. That has really taken on new meaning to me in the last year.
Love this. Makes so much sense. I think we can help decrease the stigma of addiction and mental health this way, too. While my identity today isn’t only about being a person in recovery, I still believe that we are all in recovery from something 🙏🏼
Great points. For me, pursuing recovery after a lot of years is a lifestyle and a commitment to continuous improvement. I've been part of one 12 Step group for about 45 years. In almost every meeting, someone says, 'gee, I've read this a thousand times but I didn't see it quite this way before'. We are students of recovery in many ways and, I believe, that makes us better people in every respect.
I love this! Yes, students of recovery. ❤️🩹 congrats on 45 years. One day at a time 🙏🏼
Congrats on 45 years! I love that idea - that we, collectively, in recovering together, can show one another new ways of learning. Someone in a meeting just this morning made reference to sobriety being a "lifetime sentence to freedom". Aren't we the lucky ones to be in this classroom!
Thanks for sharing that!!!
Friends, your words are very timely as I have felt a huge shift in my sobriety in the last 9 months or so. Coincidentally around the time that my son was born. Either way, I really started getting curious about the "where to now?" and the "what next?" in my journey. My recovery is woven into the fabric of everything I do in my life, and yet some days I don't even think about it. But, I never forget where I came from. I honor and cherish all the parts of Kezia who brought me to the 42 year old woman I am today. Thank you both for helping me feel seen 💗
I can relate so much to the notion that recovery (and life) changes so much in motherhood, especially those early days of infancy. For me, it was a rediscovering of a new recovery. Because motherhood, in all senses, changed so much of who I am. I’d love to explore this topic more ❤️🩹
Oh I love this Kezia: “My recovery is woven into the fabric of everything I do in my life, and yet some days I don't even think about it. “ That’s just it: we live into our sobriety - it doesn’t rule our life. It absorbs our life. The distinction is clear. We are more, indeed.
Thanks for sharing this here, friend 🫶
Beautiful, from both of you! Allison, I love kintsugi! It’s such a perfect metaphor for your ongoing work with sobriety.
Thanks Stephanie. It sure is. For me, I couldn’t find my gold parts and do the mending until I got away from alcohol.
So glad you connected. I love the metaphor too 💓
Thanks ladies for a beautiful Saturday morning read. Filled me up to start my day ♥️
Thank you for connecting. Substack is my fave way to Saturday 🙏🏼
Thanks for reading, Amy! So glad to have you here sharing xoxoxo Enjoy your day!
Love this, Caroline: "And yet, while it is a part of my story, it’s not the only chapter."
On a separate note, the quote that always circles through my head: "He today; I tomorrow." I think we need to embrace that more.
That's a really interesting concept. Tell me more!
Basically, it's the idea that too many times we look at someone who struggled or is struggling and think, "How can they do that?!" And yet, we need to approach it with this idea: yes, that person is struggling with it today — but I am not immune from giving into something too. Even the same thing. "He today, and yet it could be me tomorrow." I think it originally came from St. Augustine, but I can never find the exact quote. Instead of looking down on others for their struggles, we need to realize that we could trip up just as easily ourselves. That has really taken on new meaning to me in the last year.
Love this. Makes so much sense. I think we can help decrease the stigma of addiction and mental health this way, too. While my identity today isn’t only about being a person in recovery, I still believe that we are all in recovery from something 🙏🏼