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BUT, what about those situations where the burden is ongoing and there is no end in sight? well what about those? well i could share on and on about them in meetings, boring everyone to tears, but it would relieve my burden and i would feel better, in fact i have been known to do that every now and again. that does help. i can call my sponsor and share with him. and i can share with my closed-mouth friends and peers in recovery. BUT after sharing my burden, what then?
the reading does not go into the action beyond sharing the burden, and for me, being an action-based sort of guy, that is what is really important, okay i have lightened my burden, what i do next is start the process towards moving into acceptance of this long term life on life’s terms situation. what does that mean. well to start the process off, i look critically at what i can do, if anything to eliminate the situation. honestly, this step usually is the shortest, as i quickly realize there is nothing i can do most of the time to eliminate the problem. then i before i admit i am powerless, i look to see if there is anything i can do to make the situation more bearable for me. if i i have a precancerous condition because i chose to ignore my chronic indigestion, for instance, can i make lifestyle changes to start to mitigate the damage i have already done. the answer for me in this situation is yes. although those changes and surgery do nothing to stop the changes that have already occurred, they do prevent any more changes from happening in the here and now and into my future. having found what little bit of power i may possess, i can do what i can, and start to tolerate my life situation. as i learn to tolerate, i build into acceptance. and as i accept i grow the serenity to do what i can and let go of the rest. and when i once again find myself carrying the burden, i start this process all over again, because i NEED to, not because i want to!
but anyhow, the time to take some power back over my health situation is upon me, i will just say this before i hit the pavement -- i make myself miserable, life may be tough, and life may be unfair, but i do control how i react to the situations life chooses to present me on a daily basis, negative or positive, it is all HOW I CHOOSE TO LOOK AT IT!

∞ DT ∞