Blog entry for:

Thu, Jun 24, 2010 08:13:28 AM


≈ as i become aware of how the members around me live their lives ≈
posted: Thu, Jun 24, 2010 08:13:28 AM

 

i have formed opinions about how they **work their program.** good, bad or indifferent, my job is to let go of those judgments and take what i can for myself from what i see around me.BUT FIRST, one quick judgment and then i can move on. i have now seen it all. i heard an addict use a line from the BASIC TEXT last night to rationalize his choice not to work the steps and his belief that he is getting everything the program has to offer without doing any of the work. amazingly he ignores all of the many in the Text that say the steps are the program and focuses in on, "there is no model for the recovering addict."
i was floored last night, as you can see i am still in a bit of a tizzy about it this morning, BUT as the reading this morning strongly suggests, for my own sanity and to be true to the program i purport to be working, i do believe i will move on and shift the focus to myself. surprising as it may be, i am far from the most tolerant person on the block. i was not born with an abundance of tolerance in the first place, and active addiction did its best to strip that modicum away. so for me, the program is about practicing a principle that i have always been clueless about, and without a doubt, with no previous experience, it is one of the most difficult of the spiritual principles for me to apply in my daily affairs. the rooms of recovery give me ample opportunity to practice this newly acquired talent, as just like me, most of the members i share the rooms with are far from perfect. just like, most of them do not work the perfect program and most importantly just like me, they too are doing their best to get by, do this whole recovery gig and live life the best that they can.
this particular application of the STEP 12, requires that i return to the defects that i was entirely ready to have removed in STEP SIX. the shortcomings that are showing up are being judgmental and intolerant and the defect? well it has to be my lack of self-esteem and my overarching concern about how i appear in the eyes of those who see me.
that discussion, while interesting is not something i need to dive into this morning. where i feel i need to go, is how to grow my tolerance rather than wailing and moaning about the part of me that is and has been intolerant forever. what i heard this morning was that by practicing the letter and the spirit of STEP 12, i can become more of the sort of person i want to be. it is not my job to rid myself of those traits and defects that i identified in STEPS 6 and 7. no, it is my job to strive to live by the principles that i have been given and allow everyone else to do their jobs.
so although i want to send a nasty-gram out, telling so and so how dangerous some of the sh!t he shares is to a newcomer, i do believe i will sit back, give myself a bit more quiet time and allow myself the chance to learn to be more tolerant and loving. that is after all, what this is all about for me today.

∞ DT ∞

 

djtConsulting Brand
The views expressed on this page are solely the opinion of the author.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.

Another Look!

feet of clay 338 words ➥ Thursday, June 24, 2004 by: donnot
μ tolerance -> acceptance μ 238 words ➥ Friday, June 24, 2005 by: donnot
↔ i have found tolerance to be a principle ... ↔ 213 words ➥ Saturday, June 24, 2006 by: donnot
∞ i have found tolerance to be a principle that not only strengthens my own recovery ∞ 382 words ➥ Sunday, June 24, 2007 by: donnot
∞ sometimes it is hard to accept the character defects of others. ∞ 422 words ➥ Tuesday, June 24, 2008 by: donnot
μ It becomes easier to accept the frailties of others when i remember that … 466 words ➥ Wednesday, June 24, 2009 by: donnot
“ if i worked THEIR program, i would surely use! ” 986 words ➥ Friday, June 24, 2011 by: donnot
⊥ as i recover with my fellow members, i not only listen ⊥ 543 words ➥ Sunday, June 24, 2012 by: donnot
∩ i will strive to accept others as they are ∩ 969 words ➥ Monday, June 24, 2013 by: donnot
∑ ever reminding me, ∑ 789 words ➥ Tuesday, June 24, 2014 by: donnot
⁄ i will strive to ⁄ 688 words ➥ Wednesday, June 24, 2015 by: donnot
🎯 tolerance 🎯 651 words ➥ Friday, June 24, 2016 by: donnot
🌦 watching how 🌤 639 words ➥ Saturday, June 24, 2017 by: donnot
🚶 walking through 🚶 438 words ➥ Sunday, June 24, 2018 by: donnot
🍼 what certain members 🍼 535 words ➥ Monday, June 24, 2019 by: donnot
🌬 accepting others 🌫 592 words ➥ Wednesday, June 24, 2020 by: donnot
🤡 how they 🤫 370 words ➥ Thursday, June 24, 2021 by: donnot
🤔 trying not to 🤐 603 words ➥ Friday, June 24, 2022 by: donnot
😌 awareness 😌 140 words ➥ Saturday, June 24, 2023 by: donnot
Spacer Image

☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯

THE TAO TEH KING, OR THE TAO AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge

Book 1

4) (Those who) possessed the highest (sense of) propriety were (always
seeking) to show it, and when men did not respond to it, they bared
the arm and marched up to them.