Blog entry for:
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 12:23:00 PM
‡ i must open my mind to experience that works, no matter where it comes from ‡
posted: Fri, Feb 3, 2012 12:23:00 PM
IF i hope to continue to grow in my recovery.
well it is a day off for me, due to mechanical problems with my faithful car, and not because of the snow. as much as i wanted and perhaps needed a day off, i WOULD have gone to work this morning, IF my car could have got me to the bus stop. i do accept the gift, even though it is costing me some bucks, but i also procrastinated in getting something checked out and as a result, who knows what the consequence will end up being.
what, if anything does this have to opening my mind to new sources of information? well…
… i am not quite sure, i DO KNOW that the longer i stay clean the less certain i am about what i DO KNOW and the more certain i am that i NEED to learn from sources i once dismissed and disregarded. i can of course, pay lip service to this concept and go blithely on in an obtuse sort of manner, thinking that there is nothing else for me to learn. i DO SO at the peril of my life and well-being. i do march to the party line in this instance, it is our difference in experience that provide different insights into how this recovery gig works. as i grow into accepting step 11 more and more, i have come to realize that the POWER that fuels my recovery speaks to me through sources that i may not think are appropriate or even relevant. the newest newcomer or the frequent relapser, may be the one source that i need to hear, and if i stop welcoming them to the fellowship that is my home, I LOSE.
so there is certainly a self-serving motive behind this particular spiritual principle, i GET to stay clean by listening to differing points of view. i GET to grow by being open-minded and i GET to have this life only if i follow the suggestions. well the bad news is that no matter how well i took care of my car, something that was not due to be changed for another 25000 miles went out and the damage may mean a whole lot more than i want to pay. that will be something that has yet to be determined as well. i can move on and allow myself the freedom to be pissed off, for a minute than go get a car so i am mobile. life does have a few bumps in my road today.
well it is a day off for me, due to mechanical problems with my faithful car, and not because of the snow. as much as i wanted and perhaps needed a day off, i WOULD have gone to work this morning, IF my car could have got me to the bus stop. i do accept the gift, even though it is costing me some bucks, but i also procrastinated in getting something checked out and as a result, who knows what the consequence will end up being.
what, if anything does this have to opening my mind to new sources of information? well…
… i am not quite sure, i DO KNOW that the longer i stay clean the less certain i am about what i DO KNOW and the more certain i am that i NEED to learn from sources i once dismissed and disregarded. i can of course, pay lip service to this concept and go blithely on in an obtuse sort of manner, thinking that there is nothing else for me to learn. i DO SO at the peril of my life and well-being. i do march to the party line in this instance, it is our difference in experience that provide different insights into how this recovery gig works. as i grow into accepting step 11 more and more, i have come to realize that the POWER that fuels my recovery speaks to me through sources that i may not think are appropriate or even relevant. the newest newcomer or the frequent relapser, may be the one source that i need to hear, and if i stop welcoming them to the fellowship that is my home, I LOSE.
so there is certainly a self-serving motive behind this particular spiritual principle, i GET to stay clean by listening to differing points of view. i GET to grow by being open-minded and i GET to have this life only if i follow the suggestions. well the bad news is that no matter how well i took care of my car, something that was not due to be changed for another 25000 miles went out and the damage may mean a whole lot more than i want to pay. that will be something that has yet to be determined as well. i can move on and allow myself the freedom to be pissed off, for a minute than go get a car so i am mobile. life does have a few bumps in my road today.
∞ DT ∞
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.
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!
↔ diversity ↔ 215 words ➥ Thursday, February 3, 2005 by: donnot∞ difference equals opportunity ∞ 315 words ➥ Friday, February 3, 2006 by: donnot
μ regardless of my personal background, i have two things in common with everyone in this fellowship that i share with no one else: μ 410 words ➥ Saturday, February 3, 2007 by: donnot
Δ i thought that if it was different, it was bad. in recovery, we can not afford such attitudes. δ 424 words ➥ Sunday, February 3, 2008 by: donnot
∞ addiction closed my mind to anything new or different. in recovery, i cannot afford such an attitude. ∞ 438 words ➥ Tuesday, February 3, 2009 by: donnot
ª recovery is not easy, the strength i need comes from my fellow members ª 498 words ➥ Wednesday, February 3, 2010 by: donnot
§ anyone may join, regardless of... § 582 words ➥ Thursday, February 3, 2011 by: donnot
♦ i need every bit of experience, ♦ 643 words ➥ Sunday, February 3, 2013 by: donnot
∀ it has become obvious to me, that the members of this fellowship ∀ 503 words ➥ Monday, February 3, 2014 by: donnot
§ i came to the fellowship because § 495 words ➥ Tuesday, February 3, 2015 by: donnot
☾ i need ☽ 778 words ➥ Wednesday, February 3, 2016 by: donnot
⇝ meeting the ⇜ 802 words ➥ Friday, February 3, 2017 by: donnot
😖 nothing of value 🤔 675 words ➥ Saturday, February 3, 2018 by: donnot
🌜 nothing of value 🌛 580 words ➥ Sunday, February 3, 2019 by: donnot
🌬 my very best thinking, 🌬 455 words ➥ Monday, February 3, 2020 by: donnot
🏜 regardless of 🏝 570 words ➥ Wednesday, February 3, 2021 by: donnot
🌊 different circumstances 🌊 414 words ➥ Thursday, February 3, 2022 by: donnot
😱 if it was 😶 395 words ➥ Friday, February 3, 2023 by: donnot
🤕 accepting my 🤕 458 words ➥ Saturday, February 3, 2024 by: donnot
☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 1
1) He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent.
He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.
He who is satisfied with his lot is rich; he who goes on acting with
energy has a (firm) will.