Blog entry for:

Mon, Apr 7, 2014 07:49:37 AM


∗ the possibility that my past, can help the addict who is still suffering, ∗
posted: Mon, Apr 7, 2014 07:49:37 AM

 

may be why i am here, and its fulfillment is the most important goal i have to accomplish. then again, maybe i am overreaching here, it just may be that i am here for me, and the rest of you, including the still suffering are just gravy.
so i know who i am today, an ADDICT, and i am pretty certain that the will of the POWER that fuels my recovery is for me to stay clean today. beyond those two facts, i am not too certain of much of anything else. as much as i like to look like i walk confidently through my recovery, the truth is, most days i am improvising, making the best with what comes down the pike. i DO know that if what i have to share is of any value to the still suffering than it hardly needs to be wrapped up in clichés, slogans and bumper stickers, as some of my peers seem to believe.
my past? well i was more of a “two shoes” than the baddest kid on the block, when i take a critical look at it. i hid in the shadows for fear of being found out as a fraud, and manipulated people and events to achieve my ultimate purpose, namely the continuation of getting my next fix. yes there are plenty of despicable deeds, thoughts and motives in my past, some even after coming to recovery, and some not that long ago. honestly, and yes i am fond of using that word, i am no better and certainly no worse than 99.999999% of my peers. i still feel guilty and remorseful over items from my past, those years of lost weekends, the lack of caring and compassion i had built up, and so on, those feelings will probably be present until the day i die, which is not necessarily a bad thing, as it is a tool to gauge my behavior and my dedication to living differently today. it is also true, that my FOURTH STEP dealt with my behaviors and feelings from a time long ago and a place far away. it was very painful for to to face, and it was not because of the heinous acts i performed, way back when. i had to revisit the pain and anguish of not fitting in, and living in a place so small, that there was nowhere else for me to go. it was the beginning of my withdrawal from human society, into the shell of isolation that would keep me safe from harm, and it was quite deeply buried in memories, to protect me from the pain of having to relive those days over again. when i did the FIFTH STEP, it was certainly as if a very deep, and ugly infection had been surgically removed and STEPS SIX through NINE, would remove the lingering poison from my spiritual life. does that mean i will be going back in 2015 for my 40th high school class reunion? i do not know. if i had to decides today, i would say probably not, but that decisions is over a year away, so i think i will put it to rest today and move on.
in fact, today., i think i will jump in the shower and get headed on over to my place of employment. i have stuff to learn, code to write and yes, people to allow into my life. all of that is a good thing, and none of that would have been possible without this program of recovery. am i walking this Earth today, for some other purpose other than to stay clean? dunno, and i certainly do not care, for me it is enough to be on this side of the grass, with the FREEDOM to be something more than i ever thought was possible, just for 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!

∞ sharing the past--releasing the past ∞ 361 words ➥ Thursday, April 7, 2005 by: donnot
α painful or priceless, my past is a tool for recovery α 412 words ➥ Friday, April 7, 2006 by: donnot
∞ i thought that i would always be regretful and simply have to find a way to live with my regrets. ∞ 379 words ➥ Saturday, April 7, 2007 by: donnot
μ my past represents an untapped gold mine the first time i am called on to share it. μ 381 words ➥ Monday, April 7, 2008 by: donnot
∞ my past is valuable-- in fact, priceless -- because i can use all of it to help the addict who still suffers ∞ 393 words ➥ Tuesday, April 7, 2009 by: donnot
μ i **came to** in recovery with more than a few serious regrets … 669 words ➥ Wednesday, April 7, 2010 by: donnot
⁄ my firsthand experience in the various phases of addiction and recovery ⁄ 650 words ➥ Thursday, April 7, 2011 by: donnot
\ i need not regret my past because, it is an inavaluable asset ⁄ 507 words ➥ Saturday, April 7, 2012 by: donnot
∏ the POWER that fuels my recovery CAN work ∏ 645 words ➥ Sunday, April 7, 2013 by: donnot
† i have suffered in the ways † 463 words ➥ Tuesday, April 7, 2015 by: donnot
≒ the value ≓ 640 words ➥ Thursday, April 7, 2016 by: donnot
☻ unparalleled ☺ 1120 words ➥ Friday, April 7, 2017 by: donnot
🎗 thinking that i would 🏎 756 words ➥ Saturday, April 7, 2018 by: donnot
🌈 i certainly have 🌈 593 words ➥ Sunday, April 7, 2019 by: donnot
💸 my priceless past 💹 405 words ➥ Tuesday, April 7, 2020 by: donnot
😩 shame and remorse 🙃 639 words ➥ Wednesday, April 7, 2021 by: donnot
😔 simply having 😒 553 words ➥ Thursday, April 7, 2022 by: donnot
😟 vulnerability 😶 488 words ➥ Friday, April 7, 2023 by: donnot
😶 regretting my past 🤗 443 words ➥ Sunday, April 7, 2024 by: donnot
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☯ 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

3) On occasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized
position; on occasions of mourning, the right hand. The second in
command of the army has his place on the left; the general commanding
in chief has his on the right;--his place, that is, is assigned to
him as in the rites of mourning. He who has killed multitudes of men
should weep for them with the bitterest grief; and the victor in battle
has his place (rightly) according to those rites.