People with long term sobriety have made a habit of practicing their recovery. We alcoholics / addicts have obsessive minds and do repetitive actions, so we need consistency to keep from slipping back. It’s a hell of a lot better to be addicted to meetings, helping others, and step work!
It helps us to do similar things day in and day out to anchor our thoughts in recovery. Many that stay sober have a morning routine. It looks different for each person, so find something that works for your life.
We pray or meditate to start the day. We ask for help staying sober and clean for the day. In this way, we connect to whatever our god or higher power might be. An early call in the day to the sponsor or sober friends makes a lot of sense too.
The step prayers, Daily Reflections and other literature are good focuses in the morning. Recovery writings help me remember that I am an alcoholic, weed addict and should probably not touch those things today.
On some days, it is afternoon before I remember, “oh yeah, I’m in recovery!” That’s why I keep AA books around my place, in my car and a small one (the 12 and 12) in my backpack. The readings are always available.
Morning AA meetings have been a great start to a sober day too. A regular meeting schedule keeps me coming back. I still go to a meeting almost every day after a few years of sobriety. That is where I find connection, understanding, and people to help.
A couple of sayings I heard early in my recovery were, “stay in the middle of the herd or you’ll get picked off” and “go to a meeting every day and don’t drink or use between meetings.” Those have stuck with me and kept my habit of sobriety going.
Yes, we stay sober and clean one day at a time. But, if we don’t DO consistent recovery for the rest of our lives, we will certainly fall back into our self-destructive habits. That’s why the repetition of the program and steps is what saves our lives and keeps us improving. That’s why people with 30 or 40 years of sobriety keep coming to meetings.
Those are the two stark paths we face every day: misery, sickness and insanity OR a daily, repetitive recovery, helping others, healing and peace. Which do you choose today?
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