March 23

”You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face…do the thing you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt

During part of my early recovery I moved out of the house into an apartment. After a decade of being with my family on a daily basis it was challenging living on my own. Living with other neighbours in close proximity presented some of its own challenges, especially hearing certain activities through thin walls. It’s times like those when I need help from my Higher Power and my friends in recovery. The Serenity Prayer comes more naturally as an internal response when I am faced with a difficult situation. I need the serenity to choose outer circle behaviours. As another member described it, it is the same distance from my middle circle behaviours to my inner circle as it is to my outer circle. I am thankful every day for my sobriety and the many normal things I experience, but most especially my new ability to feel. I am learning that my feelings will not overwhelm me if I find the courage and strength to face them and let them be experienced. I can feel sad, lonely, angry, hurt, depressed and be normal. I will come out on the other side and still be okay.

Affirmation Life will still put challenges in my way, but if I use the tools of the program and have faith in my Higher Power, I know I will be able to survive them with my sobriety intact.