February 22

”Few things heal wounded spirits better than the balm of a supportive embrace.” Charles Swindoll

One of the powers of the program is the genuine support that is offered. I, like many others, have to come to think of my fellowship as a second family. It is a place of safety, security and comfort. There is always someone who is willing to listen, who won’t judge, won’t offer advice, but will simply be present and be there for me. It is the strength of this group that has helped to mend my wounded spirit. It is through them, through their struggles, their honesty and their strength that I have found the courage to move in a different and better direction. I have found a place of warmth, of intimacy, that has embraced my brokenness and encouraged my hope to spring forth. In healing my spirit I have found the will and the strength to help others in kind. I have a desire to share my recovery with members who, like me, suffer with this disease. I have the gift of this new found awareness and some humble beginnings of wisdom to nurture and encourage my brothers and sisters along their own journeys. My wounded past has turned from a weakness into a strength to allow me to embrace my friends in recovery.

Affirmation My wounds will heal, and though there may be scars left behind, I can turn that healing into a boon for others who still suffer.

November 18

”If you're having a string of failures, find a way to find the 'bless in the mess'.  Embedded in the problems might be a way to find future successes.” Loretta Laroche

Life in addiction was wading through chaos. The worst part was that when there wasn’t enough going on to keep the cycle going, I found ways to create more chaos to keep the machine going. Life only made sense when there was a big mess to deal with, and my acting out was the best way to survive. My blessing of that mess has certainly being finding my way to the 12-Steps. Nothing has helped me more to start finding gems from my troubles to move towards some small successes. I think the best gift has been becoming a wounded healer. This is the place where I can find the best from the worst of my life. It is from my lowest points that I find connection points with others who suffer like I have and can help shine a light for them to find the start of their own path to recovery. My struggles, challenges, and failures that pushed me to the edge of my own destruction are now part of a life-line I can offer to others to offer them safety.

Affirmation In the worst there is something to learn, something that can be turned into a positive. I will look for ways to turn things around today.

August 20

”The true way of softening one’s troubles is to solace those of others.” Madame de Maintenon

My problems, looked at in isolation, often seem huge, difficult or insurmountable. Yet as I share them with others, my sponsor, fellow addicts or in my meetings, I often gain insight in describing them to others that allows me a more realistic view. In sharing I often hear stories from others   that also challenge me to look at the emphasis I am putting on the problem and how I am holding back from working towards a solution. Sometimes I just need to recognize someone else’s pain and suffering to forget about my own for a while and to be the one who lends support rather than leaning on others. I am beginning to realize the power of the program in those of us who are recovering transforming into wounded healers. It is my darkest and lowest points of my life, when I felt at the end of any hope, that are becoming strengths that allow me to connect with others who are suffering that is only possible because I have been there too. Through this common bond I can show that even as bad as my life has been, it has turned to a positive direction, by the grace of my Higher Power, where the sun shines once again and a sense of normalcy is possible.

Affirmation I will recognize my potential as a wounded healer and reach out to someone I know who is suffering.