February 2

“O what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” Sir Walter Scott

As an addict we begin to realize that we have become, or at least think that we have become, masterful liars. We have managed to keep our addictive life and self a secret from those most dear to us among many others. We may even have a public face that is in sharp contrast to our addictive self, someone who is a prominent or respected figure in the community. But we harbour a darker side that would shock many if they ever knew even half the truth about our hidden lives. The harder part of the equation is how we lied to ourselves. By taking the First Step and admitting we have a problem we open the door to a new path of being honest. Taking those first acts of being truthful help to slowly distance us from the control of our addiction. Many of us start slowly by sharing our story with our sponsor or our group and before long we find we are sharing things that we never thought we could tell anyone. In letting go of our secrets we begin to free ourselves of the guilt and shame we carry with us.

Affirmation I acknowledge that road to being authentic and genuine begins with the simple truths. I will be honest with myself and others for today.