December 8

”A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” George Bernard Shaw

Family means a lot of different things for me these days. It’s a reconnection to my parents after years of ignoring them. It’s a loss of family through my separation and divorce, and unfortunately some of my kids. It’s been an increased in time with some the rest of my children, and a relationship that is being nurtured and making up for past neglect. And it’s also newness as I have moved into a new partnership with additional children in the picture. So I suppose that I shouldn’t be too surprised to find my feelings a little mixed up most of the time. There have been a lot of changes in my life the past couple of years, and family has been something central to those changes. I am content that in many respects, my family is moving towards a happier and stable aspect. Yet there are still moments it is bittersweet as I cannot forgot what was lost to bring me here. Change still means letting go of things, having the willingness to acknowledge that certain paths in my life have drawn to a close. Dealing with loss can still be a challenge, and relationships are something that have an emotional impact. Yet I know that in my recovery I am moving in a better direction in all my interactions and that I am a better person to share my life with others.

Affirmation Bonds can be strengthened or broken, but the ones that remain as I live my recovery can only benefit by my continuing work.