Useless Speculation

[Doug]

A man gets wounded by a poisoned arrow. If, before consenting to have the arrow removed, the man insisted on knowing the name and occupation of the person who shot it, the brand of arrow, he site where it was manufactured, and what type of bow was used, he would die before learning the answers.

The crucial thing for him is to treat the present wound, and prevent further complications.










(Similarly, the book I read this from is not important as of yet. It doesn't matter who wrote it or when, and I'm not going to post that info, yet, so that the message doesn't get prejudged by knowing the source. Read it for what it is, and if you get something from it, that's great. If not, no harm done.)

[Doug]

I moved this here from another Forum. I thought it may get some more replies here, (it got none over there )

Any comments? Anybody relate? Find it useful? Offensive?

Can you hear me in the back?

[SaTiT]

okay it can be useful...Pulling the damn arrow out hurts like
hell. Cuase it would rips coming back out the opposit way.
Then you gatta make a decision wheather to shovle it all the way through
and break it off. Then damm tail feathers probably wouldn't tickle.lol
Then if it's a pioson arrow...you're screwed:rof

but the damn arrow can't stay in and there's going to be a narley scar
mmm..if you get luckie or unluckie the guy that shot the arrow has a sence of humor
or just down right mean..He pioson the arrow with insanity.lol

I think that's it right there..the insanity pioson hits the blood stream as soon
as it pucnture the skin. That's why if you get shot by the crazy arrow.
You look at the arrow manufacturer instead.lol This way the guy that shot
the arrow gets away clean.lol diversion..diversion.

[REZ]

Yes, I think it is useful, especially in beginning recovery, not to ask too many questions but just do what needs to be done. It is not so important for me to know why I am an addict or how I got addicted, but that I have the disease of addiction. However, as I work the steps, especially steps 4,5,6,7 I start to learn more about myself and why I do the things I do. I can start to understand that my addiction is part of who I am and how I used drugs and other things as coping mechanisms. I may truly have the answers to the deeper questions, and I am not sure that I need them, but I can at least start to explore those questions, as I work the steps and learn more about me.

[SaTiT]

I think also once I got clean and sober. I started reserching or learning
about myself or about being a human being as much as I can.
Yes..I might consider myself an addict when i walk into the room of NA.
I also consider myself a human being.

I'm not a brain sergent or a shirnk..but I've read so many, many books
after i came into recovery. Trying to understand it ..Trying to understand
me. Which pretty much puts me in a different league all togeter if i was
using..That last thing I would do is pounder or reserch about life if i was high.

But i did manage to come across many, many other literature aside from
AA or NA.
Some people might disagree..but hey..i didn't write the book.
Anyhow..denial can be very stronge and cunning ..But it is also a built in mehanism
of my brain as a basic servival mode. it's actaully in my consicouse
and not my subconsiouse mind that's doing the denialing. This gose
beyound the drug usage or addiction arena.

Kind of like in functioning mode. Kind of like when a person gose into
shock or have super human strenght when wounded or in pain.
Kind of like getting a second wind...
mmm where the hell did all of the energy came from after you
thought you where through ?
Kind of like running 10 miles and you feel like you're kidnies are going to
explode..but you keep on running inspite of the pain..and the damn pain
actaully gose away.

Kind of like when Forrest Gump got shot in the ass but still managed
to take actions to retrieve his patoon.


So when a person complains about the arrow producer..
He can complain all his wants..whatever takes his mind off of the pain.
As long as he pulls the damn arrow out.

No...sometimes one would say or act..the end dosen't justified
the means..But ya know...i can't judge anyone..especailly
the guy with the arrow in him...becuase i don't know what the
hell i might do if there was an arrow in me.lol

Some would say..don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

Kind of like just going to an NA meeting and whining about this
or that..or about wanting to use... as long as he dosn't pick up.

In NA we suggest you share whatever it is you need to share
to stay clean and sober for today.

Kind of makesense sometimes you we read about our charecter
defects never getting removed.

Kind of like truning a negative into a posistive.
Kind of like accepting me..all of me

Kind of like appropriate.
Kind of like whats my motive.

[1963comet]

Waiting on all the answers can kill you.

[Done-With-It]

Reminds me of those people you try and help fix their computer, and your trying to fix it, looking for a resolution to fix the problem, Right?

But all they can do is sit there and say, Well I don't get it? How did it happen? I didn't do anything wrong, and you tell them it could be from so many things, something you did or just a bad wire in the computer, etc...

So you keep looking for the way to fix it, but they are behind you saying, but I want to know "Why? and How?" How did I get that virus? or How did I my computer just stop working, it worked FINE just last night, and I didn't do anything since......

Those people for one, drive me nuts, cause in their questions they are stopping me from finding the answers to fixing it, and two
sometimes "Unless" you are a "Genius" you will never know what the HELL caused your computer to mess up. It could be 10,000 different things and you'll still probably never figure out the problem at least until you fix it first.

I know I probably don't make any sense. But I just came across this the other day, and it did remind me of the whole drug thing.
Which reminds me of this man and his arrow.

[Thundar301]

The only thing we are given for lack of effort, is the reward of Failure- in this case it would be death. but this story reminds me of my 2nd sponser in So Cal, who use to tell me it was up to me, "Scout if you need to do some more "Research" instead of working steps, I'll still be here, if you make back with all those arrows stick out of your @$$" Dean

[Doug]

That little story struck me, because I was that guy, and if I'm not careful, I can be him again.

I was all over placing blame anywhere I thought it would fit; questioning everything; looking for the "loop-holes" to disqualify myself, etc.

The energy I spent to stay out of recovery, was more than it takes to be in recovery.

[Paulie]

I new sponsee said to me the other day, "I think I need to work the steps a different way, I dont think the workbook is the right way for me to do them"......Made me chuckle. Reminded me of when I thought I knew stuff to

Doug....I am glad you are back, you were missed.

The energy I spent to stay out of recovery, was more than it takes to be in recovery.

So very true!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jane63]

Doug...I saw your this post over on the other forum and actually was going to reply once I pondered on it for awhile!!

What I got from your quote was that we will look for all kinds of reasons to over-analize our situation and very often, the solution is crystal clear.

When I first started posting here over 3-years ago, I really wasn't ready to admit I had a problem. I was trying to find all kinds of ways around the situation instead of dealing directly with it.

I still go back often and read the beginning posts on my thread and think "wow, I sure was blind!!".

~Jane
PS...Thank you again for your thought provoking posts, Doug!

[Sugah]

When the donkey's in the ditch, the important thing is getting it out.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[Growing]

I can relate to this Doug...The definition of insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, expecting different results. I listen to people talk about everything they can possibly think of INSTEAD of changing what they are doing TODAY. I get tired of it. This thread helps me hang in there...knowing you guys feel the same in some respects.

[Gmoney]

I recall having a chemical dependency counselor (who I later found out was an AA member with over 20 years sober) tell me that I suffered from "analysis paralysis." That what comes to mind after reading your story about the man shot with an arrow. While I sit contemplating, pondering and analyzing...I'm being inactive and not doing what I need to do to get better or solve my problem. If nothing changes, nothing changes...and I can sit still with a whole world full of information and do nothing with it.

Recovery has taught me that knowledge alone won't help me get better...I have to put some action in my program. As NA tells us, the program works for us long before we understand it...all we have to do is follow directions.