Things do improve

[Gman813]

Sometimes we need to look back to see how far we've come. My RAW has been sober for 5 months now, and things are getting better. Not long ago (+/- 3 weeks) I got myself worked up seeing "red flags" from the past, and fell into the old defensive positions. I've learned enough in my recovery to know what I was doing, but still couldn't let it go. Short story is we were able to talk, identify the issues together and resolve them comparatively quickly.

Well about 2 days ago, she pulled out a letter I wrote to her last Aug. In that letter I detailed out how I felt about her drinking and what it was doing to our family. At the time she barely acknowledged the letter and thought that was that. When she showed it to me this week, she said that she has carried it with her every day and reads it often. It is a major factor in her sobriety.

It was quite a wake up for me as well. I've spent so many years hearing "I will stop" (as many others have) and knowing it was just to quiet me up for a week or 2, that I have spent the last 5 months waiting for it to happen. So much so, that I've failed to notice that she truly has made great improvements.

So I guess the moral of the story, especially for those like myself in early recovery but also those yet to find recovery. First, weather or not they acknowledge it at the time or not, sometimes they do "hear" you and never give up on them. Second, don't get so caught up in the process that you can't see the product.

Wishing you all success in your recovery!!!