after 3 months in rehab and a few more months of meetings, i had 3 different people in town stop me and say things like: "whatever you've been doing you should keep doing it - you look great!"
i learned that paying attention to my physical health was one more manifestation of me loving me. Paid attention to what i was eating. eventually quit tobacco. Exercised "one day at a time" .
16 years have gone by and at age 60 i still lead an incredibly active life [although i pretty much quit rock climbing 4 years ago....] still ski, hike , fish. garden. Still carpenter as a trade.. ok- sometimes it's as a general contractor but i don't let many days go by without being part of the crew.
I really feel like my body has said a big "thank you for no longer abusing me"