What also helped me was to keep coming back no matter what.
I didn't get it right the first time or second, or third.
Especailly in the first 6 months. I don't belive I was all there,
not that I'm all together today
I had to earned that 30 days chip over and over again.
It took me a year + to get my first 6 months.
I relaped on my way to a meeting after 60 days clean time.
Yes, it happened that easily and that fast. A buddy and two chicks
pulled up as I was filling up gas. The alternitive was
no drinking or using and no chicks....Good lord, recovery just
didn't seem so attracting at the time. Meetings about resentments,
gradtitude and GOD wasn't really my cup of tea at the time.
I had a lot of resemtments that I wasn't greatful for.
I belive what helped me thur was a SIMPLE LIST.
MY temp sponsor had me write a list of desperate situations,times
or how I became desperated after using.
That's how I was tought to work my step #1.
My list was long , but I had a page of desperates and a page
of phone # in my wallet. My temp sponsor was asertive in
keeping me on step 1 for at least a year. He told me over and
over again that I needed to build a foundation, but a solid
foudation. I sure the hell didn't have that kind of patient of course.
I want it all and I want it now, damit !!!!!!!
Somewhere in the BASIC TEXT.
"ONLY in DESPERATION THAT WE SEEK HELP.lol
SERVICE WORK plays also a major role in my recovery.
After relaping over and over again in my earliy recovery,
my home group had me run a meeting. That little commitment
helped me get my first year.
I also agree with DangerouseDan. I relaped after 11 years
I hit an emotional and spiritual bottom before I relaped.
Not being plugged in into the program didn't help.
The 12 steps are designed to keep us plugged in.
Of course I wasn't going to meetings and doing services work.
Life threw another curve ball at me. I tried to do it on my own.
I had plenty of tools,answers, and program inside of me.
I'm pretty sure the BIG dude was trying to get something
across to me.....YOU CAN ONLY KEEP WHAT YOU HAVE
BY GIVING IT AWAY.
But my relapes helped me stregthen my recovery and me as a person.
As always there would be someone that had traveled the journey
before me. And some would travel that road after me.
By sharing thier experience, strengths and hope, it
helps me get though somehow. It gave me a lot of hope and courage.
Going back to meetings after relaped of 11 years wasn't easy.
So I share my experience and hope with others, whom relaped after
years of recovery. For ther thraputic value of one addict/alcoholic
helping another is without parallel.
Nobody can ever take my 11 years
away from me, I'll have to get another 11 years.lol
I'm an addict/alcoholic and I'll be one until the day I die.
I still have living problems today but I don't feel stuck
as I did 6 months ago. I'm NOT DESPERATE today.
Progress not perfections.