JFT May 20
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 2,274
JFT May 20
May 20
Coming out of isolation
“We find ourselves doing and enjoying things that we never thought we would be doing.”
Basic Text, p. 102
––––=––––
Active addiction kept us isolated for many reasons. In the beginning, we avoided family and friends so they wouldn’t find out we were using. Some of us avoided all nonaddicts, fearing moral backlash and legal repercussions. We belittled people who had “normal” lives with families and hobbies; we called them “uncool,” believing we could never enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Eventually, we even avoided other addicts because we didn’t want to share our drugs. Our lives narrowed, and our concerns were confined to the daily maintenance of our disease.
Today, our lives are much fuller. We enjoy activities with other recovering addicts. We have time for our families. And we’ve discovered many other pursuits that give us pleasure. What a change from the past! We can live life just as fully as the “normal” people we once scorned. Enjoyment has returned to our lives, a gift of recovery.
––––=––––
Just for today: I can find pleasure in the simple routines of daily living.
Coming out of isolation
“We find ourselves doing and enjoying things that we never thought we would be doing.”
Basic Text, p. 102
––––=––––
Active addiction kept us isolated for many reasons. In the beginning, we avoided family and friends so they wouldn’t find out we were using. Some of us avoided all nonaddicts, fearing moral backlash and legal repercussions. We belittled people who had “normal” lives with families and hobbies; we called them “uncool,” believing we could never enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Eventually, we even avoided other addicts because we didn’t want to share our drugs. Our lives narrowed, and our concerns were confined to the daily maintenance of our disease.
Today, our lives are much fuller. We enjoy activities with other recovering addicts. We have time for our families. And we’ve discovered many other pursuits that give us pleasure. What a change from the past! We can live life just as fully as the “normal” people we once scorned. Enjoyment has returned to our lives, a gift of recovery.
––––=––––
Just for today: I can find pleasure in the simple routines of daily living.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 2,274
I enjoy so many simple pleasures today that don't involve using drugs like being with friends and family, working in the garden, walking the dogs, taking a hot bath, playing the piano, riding a bike, shooting baskets, going to the movies, eating, cooking, looking at a beautiful sunset or painting, reading a good book, and much more. My old conception of fun was that it had to involve drug use--what a twisted idea!
It is what it is!!!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Sobriety
Posts: 5,767
I was just as twisted as you REZ. And when I see new people come in they feel the same way. It is like the fun is over now that we are clean. But the truth is, the fun was over way before I stopped using.....and it started again when I got clean, the real, genuine fun!
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,151
I heard someone share once that they never thought they could have so much fun on a Saturday night being in a church hall, drinking coffee with a load of other addicts/alkies. It's so true compared with my Saturday nights used to be like..well every night really.
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