sobriety

 "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." – Oscar Wilde, Irish writer and poet (1854-1900)

When we are in recovery, whether we are literally coming back from lying in the gutter or just feel as if we’re climbing up from the pit of despair, we know what it means to be at rock-bottom. When we look at our life thus far, we know one thing for certain: When we’ve hit bottom, there’s only one place to go, and that’s up.

This is the good news and the bad news. It’s certainly good news if we vow to change our behavior and not only get clean and sober, but stay that way. It is bad news if we know that we could do something to make our lives better but we choose to remain in our current state. While we may not totally relapse, we’re not getting any further along in our recovery either. So, faced with the good news/bad news dilemma, what should we do when we enter recovery and find ourselves in a quandary, not knowing exactly where to turn? Here are some suggestions.

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“Man’s rise or fall, success or failure, happiness or unhappiness depends on his attitude…a man’s attitude will create the situation he imagines.” – James Lane Allen, American novelist and short story writer (1849-1925)

When we think about having “attitude,” sometimes we think of something bad or too forward or outgoing. As if this is something we shouldn’t project. But let’s take another look at attitude, specifically, the importance of attitude when it comes to our recovery.

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“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States, from 1933 to 1945, wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States, she was an author, speaker, activist for civil rights, worked to enhance the status of working women (1884-1962)

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"Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." – St. Francis of Assisi, Italian Catholic friar and preacher, founded the Franciscan Order, patron saint of animals and the environment (1181-1286)

How many times have we faced challenges that we think are beyond our capabilities? How often do we struggle just to make it through the day, doing what we know we have to, in order to maintain our sobriety? Sometimes, doesn’t it seem as if we’re treading water, not really making much progress at all, but not sliding backwards either? Let’s take a look at some of these in a little detail and maybe provide some helpful suggestions on how to get past them.

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"One’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions." – Oliver Wendell Holmes, U.S. author and physician (1809-1894)

Stretching our mind is probably a concept that many of us believe is not possible. After all, our brain is our mind, right? It has a defined dimension or limitation of space. So how can we stretch it? Actually, stretching our mind is a bit of a metaphor. We’re not actually changing the physical shape or altering the dimensions, but we are changing the usable, functioning parts of our brain when we stretch it.

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"Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else." – Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm, American actress and singer, died as result of intentional or unintentional overdose of barbiturates (1922-1969)

Why are we quoting Judy Garland here? Wasn’t she a troubled individual, prone to all sorts of emotional difficulties, attempted suicides, abuse of prescription medications and other assorted medical ailments? While this is probably a more or less accurate description of the actress and singer, it certainly is nowhere near the sum total of who Judy Garland was. In fact, she was an extraordinarily talented woman who gave immense pleasure to others who watched her on the movie screen or listened to her sing.

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"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." – Confucius, ancient Chinese philosopher, thinker, teacher, and founder of the Ru school of Chinese thought (551-479 BCE)

When we think about the word "gusto," we automatically conjure up images of food. But the word really implies a joy of living, a full-hearted embracing of action. Gusto isn’t something that we achieve merely by thinking about it. Gusto requires action of the fullest measure.

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“Push yourself again and again. Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.” – Larry Bird, former American NBA basketball player and coach, Basketball Hall of Fame player who played for the Boston Celtics, widely considered one of the greatest all-around basketball players in the history of the game (born 1956).

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