Month: May 2015

Carpal Tunnel And My Mind-Body Connection

I’m a firm believer in my mind-body connection, in fact I’ve written about it in here before (link to it is below). I’m truly convinced that our bodies often attempt to get our attention through various pains and ailments, especially when we’re not listening to what it needs. This has happened to me quite a bit over the years, one of which being just the other day with my right arm.

I was working on writing the latest chapter in Andy’s Woodsy Adventure when it started developing some carpal tunnel-like symptoms. I’ve had this occur before, several times actually, with each always feeling like my body was trying to tell me something about the work I’m doing at my computer.

I know this might sound crazy, but the last time it did happen to me, I ended up taking two weeks off from doing my blog writing and instead placed the “Thought For The Day” entries out there. By the time I returned to writing for it again, I didn’t have those carpal tunnel-like symptoms anymore. Another good example of this is when I was working in the computer field at a particular job I didn’t enjoy years ago. The same pain developed and plagued me constantly, but guess what? It left me when I left that job.

While I’m not saying I don’t enjoy my blog writing anymore because I actually do, immensely, I am saying that I do feel a little fatigued from writing 500 to 1000 words entries day in and day out. And I just feel like my body is calling for another break somehow through this right arm pain.

My ego attempted to tell me I just took one of these when I went on vacation recently, but the truth is I worked overtime prior to leaving for it, doubling up on articles to cover me when I got back. And as soon as I returned, I immediately delved back into my writing, thus feeling like I didn’t get much of a break at all.

So I’m going to honor my right arm, as crazy as that sounds, and just take a break for the next few weeks from writing. I have a good feeling that it and me overall, will feel plenty more energized by then, ready to pour forth some renewed creativity from within. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the “Thought For The Day” entries, as well as the next chapter I’ve already written for Andy’s Woodsy Adventure (posting May 8th).

https://thetwelfthstep.com/2013/06/07/the-mind-body-connection/

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson

It’s “One Day At A Time”…

Too many people believe the longer they remain clean and sober from alcohol and drugs, the safer they become from ever going back to them, but in fact it’s just the opposite. The sad reality for a large number of individuals who get some good clean and sober time under their belt is how foggy their addiction-fueled days start to become. Eventually, they tend to forget about it altogether, which then makes the conditions perfect for a relapse. The fact is, whether a person has 1 year, 10 years, or 40 years of continuous sobriety, makes absolutely no difference. Recovery is built upon a single principle, that being “one day a time.”

Since getting sober almost 20 years ago, I’ve watched far too many people lose sight of this principle, me included. How easy it was and still can be at times to fall into that notion I’m ok now from a disease that once held me in its deadly grips. You see the brain is a very wonderful thing indeed. It helps a person totally forget about the pain their addictions once caused. Yet, at the same time it also creates the illusion that it wouldn’t be so bad returning to them again, especially when life brings those tumultuous storms their way.

Hence the reason why at almost two decades free from alcohol and drugs, I’m still attending recovery meetings on just about most days of the week. Hence the reason why I’m sponsoring five individuals through the 12 steps at the present time as well. And hence the reason why I stick around all those who continue to recognize the deadliness of this disease and constantly work at recovering from it, because when I haven’t that’s always been the precise moment in my life when I’ve come closest to relapsing.

So I end today’s entry by dedicating it to all those who keep on accepting, one day at time, just how cunning, baffling, and powerful this disease truly is and always will be. And may all those who might have forgotten just how bad things once were and all those who have even considered returning again to their addiction, remember one thing. You may have another relapse in you, but you may not have another recovery. The souls of three of my former sponsees will always remain the clearest reminder of this to me…

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson