Welcome to this week’s Grateful Heart Monday, where the focus is always upon a piece of gratitude from my life, which for today is for reaching a quarter century of sobriety from alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes!!!
Last week, on June 11th, I actually celebrated 25 years of continuous sobriety from three things that once ruled my life and were in total control of me. But, by the grace of God and 12 Step recovery, I’ve thankfully remained free from each of them now for 9,125 days. And I’m only qualifying that in the amount of days because as they always say in 12 Step recovery, it’s a one day a time type of program.
I must admit, there have been plenty of moments during many of those days where I’ve pondered the thought of taking a drink, doing a drug, or smoking a cigarette, mostly to numb myself from any painful feelings I was going through, especially when they’ve been physical in nature within my body. But what’s prevented that from happening is all the work I continue to do in my program and the guidance I continue to follow from my Higher Power, whom I choose to call God.
Nevertheless, it is often said that the longer one remains free from their addiction, the closer they are to a relapse typically because people tend to forget how painful their addiction was. I would agree, as I don’t really remember much of the painful parts of my life back then anymore nor any of the drama those three addictions used to create. But, I’m not willing to risk testing the waters with any of them ever again either, as I know my life is far better without them than with them.
How do I know that?
Because what I do remember is how my days used to fully revolve around having to have a drink, a drug, or a cigarette just to function, just to feel normal, just to exist, which only created an out-of-control selfish type of existence, one where I wasn’t the caring, kind, selfless, and loving type of guy I’m doing my best to be today.
So, yes, I have an immense amount of gratitude today for making it to a quarter century of sobriety from three things that absolutely screwed my life up more than not, even if much of the pain they once caused is vague nowadays.
Addiction, from what I’m told, never fully goes away, it only goes into remission, and at least for now, one day at a time, I can say my addiction to alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes is absolutely in remission, which is most definitely something to thank God for and dedicate today’s Grateful Heart Monday to.
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
