Recovery Month

Marcus Aurelius, a roman emperor once said “When you rise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love …” The Meditations, the thoughts of a philosopher-king, has been considered by many generations as one of the greatest books of all time, according to the Britannica Encyclopedia.

I am sure you are wondering why this is important.

But with September being recovery month I typically share a little about the friends I have lost over the last year to addiction and offer my best support and help to those searching for recovery options!

However, this year, I would like to talk about how my recovery journey has evolved throughout the years and why it is important to talk about that evolution.

 So, let’s talk about it.

Let me start off by saying, I have lost quite a lot of friends in recent years to addiction. I won’t list all their names here for their family’s privacy, but I want to take a moment and acknowledge them. I miss you all every day and I will continue to fight this battle for each and every one of you.

Rest in Paradise

Obviously, I have shared a lot about my recovery journey here. The highs and the lows and how that affects me and my life today.

I spent a lot of time trying to get clean, I spent many nights convincing myself that tomorrow would be different. And with that came many days of failure, many times I could have given up, and many times that I thought I might.

But recovery isn’t linear, and it is not stagnant. Most people don’t just detox, go to rehab and stay clean forever. Most people evolve through recovery in a way that is comfortable for them, in a way that works with their needs. Some people go to detox and never go to rehab. Some people detox at home and then join AA or NA. Some people do all of the above, and then still relapse and then do it all over again.

In my specific situation, I would convince myself I was going to get clean at night, and then by morning I was sick and saying I’ll try again tomorrow. I did this for a long time. Then, it was me running from my addiction, moving trying to start over and realizing I was an addict, and addicts will find drugs anywhere if they want it bad enough. Then it was accepting I needed help and coming home begging for it. Then it was putting it off a little longer because again I wasn’t ready and then it was about recovery.

My point here is whatever you choose. Whatever way you choose to recover. Whatever way you choose to live in recovery. Whatever way you choose to evolve is your own business. You have a right to walk whatever path it is you choose to recover.

AS LONG AS THE END LEADS TO RECOVERY!!!

Let me repeat that, whatever path you choose to recovery is okay as long as it the end result is RECOVERY!

A lot of weren’t lucky enough to make it to the end, a lot of us lost our battle before the battle truly began. A lot of us took our lives for granted and are lucky enough to be sitting here today. Lucky enough to encourage others to join the recovery club before they run out of time as well. Lucky enough to keep our loved one’s names alive.

 So like Marcus Aurelius said, “When you rise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love …” and share your gift of recovery with everyone who needs it. Share your lessons, your wisdom, your tricks, your resources. Share them with the people in your life you love and share them loudly!

Join in recovery.

The only way to make a change is to change together.

So, let’s do this.