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In undergoing a current custody battle, I have neglected one of the most important components of Recovery--- working with other alcoholics and addicts.  I made the mistake of thinking that because I have a vocation as a substance abuse counselor that "counted" as working with other alcoholics and addicts...I found out it does not!!! While I still work with a few sponsee's, I have not been doing alot of work with the newcomers in the Program. My SPONSOR brought this to my attention.  She reminded me AGAIN that Recovery and my job were entirely different.  She reminded me that when I got busy helping one of God's kids, I would greatly decrease my chances of picking back up.  She quoted out of the BB " Nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking than INTENSE work with other alcoholics"  She reminded me that working with others is what Bill and Bob did in the very beginning...and that laid an important foundation for the Program of AA.  My sponsor assured me that if I would get busy doing His business, God would take care of mine.  THANK GOD FOR STRONG SPONSORHIP.  I needed that reminder and I am grateful that God has placed these loving people in my life to guide me through this process!!

Tags: Reflective

Hey guys!

    I am in my third year of sobriety and I am in the middle of a custody battle....it is very mentally draining.  My ex moved a sexual offender on the premises with my children and I got temporary custody despite my drug history..now we must return to court and I must admit I am rather intimidated.  I recognize that my past has become my greatest asset, however I am not sure how the Court system will view it.  I know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be but that does not make this any easier.  I am sometimes up at night specualting  the "what if's " of the case. 

  I have come to accept that whatever happends in that Courtroom, it will be the perfect Will of my Higher Power.  I  know that fear does not come from Him.  My days now are much more peaceful since I have come to this point.  I had to redouble my efforts in the Program.  Please pray for my children and keep us in your prayers. Court is May 30!  I would be grateful for any feedback of anyone who has gone through this...

 

It has occured to me how easy my mind forgets the most basic and simple concepts in the program of recovery.  It is like my mind knows what to do but heart just will not listen and take heed to what my head and mouth are saying. Letting go of anything is difficult for me.  Accepting that everything is the way it is for a purpose..not my purpose..but my Higher Power's purpose. These are the simple things I learned and accepted early in sobriety.  I have found that some people, places, things and situations are easily handed over to my HP and others have "claw marks all over them". ( The concept is simple in theory but I am having difficulty with REALITY, at this point...)  I believe that acceptance is a process ..just like recovery.  I am somewhere in the middle of the process...the process of letting go.

I have been in the middle of a nasty child custody dispute and I have been crazy as a nine-eyed rat. My ex decided to let me have the children for Easter and you could have knocked me over with a feather.  It occurred to me while reflecting on the day..I don't really have to obsess over mind or mood altering substances...it can be anything, people places things, events, situations you name it.....I AM AN ALCOHOLIC..in reflecting on my thougt patterns through this court proceeding...I can see the more sober I am the more alcoholic I become.  I heard an old timer say that in a meeting my first week in the hall of AA and the light bulb just went off as to what he was meaning...

 

Early in my recovery I was very thin skinned, which is right the opposite of what I was during my active years of addiction.  I had a passive-aggressive mode of communication which rarely yeilded any positive results.  It took a year before I started challenging the way I communicated with others.  I still strive for progress in this area of my life.  I have learned in recovery that by challenging those defects in me and bringing them into the sunlight of the Spirit, they lost thier power over me. by challenging anything and becoming "armed with the facts about myself" I am able to enjoy me recovery.

Tags: Reflective