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Friends In Recovery Answered
Question 1. What are the important pieces of the puzzle in your recovery life?
AA Big Book tells me to find & continue to develop a relationship
with a power greater than myself or perish!
~Mark K.
Gratitude - My favorite prayer is, “God, thank you for what you’ve
given me; thank you for what you’ve taken from me; and thank
you for what you’ve left me with.” Working the drug rehabilitation steps,
communicating with my sponsor and meeting attendance are the
important pieces.
~BZH
I questioned some of the teachings at CVH, such as having to get
up and publicly speak to my fellow addicts about my personal life.
At the time I thought, “Why are they putting us through this?”
I soon found out why! It prepared me for my sobriety outside of
drug rehabilitation and enabled me to go to my AA meetings and “publicly
speak” without hesitation and to share my story perhaps helping
another alcoholic. It taught me to trust the people around me
and to be more humble because I realized that we all have a story
to tell. Another “sober skill” I use in my recovery puzzle is recognizing
and listening to my “triggers” and avoiding them and/or
getting some support from a trusted person who values my sobriety.
That helped me through the holidays without a drink; because
of that life lesson I learned at CVH, I have 11 months
sober! Grateful Alcoholic
~Michele A.
Self-awareness; paying attention to the feelings and cues that cause
triggers, and having a plan on what to do when they happen in
order to keep me safe. We are always going to have triggers, buy
knowing how to handle them is key.
~Amy A.
Recovery isn’t like a 1,000 piece puzzle...overwhelming and frustrating;
it’s like a children’s ABC puzzle. It is bright, colorful and
once you accept where the pieces go, it’s easy. A=Alcoholics Anonymous;
F=Friends & Family; G=God; H=Honesty; K=Keeping it
Simple; L=Laughter; P=Passion for life; S=Sponsor; T=Trust.
~Shelley S.
The first piece of the puzzle is continuing care. You (with a
counselor) can work out the pieces with other people fresh out
of drug rehabilitation.
~ Ike S.
The Twelve Steps are a way of life that brings clarity and simplifies
every relationship in my life. I read a morning meditation
every day. I believe in keeping a positive outlook on life. Life is
not always positive, but I can now find something positive in
every situation that may arise, because I practice it daily.
~Terri T. 5 years on January 11th! Whoo Hoo!
The most important pieces in the recovery puzzle for me are my
relationship with my Higher Power and attendance/involvement
at many AA meetings. These things are invaluable to my sobriety
and emotional stability. In March it will be 14 years since I reluctantly
entered drug rehabilitation, and I can thankfully say that
winding up there was the greatest thing that ever happened to
me. It hasn’t been all roses all the time by any means, but with
God and the 12 Steps, I know that I never have to drink or take
drugs again unless I choose to. Today I choose sobriety. Thank
you Valley Hope!
~Bart W.
The most important pieces to my recovery are to use Steps 1, 2,
& 3 (I can’t, He can and I’ll let Him) daily as well as HOW
(Honesty, Open mindedness and Willingness). Recovery has
taught me how to live life on life terms, both inside and outside
the walls of AA.
~Dee O. (32 years)
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