“When I look back on the journey this far, I honestly can’t explain what happened. Something out there had my back—call it a power greater than myself, call it whatever you want.”
– A Sober Cell: From the Inside Looking Out, “A Lone Wolf”
When we first come into recovery, we’re often fleeing a proverbial dumpster fire, choking on smoke and climbing through piles of garbage. As we connect with the fellowship and do the work, we progress further and further from the horrifying devastation of our addiction.
Oftentimes, we get consumed by thoughts of what our life is supposed to look like and forget to reflect on how far we’ve come. Seeing our progress is the key to having hope for the future. Has it been a while since we were in jail? How long has it been since we had to steal money? How long since we left our kids alone overnight to go get loaded? How long since we had no self-esteem or self-respect?
When we feel like we aren’t far enough along in life, our fellows in recovery encourage us to pause and look at where we started. We might even end up wearing a quizzical smile, wondering how we got so far from who we used to be—and so close to who we want to become.
Intention: Today I will remember what life was like when I first came into recovery. Things may not be perfect today, but haven’t I come a long way?