I feel like I am the kind of person who wants to see fast progress, immediate wins and overnight success. It is almost like I expect to go from poor, unemployed and out of luck to suddenly having it all with very minimal effort. Which, let’s face it, would be very nice. But that just isn’t realistic.
I’m going to have to work very hard to get my life back on track, and I know I’m in for quite a hustle. The hustle of all hustles. Even then I’m not entirely sure I can hustle myself out of the mess I’ve got my life into.
But here’s the miracle: I am three months sober. Previously I don’t think I could have even made it to three minutes sober, and I am not even joking. My motto these days is one day at a time. I used to think that was just a silly AA saying. I used to think a lot of things were silly, but that was when I was bitter, resentful and looking for excuses to drink. I wasn’t ready to let go of my “old faithful” alcohol.
Now that I am older (and wiser, I like to think), I’m grown and I am using techniques that are genuinely helping me. Journalling, meditation, self-reflection, healing my inner child, changing my eating habits, going to bed at a decent hour, moving my body when I can, being more creative through writing, and thinking before I speak so that I respond instead of reacting.
These small but effective practices are helping me in my everyday life. They help me slow down, reflect, stay mindful, heal and build the kind of life that I want – both in recovery and beyond.
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