Friday, April 10, 2015

The work of Recovery

A friend who's been sober for over two decades was talking to a young woman who recently lost her father to drinking.

She asked how he'd gotten sober. While, in spite of her efforts to help, her father had died.

Though my friend felt bad, he couldn't answer the question. Because, without knowing her father, he could only venture a guess.

But my experience with those who remain sober is that they put in a lot of hard work.

They get involved with some kind of a structured program. For a few, it's a church. But most of those I know it's a twelve step program such as AA.

No matter what course one follows it takes sustained effort.

My friend, for example, has attended meetings for years. He sponsors others. He has a sponsor.

He's dealt with demons from his past - most of them in his head. He's made amends. He helps others. In other words, he's immersed in recovery.

In my opinion, those who succumb to this disease haven't found the will to change.

 Or maybe they weren't as blessed as those of us who found the 12-step programs.

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