24 hours

One term we hear often in the rooms of the 12 step programs is "one day at a time."

So what's the deal?  To newcomers the concept is sometimes difficult to understand.  Yet the idea of living life on a 24-hour basis is integral to the success of those who are in early recovery.  It's kind of like the old question of how do you eat an elephant?  And the answer, of course, is one bite at a time.

If we feel like running off from the treatment program because we can't stand the idea of being sober we need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we can hang out just for the rest of the day.  And the answer is, of course, that any of us can do such a small task as stay sober the rest of the day.  Why so?

Well, think about it.  When we look at our lives and are facing all kinds of challenges it's natural to wonder "do I have to do this stuff for the rest of my life?"  And the answer, of course, is yes.  But that's where the idea of living our lives one day at a time is so helpful.

After all, most any of us can do anything for one day at a time.  But thinking of having to do the same kind of hard, grinding work for the rest of our lives doesn't look like so much fun.  So that's the beauty of living life a day at a time.  Actually, I've heard in the program talk about living life an hour at a time, which is sometimes necessary. The idea is that we can find the fortitude and courage to do difficult things in small increments.

And before we know it, those days at a time become years of recovery - with all its blessings.

Click here to email John