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Leed · Oct 10, 2012, 07:55 AM

"Recovery is overcomiing the fear of living."............Anonymous

Many adult children live in constant fear --- fear of both success and failure, fear of being alone, and fear of being close to others, fear of living and fear of dying. Our heritage is fear.

It is a sure sign of recovery when we begin to see life is an exciting experience, an encounter of the best kiind, rather than as a dangerous and terrifying venture into hostile territory. We know we are recovering when we can feel posiive and curious about taking a small risk, when we can meet a new friend without being afraid of losing our identity, and when we can state our needs without sinking into a pit of guilt and fear.

Many situations in life are indeed terrifying. Terrible things do happen to people. But it is just as true that life is full of sweetness and beauty. Recovery is admitting both and electing the latter.
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Today, I will live as fully as I can, secure in the love of my Higher Power.

Wow -- fear. I was afraid of getting sober for fear that I would not know how to live. It had been so long since I'd lived that way that I didn't know how. I could live sober in a crisis, but not in the day to day world. That's where I got tripped up -- the every-day mundane world of getting up, going to work, coming home, fixing dinner, cleaning house, taking care of kids, paying bills, etc. I just couldn't live that way without self-medication. I felt stressed but as ridiculous as it sounds I was also incredibly bored. Alcohol took care of the stress, boredom, and all other things I felt until I didn't feel anything. So the prospect of getting sober scared me to death. Life scared me.

It wasn't as bad as I thought. AS the old cliche' says, "the only thing to fear is fear itself." Sure, life has it's strressors, but none that can't be handled with common sense and prayers. Starting my day with talking to my Higher Power always makes my day go much smoother.