[madisgram]

12 Rewards Of Sobriety

1. Hope instead of desperation

2. Faith instead of despair

3. Courage instead of fear

4. Peace of mind instead of confusion

5. Self respect instead of self contempt

6. Self confidence instead of helplessness

7. The respect of others instead of pity and contempt

8. A clean conscience instead of a sense of guilt

9. Real friendship instead of lonliness

10. A clean pattern of life instead of a purposeless existence

11. The love and understanding of our families instead of their doubts and fears

12. The freedom of a happy life instead of the bondage of an addicted obsession

[RapidFlyer]

This is beautiful and thoughtful. I would put it on my wall to read every day if I could.

Thank you for sharing this. I needed this uplifting writing today.

For me the rewards of sobriety, or being clean, both for me really have evolved over the years. When I was first in the program, I was overwelmed and quite disinterested, but not bitter. I participated and when I left, I went about my life. My problems were with mood and thought disorders. I spent years going to meeting just for the feeling after a meeting. Like releif or less lonely, I'm not sure. Being disabled at the time, for me, was a lonely and boring life. Meetings were the highlight of my days, many times. I was rehabed in 1988 and never read the entire AA book until 2010. I think that should say something about my interest level in sobriety. Truth is, I've never been a daily drinker. In high school, I never knew a dealer, I always went through somebody who would go through somebody for pot and other stuff + booze. I was never a daily drinker or user then either. My first semester in college, in 1986, my roomate was a dealer of a "hard" drug. He gave me the drug, free of cost. Still, I wasn't a daily user, but I was using more frequently and the drug was dangerous also. I think a lot of folk who use this drug can afford some "down" time to recover and go on with life, relativly unaffected. I did not enjoy this luxury. I was confused before and this drug sealed my fate for about a decade. I saw the world from a very different perspective than how it is usually seen in mainstream america. Sobriety for me means that I can deal with my emotional and thought issues without drugs and alcahol making my situation worse. Also, I feel I can be a good example to others in similar situations and for kids growing up around me. I've overcome a lot of obstacles just to be an effective husband and step-dad and worker. I can give my opinion about political stuff sometimes also. I can have good conversations that sometimes involve laughter. I can read books sometimes and practice and perform my nylon string guitar, that I enjoy also. I used to be indifferent towards drugs and alcahol until I saw the effect that it had on my step-son when my wife and I had a relativly small pot habit for a few years. He felt betrayed. I've never felt so guilty in my life. I saw myself also. Kinda like a forgoten child, that I was, became embodied in my step-son. I relived the betrayal I felt when I was young. The one thing that gave me some releif from my guilt was the fact that I owned my error and was there to help him heal. It was like I healed myself, a bit, also. I thank my higher power, it did for me what I couldn't do for myself. Wow!

[RonPSH]

This "letting go" quote has a similar feel to it... http://www.profound-self-help.com/letting-go.html

[RunningEagleRuns]

Encouraging