[DePressMe]

This is from one of my favorite books (If you Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill him!):

…a band of wanders who have become lost in a deep, dark forest. They chance upon their guru, who has been lost even longer. Unaware of his helplessness, they ask him to show them out of the way of the woods. He can only answer: “That I can not do. But I can point out the ways that lead further into the thicket, and after that let us try to find the way together.”

This reminds me of our struggles to help each other stay sober. None of us have the answer or the magic cure, but together we are making progress by sharing our experiences. We are slowly working our way out of the thicket.

I often talk about reading recovery literature. Books like this one help me stay focused on recovery. It is not necessarily meant for alcoholism/addiction but it offers me the chance to grow spiritually and personally. When my mind is focused on spiritual or personal growth matters, it is not thinking about drinking. In some ways, reading is an escape from the torment of addiction…but, it is a good escape because it is helping me grow into a better person.