With the fresh addition of the one and only Cori Smoker and her husband Jesse as honorary parts of the 217 Recovery crew, I have new beginnings on my mind. Personally, this year has been full of them. From journeys in the professional world to friendships, media productions, and even a new rock-hunting partner, this year has been rooted with fresh sprouts of relationships and projects of many kinds. This triggers the self-awareness I just can't stop blogging about, knowing, that if I had never kicked off the fresh start of a life in recovery from active substance use... none of these would have ever happened.
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The reality of my life over three and half years ago is that I had absolutely none of these things. It's not a very distant venture to say that I had lost all hope that what I have presently was even possible, let alone something that I'd be enjoying, benefiting, and learning from today. Personal relationships of every kind, physical/emotional health, and the strength/will to carry on had become things of the past. Fun, didn't exist in that life at all. That's when recovery came in, ripped the rug out from under that pitty party, and everything got flipped-turned upside down (as DJ Jazzy Jeff would say).
"As long as you’re alive, you always have the chance to start again." —Emily Acker
Recovery hit me like a ton of bricks. A fresh start, a new beginning I never saw coming. And I thank my Higher Power above every day that it did. Recovery itself and the things I've gained from it, that I've listed above, have given me these new beginnings. The constant choice to cultivate my path in recovery and water the fresh starts that have sprouted along the way have not only let them grow into beautiful things, but it's allowed new "fresh starts" to sprout up along the way. Turning my life into a pathway through a beautiful garden, which is the metaphor I choose to describe my life now.
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Now, I realize I threw some darkness in there. I'm really trying to paint the picture that my life since choosing recovery hasn't only been sunshine and unicorn farts. But, I can tell you that I'll choose any of the darkness I had to endure since my sobriety date almost four years ago (rounding up) over the darkness I survived before that new beginning started. The blessings and joy immeasurably outweigh the negatives. I've had to face "unknowns", which are scary at first. But the good that sprouted, blossomed, and harvested since is worth every bit.
So, If you're balancing on the edge of unknown early recovery territory, we at 217 Recovery want you to know that it's possible, it's awesome, yeah it's difficult sometimes, but damn it's worth it. For guidance and support through that unknown stuff drop us a line by clicking here.
Until next time.
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