Is Recovery for Me? By Greg F.

Is Recovery for Me?

By Greg F.

If drugs and alcohol are interfering with your basic life’s progress, then you might want to consider what is known as recovery. What we mean by “interfering,” we’ve illustrated in detail in earlier blogs.

This article is about the freedom one may obtain by living a life that is rooted in the 12 steps. At the end, ask yourself, “Is recovery for me?”

Life’s difficulties do not disappear in sobriety, but our ability to face our challenges improves. By leaning on the fellowship of recovery, we find that we are not alone anymore if we can be honest with God and another human about our problems.

I moved to a different city within the first two months of my recovery. I got a job in my field, which was plainly a miracle of going to meetings and staying sober for just a few weeks. My early sponsor recommended that I take the job. I would have, anyway.

But I found that I was alone in a new city. My job began well. I remember receiving praise from my boss within the first week or so. Yet, I went home that day miserable. I didn’t know how to celebrate my wins in sobriety. I missed an old girlfriend. My financial troubles were too glaring.

Rather than drink at this point, I decided to go to a 12-Step meeting. I stood outside smoking when I got there and made eye contact with a guy who looked like an old friend who had passed from an overdose years earlier.

This guy asked me how I was doing, and I was honest. I said, “Not well, man.” And this stranger told me the oddest thing. He said, “Hey, repeat after me: I am whole, I am full, and I am complete.” I did repeat what he said. It still blows me away that he said that.

I made a new friend that night. A few days later, he introduced me to a couple other guys in recovery that I liked. One of them became my sponsor and took me through the steps within the next couple of months.

Recovery teaches us how to obtain the freedom from fear, anger, and anxiety. That doesn’t mean we don’t feel those things. Being honest with myself and others has allowed me to be able to face myself head-on each day.

I’ve learned that my life only exists in 24-hour periods. So, each day, I am now able to face my problems and let go of them before bed. When I wake up in the morning, I feel refreshed and ready to face the next day in the same way.

This doesn’t mean my life is repetitive. Quite the contrary, with more energy and financial freedom, my life has become more dynamic. I devote the proper amount of time to work, family, hobbies, and vacation.

I get to experience all that life has to offer. I can accept gifts. I understand the value of things. I’m able to earn for and appreciate the things in my life that I want. I know what I want, and with recovery I have the ability to strive for that.

If you like what I have shared, then ask yourself again, “Is Recovery for Me?”

Greg F. recently celebrated eight years free from drugs and alcohol. He has contributed to The Grove social media accounts in the past and served as a writing intern for The Grove in the fall of 2024, working toward a master’s degree in English from Southeastern Louisiana University. He is the author of two self-published books and a big fan of Gretsch Guitars.