Comments on: What You Should Focus on in Early Recovery from Addiction and Alcoholism http://www.spiritualriver.com/what-you-should-focus-on-in-early-recovery-from-addiction-and-alcoholism/ Non-traditional recovery from addiction Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:09:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Madisonhttp://www.spiritualriver.com/what-you-should-focus-on-in-early-recovery-from-addiction-and-alcoholism/comment-page-1/#comment-18919 Madison Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:13:52 +0000 http://www.spiritualriver.com/?p=365#comment-18919 Hi Patrick, This comment is not specifically about your most recent post but I wanted to share a list that I produced at the beginning of my day yesterday and tell your readers why they should produce one of their own. As I told you in my last comment, I am nearly 6 weeks sober. I look for your daily emails to give me courage and inspiration while going through recovery without AA. It never ceases to amaze me how many little ideas pop into my mind throughout the day now. While I was drinking my mind was rather numb to say the least. My idea yesterday morning was very simply to write a list of what I had experienced and overcome in my life so far, here it is: I have learned to get over child abuse I have overcome drug abuse I have overcome nicotine abuse I am overcoming alcohol abuse I have moved from the one country to another and I have changed my entire way of living for the better I have coped throughout court proceedings and personal slander. I have fought to maintain custody of my son. I have coped through two years of unemployment and fear of losing our home I have stopped living a self pitying life I have become a role model for my children I have become a better wife to my husband I have grown up I have more empathy now I have inner strength I have courage I have confidence I have got my sense of humor back I have got my joy of life back I have found my dreams and goals again I can look people in the eye again I have nearly overcome social anxiety I no longer take anti depressants or anti anxiety medication I am a part of a loving and caring family I am lucky!!!! I have not done any of this alone I urge anyone in recovery to rid any self negativity for a few minutes and focus on writing their list. They need to write their list because they should recognize what they have been through and what is now changing for them. It is a constant reminder of their strengths and new accomplishments. I had forgotten about this list until I opened up my journal this morning. I read over it and thought 'wow' that is pretty amazing coming from someone who nearly 6 weeks ago was a pathetic drunken mess. Keep moving forward everyone & Patrick, keep writing! Hi Patrick,
This comment is not specifically about your most recent post but I wanted to share a list that I produced at the beginning of my day yesterday and tell your readers why they should produce one of their own.
As I told you in my last comment, I am nearly 6 weeks sober. I look for your daily emails to give me courage and inspiration while going through recovery without AA.
It never ceases to amaze me how many little ideas pop into my mind throughout the day now. While I was drinking my mind was rather numb to say the least. My idea yesterday morning was very simply to write a list of what I had experienced and overcome in my life so far, here it is:

I have learned to get over child abuse
I have overcome drug abuse
I have overcome nicotine abuse
I am overcoming alcohol abuse
I have moved from the one country to another and I have changed my entire way of living for the better
I have coped throughout court proceedings and personal slander. I have fought to maintain custody of my son.
I have coped through two years of unemployment and fear of losing our home
I have stopped living a self pitying life
I have become a role model for my children
I have become a better wife to my husband
I have grown up
I have more empathy now
I have inner strength
I have courage
I have confidence
I have got my sense of humor back
I have got my joy of life back
I have found my dreams and goals again
I can look people in the eye again
I have nearly overcome social anxiety
I no longer take anti depressants or anti anxiety medication
I am a part of a loving and caring family
I am lucky!!!!
I have not done any of this alone

I urge anyone in recovery to rid any self negativity for a few minutes and focus on writing their list. They need to write their list because they should recognize what they have been through and what is now changing for them. It is a constant reminder of their strengths and new accomplishments.
I had forgotten about this list until I opened up my journal this morning. I read over it and thought ‘wow’ that is pretty amazing coming from someone who nearly 6 weeks ago was a pathetic drunken mess.

Keep moving forward everyone & Patrick, keep writing!

]]>