Northwoods Recovery

My daily circuits of Hodag Park — now growing considerably shorter — have noticeably slowed down these days. For years, my default reasoning for falling short in any routine situation was “I’m getting old.”

 I’m well past that now, my current excuse being I’m too old, and have been for longer than I like to admit. But that view serves to keep recovery my comforting consolation, because of all that I do, and all I possess, only this recovery never seems to get old; constantly presenting me with new self-understandings and surprising possibilities that work to keep my aging existence fresh and alive.  

This fundamentally changed way of living appeared gradually as a result of one unforeseen choice; the precipitous decision I made to end my substance abuse, to begin to take back control of this out-of-control life. In making a radically different choice that day I couldn’t see what is so readily apparent now; except for a truly miserable lifestyle, I wasn’t losing anything, but rather gaining the freedom to move on and evolve in the positive directions my addiction would never allow. 

In ways great and small, life is change; and since addiction is essentially a static existence, unchanging save for the amounts and types of substances we use and the occasional arrest and subsequent incarceration, little room is left for any kind of real-life shifts. Only by ending the cycle of substance abuse can we begin to live as we were meant to, transforming and growing into the person we’d wanted to be before addiction stole our dreams. 

Another genuine miracle of recovery; the dreams lost so long ago to addiction have been found, and have now become the essence of my recovered living. With substance abuse in my past, the present a comfortable existence, what can my future hold? 

 I’ve come to a fork in the road and hear my recovery calling on me to move on, to pursue a new life direction; fulfill one more dream. On offer is a direct challenge and clear choice; do nothing and keep this familiar, comfortable life I know; or with faith in my recovery leave it behind to leap into uncharted waters. 

Which path would you recommend? 

Especially true in a good recovery; life will always present us with choices. We can hope we choose wisely, with the growing awareness that making good choices assures us that we do recover.

Do you think you may have a problem with alcohol? Alcoholics Anonymous can help. Call the hotline at 715-360-4637 or visit www.northwoodsaa.org for questions or to find a meeting in your area.