We Get Sober One Day At A
Time
by
Robert Pardon
Sobriety needs to be, in
fact must be, one day at a time. It is imperative that we not only grasp the
understanding of one day at a time, but we need to embrace it as the most
important concept next
to step number one where we admit that we are powerless.
Those addicted are notorious
for projecting to the next day and so on. I believe that this is because our
reality is so depressing that staying in the day only serves to make us feel
worse and of course we drink and use because of that. So we have this dilemma of
sorts or some type of inner turmoil. If we don’t adopt one day at a time we get
high because we’re losing sight of what we need to be focusing on or we use
because the day sucks.
Most people who have
admitted defeat to alcohol and drugs bring with them a very damaged life. Living
in the now and in the moment reminds us of how bad off we have become. Having
said that, we want to project to tomorrow and the day after that and the day
after that. Because today is so painful, we want to think terms of one week, one
month or even project out one year. That is dangerous thinking that it has
gotten more people to relapse than any outside pressure I can think of.
When I first came to
alcoholics anonymous the most important thing that I was taught was one day at a
time. For a person who lived for the moment you would think that the concept of
one day at a time would be easily understood.
That is where the importance
of meetings, sharing with others, talking to your sponsor, and reading recovery
material comes into play. The next most important thing is to understand that
time is going to be our best friend when it comes to embracing and learning to
love the concept of one day at a time. We certainly didn’t get here overnight
and we’re not going to understand certain things over night.
Sometimes, one day at a time
even needs to be shortened. I remember when I was within my first 90 days of
sobriety and I was having a very difficult day. I knew what I needed was to get
to a meeting and talk to someone who would understand. I was about ten miles
away from the alano club where I knew a noon meeting was about to begin.
I figured it was going to
take me approximately fifteen minutes to get to the Turning Point. I stopped for
a moment and I prayed. I asked God if He would give me fifteen more minutes of
sobriety. I told God that if He would do that for me that I promised to not
drink the rest of the day. God gave me those fifteen minutes I needed and I was
able to fulfill my promise and to this day, over 7630 days later, I do not drink
or use one day at a time.
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