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I can't agree with the fatalistic notion that a slip is a sort of accident that could happen regardless of how sane, saintly and happy I may become in recovery. I did feel that way at times early in recovery, thinking that I might as have the next slip sooner than later. I believe that I stay sober by staying sane, so that I won't get crazy enough to start thinking that having a drink would be a good idea, perhaps because sobriety has become unbearable. I understand that I am not staying sober entirely by my own efforts, but believe that God does help those who help themselves, with the staying sane and sober being mostly a matter of staying active in AA, working and living in harmony with the Steps, with honesty, persistance and continual effort. I learned in a world religion class in college that the one thing common to all religions is belief in a moral universe, that good things yield good results and bad things yield bad ones, at least eventually. I don't suppose I could ever do enough to insure 100% that I won't pick up a drink, and that is always a possibility, but it seems like a pretty remote one as long as I keep doing what I'm doing. I see no problem with this as long as I remember that it becomes a lot less remote if I don't. As I quite enjoy staying sane, content and happy, as well a sober, and enjoy doing what I do to ensure that, my thoughts about the future aren't clouded by fear of drinking again. I see it as a bit like driving down a road with insanity to the side and a drink just beyond, I have no worries as long as I stay on the road and seem to get warnings, which I am careful not to ignore, when I might be in danger of wandering off that road. |