DISCIPLINE MONTH: DAY 25: “We are creatures of habit, and leveraging our habitual tendencies is one of the best ways to develop discipline.”― Ernest Cadorin
So many of the habitual daily things I was doing when I started this journey are gone now. As time has gone on, I have let go of many, many other habits that do not fit the recovery life I want to live. It goes so far beyond drugs and alcohol. Way beyond that.
I have let go of stealing and lying, although I still think about doing them both all the time. I see street signs and other things I want to steal all the time. I have a lot of larceny in my soul, I guess. I just always want things I see that are cool. I don’t take them anymore, but I kinda want to. Ya know?
I have stopped smoking. That one took me down folks! Really did! It has been over 18 years and I still see and smell cigarettes and sometimes dream of smoking. Weird, but that was a powerful addiction.
I have let go of eating a ton of things I never thought I could live without. Sugar, dairy, never did eat meat, breads and wheat products, most grains, coffee (ouch!…but it went with the cigs…could not handle it), all processed foods and preservative-laden goodies. I mostly eat fruit and vegetables and a bit of rice, corn, etc. if it is organic. This takes incredible discipline, and sometimes I just go eat a pizza. The problem is that I suffer afterwards, so it happens so seldom.
I did not believe I could live on yummy fish tacos, salads, creative vegetables made into delicious soups, a lot of Indian curries and Asian cuisine.
I have let go of many other old ideas and habits as well. It is funny how shifting into a healthier spiritual and emotional space keeps me wanting to improve my physical and mental life as well. Who knew where this road would lead when I started.
I remember the early days and trying to figure out how to fit in the meetings and sponsor stuff and working steps without a lot of drugs. It did not seem possible. Then I got to see how much time was being drained from my life with all the destructive things that went into supporting active addiction. Soon I did not have time to even think about that life any more. It just grew from there. Every day I see things in the world around me that do not fit the life I live today and embracing my highest good. What a tremendous gift to see and feel the support of an entire Universe for the path I love to walk.
Dolphin Hug 