Diversions > Resources > Dopeless Enigmaniac

(external links will open in new window)

create Ravelry (yarn arts) FontStruct Silk - Interactive Generative Art	explore Mashpedia idolbin (beta) Pinterest BrainyQuote
think Dangerous Minds Dean Leysen Lee Camp: Moment of Clarity Dr. Philip Zimbardo - currently hot TED Talks	play The Kingdom of Loathing (game) Turntable.fm (social music)

Recovery Info > Resources > Dopeless Enigmaniac

(external links will open in new window)

Options Alcoholics Anonymous Narcotics Anonymous RAINN - Rape, Abuse and Incest Nat'l Network	Connect InTheRooms.com Rockers In Recovery Network #xa Twitter stream #AddictionChat on Twitter
Images	Media A.R.T.S. Anonymous Recovery Comedy Rockers In Recovery the fix (e-magazine) XA Speakers (audio)

XVIII Years Clean!

Concentric pink neon hearts and a goofy little flower because, screw you - it's my birthday! ♥ ;-)

Sometimes, I really envy newcomers. Yes, this probably sounds kind of crazy coming from an addict who's celebrating eighteen years clean today. A whole lot can happen over the course of 6,575 consecutive daily reprieves. Although each day clean is a win, some are more victorious than others. This seems more in accordance with early recovery though, not that I want to ever have to use again, just for today. Chances of me surviving another run are probably pretty slim anyway.

Being a newcomer, regardless of whether a first-timer or re-tread, actually sucks except for one thing: newcomers are granted more latitude if for no other reason than that their screwing up somehow, is anticipated. Derp allowances for those of us who have been at this a while, aren't nearly as generous - unless one is very old.

In or outside the context of recovery though, it seems that more and more people are being forced into "newcomer" kinds of roles. Between politics and economics, there's a growing population of society's former contributors finding themselves stuck in long-term unemployment or under-employment. Their sense of self worth all but abandoned, many face the new, previously unthinkable options of having to accept public assistance in some form. Those who remain fortunate enough to survive without losing their families, homes, and other tangible assets are indeed blessed.

Here's where the newcomer disparity draws laser-precise focus. In a productive and healthy recovery community, its newcomers are generally made to feel welcome and reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the newcomer receives the information, skills, tools, and support necessary to become proactive in his or her quest to succeed. Similar can barely be said of our so-called "civilization" which festers beyond the scope and context of recovery.

In recovery we are taught to "carry the message, not the addict." This practical caution has been popularized as a safeguard to remind ourselves that no one should be given an indefinite "free ride." At some point the newcomer will be expected to progress sufficiently enough to become a productive member of society. In our best case scenarios, these former "newcomers" also manage to "pay forward" the practical compassion which had been so freely given to them, to other newcomers. As the recovery truism continues to be said, "we can only keep what we have by giving it away." Maybe one day, so-called "civilization" will truly embrace this principle and make its application go viral. ♥ =)