A new definition of insanity

Losing our recovery is a slow burn

“Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program…”

 -Alcoholics Anonymous p. 58

We have all heard the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  However, at a meeting early in my Al-Anon recovery, I heard a different definition of insanity that has really stuck with me all of these years.  A member shared that her definition of insanity is to find what works and stop doing it.

In our respective programs of recovery, we have found what works.  Going to meetings, calling other members between meetings, getting and using a sponsor, going through the Twelve Steps, prayer and meditation—these are all of the tools in our toolbox that keep us humble enough to stay sober—or  to stay sane when a loved one’s drinking has greatly affected us. 

The insanity happens gradually to us.  Maybe we stop calling our sponsor, or we stop going to meetings regularly.  Maybe we have stopped praying or we have stopped doing our step work.  Losing our recovery is a slow burn.  It does not happen all at once.  We remove ourselves from all that worked in our recovery, and, before you know it, we have picked up again, either by drinking ourselves, or by a return to our controlling behaviors with another drinker.  We lose our serenity.  We are insane.

Today’s Prayer

God, I want to keep doing all of the things I have been doing in my program of recovery.  Higher Power, help me keep this precious gift of sanity. 

The above is the April 27 reading from my book, With Gratitude: A Journey in Recovery by Jamey M., which is a daily reader for people in AA and Al-Anon. Thank you to all of you who have bought my book and are using it for your morning time with God. I was very surprised and happy to discover that I sold a few copies of the book in March and April! A link to the book is below. Have a wonderful week. And remember, God is not a terrorist.

-Jamey