Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.
Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. I love this saying now but hated it when I first had an AA sponsor tell me that. I have since found it to be true not only emotionally, but physically. I'll be sober 30 years next month by the Grace of God, the AA program and the help of friends in AA. It took me the first five years to begin to realize that most of my troubles were of my own making. I was so smart when I first arrived in AA that I didn't need any help from them (or so I thought). Works better when I take help that is offered freely from people that have already learned to live better.
Now ,do I always do it right now? As John Wayne says so well "not likely". I've lived through a lot of trials and tribulations since I got sober, including the death of two of my brothers from cancer, the following for myself, open heart surgery, brain surgery, fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis and very painful migraine headaches that affect my balance for two to three days at a time. I have definitely found that it's much easier to do this with the help of friends and family. Quite often I've found that they know of ways to live with it, that makes it easier. When I pay attention to suggestions I do not have to suffer as much.
Do I still have pain, sure I do. Do I still suffer as much? Only if I want to do it by myself! God, my friends in AA, My family and now my friends here can help if I let them.
Thanks everyone for your help.
Jim
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Always good to meet another fellow AA
Thank you for the comments on my profile, all my pain is not in the realm of the physical but in the realm of the emotional buts its part of my therapy so I always pass through it in the end and each time I get stronger and my confidence continues to climb
Congratulations on your 30 years, I know how hard recovery can be its not for the faint-hearted that's for sure
Barry
Thanks Berry
No recovery is not for the faint-hearted for sure. Emotional recovery can be harder that physical recovery and generally is. I've been there too.
Jim
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Nice post, Jim, and congratulations on 30 years of sobriety, one day at a time. I'm coming up on 5 years in two weeks, and I don't think I could have done it without the fellowship and support I've received from the "friends of Bill." Sorry to hear about your brothers. Both of my parents passed away this year...they were old, but it's still hard losing those close to you.
Thanks for your comments Sverre.
Losing one family member at a time is hard enough but two is a buger. Congrats on your 5 years and your right ODAAT is the only way. Also I will follow you and see how it goes for you. Good luck.