my daily reflections…

in my early recovery, my sponsor cautioned me that self-pity, shame, guilt, remorse, and morbid reflection would surely sink my ship if i allowed them to dominate my spirit. he instructed me that the antidote was not withdrawal into isolation but engagement; either by sharin openly with other alcoholics or, at times, by remainin silent and simply listenin when my emotions threatened to govern my life. in both practices, i discovered reciprocity: my presence could strengthen others, and their presence could strengthen me. he impressed upon me that listenin was not a passive act but a foundational discipline, a way of learnin how to love myself and, in turn, love others. through this intensive work, i was introduced to a form of love stripped of transaction or demand; a love without strings. step nine revealed that Justice is not solely about restitution for past wrongs, but about cultivatin relational spaces where gratitude, respect, happiness, and responsibility can flourish. when these virtues became my daily practice, i felt love begin to flow outward, displacin the loneliness that had once imprisoned me. in that freedom, i was able both to love and to be loved, no longer bound by the chains of self-centered fear. 1 day @ a time...