Different strokes for different folks

 A couple of years ago while on vacation, we visited the Intergroup office in Vancouver, BC, where I was gifted the book, Pioneers in Skirts: The Women's Stories of the BC/Yukon Area, full of experience, strength and hope from women who came into AA at a time when female members were the exception, not the norm. 

The final piece in the book is by a woman named Winnie, sharing what it was like, and how she works the program with long term recovery. She says, "the most important thing for long-term sobriety is remembering where you came from. Remembering what steps you took to get to where you are now and doing them on a constant basis. Not saying "Oh, I don't need that part."  I might amend that slightly to doing what I need to do on a consistent basis rather than constant. I don't go to a meeting a day anymore, nor a daily written 10th Step for example. What is consistent, at the moment, is my quiet time with daily readers and journal, and a couple of zoom secretary positions. I'm in a Step group, and while I'm woefully lax on the "homework," I am able to see where the practice of the Steps has become internalized over the years.

Winnie goes on to say, "We are looking for a balanced life," stating that she's known people who went to 10 meetings a week and relapsed. I could say the same, recognizing that it is quality, not quantity that keeps me on an even keel. I have my spiritual go-to's, but even that is liable to shift and change over time. I say that nature is part of what brings me peace of mind, but when was the last time I was in the woods? What probably matters is discernment between what I've long believed about myself and what is true today. I was told long ago that my values show in how I spend my time and my money - anything else is just lip service, or a signal to re-evaluate.

A long-term friend recently disclosed to me that she has a drink now and then. When she first told me she didn't consider herself an alcoholic anymore, I was surprised, though truthfully, it's probably been 20 years since she attended meetings, so her recent decision wasn't all that shocking. And now to hear about a beer now and then is more interesting than anything else. 

Life marches on. There was a time in earlier recovery that her disclosure would've sent me into a panic, with images of an immediate fall to daily drunkenness, or would've made me fearful for my own sobriety. I'm more open to the nuances of the disease as well as our various drinking histories these days. I've known a couple of people now who were heavy cocaine addicts, but have the occasional drink of alcohol. I know someone else who quit cocaine but drank themselves to death. I know that I fully conceded to my innermost self that I am alcoholic, that I was addicted to a powder greater than myself (a couple of them), that for me, it is alcoholism, not alcoholwasm.  But today, another's decisions are not a threat to my sobriety. I might feel differently if this were in my home, but it's not, and not someone I see with any regularity. And, I know that "recovery" looks different for different people, and what works for others might not work for some. 

If anything, her story brings up melancholy, never far below the surface for me, for the close friendship we once shared. Again, it's the passage of time thing, in bas relief. I recall, with gratitude for finding my people, those heady days of early recovery when the revelations of the Steps felt like magic. I remember this friend saying to me, when I was trapped in a morass of guilt, "But it says in the Big Book that god wants us to be happy, joyous and free!" That was a lifeline at the time, the beginning of dropping the rock of shame by living sober and changing behaviors, and joining others on the path.

And as I've written before, many of those early sobriety friendships shifted and changed as we got jobs, paired off or got married, moved across town - all the things we do as we grow up and mature. So, here we are today. Some of those relationships have deepened and continue to thrive, some have shifted into something else all together, and some have evaporated into the ether of "What ever happened to so-and-so?" And people new to me show up as well, for a reason or a season, as the saying goes. Today I can appreciate the past as well as the present, one day at a time.

A friend recently wondered how I keep finding things to write about, but life continues to present opportunities for reflection. Just for today, I have a primary purpose. Just for today I will pay attention and will acknowledge and honor my feelings, whether joy on a sunny November day or a tinge of sadness for a changed relationship. 

How do you define "recovery" today? Do you know those who's definition or applications are different than yours? When is the last time you evaluated your values? Do your behaviors and choices match what you say matters to you? What feelings or emotions might need acknowledgment today?

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The NOW WHAT workbook is 78 pages of topics and processing questions, great for solo exploration or in a small group. Go to the WEB VERSION of this blog page for the link on ordering (PDF for those outside the U.S., or hard copy mailed to you). Contact me at SoberLongTime@soberlongtime.com or shadowsandveins@gmail.com with questions. And a reminder that the workbook, is available at the Portland Area Intergroup at 825 NE 20th. for local folks.

Walking the program

 This week I joined a small group of grade school pals for our monthly coffee date. A few years ago, one of our group had the idea that she wanted to be like the old codgers she'd see at the diner, shooting the breeze, reminiscing, sharing life. It felt so very good to sit with those who've known me since I was nine years old, through thick and thin. I peeled off to my first husband when I was 15, so many memories are not specifically shared, but enough crossover to feel solid and important. And grateful to acknowledge that we're fortunate to be alive (three of us are sober, two others don't have the affliction, though partied hard back in the day). Solid relationships feel especially important these days.

I'm thinking a lot about connection, that feeling of belonging and of being heard and known. I see articles about the crisis of loneliness in our hyper-connected world, how the psuedo-connection of social media is a poor substitute for actual people. I think about my morning walks, which I've complained about before, where many folks I say "Good morning" to walk right by as if I didn't exist, earbuds or not. Is that a post-pandemic thing? I can't remember, but it troubles me. I know I don't live in Mayberry, but a simple acknowledgement that we each exist would be nice. And, truthfully, there are enough of the friendly sort, whether a nod or brief conversation, to keep my faith in humanity from tanking altogether.

And, loneliness is so very different from the quiet time I need to stay centered. The often quoted Marianne Moore writes that "The cure for loneliness is solitude."  Yes. When I sit in silence, I'm better able to filter out the voices of doom and know that right here, right now, all is well. 

That being said, I've heard that alcoholics are those who treat loneliness with isolation. Ha! We are a complicated lot. What can be a challenge for me is to be still long enough to know if I'm isolating or taking a necessary break from other humans, and as an introvert, that can sometimes be hard to parse out. But again and again, listen to my heart.

In a meeting last week, the chair spoke of walking the program vs working it, which can sound and feel like drudgery. Walking the program brings to mind the path, the skipping along or trudging uphill. Walking the program feels like participating, rather than working it, which like my walks and workouts are sometimes done through gritted teeth. Do I have to? No, but do you want to maintain or improve your health, dear? It's merely semantics, but even the slightest change in words, like how I do the 3rd step prayer, can make a difference in my perception and engagement. And staying engaged is what I seek in long term recovery. I pay attention in meetings, or to what catches my attention elsewhere, in the "take what you like and leave the rest" category. For example, many people start the day reading pages 86-88 in the Big Book, but I found myself glossing over before too long, words on the page registering while my mind went to the day's plans. 

My first sponsor, who I've quoted before, often said, "You grow or you go." The "grow" might not be in leaps and bounds like earlier in recovery, but thank goodness for relative stability! And a huge "thank goodness" for my peers in long-term sobriety. Yes, I'm here for the newer person, and the reminder of "what it was like," and connecting with people who are walking beside me or slightly ahead is comforting.

Of course, there is always the "bleeding deacon" variety of long-timer. I sat next to a woman in a meeting once who whispered, "Do all old timers talk so much?!" when the fellow in question went on and on. It can be tempting to share every bit of what I've learned in 38 years in a 5 minute share, but really, was I listening back in the day? A good friend once said that after about four minutes, most people check out - a good reminder! Like when I went to my first AA dance and someone pointed out that most people in the room were self-centered alcoholics, thus not paying much attention to me. Alas - I am not the center of the universe, when dancing, or sharing in a meeting. 

And so, the beat goes on. What is on your heart today? How do you discern the difference between loneliness and healing solitude? What do you do for people-connection when you're tempted to pull the covers over your head? How do you walk the program today?

Keep calm and carry on

 Short post today... all I can muster.

In my elections gig, we go out and assist voters who have requested help in one form or another (sight issues and the like). This past week, we visited a woman who needed us to read her the ballot, the old fashioned way vs computerized. As we wrapped up, she said, with tears in her eyes, that this was likely her last time to vote as her physician has given her six months or less to live, due to cancer. She whispered, "I'm not ready to go," as we hugged and cried with her. 

I'm not ready to go. My mother said something similar when she was placed under hospice care, saying "They don't know!" that it would be six months or less. I did my best to let her process the end of life in her way and time, thinking, "Ah, she is not going to go quietly into the night." As she neared the end, with me praying that she go gently. she seemed to make her peace with it, but what a thing to be told, that the end is nigh.

Of course, in reality, while none of us actually know when, I do hope to go in peace when it's my time. I've had good examples of that in program friends and acquaintances who've passed, showing fear, strength, courage, uncertainty and fortitude, as well as demonstrating the principles of the program. As in all things, I learn from the example of others.

Speaking of the principles, we've had an election here in the States, and you may be mourning or celebrating depending on your views. AA/Alanon has no opinion on outside issues, and this is definitely one. However, I'm a human being and I do have opinions and emotions. What I know, as a long-term member of the fellowship, is that my prime directive, whenever strong emotions threaten my peace of mind, is to get centered and calm my heart. Whether my upset (positive or negative) comes from affairs of the world or nation, from family or friends, or my own internal machinations, I can first and foremost acknowledge and honor my feelings, and then do what I need to do to return to a place of calm. 

I am powerless over so much - drugs and alcohol once in my system for sure, as well as people, places and things. I don't always like that, but reality is reality. One of the many spiritual books I've read used the term, "Focus on that which abides," which likely means different things to different people. For me, much of what abides has to do with love, with family, with close friends, and recovery. It's aboutsuiting up and showing up, even in uncertain times. Today I had my cup of tea and went for a walk, quiet nods to those I passed on the way. I'm making soup, and will hit a meeting at noon then meet with a sponsee. I will regulate my social media and news ingestion, knowing that some of my loved ones are very sad and some are very happy. And the beat goes on, one day at a time.

What do you do when the news of the day intrudes on your peace of mind? How do you find, or return, to center when emotions run high? How are you an example of the program, today and all days?

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The NOW WHAT workbook is 78 pages of topics and processing questions, great for solo exploration or in a small group. Go to the WEB VERSION of this blog page for the link on ordering (PDF for those outside the U.S., or hard copy mailed to you). Contact me at SoberLongTime@soberlongtime.com or shadowsandveins@gmail.com with questions. And a reminder that the workbook, is available at the Portland Area Intergroup at 825 NE 20th. for local folks.

Holding still

 "I lived when simply waiting was a large part of ordinary life: when we waited, gathered around a crackling radio, to hear the infinitely far-away voice of the king of England… I live now when we fuss if our computer can’t bring us everything we want instantly." Ursula LeGuin

I try to be mindful of society's push towards filling every minute, of hurry, hurry, hurry. I don't wear earbuds when out walking (trust me, I don't need another voice in my head) and when waiting in line, at the post office or grocery store, intentionally do not pull out my phone. Simply standing still is ok. I'll never forget an incarcerated man I worked with in treatment, telling me how, the last time he'd been "on the outs" (i.e. free) he'd gone to the mall and was appalled at people in the Food Court, all staring at their phones. "It was like they were zombies, Ms B!" he said, not too far off.

I'd be the last to say I don't appreciate the convenience of having the world's information at my fingertips, though I am grateful to have grown up in the age of encyclopedias and card catalogs, dictionaries and reference books (as kids, we favored the "D" encyclopedia volume for dolls and dogs). Sure, finding stuff out was sometimes challenging, but I liked having found something on my own, and making it my own by the search, reading, and maybe writing about it. It seems that these days, we don't need to know things - just how to ask Google.  OK, old person rant for the week!

I just picked up a new book, Still Life at Eighty - the next interesting thing, by Abigail Thomas. I used to slightly resent being a late Baby Boomer, realizing that most of the insights and ah-ha moments related to my generation had happened a few years prior to my coming up to the questions. Kind of like when an old-timer in AA would say, "You're right where you're supposed to be!" God, I hated that. It's my journey, you old fart! Don't tell me I'm supposed to be this confused! But, as time goes on, I'm grateful for those who've gone before, those slightly ahead on the path of life and/or recovery.  I've never been an old person before. I know what that looks like on the outside, but what does it feel like? 

Thomas writes about the present being interrupted by vivid memory, that human capability of living in two places at once - past and present. A friend has reminded me that the past, joys and sorrows, experiences and regrets, all transpired to create who we are today - of course I have memories, some stronger than others, some appearing in a wisp and some driving a bulldozer. Somewhere I read that when our bodies become frail, it is our memories that will sustain and entertain us, and I certainly have a lot of them. I'm so very grateful for years of solid recovery and positive memories, as well as the painful ones that remind me to stay on the path. 

During a breakup, probably twenty years ago now, my mother expressed her sadness at my difficult life, citing Dad's death, my divorce, another hard breakup, addiction. I was taken aback. Yes, I was sad/scared/overwhelmed by the current situation, but since getting sober, my life had been stellar, with college, travel, and great friends, finally coming into who I was supposed to be. I shared that with her, sad myself that what she saw was the darkness when I'd been living in the light for eighteen or so years at that point. Perception, focus - where do I point my attention today?

And here we are, October nearly over. Have I kept my vow to myself to be present, to be mindful and truly inhabit my days rather than whoosh on through? Kinda, sorta. It's been a full month, with travel, birthday, a half marathon, the little forehead procedure... and time seems to move quickly, though maybe less so when I'm paying attention. My elections work will be over next week, and Sunday we turn back the clocks so it will be dark here in the Pacific NW by 5pm. I don't mind the change of seasons, the cozy darkness, and the reminder of transition - from busy to less so, from daylight to darkness, from sunscreen to warm sweaters, from shivering denizen to happy, joyous and free. It look me a long time to realize that life is transition, subtle and not so subtle shifts in circumstance, as well as my internal thermometer. One day at a time turns out to be a gift, not an empty platitude.

Where do you place yourself in the "hurry-up" world? Are you able to step off the treadmill and relish the moments as they come? How do you fill the empty space when waiting in line? Whether you are pro or con the time change, how do you relax into the transition while taking care of yourself?

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The NOW WHAT workbook is 78 pages of topics and processing questions, great for solo exploration or in a small group. Go to the WEB VERSION of this blog page for the link on ordering (PDF for those outside the U.S., or hard copy mailed to you). Contact me at SoberLongTime@soberlongtime.com or shadowsandveins@gmail.com with questions. And a reminder that the workbook, is available at the Portland Area Intergroup at 825 NE 20th. for local folks.