Living life on life's terms is not something that I was accustomed to while I was out there qualifying. I had been running away from everything since I was a little kid. Alcohol became another way of escaping life.
Man I will never forget when I 1st got sober in December of 2002. Taking things A-day at a time without picking up a drink was really a big challenge.
What I have learned Is that life does not simply get easier just because we get sober. We simply get better at dealing with life.
And Life is so unpredictable. It loves to throw a wrench in my plans and screw things all up. There is little that remains steadfast as I move through my life. Life is always changing. This is true even for those who never struggle with addiction, but for people like you and I, this uncertainty can be very unsettling.
The best way I have found to to cope is to accept that life is going to present unanticipated challenges. This is what is meant by life’s terms. Regardless of whether you believe in a higher power or the power of sheer chance, uncertainty is the only thing you can be certain of.
I was always taught to plan the action but don't plan the result. And don't place expectations on anything. It's a great way to set ourselves up for disappointment.
My life Is not always a bed of roses but is a far cry from how it used to be. I've learned to have a lot of gratitude. I have also learned to not run from my problems but rather work through them.
And don't worry if you're not able to adopt to these principles right away. It takes lots of practice and it's different for all of us. We didn't get this way overnight and we're not going to get better overnight.
