July 15

You don’t have to dance with everyone, but you really should dance with someone. We don’t do this thing alone. We really don’t. As much as some of us would like to, it is nearly impossible to stand alone in this disease of addiction and fight it alone. We all romanticize the lone avenger or the anti-hero in American movies. It is part of our culture, but it is not part of recovery. It’s rare to hear stories of someone addicted to drugs and alcohol suddenly getting struck sober and living the rest of their lives without a compulsion or desire to drink or drug again. And especially doing that all by themselves. We have become so used to our self-reliance and taking care of ourselves (sometimes very poorly). We survived on our own terms, and asking for and receiving help is entirely foreign to some of us.

Reflections

Are you trying to do this solo? Are you receiving the help you asked for?

Daily Challenge

If you are having trouble receiving help, be honest about this aspect of yourself with someone else and let them know it’s hard for you to receive help.