If anyone among us thinks that recovery is easy, let him or her spread the word about just how easy it really is. The truth is, as we all know who are being honest with ourselves and others, is that recovery is not all that easy. In fact, there are times when we’d all like to chuck it by the wayside, give up and do something else that doesn’t require so much time and effort.

Ah, but we’ve made a commitment and we’ve chosen this new life of sobriety. That keeps us coming back to the rooms, even when we’d rather not.

Another point of observation that’s relevant is that we certainly don’t have the corner on everything it takes to be successful in long-term recovery. We may have bits and pieces of knowledge that we’ve picked up along the way, much of it things we’ve adapted to our own situation after hearing about this or that strategy or technique in the rooms, but we don’t know it all, that’s a fact.

What are some of the things that we find the most difficult to do in recovery? Is it making it past a hurdle that’s seemed to be insurmountable? Is it learning how to cope with incessant cravings and urges that strike at any time of the day or night? Is it coming to grips with recurrent nightmares that cause us to break out in a cold sweat and keep sleep at bay? Is it figuring out how to deal with well-meaning or other types of prying questions without getting angry, upset, fearful or confused?

Whatever challenges we face, we can be certain that someone else in the rooms has had a similar experience. We can learn a lot from just listening to others, even if we don’t open up our mouths to say anything pertinent to our own situation. We could remain mute, but it would be much better for us if we were to take advantage of the ever-present support and encouragement that’s available to us every day in the rooms.

We are the turtles, you see. We are the ones who may have struggled to get where we are today, but we were helped along by the encouragement and support of others who, just like us, once faced the uncertainties and difficulties of embracing recovery.

Are we too proud to accept help from others? If that’s the case, then we’re likely going to stumble along our personal recovery path for some time to come. We shouldn’t look upon it as a weakness or a lack of ability. All we are doing is learning something new, a new way to live that’s free of alcohol or drugs, or gambling or compulsive spending or compulsive sexual activity, even a combination of these behaviors.

Again, there’s something to be said about the accumulated body of wisdom that’s readily available to us in the rooms. If we but open our minds to the possibility that we might just learn something, that’s three-quarters of the way there. We can make room for new ideas in our personal world-view. We just need to acknowledge that there are things we can learn and then allow our minds to entertain the possibilities.

In a way, it’s a little like getting a boost to the top of the post from another. To those of us looking at the turtle way up there, it may seem impossible to believe that he could actually accomplish such a feat. That’s the narrow-minded view of persistence and the ability to recognize and accept help when it is offered. Does it really matter whose idea it was that helps us "see the light" of a great solution? Of course not. In fact, what generally happens is that we mull a suggestion or a solution we’ve heard about in the rooms around in our minds until we’ve made it our own. We tailor it, adapt it, fashion it to suit our needs and our unique situation. In this way, we’re getting a little help from our friends and making progress in recovery at the same time.

I sometimes think we hear these familiar sayings and sort of say, “Yeh, yeh, yeh. Whatever.” Maybe not consciously, but I know I can be a little dismissive.  However, I know that when I really savor the little things, life in general feels better. When I stop and think: “Wow. This is really nice. This is a nice moment,” my day just seems more special.

So what are the little things?  Bumping into an old friend and getting a chance to say hi; a few moments playing with your pet; a quiet moment with your familly having a nice dinner; a great movie; a great book; a laugh with a group of friends over a silly joke… the list goes on.

Every day little things happen that prove life is good – and if I focus on those little things that are there now rather than on those “big things” I think should be there now I feel content and appreciative.  That is a good place to be in sobriety.

Sometimes people associate humility with humiliation. They are so utterly different even if they do come from the same root humilis. 

Humility is inextricably intertwined with gratitude.  I am grateful for the opportunity to live life with a clear mind.  It is humbling when you see the tragedy of so many who do not achieve even a day of sobriety.  Why me?  Why have I been sober another day so it’s now been over 8,370 days since I had a drink? Why did a friend I once know in sobriety die last year because he relapse after 20 years?

Humility allowed me to take the first step and admit powerlessness. What arrogant, self-righteous alcoholic wants to admit anything close to powerlessness? I have to be truly grateful for acceptance of my disease. Most people do not accept it.

Humility is important because without it I may become complacent or even arrogant. (Alcohol can’t get me!)  Humility keeps me in the proper frame of mind: I am one drink away from being not-sober.