Recovery for me is learning a new system of beliefs, feelings, and behaviors that, when put into action, come to define a morally right way to live. It also goes beyond just learning the right way to live for myself. 12-step recovery also means sharing these learned practices with other individuals who are on the same path. It means always doing the next right thing for the greater good and placing the highest value on the freedom from addiction. Recovery also means not judging others but instead judging only what is right or wrong with me individually. In 12-step recovery, we take daily inventory of our own behaviors and then making continued changes as needed in order to live a happy and joyous life as promised in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
Lorie Wong, LCDC
