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Writer's pictureSober AA Member

Moving Forward and Finding True Joy: A Lesson in Letting Go of the Past

Have you ever felt like your past was holding you back? Like there were hurtful people in your life who made you feel sad or upset? Well, guess what? If you've managed to escape from those tough times and removed those hurtful people from your life, it's time to start looking ahead and moving forward!


Imagine your life as a journey, like walking on a path. Sometimes, the path might be bumpy and hard to walk on because of the hurtful things that happened in the past. But you have the power to make it smoother by leaving the past behind. It's like leaving behind heavy bags that were slowing you down.


One important thing to remember is to stay away from toxic people. Toxic people are like rainclouds that can make your sunny day gloomy. If you want to be happy, it's best to stay away from them. Imagine toxic people as those who pour sand on your path, making it harder to walk. You deserve a clear path to happiness!


Now, here's a big secret: Stop looking backwards! If you keep turning around to look at where you've been, you might trip over something right in front of you. It's like trying to walk while looking over your shoulder – not the best idea, right?


Another important thing is to stop fanning the flames of hate. Just like blowing on a tiny spark can make it grow into a big fire, talking about bad things from the past can make those bad feelings grow stronger. Instead, try focusing on things that make you happy and help you feel good inside.


Hanging around people who make you feel like a victim isn't good for you either. Imagine these people as anchors that keep your balloon from flying high. You want to be free like a balloon soaring in the sky, not held down by heavy anchors.


You can use the principles of Al-Anon and your faith in God to help you on this journey. Al-Anon is like a guidebook full of helpful tips for dealing with tough situations. And remember, God is like a warm hug that can comfort you when things get hard.


So, remember, you're on a journey. Leave the heavy bags of the past behind. Stay away from toxic people, stop looking backwards, and don't let hate grow bigger. Instead, focus on finding joy and happiness. Use the lessons from Al-Anon and the comfort of your faith to guide you. Your path to a brighter future starts now! You gottawanna find peace and love keep moving forward and stop looking backwards.






18 August Perseverance Pays Off Page 238 "Caring for our spiritual condition is like cleaning the house: If we want the benefit, the work must be ongoing." Living Clean, Chapter 1, "A Vision of Hope" We experience peace of mind and freedom when we consistently work on our spiritual fitness. We get in a groove of daily inventories, prayer and meditation, and helping other addicts. The results are obvious, and it feels great to be comfortable in our own skin, connected to a Higher Power and to others in recovery. It's a beautiful thing--until we sabotage it! Just as it's easier to keep a home tidy after we've done a thorough cleaning, steady work on our recovery yields consistently good results. And yet, it's so flipping easy to skip our daily inventory and, before we know it, several days or weeks or months have passed. It's no surprise when we lose perspective and our lives become unmanageable again. We sit down, reluctantly, and recommit to our Tenth Step. A sense of relief returns. Maybe next time, we'll only wait a few days before we sit down to write. Progress! We may not be hardwired to persevere, but we get better at it with practice. We can start again at any time. We don't need to devolve into a state of desperation before we reach for solutions; today, we can be inspired to do the work of ongoing recovery. We notice the sense of ease we enjoy when we stay immersed in the process. We put one foot in front of the other and persevere. Each of us develops a routine that works for us, built from the suggestions shared in the experience of others. "When I see a member struggling, I always tell them that my best days start with a quick prayer before my feet hit the floor," one member shared. Another shared about their eclectic approach to meditation: "A couple of deep breaths in the shower or a long walk after dinner does it for me." The trick is sticking with it and, when that fails, getting back to it. I will evaluate my spiritual condition today. Am I getting the results I want from my current routine, or is it time for a spiritual deep cleaning?



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