Individuality in Recovery

This week's video is short and sweet, a reminder of an important lesson to strengthen your recovery. Your path is yours. Own it.

Arielle's Word of the Day #28: TRAVEL

I totally didn't plan this - but I just traveled. I'm actually in a different state right now, halfway across the country. I drove close to 14 hours to be in a dear friend's wedding. Traveling anywhere always has a sense of excitement associated with it, but this time, I'm really excited! There is nothing better than spending days with the best kind of friend, someone who warms the heart and fuels the soul. I'm so honored to be part of her wedding.

Travel has so many forms. I have been on many trips like this one - to see people who I consider to be of my sisterhood...people have become part of my foundation.

I have made many journeys. The journey into marriage with my husband. The journey into the life of a social worker and therapist. The journeys of various writing projects. But before all those life journeys, I made the journey into recovery.

I traveled to dark places and back out of them into the light.

And because of that tumultuous journey, I began yet another journey: I travel every day - figuratively, emotionally, and through words - to bring that hope to all of you. I take this role as seriously as any job, and in many ways it is one. It is rewarding in ways I cannot describe...because in doing so, I get to watch all of you travel too. I get to witness your recovery journeys and it is absolutely beautiful watching you run into the light.

The Bigger Picture

It's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when there's something you want to accomplish but aren't quite sure how to get there. Your mind can get overwhelmed with what you want to achieve, what you want to BE, what you want to feel. You can lose control. You can turn to tactics to make you feel better. You can try to make it through the day so as not to freak out.

You slip at times back to where you started. To the very things you want to get away from. But you're trying to make yourself feel better. It's a strange concept. But it happens.

Lose weight
Eat less
Throw up dinner
Use the diet pills
Use the laxatives
Harm, hurt
Gain back the control

I'm all about living in the now--but what will those things do for you in the long run?

Make you sick?
Slowly kill you?
Wreck your life?
Destroy your pride?

Don't forget to look at the big picture in terms of recovery. Take one day at a time...but be sure to have a happy, healthy life as your long term goal. Let it be your candle in the darkness, your flag waving in the distance, your lighthouse beacon showing you the way to shore.

If you focus too much on all the little steps of recovery and forget what it is you're shooting for (i.e. a new life) you're doing yourself a harsh injustice and making your already difficult journey that much harder.