Freedom from the Past

 Today I am deeply grateful for new beginnings, large and small. Today is one of of large ones—today I celebrate 11 years of sobriety. 

I am always free of the past in the sense that it is gone, it is done, it is over, and no amount of angst or wishful thinking can change it. I can, however, learn from it. I can reflect on both losses and successes, and on those things which led me down paths of extreme lessons. I can recognize, in retrospect, how I couldn’t see the red flags, and how I missed them. I can enjoy the luscious memories, reliving those moments of happiness while remaining firmly grounded in Today.

Today is a day of celebration and gratitude. If I hadn’t been willing to admit the defeat of will-power alone, if I didn't have the courage to go to my first meetings and say “I’m just like you”, I wouldn’t know the fullness of life that I feel today. I was given the gift of Good Orderly Direction; what to do, how to do it, and the invaluable help of those who had similar challenges, along with my connection to my Higher Power.

Today, right beside the people I admire most, I celebrate myself—but there will be no champagne!