Overheard in Recovery: Perspective

Working in the addiction/recovery field I often meet people in those very early days of abstinence. One of the most difficult things to get across is that sobriety is not meant to be a punishment. The fact that a person sees it as that is one of a number of indicators that they may have a problem. So it came as refreshing to hear someone I was talking with have the following excellent change of perspective:

Sobriety is a gift to be enjoyed
Not a cross to bear.

It all depends on how you look at it. In some ways it is dependent on how you are willing to shift your perspective. One of the early changes any alcoholic or addict has to make is that huge movement from punishment to gift.

Sadly it is an extremely long jump for some to make. It feels like something important is being taken away, something that has felt like the very center of their lives even though they would never admit that. In reality that is exactly what is happening. But in the process, if they can see how much was taken away by the addiction then they can make the movement toward that shift which is essential.

It doesn't happen overnight. Cravings, desires- grief over the lost past- are real and need to be dealt with. But if one is to stay clean and sober the awareness that life will be far better than you ever thought possible has to be planted and allowed to grow.

Sobriety- like life- is a gift. Look at it from that angle and things begin to change.