Addiction is serious business. So serious in fact, that it’s often a matter of life and death.
Part of the beauty of recovery is that, after the darkness of addiction, there’s hope and joy in the life. And because we’ve tasted despair, the hope seems that much sweeter.
ENJOYING THE GIFT OF LIFE
I think that’s why the Big Book says “We’re not a glum lot… we absolutely INSIST on enjoying life!”
We of all people have so much to celebrate. Before recovery, there was nothing to live for except that next hit. Now, every day is a gift that fills us with wonder.
Not that life is perfect, but now we have the tools for dealing with life on life’s terms, we can and MUST enjoy each and every day.
Even in the midst of the struggles of life, we can step back, realize that things are so much better than they once were—so much better than we deserve. We can and we must insist on enjoying life just as the text implores.
THE STORY OF RULE 62
Back in the early days of A.A. an ambitious man created a grand plan for a center to help alcoholics recover. The plans were as detailed as they were magnificent, having 61 very well thought out rules to how the facility would be run.
The man submitted the plans to the A.A. headquarters in New York, but the plans for a grand, centralized facility didn’t fit the model of A.A. The story goes that Bill W. replied that the plans were definitely inspiring, but the undertaking wasn’t something the group could facilitate.
Being ambitious, the man decided to continue pursuing his plans against Bill W’s advice.
He soon realized that he would not be able to bring his grand scheme to life, but the story doesn’t end there. After he realized his 61-rule center wasn’t going to happen, he decided to create a new rule and promptly distributed it to A.A. groups across the country.
Maybe you’ve heard of this rule. It says: “Don’t take yourself too damn seriously.”
SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT
So today, as we remember Rule 62, we want to share a few of our favorite bits of recovery humor. May you laugh a little as you remember that we’re far too blessed to be a glum lot!
Want to laugh even more? Check out our Recovery Humor Pinterest Board