If you go around thinking you are being cheated, life becomes very unpleasant. --Felix Salten
Sometimes we feel cheated that we have been given this darn disease to cope with. Why us? Why can't we just be like normal people? Why did we have to get into so much trouble and pain as a result of a disease that hit us and skipped over other people?
Another way to look at it is: Hey, I'm really lucky. I have a killer disease, and I'm beating the odds. I'm getting healthier every day. I got my life back.
Another way to look at it is: At least this is a disease I can recover from.
The Big Book Promises (on pages 83 and 84) say that any feeling of self-pity will disappear by the time we are working Step Nine. We may even be grateful for the path that led us to recovery. Do we believe it? There's one way to find out: We need to try it.
Prayer for the Day
Higher Power, help me to remember that there are a lot worse things in life than being in recovery.
Today's Action
What are five good things that I have gotten from recovery? Ten? I will write these down and refer to them when I'm tempted to feel sorry for myself.
Good morning Larry, good post. when i started feeling cheated 2 years ago i drifted into full blown relapse. Now i feel relieved that i don't have to be a closet drinker, i don't have to drink at all! the big thing i notice now is i don't wake up with hangovers!! how sweet it is! and not spending that money is a great thing in this bad economic period. so many things to be grateful for.... i choose to feel blessed and not cheated. ;) jj
Another fine example of turning the negative into the positive. You know it is a choice. Everything seems to be a choice.
Today my husband came home briefly from work. He was full of chastisement for me and the kids. Especially for me. Pointing out all the shortcomings.
Look at her he'd say, she's smiling again...she's probably drunk or been drinking. That is bullshit she is sober. Why can't you be normal he said to me. I said, what the F. Normal? Explain normal. He said, if you don't know, I'm not telling you.
My husband is so full of negativity, that a person could pull down heaven and it wouldn't be enough,and other times he's nice as can be.
For me this is a bad environment for staying sober, yet I do it. I have to think he has a problem and I have to stay sober in spite of it.
Divorce? Have you ever heard of a person like me getting a divorce because of an Alanon in the house? The positive part is I am still sober and I do not feel cheated because I am.
Yup, full of gratitude for the disease I got "stuck with" lol. Of course, when I get in self pity mode I always start the whole "why did this have to happen to me?" thing going, but I'm glad it did. It brought me to AA. It taught and helped me make the changes I've wanted in life for so long. It introduced me to loving friends I never knew existed. Most importantly, It brought me to a God of my understanding.
I could have cancer, and do chemo 2 times a month. Nah, I'll stick with my alcoholism. After all, unlike the chemo, I ALWAYS feel better after my treatment.
