‘Practicing These Principles In All My Affairs’… Or So I Thought!

After 8 years of Al-Anon recovery I really felt I had this one down. ‘Practicing these principles in all my affairs’, sure I did that. I used the tools of the program in all areas of my life – with my family & friends, on the job, at school – where ever I could apply the principles I did… or so I thought! Having done the work I have over the past year, it’s amazing to see just how many areas of my life were still untouched by recovery. I was ‘practicing these principles in all my affairs’, but compulsively eating and obsessively exercising to counteract it. I was ‘practicing these principles in all my affairs’, but acting out (and in!!) sexually in more ways than I can count. I was ‘practicing these principles in all my affairs’, but constantly either spending money I didn’t have or holding on to ever last penny – failing to pay my bills even when I had the funds to do so. ha ha ha It’s almost laughable to me now, but at the same time, I never want to put those 8 years and the hard work I did during that time down. It took those 8 years to get me ready for what was to come next. I’d been praying to my Higher Power for something more, I kept feeling like something was missing from my recovery. Ask and ye shall receive as the saying goes! Suddenly, doors and opportunities opened and people appeared to guide me on my path to recovery, my path to ‘practicing these principles in all my affairs’. This last year in my recovery has been the most challenging one for me, however, I think it’s also been the most rewarding – and I thank God everyday for the opportunity, for it truly, truly is a gift!

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