The joy of recovery . . . and owning a dog.

I am feeling so blessed by this journey I’m on. And all I had to do was be a very sick, codependent alcoholic. Lol. Seriously though, the dark alleys of my life led me to the beautiful moments that now flood my days. And they keep multiplying.

I have given serious thought to why the “good” keeps multiplying and I’m convinced it’s the direct result of seeking to see the good in every situation. There is always good in even the darkest experiences. I wasn’t so sure of that fact when I first entered the rooms of recovery. Fortunately I stuck around long enough to hear a multitude of success stories from others. And in time, I had my own to share.

That’s the joy we share in these rooms. That’s the glue that keeps us coming back. That’s the attraction to the program that newcomers are treated to. And all we had to do was have lives that fell apart in order for us to seek the path to put them together once again. Couple that with the joy each of us in the fellowship receives every time we have an opportunity to share with others what it was like for us, what happened, and what it’s now like. Recounting our steps here is the surest indication that we plan to stick around. At least that is how it has worked for me.

And then add a labrador to all of that. haha I figured, in sharing my joys about recovery, another update about Nellie was in order. As most of you know, I never had children. Nor a dog. Joe and I have traveled “solo” for 38 years. Until a year and a half ago when we made the decision, that most of our friends railed against, to get a dog.

We got Nellie at 2 months. She is now 19 months. A beautiful yellow lab that behaves well, for the most part, even though the puppiness hangs on for at least another year, so we have been told. Joe has had her in many training classes. She is not an embarrassment in public. And she loves to swim. We live on a lake in the summers and it’s a perfect way to wear her out. haha And we have a pool at our winter home in Florida. Nellie is in heaven.

So I repeat, what more could I want? I have a great life. An even greater life partner. Sobriety. Good health. Work that continues to call to me and an Nellie too. It can’t get much better than that. And it all came about because I was lost once upon a time and thought the solution to my troubles could be found in alcohol and drugs and men. They led me here. In time. No detour along the way was superfluous. Detours never are. I am glad you found this post today on your journey.

May you continue to find the blessings in your life too.