Reborn Again. A few weeks ago, I saw a Facebook post and the meme stated, “How far do you live from the place you were born.” Even though I knew what they were asking a geography question, the first answer that came to mind was “which time?” I know that might sound a little odd and maybe it is, but it made perfect to sense to me and maybe it does to you. Most often, I view things from my recovery lens. This meme got me thinking about regeneration, reinventing, and resurrecting.
Prior to and early in recovery of all the places I have lived I had to experience a type of rebirth. I could never be the same person because I didn’t know who I was and was not quite sure of what the location or the people there would expect of me. Have you ever felt that way? We live in a space where we wanted to be someone else, doing something else, from somewhere else. I was never satisfied. The pain of who I was could be so overwhelming that self-medicating seemed to be the most effective response. I often would tell myself the truth and admit the pain and harm I was causing, but facing the reality of the moment meant coming to the reality of who I thought.
The Big Book advises that “we don’t regret the past, nor do we wish to shut the door on it.”
Taking this advice, I look at the moment in time when “I said I can’t do this anymore.” I was literally “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” At that moment, I was reborn for the last time. Everything moving forward was part of the final rebirth. One of the most remarkable things about recovery is that my/our last drink/drug could literally be our last drink/drug. Consider the life of a newborn child and liken our growth to that. Here are some of the things we ought to consider when considering how far we live from where we are born.
- Never forget the day we decided not to die
- Relive the hope we felt for the first time
- Always rely on the foundation of the rebirth
- Be resolved to visit the past solely for helping others
- Be open to hearing of where others were born
- Live each day as if it is the only day while keeping an eye on tomorrow
- Always be ready to share with others what has been given to you
Always remember that we have been given a gift. The overwhelming majority of people like you and me die before they take advantage of this rebirth. Get and remain grateful. Reborn Again.
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Robert Pardon
Robert is the Recovery Guy. Getting clean and sober on April 25, 1986 has given me the insight and practical skill set to not only stay sober, but to also re-invent myself to the person I always wanted to become. Showing others how to do this is my life goal.
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