Being an Exceptional Being. When we first arrive in recovery we are questioning many things. We are questioning if we’re making the right decision, we are questioning will this work for me, we are questioning if follow through with the path we decided to try. One thing that we do know is that we can no longer live the life we are living. We can no longer lose all the things that we have been losing. We also know that feeling this type of despair had to end. Having said that, I went searching for everything I could in the plan of recovery that would help displace the negativity I had brought with me.
One of the most exciting things I have ever read was on page 98 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. It reads “Burn it into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house.”
As I have previously shared with you, one of my dear friends, Tom Bennet, elevated that notion and let me know I could become weller than the well. Between the original written text and Tom’s challenge I used it as one would entice a horse with a carrot. Over the years, I have expanded my thinking and thought of other adjectives. One of those adjectives is the word Exceptional. As a person who was taught never to settle and having adopted the middle name of MORE, I think exceptional is a perfectively good choice and goal.
Let’s look at the word for a moment and then discuss the ins and outs of being an exceptional being.
Adjective: forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary: unusually excellent; superior:
Here are the things we can do on the road to being exceptional.
- Define what exceptional means to you
- Know that being exceptional is fluid. Like our recovery, it is subject to change
- Being exceptional isn’t all our nothing. We can have a constant overall exceptional value while having varying degrees in various personal departments
- Look to others that you and those you admire agree have achieved that “exceptional” definition
- Monitor your progress and celebrate success’ while being careful not to be too harsh in areas you are still growing
- Know that True Exceptionalism is a journey not a destination.
- Always be willing to share with others the path with those who find your position in life something for which they would like to strive.
Being an Exceptional Being is not about being better than others, but rather being the best possible version of others.
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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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