Wanting to be "Normal"

Many of us have a problem.

We are hoping that someday when we have this addiction under control, we can return to "normal."

We have dreams of being able to do those things that other non-addicted people do.

Here are some of the things that many of us hope to be able to do in recovery:

• Use a smartphone
• Use Facebook
• Use Twitter
• Use YouTube
• Use Instagram
• Browse the Internet
• Play video games
• Go to the beach
• Go to public pools
• Go to most movies
• Go to concerts
• Subscribe to Amazon or Netflix
• Read most magazines
• Remove filters from our computers and phones 

Even though many of the above activities contain triggers for each of us, we hope that once we are in recovery that those triggers will no longer affect us -- and we can start doing those things again.

Well, that type of thinking is called "Magical Thinking."

We need to accept the fact that an addict in recovery is still an addict.  A recovering alcoholic is just one drink away from a complete relapse.

We each need to recognize that if a certain activity or the restriction of a certain activity helped us in our recovery, then there is no good reason to ever change that activity or that restriction.

If something works, don't stop doing it!

Just as a successful diabetic needs to limit the things he takes into his body -- for the rest of his life, we need to limit the things we take into our minds -- for the rest of our lives.

Let's stop wishing to be normal and enjoy the blessings of recovery.