Assembled by Richard K. (LA)

Many of our SCA members have voiced their feelings about recovery and what it means to them, at retreats, at meetings, and at fellowship after meetings. Here are some of their thought and feelings

Recovery is...building up trust, sitting back and listening to others' stories at meetings, then letting out our feelings and our stories and our hurts a little at a time, experiencing the positive feedback and love of those around us

letting go of our shame by openly discussing our problems and our hidden history with those around us who understand

being gentle with ourselves, we've beat ourselves up enough in our lives; we need to know we're OK where we are at the moment and just do the very best we can for today

picking up the phone rather than acting out, beginning to break the isolation which feeds our dis-ease...
 

knowing we have a choice in each and every thing we do, always, and taking full responsibility for the outcome of each choice we make

sharing

living in today, this moment, rather than in the expectations of the future; no expectations means no disappointments

seeing the spiritual in a person, rather than, or in addition to the physical

knowing we are NEVER alone, even when we are by ourselves

being honest, with God, with ourselves, with our significant others and with each and every one we come in contact with

being willing to be willing, willing to listen, to be there for someone, to come to meetings when we don't want to, to evaluate our choices, to postpone acting out until another time, to love ourselves

forgiving ourselves when we get caught up in obsessions, or ogling a sharp number a little too long, a little too hungrily, or even for acting out

singing familiar, happy songs at the top of our voices while walking through the hills with a group of friends and not feeling ashamed

being of service to the Fellowship and to the community, in small ways and in larger ways

being able to talk to a person about the obsessions or fantasies we have about them, face to face, openly, honesty, without acting on them, and experiencing the freeing "defusing" of a compulsion

sitting on the top of a hill when the sun is rising and feeling the tears well up in our eyes and thanking God for all the beauty around us

being totally free to laugh and to cry and to laugh again, openly, without fear or shame, at a meeting, over the phone, with a friend

getting in touch with our bodies, not just our genitals, but our whole selves, lovingly caressing ourselves all over, realizing just how beautiful our bodies are

letting go, a little at a time, of being in control, being critical and manipulative, being judgmental; allowing room in our consciousness for compassion, acceptance, respect and love, for all those around us, and, so importantly, for ourselves

loving ourselves, knowing that we are really so very worthwhile