Recovery Meditations: March 20th

Maintenance

"Another flaw in the human character is
that everbody wants to build and nobody
wants to do maintenance."

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

            With the help of our Higher Power, sponsors, and fellow Program members we have, completed the 12 Steps, studied the Big Book, hit regular meetings, worked the loops, given service, etc ....and finally were able to achieve abstinence and reach our recovery goals! Reaching our goals is one thing, but now we must maintain what we've struggled so hard to achieve. As COE's, we never truly lose our addiction for food. Relapse is only a heartbeat away. Therefore, we must diligently strive to continue working the Program tools to guard this precious gift that we have earned.

            One Day at a Time . . .
            I will diligently maintain the recovery goals I have worked so long and hard to achieve.

            ~ Rob R.

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Maintenance is indeed a tricky business for a COE.  This is when I've given up my hard earned abstinence in the past, usually very quickly after finishing another new diet.  This time, however, I've maintained my 100 lb loss for 39 months, with God's help, and by staying connected to other COEs and by working the OA program to the best of my ability.

I will never be 'cured'. I have a serious disease that needs to be treated seriously and so, I commit to God every day to stay abstinent by following my food plan.  I haven't kept the weight off by accident.  It's taken a lot of hard work, diligence & commitment on my part.  Without the tools of recovery, I'd have regained the weight several times by now, as I have in the past.

I am a heartbeat away from relapse; I will BE a heartbeat away forever.  I keep abstinence & sobriety my number one priority and by doing so, I have a much better chance of keeping my addictions locked up in their cage, where they belong. 

One day at a time, I commit to God & to myself to follow my food program and to work my program to the best of my ability. With support, spirituality and a solid food plan, I can do ANYTHING (as long as I carry God in my back pocket!)