Our need and ability to interact with other people, and to come together as a communal force, has always been Homo sapiens’ most cutting-edge advantage. Its superpower.
Even more effective than opposable thumbs, or being able to walk upright.
I am labelling this superpower Love.
Love enables us, as couples, families, clubs, tribes, nations, as a specie, and in groups such as ours looking to break free from the chains of addiction.
One doesn’t need to be a Christian to believe in the value of Love, but I do like The Bible’s list of Love’s identifying features:
- Patient
- Kind
- Doesn’t envy
- Doesn’t boast
- Isn’t proud
- Isn’t rude
- Isn’t self-seeking
- Not easily angered
- Doesn’t keep a record of wrongs
- Doesn’t delight in bad shit
- Rejoices in good shit
- Protects
- Trusts
- Hopes
- Perseveres
Wow!
This process has required that I aim Love inward.
I have needed to be very kind and caring with myself.
I still do.
To have broken free of the bonds of the alcohol trap, I will have embraced much, if not all, of this list at some point, and to remain free I am consciously attempting to take up a life stance reflective of its core values.
If you are in recovery, you will have too; I immediately feel a kindred spirit with you.
Well done us!
GO! GO! GO!
Love is in play.
Each new sober author I discover.
Each new subscriber to this blog.
Each new sober person I meet or hear of.
Each new day I live alcohol-free.
… Reminds me that I am part of something bigger and lovely.
I am so happy to be here today, Day 47.
I celebrate with all who are here and all those who have yet to come.
TOP TIP:
Love is a choice to choose,
a stance to take,
a muscle to be flexed,
a sword to be wielded,
A life-line to be thrown,
A harvest to be gathered,
and a place of health, wealth and beauty, wherein I want to make my home.
I Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails…
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Just read this this evening.
Proverbs 23:Saying 19
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaints?
Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who linger over wine,
who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup,
when it goes down smoothly!
32 In the end it bites like a snake
and poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
and your mind will imagine confusing things.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
lying on top of the rigging.
35 “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
so I can find another drink?”