Its been 11 years and 5 months now since I had my last drug and my last drink. During this past 2 years I have decided to work as a volunteer for a drug and alcohol rehab as a junior counselor. Lately I volunteered in my local NA community (Narcotics Anonymous Philippines) in its PR committee to spread the word of recovery in my region here in Southern Luzon. I have also undergone training in a solution focused brief therapy training to enhance my counseling skills. All this volunteer work I am doing is to help me stay clean and enables me to keep what blessings I have received in my recovery. I think at this point it is the single biggest thing aside from going to the meetings that has given me contentment, meaning and purpose to my life.
FRom my day 1 in recovery til now, I practiced my steps in stages, although not by my own design, although it would have done me better if I did work the 12 steps continuosly.
From day 1 to 3 months I worked the first 5 steps and the 12th step which was a requirement in the facility I came from. And I was glad because the first 3 steps are the backbone of my daily life which now includes the 9th and 10th step. The 9th step I only started to really practice consciously and with deliberate effort only 2 years after being clean. I sat down and wrote letters to people I had harmed and whom I thought would not be hurt further by my apologies. The 6th and 7th step, sadly I was only able to do 2 and a half years ago, something which I should have done right after my step 5. The eleventh step, religiously, only 2 years ago. I now feel and would like to think that I am a better person for being able to do regularly all of the 12 steps and not just step 1, 2 or 3.
At the end of this month I will be attending an AA round-up in Baguio City where I have been asked to speak on how I worked my steps 1 to 9. I am looking forward to going there and seeing my buddies in the fellowship, rest and share my recovery and have a nice time.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
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