It has been a while since I have been here and a lot has happened.
I have broken up with my three year, very angry, partner and am on my own.
I decided to do the facilitators course at SMART recovery and am two days away from finishing it. It has been a case of "if you would truly know something, teach it!" I have learnt a huge amount from the material - particularly "motivational interviewing" and the insights it has broke to me about myself.
In particular, NO-ONE wants to be told! Everyone wants to be acknowledged as an individual and a person.
There are people I LOVE in AA.
I spent Xmas day, Xmas dinner, at an AA function with about 70 people - SMART Recovery had no such thing. I spent Xmas day with my mate from AA, Desmond.
However, I see a lot of 10 and 20 year AA people who are not well in themselves and who struggle as people.
Perhaps the fault is not AA - perhaps it is humanness.
AA helped me get myself Sober. It gave me the regular meetings and some people who cared about me to get my life back on track.
SMART Recovery has given me my sense of self back. Purpose and direction.
I believe that the combination of the two is essential for the beginning of total wellbeing.
Oh, there are people in SMART Recovery who are stuck and who struggle.
I would love all people in and out of AA and SMART Recovery to be at peace and live self-determining, full lives.
