What makes the best moments in our lives so special is that we don’t see them coming. Unfortunately, our worst moments can result from the same. This morning, I heard a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The years teach much which the days never know.”

There have been several times in my life when I felt like what was in front of me was more than I could handle. The thought of never drinking again seemed impossible. The idea of my life moving forward after losing a loved one felt unbearable. And the thought of never seeing the world move the way I used to felt too heavy.

Handling something difficult doesn’t have to mean you put on your boxing gloves. It’s simply what you do next. Sometimes handling the hard stuff just means getting up in the morning. Sometimes being brave is opening the window shade when we’d rather stay in the dark. And sometimes handling something is sharing with someone else who will walk through it with you.

It's the small, seemingly insignificant acts that show our greatest strength.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts and on ⁠YouTube⁠! Visit me at ⁠⁠⁠recoverydailypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ or email me at ⁠rachel@recoverydailypodcast.com⁠.

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So, I was walking down the street in my neighborhood on the sidewalk and approaching me were three women walking side by side yapping with each other. As they got closer, I realized that they had no intension of making room for me to walk by. As a result, I stepped into the street to go around. How often does other people's behavior make absolutely no sense to you? That's what I talk about in today's episode. In retrospect, I could'a played chicken to see if they'd just walk right into me. 🤣

I'm learning that trying to make sense of someone else's behavior is likely to drive me crazy. When I look at other's behavior through the lens of my life experiences, it doesn't make sense. I have to remember that we are all students in life, and no one has it all figured out. In today's episode, I talk about giving others the same grace that has been given to us. We are all imperfect humans stumbling through life.

I've spent my time in sobriety learning how to forgive myself for my imperfections and learning how to forgive others for theirs. Now it's time to give grace and forgiveness in real time, moment to moment, when I feel my tolerance of others evaporating. I tell myself that everyone is doing the best they can with what they've been given. I'll never be able to fully understand someone else's behavior that is based on their life experiences. Instead, I'm better equipped to practice being gentle with myself and gentle with others. Some days I get it right, and some days I don’t.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts and on ⁠YouTube⁠!

Visit me at ⁠⁠⁠recoverydailypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ or email me at ⁠rachel@recoverydailypodcast.com⁠.

#RecoveryDaily #GraceAndTolerance #LoveAndForgiveness #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealth #PrayerAndMeditation #SelfCompassion #PersonalGrowth #RecoveryPodcast #AARecovery

You know that feeling when you're late, and there is absolutely nothing under your control that's going to get you there on time? You start panicking, sweating, and getting angry at whatever is blocking your path. You want life to move at your pace. In recovery, I'm learning how to move at life’s pace, rather than trying to move life at mine.

In today's episode, I talk about how a trip to the DMV showed me that when things don't go as expected, I expend a lot less energy if I let go. Go figure! I learned by the simple act of shutting my eyes how to let go. But, it all starts with that decision to turn it over when you want to grip it tighter.

I'm learning that letting go is not just a daily practice, it's moment by moment. Self-sufficiency led me to hit walls over and over again. I was unwilling to give up control. I was angry, frustrated, anxious, scared, panicked, sad, desperate. I thought I was self-sufficient. But it's clear to me today that it was self-INsufficiency. The only way forward for me was to let go and ask for help.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts and on ⁠YouTube⁠!

Visit me at ⁠⁠⁠recoverydailypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ or email me at ⁠rachel@recoverydailypodcast.com⁠.

#RecoveryDaily #Step3 #LetGoAndLetGod #SobrietyJourney #ProgressNotPerfection #TrustTheProcess #AARecovery #MentalHealth #SoberLiving #HigherPower #AddictionRecovery