International Recovery Month
When day comes, we step out of the shade of flame and unafraid.
The new dawn balloons as we free it.
For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
(Amanda Gorman – the Hill we Climb)
During the next few days, I plan to share with you some poetry that reflects my own personal and wonderful journey in recovery from addiction. Back in November 1977 in Baggott Street Hospital in Dublin, a very direct and honest Medical Consultant suggested that all the medical tests pointed to my condition that is known today as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
In his words I was “a fully functioning but chronic alcoholic”.
Since then, a day at a time and with on-going support from family, friends, fellow travellers, workplace colleagues, self – help recovery programmes, professionals, I have lived my one precious life in gratitude for the life of freedom that underpins my recovery journey.
Long gone are the denial, delusion, guilt, stigma and shame that are just some of the traits of someone in active addiction. All replaced by a quiet self confidence that begins with being comfortable in one’s own skin, being honest with one’s self and others, having a truly open mind and a willingness to go to any lengths to hold on to the peace of mind that comes over time to all who are fortunate enough ‘to trudge on the journey of happy destiny’.
For some time poetry has been my ‘golf’ – a hobby that allows me to express some creative thoughts and ideas in a format that allows me just to be me.
Over 250,000 people in Ireland today suffer from alcohol use disorder and negatively impact over 2.5 million other people including over 100,000 children – please help to spread the message of Recovery that is freely available to all who want to travel the road less travelled.
I hope you enjoy the poetry works that I have chosen – take just one a day and we can repeat the dosage as required as we work our way up towards International Recovery Day on the 30th September 2021.
Addiction is often referred to as the disease of the more and to whet you creative appetite, below is one of the first poems that will be shared over the coming week.
Autobiography in Five Short Chapters – By Portia Nelson
(My all-time favourite ‘Recovery’ Poem)
Chapter I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost … I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.
Chapter II
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place
but, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter III
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter V
I walk down another street.
Portia Nelson (May 27, 1920 – March 6, 2001) was an American popular singer, songwriter, actress, and author. She was best known for her appearances in the most prestigious 1950s cabarets, where she sang an elegant repertoire in a soprano noted for its silvery tone, perfect diction, intimacy, and meticulous attention to words.
In 1965 she portrayed the cantankerous Sister Berthe in the film version of The Sound of Music; she also had a minor role as Sarah in the musical Doctor Dolittle; on TV’s All My Children Nelson played the long-running role of nanny Mrs. Gurney.
Her book of poetic musings, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery, became a mainstay of twelve-step programs.
