FALL BACK

This weekend we got an extra hour to our day. For me it meant a chance to snuggle in bed with my daughter, yet still find myself up at a reasonable hour. This plan relative to the change of hours was designed so that there is more light available in the morning as kids head off to school. Of course, for me, it will mean coming home to deep darkness. So there are advantages and disadvantages, as with most things.

 

Which raises the question, how do you view things in your life? Delighted by the brightness of the morning or discouraged by the darkness of the night?

 

Each of us brings our own temperament to situations. I’m sure you’ve heard the cliché of viewing the glass as half-full or half-empty. How does that relate to your recovery and to life?

 

If you make two steps forward, but then fall one step back, do you celebrate that you are one step further along in your recovery? Or do you focus on the slips that you’ve made?

 

This is a challenge in many different avenues of life. As a writer, what is my response to rejections? Do I accept them as part of the process and resubmit my work elsewhere? Or do I allow this to define me in a larger way—decide that I’m a failure? If writers took that view whenever rejections came their way, most books would have never been published. My book, Stop That Nose!, was rejected by previous editors and agents, but was then published. Even Harry Potter wouldn’t be out, topping bestseller charts if J.K. Rowling hadn’t pushed past some initial rejections.

 

So what do we do? We fall back and, perhaps, shore up our supports before we try again. But we try again. We slog on. We reach for another handhold on the rocky climb. We get some more tools, maybe an extra rope to secure our position, but we climb on.

 

How do you view things? Journal about your day. Now look back at the description. Have you viewed things that happened as darkness in your life? Is there another way to view the events? We all have annoyances throughout the day—can we find humor in some of the situations, a tidbit of new knowledge, a sense that we are stronger because of the adversity? Maybe the challenge allowed you the chance to practice using your voice.

 

We’ve talked before about rituals. Is there a way to design a ritual to celebrate each step forward in your recovery? Or maybe celebrate each day that you are trying even if there was a stumble that day? Can you journal a positive to yourself? Remind yourself—I am worth it. I am beautiful. I am a special person.

 

You are worth it!

You are beautiful!

You are special!

 

Acknowledge your uniqueness and go, Write On!

 

Martha Peaslee Levine, M.D.