I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
We’re celebrating another ¤ JohnnyO Gratitude Day! ¤

The Elephant in the Room

Prompt: “What did I see that no one else seemed to notice?

More accurately, what didn’t I see that everyone else seemed to notice?

Easy answer, I was a f***ing mess.

Another thing I didn’t see was that there was an absolute legion of people ready, willing, and available to help if I had only had the courage to ask. This was a critical time in my life, and I wasn’t having it.

The good news is that I can now reflect and articulate what worked and why. What did it take? My 5th Anniversary of Sobriety just passed recently. My first inclination as this milestone approached was to throw a big party. After all, I have always been a party guy.

I wanted music, moving spoken words, and great food. All of which contribute to memorable gatherings. But as I began planning, I did a complete pivot.

As I was writing this piece at my regular weekly Writing Group that I have been participating in for almost the entire five years of my Sobriety, I realized it is not about any one particular event.

Now that I am finally sober and in successful long-term recovery, what I am now seeing after my long and sordid history of half-hearted attempts and relapses, is that it will never be about any one particular event or recognition date, IT WILL FOREVER BE ABOUT CONSISTENCY.

Not just declaring the new me daily but exemplifying that person…always a work in progress, Daily. So rather than having a big party on any one date, I want to have regular small gatherings where we all come together to celebrate the web of people, activities, and entities that help us grow and maintain consistent wellness. Synergy: It’s not about me, it’s about WE!!!

It’s a tricky balance, not an elephant in the room, more like an elephant walking across a balance beam with the gentle coaxing and assistance of others. One slow step at a time.

-John Olander