Rabbi Hillel says,
"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?" Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14
We have wasted our precious time, our lives, playing games. We have done it instead of talking with our family, instead of taking a shower, instead of eating, instead of studying, instead of going to the park with friends, instead of earning a living, instead of living life itself. We have hurt ourselves.
But when we recover, is our recovery only for us? Are we recovering just so that we can keep the job, get the promotion, buy our family better things, take that long-awaited cruise? Our society touts individual accomplishment over all else. But what does it mean about who I am if all I do is use my talents to help myself and perhaps those closest to me?
A spiritual solution to addiction leaves us in a better place than we were before, if we follow it. It takes us out of our own narrow focus on ourselves as consumers (consumers of material things, of food, of entertainment, of sex, love, friendship, accomplishment). It turns us from consumers into producers. It makes us more healthy, more fit to serve and assist others.
There are people starving all around us (including us). Starving physically, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, psychologically. We are literally a society of monstrous waste in which everyone is somehow starving. How sick is that?
What is my recovery for? So that I can live the life I was meant to live. So that I can live for my true self, and be fit to serve others. So that I can use my gifts to help myself, and use them to help others as well.
There is nothing new under the sun. The wise ones who have come before us have said it. We just don't listen.
I am a recovering computer game and gambling addict. My recovery birthday: On May 6, 2012 I quit games and began working a program of recovery through OLGA No computer games or slot games for me since December 12, 2012. No solitaire games with real cards since June 2013.
We're listening now, Dan. At every meeting whether our chat meetings here or the f2f ones I go to, I'm listening along with many others. Our spirits are rising in one accord saying,"We're made for more."
Missed you last night, btw.
Acceptance. When I am disturbed, it is because a person, place, thing, or situation is unacceptable to me. I find no serenity until I accept my life as being exactly the way it is meant to be. Nothing happens in God’s world by mistake. Acknowledge the problem, but live the solution!
Thanks, GaL. Had an important dinner to attend last night. I made it for a bit of the after-meeting meeting, which has apparently been quite strongly attended recently.
And I know you are listening. It's been listening to all of you that has brought me to where I am as well. :)
I am a recovering computer game and gambling addict. My recovery birthday: On May 6, 2012 I quit games and began working a program of recovery through OLGA No computer games or slot games for me since December 12, 2012. No solitaire games with real cards since June 2013.