12 Step Meetings

Earlier last year, I made the uncanny prediction to my husband that it looked like 2014 was shaping up to be a year of busy travel. He quickly responded his displeasure at my remark. Last year did turn out to be a very busy year, personally and professionally, and I spent a fair amount of time away from home.

Some of the conferences I attended had open 12 Step meetings every morning before the events of the day began in earnest. I always did my best to make these meetings when I could. I find it beneficial to commune with like-minded individuals and set my spiritual intention for the day. And, as has been my experience, when you travel and attend often enough, it begins to feel a little like a traveling home group. At a minimum, there are always smiling, sober faces to greet a fellow sister in recovery.

We have all heard the saying “home is where the heart is.” But what does this mean in general, and to us as individuals? And more specifically to individuals in recovery?

I read a quote in a magazine recently by Cheryl Strayed, the author of the book Wild.
She stated she had reached the age where she no longer needed validation from anything outside herself. A piece of me believes that having my heart at home is quite correlative with the idea of my sense of self and well-being coming from my relationship with my Higher Power and finally with myself. The Big Book describes the fundamental idea of God being deep down within every man, woman and child. And, in my experience, when I began to really seek a connection with God and with myself, it was right there all along.

So, as 2014 drew to a close, I had one more trip to go. Then, I was home for Christmas – and as usual, and thankfully, my home was a flurry of activity with children, presents, food and love. I’ll write a blog another time about the downfalls (literally) of an aging body, but for now I’ll focus on the wonderful gift of an aging heart. I am able to be present and enjoy the beautiful chaos of my home, and my heart.

And for that, I would have traveled to the ends of the earth to find. Thankfully, all I had to do was look in and up!

Blessings to all in 2015.

Marsha Stone, CEO
BRC Recovery