A Discussion on New Year’s Resolutions
By David Greenberg | South Miami Recovery Social Media and Blog Writer
What Counts is Today
Exercise regularly? Yeah right!
Eat a healthier diet? Sure.
Be nicer to people? What?
Work harder? Oh yeah, whoopee!
These are some of my past New Year’s Resolutions. Some worked; mostly they lasted a month, a week, a few days.
It would be great if staying clean was as easy as a New Year’s Resolution, but you and I know it’s not.
There are no hard and fast statistics about people making a resolution for the New Year regarding recovery and even less data about how many stick to it.
If you’re attending 12-step recovery group meetings, it would be interesting to take note of how many people celebrate recovery birthdays in the first few months of the year.
In my own case, the New Year did have some impact on my recovery. Money, which was plentiful through December, dried up after the holidays. I managed to make it until the end of January before circumstances forced me to take a path I may have not yet been ready to travel.
So, the focus here is whether you are you ready to make the decision to find a new way of life at the start of this New Year. Whether it’s outside influences or your own choice, taking the option to try a life of recovery is a significant and challenging step.
Taking the First Step for New Year’s
Here are some steps to consider if you are trying to do that right now.
It’s a one-day-at-a-time proposition. If using was controlling your life, making the decision to stop does not mean thinking about the rest of your life, or one year, or even one month. Start with today. Do your best to stay clean today.
If drugs controlled your life, it’s safe to assume they consumed most of your time. That means you need to find other, healthier activities to fill that time. If there was something you loved to do before the drugs took over, try it again. That may include having to find new friends. Exercise, meditation and writing may also be part of your future.
Finding Clean Relationships
However, be prepared for it to take a lot more than simple changes in your behavior to free you of addiction. The reality is you have a disease that needs treatment, and you are not alone. There are countless other people on the same path as you trying to live a life free of addiction. Find them. They can help.
The first place to look for other people in recovery is a 12-step meeting. There are numerous Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings daily right here in the South Miami area.
Finally, for many people, their substance abuse issue is simply too overwhelming, and there is a need for greater help. That’s where we come in at South Miami Recovery. We offer substance abuse treatment to meet your needs. For us, addiction and recovery are personal. With our outpatient program, we can help you start on the path to recovery. All you need to do is take the first step – ask for help!
The result may just be that in future years you may be part of the group of people who made a New Year’s resolution and are celebrating your recovery birthday at the start of the year.
South Miami Recovery is a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center located in Miami, Florida. To learn more about our unique approach to recovery, call 305-661-0055 today.
David Greenberg is a recovering addict celebrating 35 years of recovery. He got his start in recovery at Mount Sinai Hospital and Concept House and remains active following a 12-step lifestyle.
