I’m Anonymous, a recovering sexaholic,
and I am making a program call.” Those
easy words are a bit harder to say from
the inside of a jail cell. Nevertheless, I can
get current, I can reach out, I can get out
of isolation by just writing this letter. Even
though I am stuck in a cell 21 to 23 hours
a day, I still have the tools to grow in my
recovery and to have a positive sobriety
by doing all I can for the sexaholic who
still suffers. I can connect with my Higher
Power. I accomplish this by daily Bible
reading, prayer, and reading recovery
materials. I attend any kind of meeting
(religious, AA, etc.) whenever possible and
I speak the language of recovery to my
“cellie,” a recovering alcoholic.
Due to the nature of my charges and due
to the nature of the other individuals in
“protective custody,” there is very little
fellowship and very little openness.
This contrasts so much with the honesty
and camaraderie of SA meetings.
Nevertheless, I choose to thrive and
continue to grow along spiritual lines.
Moment by moment, one day at a time,
I can surrender every temptation to
“numb out” or “act out” with memories
or fantasies. Surrender is still the key—
in here, or out there. Instead of “white
knuckling” or giving in, I choose to
surrender. I choose to maintain a firm
bottom line. TV shows, magazines,
or any memories that may be triggers
are immediately surrendered. My daily
journaling is also a very useful tool.
Maintaining a positive attitude, avoiding all
resentments (and surrendering them if and
when they come), and fostering a spirit of
gratitude are also key tools.
Honestly, some days are harder, some
days easier. On hard days and nights, I try
to use the tools of the program. I pray for
daily sobriety. Yet, I must also admit that
sometimes I feel my time here is wasted
and there seems to be no point to it all. But
I surrender that “feeling of uselessness.”
I try to focus on “the promises.” No one
ever said this would be an easy path. But
as I “trudge this road of happy destiny,”
I can only hope that my experience can
benefit others. And so I write—praying that
this letter can help someone, somewhere,
be sober for just one more day. Today, as
I celebrate day 595 of my recovery (the
last 17 in jail), I thank you, the reader,
for letting me be of service. Every single
person who reads or hears these words
helps me be sober. So I thank you! Thank
you for bringing me out of isolation and
helping me to be a part of the Fellowship.
I love you, appreciate you, and value you,
my dear brothers and sisters in recovery.
P.S. A few weeks before I entered jail,
I got a sobriety chip for 18 months, and
when I was released, I got my two-year
chip. The Program works, if you work it,
so work it, because you’re worth it!
For more information
https://chat.whatsapp.com/HHhenU9OyMQ13dDNnjhUm0
