In a recent S-Anon meeting, we read an essay on detachment from a CAL source and then were asked to spend some time in writing. I considered the reading, my own work, and the shares of others. Then, as I reflected upon how detachment fit in with the other pieces of the recovery “puzzle” for me, I wrote a few lines. While it didn’t seem like much on paper, I realize how important these ideas are for me in my own journey. I was encouraged to share my writing as a service to others in program. This is what I wrote:
When I feel like someone else has to change or my life needs to unfold in a certain way for me to be happy, I am in my S-Anon Problem.
Yet, the paradox is that when I detach, I actually gain.
When I detach from my desire to alter the people and circumstances of my life and acknowledge my feelings and release them to God, I gain acceptance.
When I detach from the anger, sadness, and pain and I believe that things are being worked out and that God has a bigger plan for me, better than anything I can imagine, I gain faith.
When I detach from the anxiety and fear that stands in the way of my relationship with Higher Power, and learn to take positive action on behalf of my highest good, I gain recovery.
Reprinted from the Fall 2010 issue of The S-Anews©.