My husband has been doing a project inside our house that has taken a while. Sanding, spackling and painting on a ladder. It’s not out of his wheelhouse—just time-consuming.
There was a particularly hard spot to get to that was tight behind a spiral staircase. He had to scratch his head and think a long time about how to get there to get the job done. He dreamed of tools to get to the area. Finally, he created and built a new tool to clean the area and then built another tool to paint the hard-to-reach area.
When he was finished, he bounded into my office with a big smile on his face and said, “You have to come here. I need to show you what I did and I need your Atta Boy!”
Of course, I skipped behind him to see what he accomplished. We were both overjoyed at the accomplishment. “Atta Boy, Dick!” He had not only accomplished this difficult task, but devised new ways of attacking the problem. He had built new tools to help him along the way.
Sound familiar?—It reminded me of how this applies to sobriety.
When we finally decide to get sober, we all need “Atta boys” in our recovery journey. This is what the recovery chips are all about. The chips we give out to celebrate various lengths of sobriety are our way of encouraging each other along the way. Your sobriety becomes my sobriety. In standing with you along the way, I am investing in your sobriety time, and you in mine. Then, we get to turn around, get outside ourselves, and show others how we did it. Help them build new tools along the way that serve them better.
We get to shine the light on this new path for others and shout “Atta Boy!” (or girl) when they receive their chip. It may be for 24 hours or 24 years. The journey is shared together.
Thanks to all who have encouraged me along the way while we walk this path together.
A very special family member (not my husband) is celebrating 12-years today.
You know who you are :))))))
Atta Boy!
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
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