Making Lemonade in Recovery

My CoDA Step Study group shared a daily reading and it touched on the saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” A fellow group member shared the below statement and it inspired me to reflect and write more on the topic.

“My lemonade turns out better if I don’t abandon myself making it” ~ Dora Lee M. (included with permission).

This is what I took away from both…

If I abandon myself while making my lemonade, especially if I do so before I add the sweetness…my lemonade and my life may end up being pretty damn bitter and hard to swallow.

I have abandoned myself so many times in this life. I have been spending a lot of time these last 8 months unlearning some pretty sour habits and beliefs.

I am learning it’s ok to not be ok at times. It’s ok to say no. It’s ok and likely that I will be disappointed and that I will disappoint others at times and all parties will survive. It’s ok to get lost and to ask for help in getting back on the path to finding myself. It’s ok to make mistakes, and when I do, I admit it, say I’m sorry and correct the course. This journey back to myself is not a race, it’s not about perfection, it is about progress, every baby step towards progress matters. I will count the small wins; the blessings and I will give gratitude and thanks for all of it.

Just for today I will stay present during my lemonade making process. Balancing my bitter and my sweet is the key to tasty lemonade!!

~Stephanie F~ 06/07/2022

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