“Step Eight was the beginning of the end of our isolation.”

– Life with Hope, second edition, page 42

Before recovery, self-care was a foreign concept. I worked the Steps with my sponsor, and when I got to Step Eight, I was told to put myself at the top of my amends list. Upon reflection, I could see how much I had harmed myself in my addiction. I cut myself off from my dreams, my ambitions, my connections with others, and especially my connection with myself.

I make amends to myself by taking good care of my body, my emotions, my spiritual health, and my recovery. I know that I must keep my recovery a priority in my life. If I’m not clean, I will lose all the blessings that have come to me since I gave up marijuana, and surrendered to my powerlessness over marijuana. I can never forget I’m an addict, and I need meetings, a sponsor, working the Steps, and a community of fellow addicts to have a peaceful, joyful, and serene life. I make amends to myself every day by staying close to the program, and close to my friends in recovery. I also stay close to my Higher Power, which keeps me “right” inside.

Final thought: I make amends to myself through living a life of recovery, one day at a time.