After two or three years in recovery, most of us start to feel like the hard part is over. If we have worked the Steps seriously, we have generally acknowledged the past and built a solid foundation for the future. We have slowly begun to accept life as it comes. Our familiarity with the Steps allows us to deal with problems much faster than in the past.
When we feel like we have the schedule in our pocket, we may be tempted to take a "break" from recovery. When we operate this way, however, we overlook the nature of our illness. Addiction is patient, insidious, progressive and incurable. It is also deadly – we can die from this disease if we stop treating it. In dealing with addiction it is vital to continuously work on a program of recovery.
The Twelve Steps are a process, the path we follow to stay one step ahead of our illness. Gatherings, supportive relationships, services, and Steps are vital throughout the recovery process. Although we work the program differently when we are five years clean than we do when we are five months clean, the program has neither changed nor do we need it any less than before – what has happened is that our understanding has changed and it has grown our experience. To renew our commitment to recovery, we remain vigilant and seize every opportunity that presents itself to work the program.
