George Herbert said, “Living well is the best revenge” and I would say “living well is the best way to love” because if you can’t love yourself enough to live your life well then no matter how much you want to love others, there will always be that part of you that is not being loved and taken care of that will get in the way. Like pants caught in-between the car door and the seal of your car.  In one of the 12-step programs that I frequent it is often said, “put recovery first and the rest will follow”.  When I first got into this recovery group, I could not understand what the shimdiggidy they were talking about at all.  Put recovery first? That sounded way too selfish to me but what I came to understand is that before learning a way of life that has taught me how to take care of myself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually—-I was constantly putting myself first, but not in a good way. Or rather, I was putting those things that hurt me (alcohol, drugs, nicotine, caffeine, food, etc.) first before anything or anyone else.  Well how much do you think I was really able to give to others when I clearly didn’t know how to care for myself?  Yeah, not much.

Today I try to live my life well for all of the reasons I just talked about AND because not only can I be there for other people but I want to be there for other people.  I don’t live my life well today out of revenge but more out of gratitude. That and making amends to myself and others who got in harms way when my life was all about avoiding life.

Taking one simple step to living your life well can start you on the road to a freedom that is second to none.  Recovery from addictions have been many steps along my road but maybe your story doesn’t have addictions in it, maybe your story is thinking about yourself and what you really need (and want) in your life that you have been avoiding. Like how about your health?  Have you been to your doctor/dentist for an annual check-up lately? Make that appointment this week if you haven’t?

What’s one simple step you’re going to take this week to living your life well?

Joyous Dolphins Jumping Out of Water