A Recovery Focus During a Pandemic? Yes.

You may notice there is no exclamation point after "yes" in the title above. Even without a pandemic, not every day is punctuated with a fun exclamation point. You may feel off or even plain depressed on some days. If you find yourself on Bleak Street (which leads the way to Addiction Alley) it may take more work than usual to turn toward Recovery Road. 

On what you think of as bad days, during a pandemic or not, keeping a Recovery Focus will be essential for maintaining recovery. Then, following up with some kind of action will be especially vital.

Here are a few questions to help keep your Recovery Focus while uncomfortable feelings pass (because they will):
1. What are your reasons for staying sober and in recovery?

2. What are the upsides of recovery?

3. Who is important to you in your recovery program?

Now for the action part:
1. Call the person that is important to you and ask them how they are doing.

2. Tell your recovery mentor one of your reasons for staying sober and one upside of recovery.

3. Take a social-distance walk with a sober friend at the park.

Again, not all days are exclamation point days, but that's okay. The recovery program and people in recovery are always there for you. Listen to these people, and notice their periods, dashes, exclamation points, and ellipses. Feel free to ask these fellow sober travelers how they are doing as they write the story of their lives in recovery. Then, tell them yours.