December 11, 2024
When I was in active addiction, the end of the year always reminded me of the time I had wasted. It seemed like it’s sole purpose was to serve as a bitter bookmark for all the things I hadn’t done in the story of my life.
When I started my journey in recovery, I knew I had to start looking at my life in a completely different way. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. That’s what I did when I was drinking, so I knew it didn’t work.
Everything in my new life started changing when I made a major mental shift. I learned that the key to staying sober was to pursue my recovery with the same intensity that I had pursued my addiction. When I was drinking, nothing could stop me from getting drunk when I wanted to. So, in recovery, I don’t let anything stand in the way of me staying sober. That’s my golden rule.
I finally discovered that I was capable of accomplishing anything as long as I was truly passionate about it, and that was a huge game changer for me! Once I had that mindset, it allowed me to dream again. I starte d setting goals for myself because I knew I was capable of overcoming difficult challenges and achieving incredible things. I had proven that to myself when I got sober because it was the hardest thing I had ever done, as well as the greatest.
My life in recovery has taught me that endings can lead to the most beautiful beginnings. Now, the end of the year is a time of reflection for me, instead of regret, and the New Year marks the next chapter of my life that I’m excited to embrace.
As 2024 winds down, and we head into 2025, I want to encourage you to write a list of all the things you’ve dreamt of doing. Dreams aren’t meant to live in your heart, they are meant to become part of your reality. They are simply goals you haven’t accomplished…yet. As Tony Robbins says, “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”
There are so many amazing things that we experience in a life recovery, but the best one is becoming the person we were always meant to be. If we are honest with ourselves, that’s the dream that inspired us to begin our journeys, and look how far that has taken us!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and an amazing New Year with your fellowship family! Meeting Makers Make it!
If you are interested in learning more about my road to recovery, and the lessons I’ve learned in sobriety, please check out my book, From Broken to Butterfly. It is available now on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Make 2025 your best year ever!
Nina Pajonas
