Honest relationships
“One of the most profound changes in our lives is in the realm of personal
relationships.”
Basic Text p.55
Recovery gives many of us relationships that are closer and more intimate than any
we’ve had before. As time passes, we find ourselves gravitating toward those who
eventually become our friends, our sponsor, and our partners in life. Shared
laughter, tears, and struggles bring shared respect and lasting empathy.
What, then, do we do when we find that we don’t agree with our friends on
everything? We may discover that we don’t share the same taste in music as our
dearest friend, or that we don’t agree with our spouse about how the furniture
should be arranged, or even find ourselves voting differently than our sponsor at a
service committee meeting. Does conflict mean that the friendship, the marriage, or
the sponsorship is over? No!
These types of conflict are not only to be expected in any long-lasting relationship
but are actually an indication that both people are emotionally healthy and honest
individuals. In any relationship where both people agree on absolutely everything,
chances are that only one person is doing the thinking. If we sacrifice our honesty
and integrity to avoid conflicts or disagreements, we give away the best of what we
bring to our relationships. We experience the full measure of partnership with
another human being when we are fully honest.
Just for today: I will welcome the differences that make each one of us special.
Today, I will work on being myself.