RECOVERY

Rather than completed healing, 

"Recovery" implies a continuous

Process of re-achieving health,

Encompassing time as well as 

Patients' and caregivers' persistent,

Consistent involvement in treatment.

I and many people are challenged by

And/or resistant to regularly patterned, 

Daily interventions of medical care,

Medication, daily/weekly meetings.

Self-discipline, a distinctive 

Component of mature self-care,

Must be reinforced, ironically,

Via constant discernment and 

Re-orientation to healthy and mature

Actions, reactions, and responses.

Healthy habits require self-disciplined

Attention, rather than tactics often 

Associated with "discipline," namely

Punishment or shame or force.

Instead, healthy habits are based on

Support, encouragement, acceptance,

And, especially, on realistic appraisal 

Of universal human imperfection.

All of us are on the same path of 

Ever-more-deepening self-knowledge

And self-acceptance, as well as

Ever-more-deepening knowing 

And acceptance of the reality of the 

Temporal and temporary nature of 

Our and the planet's existence.

I appreciate companions traveling

Similar paths to similar destinations.

Welcome to the practice and to the race,

That is, the imperfect human race.

Ann Beth Blake

(c) November 18, 2013