Recovery MUST Come First!

Dedicated to Glen Burton

Welcome! Why Are We Here?

Maybe you're sitting in a meeting or reading this blog and your self-talk is already lying to you:

"You don’t need to be here."
"You’ve got this on your own."

Sound familiar?
 Over the years, many of us believed those lies—and it wreaked havoc in our lives.

Our Best Thinking Brought Us to Rock Bottom

We thought we were in control.
 We thought we could manage it.
 But the truth?

Our best way of thinking always got us in trouble.

Eventually, we hit a wall:

• Financially broken
• Physically drained
• Spiritually empty

We were completely bankrupt—mentally and emotionally.
We were totally broken.

The Gift of Desperation

For some of us, pain became the greatest motivator.
 When we reached the point of “Enough is enough!”
we became ready to change.

This wasn’t just about stopping the substance.
 It was about finally confronting the emotional wounds, patterns, and trauma that fueled our addiction.

A New Life Begins

In recovery, we start learning:

• Why we used in the first place
• How to build healthy relationships
• How to communicate with honesty
• How to explore spiritual depth and self-worth

This process is not just about not using—it’s about becoming someone new.

What is a Spiritual Awakening in Recovery?

As one recovery center puts it:

“A spiritual awakening in recovery is the act of learning to replace unhealthy coping skills with ones that are healthy and long-lasting. It involves becoming the new, improved version of one’s former self.”
— Casa Colina

We Believe Recovery is Possible

We no longer doubt it: recovery works.

If we do what's suggested—if we show up, stay consistent, and commit to the process—we have a real shot at a clean and fulfilled life.

Why Recovery MUST Come First

We once put drugs and alcohol first—and it nearly destroyed us.

Now we put recovery first, and it:

• Saves marriages
• Restores health
• Saves careers
• Strengthens friendships
• Gives us peace of mind and purpose

What Does “Putting Recovery First” Look Like?

It means staying on top of:

• Meetings
• Meditation or prayer
• Healthy eating and exercise
• Step work (if it’s part of your program)
• Connecting with others in recovery

Recovery becomes the foundation. Everything else—the job, the relationships, the joy—sits on top of it.

Final Thought

If we don’t put recovery first, we risk losing it all.
 But when we make recovery our priority, we gain more than we ever imagined.

Today’s Affirmation:

Today, I will put my recovery first—before anything and everything else. I trust that by doing so, the rest of my life will have a strong and stable foundation.