New Year, New You

The clock struck midnight, the ball dropped and a new year has been ushered in.

Welcome, 2009!

Are you feeling optimistic about what the coming year will hold? Nervous? Excited? It may be little more than the turning of a calendar page, but a new year offers the feeling of a fresh start. It’s a natural time to take stock of the past year and determine what’s working for you and what needs to be changed.

Self Inventory

For those in recovery, this annual “inventory” is even more important. This is the time to make sure you’re not slipping back into old habits. To take stock of where you’re at, start by asking yourself these questions:

• Are you taking a lax approach to meetings?
• Do you have people currently in your life to provide accountability and support?
• What proactive steps are you taking to maintain your sobriety?
• Are you starting to think that there’s no danger of a relapse?
• Are you hanging out with old friends, feeling confident that you’re immune to their bad influence?

Any of these can be signs that you’re in danger of sliding back into addiction. But it’s not too late to change your course. Find someone who understands where you’ve been and where you are now to provide some honest advice and the accountability you’re lacking. A few wrong turns can take us off track, but a few right turns can get us back on the right road. There’s no time like the present to start steering a positive course.