Blog for December 29th,2025
Lightening the Load!
As I looked back on this month, I think I was much more sociable and busier than I had intended to be, but I’m glad I did all that I did. Especially with the kids, family and friends. Not to mention all the work we got done in our back yard. Four trips to the dump and our regular trash cans kept full. I was purging, like what they do with the Swedish Death Cleanse. Now, to do more of that inside my house through the winter. Lightening the load! That’s the name of my game for 2026, which has already started.
As I said, this month I was blessed with some holiday events to attend, having my grandson, who is still here, staying with us for a couple of weeks. And my son was here a few days. Also our daughters hosted some holiday dinners and fun. Not to mention the NA events I’ve attended and other events. Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to get my property and home purged, cleaned out and lightening the load wherever I can.
Another load I am lightening this month, in fact this very day, is my last day of service to my local area, after yet another three-year span, it is time to step down from some commitments and let others have the wonderful opportunity of service in our fellowship. I know my service to the program has helped me to grow, learn and feel a part of. Actually, I will still have some behind the scenes commitments, but the heavy stuff is done tonight. I am grateful for the time I was allowed to serve and help out around here. But I can’t lie, the extra free time is something I’m looking forward to as I continue to lighten the load around my house.
Which brings me to the lightening of the load around my middle! Lol, that’s right, more time to exercise, walk, hike and photography, other passions of mine that help keep me fit. Not to mention finishing some stories I’ve been writing. I am feeling lighter already. I absolutely loved 2025, it was our 40-40-40 year as I wrote about last year about this time. My Love and I got to continue to be together, he’s been amazing. God blessed us so much. We traveled and had good times, but it is time to move forward now, a sort of re-inventing myself with all this lightness I’ll be having. I look forward to it.
Another way I love to lighten the load is by working my steps, all of them, once a year. I call it a house cleaning, from top to bottom, of my soul, my body, mind and spirit. I delve deep into the inside of my spirit, pray on it, a lot, especially using the eleventh step and seeing what God has in store for me. A deep time of reflection. Oh, this all sounds so lovely to me and I am lighter by the minute just thinking of it all. Recovery can be a long, winding road with some ups & downs, lots of hills, mountains and valleys to climb and traverse. But the coolest thing of all is I never have to do it alone. I always have my God. I always have people who care about me and my recovery in NA. And I tell you what, I can easily look back and see how God’s grace and mercy has been lavished upon me and my Love.
NA for me also means “Never Alone”. And I love that. God is good, not just in 2025, but throughout my recovery, even my whole life. I have often said that since I got clean, miracles are commonplace and I will continue to look forward to more of them in 2026, especially after I have lightened the load this month and spend time reflecting what the Lord has done for us and as step eleven says “ praying for the knowledge of His will for me, and the power to carry it out.”
Question of the Week: Is it time for you to lighten some troubles, stuff, commitments and attitude before meeting the new year?
Happy New Year ya’ll