Blog for February 2nd 2026
Contingency Plan
Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? Does it really matter? The weather is out of our control, as they say, “the weather is as the weather does”. LOL, ok, they don’t say that and I’m not Forrest Gump, but I do know that whatever is gonna happen will happen. When I was new in recovery my first sponsor told me that even though I’m powerless over my addiction, people, places and things: I do have control over a couple of things. Therefore, I need to keep a contingency plan in place for when I want out. If I don’t like what I see or what others are doing, I can leave, as long as I’m not being held hostage. But pretty much I’ve always had the choice to leave. I can also change my attitude; she told me to either “accept it or reject it!”
So, I do have a choice, I can either accept that Punxsutawney knows what’s up and believe the shadow thing, or I can reject it and just go along with life and the weather, the way it comes. Oh, but don’t think for one minute that means just kick’n back, not working, not taking care of responsibilities and letting everyone wait on me and pay my way, lol- as if! Since I’ve been clean, I try to have contingency plans. In fact, I had backup plans when I was using too. Like, if Cisco doesn’t have my dope or if Donna doesn’t let me stay at her pad, then I’ll go ask Joe for my dope and Freddie for a night at his place. I think you get my point.
But in recovery, my contingency plans have changed. I work them out to the point that me and God will handle how I’m going to support myself and have my own place to lay my head and I don’t ever have to worry about the drugs anymore! Now, my plans are… planning for the next few days, what I’ll eat, wear, do, lesson plans and so forth. Maybe planning birthday parties or presents and visiting people. What day to work steps with sponsees and my sponsor. I’ve widened my plans for the years to come as well, like saving for a rainy day, retirement, health insurance and so on. Vacations? Yep, I plan ahead and always include one or two “buffer” days in travel plans. In the past that has proven to be an excellent idea. Storms, travel issues like cancellations of planes, trains and automobiles. Other people not showing up, whether it’s a friend or a band for a concert (yes, that has happened too).
I find that when I plan for it and build in a safety net of contingencies, I don’t stress and worry about the natural things that can go wrong, after all, “it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark”. So, I ask again, does it really matter if the rodent sees his shadow or not? If it rains or the sun shines hot? If we miss a plane, a date, or if we are late to someone else’s wedding or funeral? I mean friends, not your kids or someone special. All I’m saying is to plan for it. I always do my best to get somewhere on time, ahead of time really. I just told my husband yesterday that I was taught that “if you are not fifteen minutes early, you are late”. So, plan for heavy traffic, accidents, flat tires and other problems on the road. He asked me who taught me that, I said “my mom”. 😊
That’s why I still go to meetings, sponsor people, work my steps and be of service: That’s what we call an insurance policy. I continue to do the things I do so I can have some control over staying clean, working my program as I just laid out. I continue to clean my house, keep up the maintenance on my car, and my relationships, especially with my husband, kids and grandkids. Also, my siblings, and whoever else God lays in my path. I don’t sit around and assume that all that will take care of itself. I have to plan and work at it, I have to do my part as far as my Higher Power enables me too.
I would be remised if I didn’t tell you that my biggest and best contingency plan is the plan of salvation. I know where I will be for all of eternity. Thank you, Lord,
Question of the Week: Do you have contingency plans for the unexpected, for whatever might go wrong or could come up?
