There is no way to escape the terrible suffering of remorse
and regret and shame and embarrassment
which starts us on the road to getting well from our affliction.
There is no new way to shake out a hangover.
It's painful. And for us, necessarily so.
I told this to a friend of mine as he sat weaving to and fro on the side of the bed,
in terrible shape, about to die for some paraldehyde.
I said, "Lost John" -- that's his nickname --
"Lost John, you know you're going to have to do
a certain amount of shaking sooner or later."
"Well," he said, "for God's sake let's make it later!"
We suffer to get well.
Alcoholics Anonymous (second edition), p. 340.

Thought to Ponder....

I must walk into darkness to find the light.

Recovery Related Acronym

H O W = Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness.