August 1997 marks the fourth anniversary of my continued recovery from co-dependency.

In a way, such milestones are beneficial, because the best way to gauge recovery is to look retrospectively and introspectively.

Looking back, I'm amazed at how far I've come. But in another way, the milestones are insignificant because after four years, I realize I've still got a long way to go. Seems almost every day I garner some new insight into how co-dependency has (or is still) manifested in my relationships. I'm no closer to "graduating" from the program. There are no caps and gowns in recovery.

Today, when I think about the future, I'm excited. Four years of recovery have taught me how much I have to be grateful for. Thank God I've got the rest of my entire life, one day at a time, to continue learning about myself, learning about the dynamics of relationships, learning why relationships work and why they don't, giving and receiving love in healthy ways. I realize I'm just a toddler; I'm still taking baby steps. I've just barely glimpsed the wondrous light of how good my life can really be.

Somebody hand me a pair of sunglasses; the future looks bright indeed!

next: Activity and Stillness