Newest Form of Normal

I’m not sure how I should start this passage because the words; “and so it begins” come to mind along with a whole host of other words. It did begin really yesterday with the day’s events and it is amazing how I never know where the week much less the day will go. Yesterday it was a day that brought my daughter to her 11th year and me potentially a new chapter in my life. When I was released from prison nearly one year ago I was extremely fortunate to have a job within three days of my release. That particular job didn’t pan out that well but has led me to where I am today. All things do happen for a reason and there is a clear sign that there is a Grand plan at work in my life. I can “connect” those “dots” but I think I have done that already so today it began very early with my new routine.

I am a creature of routines some bad and some good. The bad were very bad and now the good is excellent. I became a hostage to my bad routine in my compulsive gambling addiction and now I have been freed through recovery. I cannot understate this fact enough because no matter where my misdeeds took me I was not and I am not a bad person. I realize that there are many people who may agree and disagree with that last sentence but ultimately what anyone other than myself thinks of me is NONE of my business. I do prescribe to this theory in the positive sense because as long as my actions lead to a positive purpose I know I am on the right track.

This right track did take a turn for the even better yesterday and today was the first day of that new chapter. I admit I have been given a second chance with everything in life which starts and ends with my family. Now this second chance extends its scope even further. I had no idea if I would ever be in a similar position than I was in the past in the sense of my career. However; through recovery and again a series of very fortunate events I am back on that path. It is interesting because in the past four years ever since I entered recovery things turned into a “new normal” and this morning as I awoke before the dawn I embrace even a newer normal.

Once again I am a creature of routine and can adapt to just about any situation. I did adapt to life in prison and made the best of those 19 ½ months and I think it was all for the best. I do have an open mind all thanks to recovery and if I ever complain about anything I should be smacked in the face!! Life is so precious and is meant to be lived one moment at a time. These moments will lead to a lifetime and at the end of that lifetime there will be some regrets but as long as I stay focused in recovery there will be many more blessings than regrets. I do have many more blessings in my life than regrets and having a second chance with these blessings helps tremendously. Wow; my life is indeed incredible through and through.

This morning I started this new routine getting up in the wee hours of the morning so I can get in a workout before I go into the office. Yes, I am back in an office setting and I realized over the past few months that I do operate much better with this formal type setting. I enjoy getting up early and getting to the gym as opposed to sleeping later and having the day start later. I prefer being tired early on in the evening and falling asleep when my head hits the pillow. This routine got me through most of that 19 ½ months and over the past few months I lost that routine. Now this morning this routine is back and in full force.

I did get in a very good workout and I am still struggling with what I am going to do next in terms of either participating in a triathlon or marathon. There is a marathon at the end of April that is local and looks fairly flat with a very scenic 26.2 miles. I am seriously considering this marathon along with running the San Diego Rock n’ Roll marathon at the end of May. If I were to run the marathon at the end of marathon I would only have one month to prepare for the San Diego Rock n’ Roll marathon. I have never been that aggressive in running marathons but the San Diego marathon is a family event and hopefully I can run a 3 hour and 20 minute marathon at the end of April so I can take “easy” at the end of May while running that particular marathon. The only minor issue is that the marathon at the end of April is on a Saturday and with all the children’s activities I do need to see a schedule before I can commit. The baseball and softball schedules should come out in a few weeks and I will make my decision accordingly.

The workout was over and I was headed into the office for my first “formal” day of work. The office is very close and I have virtually no commute. The gym is 2 miles from my house and the office is 2 miles from the gym; everything is very close and convenient. I did arrive at the office and it was a very good day. I received some very good news which did take me by surprise. I do believe the “Law of Attraction” does work very well and I am very grateful.