The thousand pound phone is one of an addicts best tools for aiding in staying sober.  I can’t imagine the days of not having a cell phone with me everywhere I went.  Those days of having a craving to use and having to actually find a pay phone, change to call someone and hoping that they answered because that was your last dime must have been rough.  Knowing that you needed to speak to someone or else it was going to be back to the races and insanity of using.

Now a day’s practically everyone has a cell phone and can reach someone at any time of the day or night.  The dilemma for me is that my disease tells me I’m ok and no need to call anyone it will be just fine.  That phone begins to look like it weights a thousand pounds and you can’t possibly lift it to call anyone for help.  This is a lie, it is that very puzzling mental twist and exactly why I must pick it up and call my support group, sponsor or anyone I can get a hold of and tell on myself.

When I am in a funk I like to get out of myself by picking up the phone and calling a sponsee or friend and asking how they are and actually listening.  I tend to forget all about what was making me feel funky in the first place and the byproduct of serving others is happiness or inner peace.  Works every time.

Another really cool thing I like to use that scary phone for is for telling on myself.  When I feel that desire to use, and it does come because I’m an addict and that what I do, I call someone and tell on myself.  I had a really tough time in the beginning doing this.  I thought oh I can’t bother so in so or I shouldn’t feel like using so I can’t admit it to anyone.  Both of these are total untruths and part of the ego and disease or what is also known as stinkin thinkin.  Once I’ve taken the action to safeguard my sobriety and made that call it somehow always works out.  They say you are only as sick as your secrets and a problem shared is a problem cut in half.  It is imperative that I take an active role in my recovery.  The phone isn’t going to work itself.

Picture By Rev Dan Catt