02/26/2026
Have you ever cleaned a fish tank before?
Today was the day at GH. Ours was past due for a good clean out and let me tell ya, it's a long, hard, messy, back breaking process.
Throughout the morning I couldn't help but think of how much the process mirrored the maintenance phase of recovery.
When you're early in recovery you're excited. You look forward to going to meetings and working with your sponsor. Early recovery is fun, new and exciting. (Much like a new fish tank that you're eager to set up and maintain)
But after you've been in the rooms for awhile and have a little time under your belt going to meetings becomes just one more thing you have to do after a full day at work and with your family.
Eventually it can become a chore that you justify and put off, telling yourself that it's okay. You're happy. You're sober. Everything is going right in your life and you don't "need" a meeting or that phone call check in with your sponsor. (Much like a fish tank losing its luster and becoming something you just walk past and ignore many days)
Eventually you may decide that things have gotten "bad" enough (the algae has taken over the walls and a smell can be detected in your tank)
And you're ready to jump back into your steps to find the spiritual freedom recovery can bring.
Cleaning up your recovery requires commitment. You have to set aside time and make it a priority. You must gather your strength (and maybe a few friends and support members) and jump in with both feet. (Much like gathering the buckets, pumps, scrub brushes, etc to clean the tank)
Much like recovery, you must follow the steps and do it thoroughly:
You can't add fresh water until you drain the old.
Also know that adding fresh water without giving everything a good scrub will leave the tank dirty still with the only difference being a little fresh water.
And lastly, you must allow time for things to settle and the water to warm up before it's safe. (If you rush the steps or don't work them properly your recovery is not on a solid foundation and the mess is still there lurking under the surface)
When you've completed all the steps, thoroughly and in order, you can sit back and see the fruits of your labor. You will shine, much like your squeaky clean fish tank and others will be drawn to you. People will want to spend time with you, just as they will spend time admiring the fish tank once again.
But of course, this cleaning is only temporary and over time the process will need to be completed again.
Recovery is a just for today program. We are encouraged to work our program every day in order to maintain our recovery and prevent it from getting nasty, messy and in need of a full overhaul.
Maintenance is key my friends.
