MONEY:

~

"I had past due bills from years before. I needed to try to stay
current with my new bills. But in time, slowly, gradually, my
financial situation cleared up. I restored my credit. I had a
checking account. I had a little money in the bank."

"Then I married an alcoholic and began to learn about my
codependency – the hard way. I lost myself, my feelings, my
sanity, and all the progress I had made with my financial affairs."

I was again facing a real financial mess. I was furious, but it didn't
matter who did what. I had some serious financial matters to face
if that part of my life was ever going to become manageable again.

"Slowly – very slowly – I began to work out of my mess. It
seemed impossible! I didn't even want to face it, it felt so
overwhelming and hopeless. But I did. And each day I did the best
I could to be responsible for myself."

"One decision I made was to separate and protect myself
financially from my husband, the best I could, before and after
we divorced. The other decision I made was to face and begin
reconstructing the financial affairs in my life."

"It was difficult. We owed over fifty thousand dollars, and my
ability to produce income had dramatically decreased. I was
grieving; my self-esteem was at an all-time low; my energy
was low. I did not know how I would ever untangle this
nightmare. But it did happen. Slowly, gradually, with the help
of a Higher Power, manageability crept in and replaced chaos."

"I began by not spending more than I earned. I paid back some
creditors, a little at a time. I let go of what I couldn't do, and
focused on what I could do."

"I am not willing to lose my financial sanity and security again,
ever, for love or for alcoholism. With the help of God and the
Twelve Steps, I won't have to."

One day at a time, we can be restored in recovery – mentally,
emotionally, spiritually, physically, and financially. It may get
worse before it gets better – because we are finally facing reality
instead of dodging it. But once we make the decision to take
financial responsibility for ourselves, we are on our way.