Black Bear October Prompt

What haunts you?

Photo by robin mikalsen on Unsplash

Hi Black Bear writers!

I can’t believe it is already October. This year has flown by faster than ever! Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, especially when you start feeling the crisp air.

That has nothing to do with the prompt this month, though. I was talking to a sober friend of mine yesterday and the topic of our past mistakes came up. The ones that haunt us and that we thought we would take to the grave. But through working the steps as an alcoholic, we both told all of our haunting secrets to one other person.

We have a friend who is stuck in relapse after relapse. We spoke about how she has never been completely honest with someone and that is probably one of the main reasons that she can’t stay sober.

“We are only as sick as our secrets.”

I used to hear this a lot in meetings when I first got sober back in 2010. While I didn’t stay sober more than a year, I often thought of that phrase. I always kept some secrets close because, like I said, I was taking certain things to the grave. But, things like that will eat you up inside and setting them free to another person who understands really can solidify your recovery. I found that out just 11 years later when I was finally completely honest.