THE SECRET TO HAPPINESS IS SERVING OTHERS

Service work keeps us sober and it can be some of our greatest success. Lending a hand to those in need, instead of filling your own pockets is how you build a legacy.  Mother Theresa said, “God has not called me to be successful; He has called me to be faithful.” The house you live in, the career you have, the amount of money in your bank account are not the sum of who you are. I have learned over time that living in God’s will is true success.  When you do that you are loving and serving others. Isn’t that what life is truly about? People are constantly searching for ways to find happiness; drugs and alcohol, are not the solution. Serving others is the key to true happiness. I thought money, fancy job titles, and large homes would make me happy. I was wrong. The white picket fence, “The American dream” leaves people feeling empty all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I know money pays the bills and we have to have it to live, however, there is more to life than “keeping up with the Joneses.” St. Augustine summarized the attitude that we should have towards serving God, when he said, “Work as if everything depends on you, and pray as if everything depends on God.”  Selfless love allows us to help others and that is true joy. How does this apply to recovery in addiction? Service work keeps us sober!

People in recovery know that the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous teach that in order to keep sobriety they must serve others. The 12th step states, “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” We know the only way to keep our recovery, is to share what we have with others. We share this message by serving others in their time of need. Service work is essential in keeping us sober. It keeps us grounded and grateful. Sometimes it involves taking someone to their first AA or NA meeting. Other times it may be giving someone a ride to treatment, or simply picking up the phone to talk so they don’t decide to pick up that drink or decide to use.

Serving others and stepping outside yourself gives meaning to a chaotic world. Be a part of the solution today and not the problem. That is genuine success. Below you will find several ways you can serve your community and help make a difference.

Ways to Serve and Make A Difference:

• Donate to a local blessing box.
• Donate clothing you don’t wear to a local shelter.
• Volunteer at your local school.
• Help cook/serve a meal at a homeless shelter.
• Become a foster parent/ adopt.
• Help build a home for habitat humanity.
• Donate blood to a local Red Cross
• Pick up medicine or take a neighbor to the doctor.
• Tutor or read to a child.
• Volunteer at a local vacation bible school.
• Volunteer at your local nursing home.
• Volunteer at your local Celebrate Recovery.
•  Roll up your sleeves and get involved. There is plenty to do and a world that awaits you.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, contact an addiction specialist at 606.638.0938 or use our confidential chat function at www.arccenters.com. We are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Megan Mooney-Evans,
Kentucky State-Certified Peer Support Specialist
Addiction Recovery Care