08-21-2014, 10:37 AM
She sounded like she was fighting and was tired. Now more than ever he was glad he had put himself out there for her. People sometimes asked for help, sought it out, but deep down, it was just a momentary emotional reprieve, a way to soothe their spirit. The fact was, fighting was hard- physically, mentally, and especially emotionally. You were literally battling years of patterns of thought and feeling, and habits. And then there was the vast emotional inertia that resisted every attempt to move things in the right direction. In the end, until the person was willing to do the hard work themselves, willing to fight that inertia through the lethargy and laziness, that desire to just stop and give in when things were difficult or they were down, they'd never get better. Simple as that.
But Aria was doing the work. She had tried to avoid her triggers with him back when getting her tattoo, making him stop so she could reset herself. Even back at her apartment, what could have easily turned into nothing but a temporary but ultimately empty attempt to connect with someone through meaningless sex was instead exchanged for real communication. And now...now she was calling when she felt the struggle, just as he had done his sponsor or Valentin so many times. He smiled and hoped she could hear his smile and the pride in his voice.
"Ahh Aria. You know how proud I am of you. What you did right now, calling me, took more courage than most people will ever know. Most people can ask for help, when they realize they have a problem. But then they never ask for it when they actually need it. And even if they do, they don't listen or do the work to actively change things. But you did. God bless you Aria."
He hoped she heard how glad her call had made him. He loved seeing people change their lives. This was what gave his life meaning. He remembered what had encouraged him when he'd called for help. "You really are something else, you know that? I know I can't fully understand what you are fighting. But I am here.You ARE doing it though, Aria. You CAN do it."
He paused. What did she need right now? Did she want to talk about her struggle? Did she want affirmation? Reasons to keep fighting? She had asked about his day. He would try to listen and see what she needed, what he could give her, even as he tried to answer her question. "My day is great so far. I had my AA meeting earlier and just finished with a customer now. A few more should be by in a bit. But your calling me made my day. Do you want to get together later on? I am going to Mass tonight. Do you want to come with me?"
But Aria was doing the work. She had tried to avoid her triggers with him back when getting her tattoo, making him stop so she could reset herself. Even back at her apartment, what could have easily turned into nothing but a temporary but ultimately empty attempt to connect with someone through meaningless sex was instead exchanged for real communication. And now...now she was calling when she felt the struggle, just as he had done his sponsor or Valentin so many times. He smiled and hoped she could hear his smile and the pride in his voice.
"Ahh Aria. You know how proud I am of you. What you did right now, calling me, took more courage than most people will ever know. Most people can ask for help, when they realize they have a problem. But then they never ask for it when they actually need it. And even if they do, they don't listen or do the work to actively change things. But you did. God bless you Aria."
He hoped she heard how glad her call had made him. He loved seeing people change their lives. This was what gave his life meaning. He remembered what had encouraged him when he'd called for help. "You really are something else, you know that? I know I can't fully understand what you are fighting. But I am here.You ARE doing it though, Aria. You CAN do it."
He paused. What did she need right now? Did she want to talk about her struggle? Did she want affirmation? Reasons to keep fighting? She had asked about his day. He would try to listen and see what she needed, what he could give her, even as he tried to answer her question. "My day is great so far. I had my AA meeting earlier and just finished with a customer now. A few more should be by in a bit. But your calling me made my day. Do you want to get together later on? I am going to Mass tonight. Do you want to come with me?"