One philosophy the Chicago Cubs hold dear is never give up! From their manager Joe Maddon, to almost every player who’s been interviewed, they all say the same thing; we believe in ourselves and, no matter what’s happening, we never give up.
And we all know where that philosophy led. This is the team that didn’t win a championship in over 100 years—they didn’t even make it to the World Series for 71 years. It must have seemed like they’d never have a winning season again. Then, they finally did make it, and found themselves down three to one. That’s a lot of failure to live down. But somehow they were able to ignore their history, play their best, and win—three games in a row. Their philosophy of persistence won the World Series.
I thought about the Cubs’ 2016 season the other day, and I realized that those of us in recovery need to do the very same thing. No matter how many times we relapse, make mistakes, fall down or screw up, our goal is to keep going forward and never give up.
Persistence is at the heart of Brené Brown’s book, Rising Strong. I’ve been fortunate enough to be trained in the curriculum that accompanies this book. I had the opportunity to facilitate a Rising Strong™ intensive this past week at Alta Mira, a wonderful treatment center in Sausalito, California. In working with the clients, I was touched by the determination of the human spirit to continue to try and get sober even after multiple relapses and unsuccessful treatment attempts. These folks have lost a lot and come close to death, yet they are still trying and not giving up.
Addiction wants to kill and destroy! Recovery gives life and joy! Sobriety isn’t easy and can be painful sometimes, but it’s SO worth it. And, just as we’ve seen with our amazing Cubs, your past does not predict the future—you can try, over and over, for years, and not succeed, then try one more time and make it.
No matter how many times you fall, no matter how many times it gets really tough, remember, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!
Go Cubbies!
