Our understanding of friendship has changed since being introduced to the Twelve Steps. How we act as friends has changed too. Now we know that friends don’t judge, they don’t try to control, they accept how other people are, and they never betray a confidence. They listen, they love, and they offer hope. And they don’t run away when they don’t like what they hear. What we have learned influences our old friendships too, and everybody benefits. ~ Casey, Karen. Peace a Day at a Time: 365 Meditations for Wisdom and Serenity. Red Wheel Weiser. Kindle Edition.

When I was ruled by my compulsion,
by my addiction, by my eating,
I would have told you there were people
who thought I was their friend,
but that I had no friends.
That has changed now that I am in Recovery,
now that I have learned who I am,
I’ve learned I’m neither better (higher)
nor worse (below) my fellows,
that there’s no reason to judge
either them or myself.
I’ve learned to listen, to love, and to offer
and receive hope. I’ve found my family of choice
and I choose to recognize even those
who have not chosen Recovery
and the joys of a Twelve-Step program
as my people as well.
Thank you for being my friend!