Expectations

Cleaning up today

in the kitchen

drawers and cupboards

with time will need

cleaning up again.

Someone with addiction may have that problem ~ cleaning up more than once, I mean,

cleaning up comes with an expectation ~

once cleaning up has been done ~ it’s done.

Never having to be redone ~ ever.

If a relapse should occur

some may see it as 

a mortal sin

a failing

or desperate fear may flood

a spouse or sibling

son or daughter

grandparent, aunt or uncle

If the relapse

becomes just like previous times of

drunkenness and violence

jails and hospitals

expectations shift rapidly downward.

If the relapse is just 

one drink, maybe one joint, or just a couple of pills 

or maybe smoking just a hit of heroin instead of mainlining

It’s ok! Isn’t it?

An old saying in the addiction world:

one drink is too many

a thousand isn’t enough.

(That goes for drugs too.)

“Expectations are dangerous when they are both too high and unformed.”

~ Lionel Shriver, We Need to Talk about Kevin”