“I was an Exception”

 Weren’t we all! My ego wants me to be different from, not the same as. It tells me I am better than and that I am more cursed, both smarter than and knowledge-challenged, not understood and completely transparent. The truth is that I am all of these things, just not always at the same time, just like everyone else. We all have our strengths and our weaknesses, and until I could recognize that in myself, I would continue to learn humility the hard way.

One of the best things (besides sobriety) that I have learned and am continuing to learn, is to find that balance between defects and strengths. Humility teaches me to be honest about my deficits - to recognize them when they reappear and deal with them promptly, and to be awakened to my actual strengths of character. What had been bluff could be coaxed into being. I can build upon those assets of character, to be the person I always dared not believe I could be, and to encourage others to do the same. 

This is what builds community, brother and sisterhood, and personal growth. We share our humanity, learn to deal with woes and challenges, and find that we all experience our own hopes and dreams. I’ve learned that we’re far more similar to each other than we are different.

None of us is an exception, but we are all exceptional.