Faithful

I am a very faithful person. This is another one of my positive character traits. I am faithful to the people, organizations, and programs to which I have dedicated my life.

First and foremost, I am faithful to God. I have spoken often in this book of my love for and devotion to God. My faith is the most important part of my life.

I am faithful to my Quaker Meeting. I go every Sunday to Bennington Friends Meeting in Bennington, Vermont. I am faithful in fulfilling the positions and duties to which I have committed myself on their behalf.

I am faithful to my family. I stay in weekly contact with members of my family and get together with them in person when I can. The person I’m closest with is my sister, Alice. The only other family I have left is extended family and unfortunately we don’t get to see each other that often. I do, however, connect with them by phone.

I am faithful to my friends. My friendship circle is and has always been fairly small, as I’ve never been a very social person. But with a few close people, I make an effort stay in contact and offer support to them.

I am faithful to my CoDA meetings. I always try to attend no matter what else is happening in my life. The online meeting that I host meets once a week. I make an effort to always be available to host and when I can’t I get a sub.

I am faithful to my sponsor and the work we do together. I do my step work every week and meet with her afterwards to read it to her.

I am faithful to my students. I strive to keep my students inspired, encouraged, and playing their instrument. I don’t give up on them. I have a student that we will call London (not her real name). I have had London in my violin class for a couple of years now. I had taught her in two different schools, as she had moved once during my time as her teacher. When she moved to her new school, Matthews School, her lessons happened to fall during her recess time. (This was the only time I was allowed to teach these students at this particular school.) So she attended class once or twice, but then stopped attending. I contacted her mother via email and let her know that London had missed class. London continued to miss class, but I kept emailing her mother, and asked for information and updates. Each time I contacted London’s mom, she responded, saying her daughter was still in the class and she was sorry that London kept missing class. She promised to correct the situation.

When London finally did show up at class, we had an open and honest conversation about violin class, the need for promptness and participation, and the need for her to attend even though it was during recess.

Something happened to London that day. She renewed her commitment to violin class. She came faithfully every week and tried her best. I did my best to take her at the playing level she was at and to help her improve. She attended every class after that day and came to both concerts. She dressed up for the concerts and played her best. Perhaps the greatest part of all of this is that she seems to really enjoy violin now. I didn’t give up on London. I was faithful to her and kept trying to reach her and get her to believe in herself. It ended up being a good experience for her and for me. I am faithful to my students.

I am faithful to my self-care plan. The worship, journaling, exercise, diet, practicing of my instruments, and writing that I’ve mentioned throughout this book are a vital part of my recovery and I am devoted to them.

I am faithful to my food plan. I cook my food once a week, usually on Sundays. I portion out my food into containers so that I have it to eat during the week. I faithfully write in my food journal every day and count my Weight Watchers points. I attend Weight Watchers Meetings once a week and read their magazine. I read my Overeaters Anonymous Lifeline magazine cover to cover when I get it. I work the OA steps and write in the workbook when I need that support.

I am a faithful person. I am grateful to God for giving me this faith and helping me to carry out my faith in all that I do. I could never do it without His help.