We know what the purpose of guardrails are. They are physical barriers put in place to keep us from running off the road, and into dangerous or deadly places. Road engineers place them in likely trouble spots, but sometimes they are installed after a series of accidents.
Ever look at where guardrails are placed? They aren’t right on the edge of the cliff. They are set back from the edge.
Society and culture pushes us to drive faster, and closer to the edge, and sells the idea that you’ll be happier if you buy this, drink this, or smoke this, and then shakes its head and wags its finger, when we run off the road and go over the edge.
I’ve put up guardrails in all the important areas of my life, and now I have them around sobriety. I know what is on the other side. My guardrails aren’t made of concrete or steel. They are made of self-discipline. When I start to pine for those bygone days, I come here and read the stories of those who are just now coming to, or coming back to sobriety. I pop on a podcast specifically about living a disciplined life.
Here is a fundamental truth: Sobriety is simple. It is only a matter of not doing something. Maybe not easy, but certainly simple. Navigating life is where the difficulty lies, and it is certainly not simple. This is why I am always looking for the danger areas. Toxic relationship? Put up a guardrail. Unhealthy thinking? Put up a guardrail. Unproductive pursuits? Put up a guardrail.
Self-Discipline isn’t confining. It’s freeing.
