The madness of communication.. Or rather the lack there of………

Hope, Healing, and… Wait, Weren’t You Supposed to Text?

Ah, recovery. It’s a journey, they say. Full of hope, healing, and growth. And sometimes… a little confusion. Especially when your partner, in all their well-meaning glory, says, “I’ll text you after the meeting,” and then… crickets. You’re left staring at your phone, wondering if maybe you somehow missed the part where “after” turned into “sometime in the next decade.”

The “Oops, I Forgot” Phenomenon

If I had a dollar for every time my partner said, “Oops, I forgot to text you!” I could probably fund a really nice vacation. And hey, it’s not that they’re trying to forget—they just get caught up in the moment. The reality of recovery is that old habits die hard, and remembering to send that little “Hey, I’m okay” text isn’t exactly top of mind when they’re knee-deep in their own work.

So, what do I do? I breathe. (Sometimes, deeply.) I remind myself that they’re not blowing me off—they’re navigating a world of their own emotions, challenges, and, let’s be real, maybe a little bit of brain fog from all the heavy lifting they’re doing in recovery.

Communication and Missed Connections

Let’s talk about the art of communication. You know, that thing that everyone says is key to any relationship. And it is! But sometimes, I feel like we’re playing a game of emotional charades, where I’m guessing what my partner is feeling based on silence. It’s a fun little dance—one where I get to practice my patience, which, to be honest, could use a little more work.

I’ve learned that when my partner says, “I’ll call you after the meeting,” what they mean is, “I’m going to try to remember to call you after the meeting, but if I don’t, it’s not because I don’t care—it’s because my brain is juggling about 57 different things at once.” And somehow, that call doesn’t make it to the top of the pile.

The Reminder Reflex (Or Trying Not to Be a Recovery Calendar)

At first, I tried to help them stay on track. You know, casually dropping reminders like, “Hey, don’t forget to call after your meeting!” But after a while, I realized I was turning into a walking, talking Post-it note. And that’s not really the role I want in this relationship.

So I had to take a step back and let go of the need to be their reminder service. Recovery is their journey, and as much as I want to support them, I also need to give them space to be responsible for themselves. It’s a delicate balance—supporting without becoming a full-time life coach. (I mean, I’d be great at it, but still.)

Patience is a Practice (And I’m Still Learning)

Patience, they say, is a virtue. What they don’t tell you is that it’s also a skill you develop while waiting for your partner to follow through on what they said they’d do. Like, you know, texting after the meeting. It’s all part of the process, right? And over time, I’ve learned to let go of the little things.

Yes, I’d prefer to get that text. Yes, it would make me feel more connected and supported. But I’ve also learned that the world doesn’t end if the text doesn’t come right away. We’re both doing the best we can, and sometimes that means we have to laugh a little when things don’t go as planned.

Progress Over Perfection

If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that recovery is a whole lot more about progress than perfection. Just like I’m not perfect, neither is my partner. (Shocking, I know!) But we’re in this together, figuring out how to navigate the bumps, missed calls, and unintentional silences.

At the end of the day, what matters most is that we’re both committed to healing. And even if the communication isn’t perfect, we’re still showing up for each other. We’re still trying. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.

So, if you’re out there waiting for that “I’ll text you later” message, just remember: it’s not about the text. It’s about the effort. It’s about the fact that you’re both on this journey, learning, growing, and maybe even laughing along the way. Because if we can find humor in the hiccups, then we’re already winning.