I will be starting college in a couple of weeks. It's a bit scary at my age to take on what I should have accomplished years ago. Although I completed a year and a half of college once upon a time I will be starting as a Freshman because the credits won't transfer since that was more than 10 years ago.

Upon registering for classes I found that I am required to take a college 101 course that is designed for Freshman entering college for the first time. Begrudgingly, I registered because it is a requirement...but only because I have to take it. I received my text book this week and began reviewing it to see what's in store for what I thought would be a very boring and unecessary course. I was suprised to discover that this course will not only be an intersting class but also a very necessary one for someone who has been out of the academic circuit as long as I have.

The course is pretty much a 12 step program for succeeding in a college atmosphere. It amazed me to find some of the same principal teachings of Celebrate Recovery enclosed in this course. I wanted to share an excerpt from the book that I found to hit right at home for me, the co-dependent.

1. When I believe, I can't acheive my goals by myself, I choose dependence.
2. When I believe, I have to help other people get their goals before I can pursue my own goals, I choose co-dependence. 3. When I believe, by working hard, I can get some of what I want all by myself, I choose independence.
4. When I believe, I know I can get some of what I want by working alone, but I'll accomplish more and have fun if I give and receive help, I choose interdepence.

I'd like to add one more to the mix:
5. When I believe, I know I can get what God wants for me, but I'll accomplish more and have fun if I give and receive help while trusting fully in God's will for my life, I choose God-dependence.

With co-dependence, dependence and independence giving and receiving are out of balance. The co-dependent gives too much. The dependent person takes too much. The independent person seldom gives or receives. The interdependent finds a healthly balance of giving and receiving, but often times may find that what they want is not what God wants for them, therefore creating new problems. Interdependence combined with God-dependence is my chosen means for success.