Adding Pleasure and Joy

But a pleasant and happy life comes not from external things, but, on the contrary, man draws on his own character as a source from which to add the element of pleasure and joy to the things which surround him. ~ Plutarch

We tried external things, built our lives
around them, living for pleasure,
for recognition, admiration, escape,
whatever we got from others.
Then we found Recovery, surrendered control,
relied on the real, discarding pretense.
We learned who we were, discovered peace,
self-respect, real joy, and a life worth living
for the rest of our lives.