Origins
From intermezzo, the musical and theatrical passage that appears between larger movements or acts. Often lighter in form but structurally essential, it bridges what has already occurred with what is still to come, allowing the work to deepen rather than conclude.
Meaning
After sobriety has stabilized, we begin to recognize a quieter invitation unfolding for others. We help them see that staying sober is not the end of effort but the space that allows deeper patterns to come into view, patterns that could never be addressed while survival dominated everything else. Intermezzo is the service moment where recovery experience becomes orientation, and we guide others to use their steadiness as a bridge into further growth rather than a place to stop.
Usage
Working with those who were solidly sober but restless, I realized my role had shifted into Intermezzo.