Even More Recovery Readings and Meditations - December

[bluidkiti]

December 30

Step by Step

Today, I awaken with full memory of last night but, if not, the day that awaits offers a chance for another beginning. Grant me the wisdom and courage to seize the opportunity to continue or even begin to work toward something better, something I thirst and hunger for – sobriety, serenity, peace, calm, a worthy self-image, and a sense of gratitude that I am here even to be given yet another second chance. My best hope for what I seek is AA and its steps and principles and, today, may I finally decide that enough is enough of the alcoholic hangover and all the garbage that comes with it. But let me be disciplined enough, too, to understand that what sobriety and recovery offer comes with a price – to be of service to anyone who needs and wants what I seek. Today, I have yet another chance for another new beginning. Don’t let the lifeboat go by without me on board. And our common journey continues. Step by step. – Chris M.

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~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

At the end of my life I will not be asked, “why were you not Moses?” I will be asked “why were you not Zusya?”

~ RABBI ZUSYA ~

It is useful to stop and reflect on the growth I have gained since I quit using nicotine. What a terrible pun. Yes, I have had some growth I will want to drop. When it is the right time I will diet and return to my best weight. I will not allow weight gain to sabotage my new freedom from nicotine.

Getting on with the idea of reflecting on the progress since quitting: Have I discovered any insights to enjoying life? Certainly 1 have found physical benefits. I do not wake up with a groggy brain now, to name just one. But how about the hope I now feel? I am no longer causing constant damage to my body. The damage will be healed as I stay quit. I also have relief from my worries about my addiction.

What if I have seriously harmed my body already? I could say, “fine, there’s no point in quitting, is there? I might as well keep on.” One Nicotine Anonymous member had already lost one lung when she joined the Program. She explained that her new-found recovery was precious to her, and she refused to lose it by going back to the nicotine addiction. I need to recognize progress before I can place a value on it.

Today, I will take a moment to congratulate myself and reflect on my lessons learned. I enjoy real satisfaction for the physical and personal progress I find.

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~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

NO EASY SOLUTION

There is no chemical solution to a spiritual problem.

~ Anonymous ~

We are faced with a dilemma in recovery. On the one hand, we have a physical disease that will kill us if it is not treated. On the other hand, medical science knows of no cure for our physical malady. The real problem for us is spiritual in nature. That is why the medical profession can’t cure us. Until we treat the symptoms, there can be no cure. The solution to the real problem is the long-term treatment of our spiritual lives, and this can only begin when we quit using.

We have watched men and women stop without getting into recovery. Their lives do not become that much better. They are usually said to be on a “dry drunk.” The stoppage of the disease halts its progression. The recovery Program promotes long- term treatment.

What an order! I can’t go through with this. There is no easier, softer way. There is no pill I can take to make me better. There is no chemical solution to a spiritual problem.

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~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

Being on the tightrope is living everything eke is waiting.

~ Karl Wallenda ~

In walking a tightrope, a person has to learn to relax while going forward in a situation filled with risk. If he is tense and keeps his body rigid, he will lose his balance and fall. But if he stays relaxed and keeps his muscles loose while remaining very focused, he can continuously respond and readjust his balance while walking. Then he will experience the exhilaration of success. This is a perfect metaphor for life itself, for growing in an intimate relationship and for growing in recovery.

Life itself is a risk. When we hold on too tight, remain too guarded, and anxiously try to control every factor, we become stiff and reactive rather than calm, focused, and responsive. The guidance of this path teaches us to let go of our anxieties and leads us to peace of mind. When we learn to do that, we can deftly walk our path and more effectively maintain our balance in dealing with whatever comes up.

Today I will calm myself while walking on my path. 

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~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

No matter what happens, I must get on with my life.

~ Ruth Humlecker ~

Life is full of uncertainties: people we love come and go, opportunities knock and then disappear, jobs sour, and goals become unachievable. We are forever adjusting to the unexpected. However, remembering that there is one constant in our lives, a Higher Power who will support and guide us, helps us accept whatever comes our way.

There is no conspiracy against us. It may feel that way when we are overwhelmed by or unprepared for a crisis. But there is a plan for us. And it fits only us. The most productive lesson we can learn is to trust that this is so. We can learn to appreciate every experience for the part it plays in our lives.

Our lives continue to unfold. Each day brings us closer to the woman we are destined to be. Let’s get on with it!

No matter what happens, I am in good hands. My course has been set. I’ll look for the good in all of today.

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~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I feel much better about myself these days

For some time, my psychiatric illness and addiction affected each other. A setback to psychiatric illness was usually followed by a relapse to my addiction; relapse was followed by a new setback. I could not deal with both illnesses at the same time. I felt trapped in a downward spiral and I felt I was a failure.

But getting into dual recovery has reversed that spiral, one day at a time. With the help of my higher power, I am coming to accept myself and the dual recovery process. I am working a Twelve Step program and getting help for my psychiatric illness. Merely facing my dual illnesses was tough, but I am proud of how far I’ve come. These days I feel renewed strength and confidence.

I will practice keeping notes on my stages of growth; they will give me courage in the future.

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~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

~ Albert Einstein ~

When we were children we had hobbies or other activities that were special to us: building models, reading, cooking, playing with certain toys, woodworking. In recovery we often find ourselves returning to these or finding new hobbies. Hobbies give us a way to relax, improve ourselves, and create something — all at the same time.

Hobbies, we find, are as important now as they were when we were young. Maybe more important, because they help us rediscover our inner child and our sense of play and fun. They can help us forget our troubles and relax. They help us focus our attention in the present, and when our worries fade away, our bodies relax and renew themselves. Hobbies are an unending source of imagination, pride, and accomplishment. Whether our hobby is something we do alone or in a group, it gives us renewed feelings of satisfaction and pride as well as relaxation.

Today help me discover a new hobby or activity to enrich my life.

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~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

In trying to make something new, half the undertaking lies in discovering whether it can be done.

~ Helen Gahagan Douglas ~

New Year’s Eve marks a time in which you can put the past year behind you and celebrate the beginning of a fresh, new year. You can celebrate this New Year’s Eve sober while still enjoying a variety of activities.

• Sober dances and gatherings planned by your meet-ing or other AA groups provide opportunities to be in alcohol- and drug-free environments.

• Host an alcohol-free dinner with your friends in the program.

• Use the end of the year as a time in which to reflect upon the past year. Think about the good things that have happened, what you have accomplished, and the new friends you have.

• If you like to make resolutions, think about some of the things you would like to accomplish in recovery. Strive to keep these resolutions simple and easy to achieve so you begin your new year with success.

I will welcome the new year clean and sober.

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~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

I wish you the courage to be warm when the world would prefer you to be cool.

~ Robert A. Ward ~

For years we listened to the demands of the world and tried to meet them. We may have listened to our parents and did what they told us to do. We may have heard the needs of a lover or friend and tried to meet them all. We may have even paid heed to absolute strangers, making changes in ourselves to honor their opinions.

Like a reptile, we may have absorbed the temperature of our surroundings and adjusted our body temperature accordingly. We may have found comfort in being warm when the world was warm or being cool when the world was cool.

But tonight we can, in the words of Thoreau, march to a beat of a different drummer. We can say no when others want to hear yes. We can set limits when others ask too much. We can even be warm when the world wants us to be cool. Others don’t have power over us anymore. Only we have power over ourselves.

Tonight I won’t let anyone or anything have power over the way I feel. I can feel warm or cool—it’s my choice.

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~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Being friends

When we were using drugs we had many friends, many party friends. They were our friends until the bad times came. Where were they then? With our new understanding, friends take on a new meaning. Friend-ships become spiritual in nature. Are we ready to have friends?

Like begets like. If we are friendly, we will have friends. We needn’t impose ourselves on friends but rather create hope and help in their lives. A kind word here, a brotherly act there—not great deeds, just accessibility. This is how we make ourselves worthy of being called friend.

Am I a true friend?

Higher Power, may I be able to offer hope and help and acts of kindness to the ones I call friends.

Today I will befriend

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

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~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

There is a love like a small lamp, which goes out when the oil is consumed; or like a stream, which dries up when it doesn’t rain. But there is a love that is like a mighty spring gushing up out of the earth; it keeps flowing forever, and is inexhaustible.

~ ISAAC OF NINEVEH ~

Newcomer

The changes I’ve been through in recovery so far are beyond anything I could have predicted when all I imagined was getting some control over my addiction. I never expected to let other people into my life. I never expected to find a Higher Power.

Sponsor

Our Higher Power has been with us from the beginning. Beneath our craving for an addictive substance or behavior, there has always been a craving for connection with our deepest selves.

In recovery, we have begun to know ourselves at the level of soul. We’ve experienced our connection with the rest of humanity and prayed to be useful to others. We’ve forgiven ourselves and others for being imperfect. We sense the mystery of the recovery that was offered to us, and we’re beginning to know something about gratitude. I’ve heard an old-timer in recovery sum it up this way: “It’s just love. All of it is about love.”

We know the love that flows from a Power greater than ourselves when we look at the faces and hear the words of other recovering people. We can tap into this unending stream of love whenever we go to a meeting.

Today, I open myself to the love in this program.

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~ THE EYE OPENER ~

If man was created by God in the image of God, and did not possess human frailties, he would be God. All men would then be perfect and Heaven would exist here on earth. There would be no logical reason for it to operate simply as a branch of Heaven.

With our limited understanding of God’s purpose, we must suppose that man was intended from the very first to work out his own evolution. The reason this process has required so many centuries has been man’s persistence in the exercise of his puny little will as opposed to the Will of God. That we are less than God is due to our freedom of choice between being one with God and our attempt to play God.

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~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Simple: Recovery really is simple; it’s just not always easy.

2) Working with Others: If you’re not working with others, then others will be working with you.

3) MISQUOTED SLOGANS: Thirst things first.

by Shelly Marshall

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~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

Humility

Humility is perpetual quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be worried or angered, irritable or distressed, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised,- it is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and about seems troubled.

~ Inscription on Dr. Bob’s desk plaque, author unknown ~

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~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

THE PATH OF LOVE

All the old traditions tell us that there is more than one path to the great Goal. Just as there is more than one road up every great mountain, and yet all roads meet at the top, so in the spiritual quest there are several roads, all of which lead in due season to the one great End.

There is the path of knowledge. True knowledge of divine things is one of the appointed paths to attainment; but that path is by no means for everyone. And there is the pathway of action—of organized activity—and the world needs this too; but this again usually calls for a special gift, and special circumstances in which to apply it. And there are others.

The shortest and the easiest pathway of all is the pathway of Love. It is the one pathway that is open to all, irrespective of what their personal conditions or circumstances may be. For everyman, everywhere, the true attainment awaits through the yoga of Love, for yoga means union and it is our union with God that makes the attainment possible.

There is no fear in love; but Perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. . . (1 John 4:18).

. . . God is Love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16). 

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~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Pushing the Envelope

The darkest hour is just before the dawn.

~ Anonymous ~

The most powerful way to overcome fear is to make friends with it. Instead of labeling fear as your enemy recognize that it is bringing you a gift. Whenever you feel afraid, you are approaching the edge of your perceived safety zone. But your “safety zone” is just a tiny portion of the world that is available to you. A Course in Miracles asks us to remember, “I am in danger nowhere in the universe.” If you never tested your limits, you would never grow. The ego, intent on keeping you small, fixed, and miserable, shrieks, “You must not step across this line!” What the ego does not tell you is that on the other side of the line awaits freedom, not death.

The presence of fear means that you are pressing against the invisible membrane that smallness warns you not to pass. Be grateful that you have come to this point and have not stayed bound in the little world of inadequacy

A time of hardship or darkness is an initiation. You are being tested and strengthened to move ahead to a new level. The blackest night gives way to the brightest day. As I look back on my times of great challenge, I recognize that they were soon followed by significant growth. If you’re going through such a time, hang in there. Instead of cursing your situation, bless it as a harbinger of the dawn. You are not being punished; you are really getting somewhere. The world is not unfair; it would be unfair if it let you live in fear. You are not being crushed; you are being squeezed through the birth canal. The flip side of every death is a new life. Claim the presence of good, and your transition will be much easier. Thank God for the opportunity to dump fear and walk in the light you deserve.

Help me to find the gift in my challenges.

All experiences strengthen me as I grow into the light.

[bluidkiti]

December 31

Step by Step

Today, I need not fear anything for I have endured and survived the horror of active alcoholism and, by the grace of AA and a Higher Power to which it led me, I have emerged not only intact but a better person. I have kept the faith in the program, in its steps and principles, in the Power stronger than I, and I found faith in myself that I never had before. My gift has been sobriety the last 24 Hours. Having vested not only my heart and soul but my very life in this program, I faced few terrors other than those within myself but met them with the guidance of the steps. Now, nothing can compare and any fear from any source is something I know I can face responsibly, with faith and sobriety. Today, I have nothing to fear except the ghosts of my drinking past, and my program has strengthened me to move beyond them, to leave the fear behind. Yet I do not take for granted the gift of sobriety as something I am owed or even deserve; I have an obligation to it, and that obligation begins with sharing the message. And our common journey continues. Step by step. – Chris M.

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~ A YEAR OF MIRACLES ~ (Meditations Written by Members of Nicotine Anonymous) ~

Let us look at our own faults, and not at other people’s. We ought not to insist on everyone following in our footsteps, nor to take upon ourselves to give instruction in spirituality when, perhaps, we do not even know what it is.

~ TERESA OF AVILA ~

Meetings bring many different people together with one common purpose: the desire to quit using nicotine. This is a selfish Program. I go to meetings to gain the benefits of the Program. I want to stay free of nicotine addiction for the rest of my life.

I may find that the meetings are not satisfying my needs. One member or a small group may seem to dominate, meeting after meeting.

Is this good? Are these members sharing their experiences in quitting? Are they sharing knowledge of the Program? This may be to everyone’s benefit. Instead of reacting, I can listen and learn.

Before I attempt to change another person, let me honestly look at my own actions at meetings. Do I dwell on the addiction as I talk, or do I focus on the tools of recovery that the Program offers? Do I put the spotlight on my struggles and difficulties with the addiction, or do I show how I have worked to overcome the addiction, the precious victories? Do I judge others for their education or money instead of listening for their growth and spiritual message?

Today, I will let our Traditions guide me in handling the problems that arise when any group of people gathers.

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~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

THE PROGRAM

And practice these principles in all our affairs.

~ Big Book ~

The longer we are on the Program, the more we enrich all parts of our lives. There is hardly a topic mentioned that does not allow us to learn. It is not that we become progressively dumber in recovery; it is just that we become progressively more open-minded. We seem to be hungry for growth opportunities.

We are not timid about meeting new people and taking part in new recovery experiences. When we have an opportunity to share our experience, strength, and hope, we do so with gratitude and humility. We can’t be arrogant about our progress. We know that false pride is dangerous for us. Others have taken too much credit for recovery and lost it.

When I practice these principles, I acknowledge my powerlessness; believe and trust in my Higher Power; keep a clear, clean conscience; talk with my sponsor; maintain a willingness to change; have a humble attitude; maintain a daily inventory; pray and meditate; attend meetings; and pass it on.

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~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters are continually flowing on.

~ Heraclitus ~

On this last day of the year, time is on our minds. Naturally, we look back at the year just passing. Whether we feel grateful that it is over, or grateful for the gifts it brought, we can always be grateful to be in this healing program on this day. Some of us took our first Steps in recovery this year and others marked another year among many years. Once on the path, the critical fact is that we are all brothers, equally seeking the same goal: a sober life and peace of mind.

New Year’s Eve is a time for celebrations and parties. For some of us, New Year’s Eve in the past was a day of complete immersion in our addiction and codependency. There is no point in giving much attention to regrets. Today our celebration has a deeper spiritual meaning. It’s a good time to take stock of how far we have come and for gratitude for the benefits of our recovery. We can look at the challenges we faced and what we learned from them. We can look at the gifts that came into our lives.

Today I thank God for the gifts that continue to flow and enhance my life.

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~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

Every ending is part of a beginning. Every loss is part of an emptiness that can be filled with newness.

~ Jan Lloyd ~

The door that is closing today may fill us with dread; however, we can find relief when we recall other endings that unexpectedly led to new friend-ships, better jobs, wonderful opportunities.

Life is a process. Every event in our lives is connected to what has gone before and what will come after. There are no real endings; there are only new opportunities for growth and change. For most of us it’s a matter of changing our perspective. The difference is subtle yet extremely powerful, and our lives will never feel the same.

I look forward to these twenty-four hours! I can be glad for everything that comes to me, trusting in its blessing.

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~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I am learning about bad drugs

Now that I’m clean, I can see what bad drugs really are. They’re the ones where each time you buy them the seller changes, the price changes, and the package changes. Often, even their effects change. Such drugs I now call “street drugs,” and I don’t use them anymore.

The only drugs I use come from a pharmacy. Their price, package, and effects are consistent. I call them “medicine” or “medication.” My medication is prescribed for me by my doctor, and I take it according to strict instructions.

At my next dual recovery meeting I will share my old and new understanding of bad drugs.

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~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

I’ve shut the door on yesterday and thrown the key away —
Tomorrow holds no fears for me,
Since I have found today.

~ Vivian Yeiser Laramore ~

Feeling guilty or ashamed about the past — about what we did or did not do, about what happened to us, about who we were — can be our undoing. We must work long and hard in our recovery to work through these feelings, not to forget the past — for it informs all that we value in ourselves today — but to put the past into perspective.

After we’ve taken an inventory and grieved our losses we must forgive ourselves. In forgiving ourselves we can let go of the past and live in today.

With our program of recovery looking back is not as frightening as it once was. And today we do not have to bear what we find alone.

A new year, a new life, can be ours. Love and friendship, support and spiritual growth are waiting for us today. Our yesterdays are over, and we can look to the future with joy and anticipation.

Today help me forgive my self for what’s past and learn to have faith in Your plan for me.

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~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

If every day is an awakening, you will never grow old. You will just keep growing.

~ Gail Sheehy ~

How do you know when you have had a spiritual awakening?

• You will be less confused and have greater under-standing and clarity.

• You will know what it feels like to be at peace.

• You will understand that forgiveness begins when you are capable of forgiving yourself.

• You will be gentle and kind with yourself and with others.

• You will be more willing to surrender to God’s guidance.

• You will be able to see and appreciate the beauty and wonder in life.

• You will discover that your life has purpose.

Having had a spiritual awakening in recovery as the result of your work on the Steps, Step Twelve asks that you engage in outreach and giving to others by sharing what you have learned. By serving as a role model to other addicts, you talk the talk and walk the walk in all that you do and say.

I will practice the principles of recovery with my self and with others.

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~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson ~

Past New Year’s Eves may have meant times of excessive chemical use. We may have embarrassed ourselves in many ways. We may have chosen New Year’s Eve as a time to analyze our past behaviors and write long lists of how that was going to change.

Yet tonight is like any other night. We don’t have to feel as though we aren’t having a good time unless we’re at a party or a bar. We can celebrate the new year tomorrow with those closest to us by doing something we enjoy. The past is gone, the future has not arrived. The present is all we have, here and now.

Look to ourselves and what we want to do, not at what we think we should be doing. We can share our feelings at a meeting, spend quality time with our families and loved ones. We need to focus on ourselves and what we need to do for us, and not be diverted by the craziness around us.

Tonight is an ending; tonight is a beginning. Help me stay in the moment to bid farewell to the old and welcome in the new in my own way.

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~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Being less than perfect

It was not a perfect year. But is there ever a perfect year? Being clean and sober does not purport to offer perfection. It gives us a chance to strive for progress. When we keep our Higher Power in our thoughts and actions, we come closer to perfection all the time.

Despite the disappointments of our complex lives, we are finally beginning to learn how to live. We are finally making progress.

Am I content to be less than perfect?

Higher Power, I pray that I may continue to strive for progress and be satisfied to be an imperfect human.

I will enjoy my humanity today by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

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~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

Trust in experience. And in the rhythms.
The deep rhythms of your experience.

~ MURIEL RUKEYSER ~

Newcomer

At a recent meeting I realized that I wasn’t feeling critical of myself or others. I noticed the sounds around me and felt myself accept that the world is just as it should be. I felt peaceful, happy. I listened to people sharing, without my usual objections. I could appreciate each person’s contribution. I don’t know why this happened or if these feelings will stay with me.

Sponsor

At times, we’re aware of a breakthrough. A habit or outlook suddenly shifts for no apparent reason. But, in fact, you’ve been doing the work of recovery for some time now. When we keep showing up, progress sometimes seems to leap ahead. We may not always love everyone; old problems may arise. But once we’ve had positive experiences of recovery like the one you’ve described, we have memories to draw on for inspiration.

Today, I trust my positive feelings and experiences.

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~ THE EYE OPENER ~

Every man at some time arrives at a place where the course of his entire future rests upon a decision. Judas was one day a saint and the next he was the betrayer of his Lord.

We members of AA also had our moment of great decision. Many more days of decision will probably be our lot, but by the Grace of God and our new-found sobriety, we can meet any situation by reliance on God’s Will rather than our own.

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~ WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG BOOK ~ (Official & Unofficial Sloganeering From the 12 Step Programs) ~

1) Al-Anon: My serenity, my pace, my choice.

2) Drink(ing,): Having a resentment is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die.

3) Health(y): Take care of your body. If you don’t, where else are you going to live?

by Shelly Marshall

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~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

I Try to Help People

I try to help people . . . experience their spiritual connectedness by helping them get in touch with both their tenderness and their power. I don’t think there’s such a thing as instant intimacy or instant spirituality—they are things that evolve in us. To reach them . . . we need to see that . . . we are born to evolve . . . It is a growing thing—and there is no fear in it. Not that we haven’t heard the message before. It’s what Christ talked about, and the Buddha, and others. But in the past most of us . . . said, “They’re beyond us, they’re divine . . . we’re nothing but humans, so we can’t make the same connection.” But now, we’re beginning to know we can.

~ Author unknown ~

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~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

YOUR DEDICATION

The way of Love, upon which you may step at any moment—at this moment if you like—requires no formal permit, has no entrance fee, and no conditions whatever. You need no expensive laboratory in which to train, because your own daily life, and your ordinary daily surroundings, are your laboratory. You need no reference library, no professional training; no external acts of any kind. All you need is to begin steadfastly to reject from your mentality everything that is contrary to the law of love.

You must build up by faithful daily exercise the true Love Consciousness. Love will heal you. Love will comfort you. Love will guide you. Love will illumine you. Love will redeem you from sin, sickness, and death, and lead you into your promised land.

Say to yourself: “My mind is made up; I have counted the cost; and I am resolved to attain the Goal by the path of Love. Others may pursue knowledge, or organize great enterprises for the benefit of humanity, or scale the austere heights of asceticism; but I have chosen the path of Love. My own heart is to be my workshop, my laboratory, my great enterprise, and love is to be my contribution to humanity.”

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). 

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~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

The Beginning Is Near

Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.

~ Charles Schultz ~

Since the beginning of time, people have worried about the end of the world. Every generation has had its share of gloomy prophets, and every generation has believed its plight was the worst. Yet, we are still here, and somehow humanity keeps surviving and growing in consciousness.

Life on earth is always changing, and it is always improving. Some–thing is always dying, but something is always being born. To fearfully protect yourself today from danger tomorrow is to miss the beauty here now. Live fully today, and you will be taken care of tomorrow.

As we approach the new year, take stock of the last year. What did you set out to do this year? Have you been true to your goals and yourself? What gifts and awakenings did you receive that you did not plan on? How have you been challenged, and have you found a way to turn your challenges into blessings?

Greet the new year with a sense of joyful anticipation. No matter what has happened this year, you have the power to create your next year as you choose. You are not the same person who started this year. You are wiser, deeper, and richer for your experiences. You will take your knowledge and build on it to make a new year unlike any you have lived before.

Devote this new year to gratitude, blessing, and celebration. Write down what you would like to leave behind and what you would like to take with you. Honor those who have loved and supported you this year by thanking them in your heart and with your words. Do you realize how much grace you have received and how loved you are?

Determine that the next year will be the best one ever. It will be what you want it to be, so aim high. You deserve the very best that life has to offer, because you are the very best.

Thank you for all the gifts and blessings of this year. Walk with me into the new year, and help me find Your love everywhere I go.

I walk in love. My future is blessed by God.