Pause For Thought

[MajestyJo]

Like the Eagle I fly,
I soar with the clouds on High.
Wind in my feathers,
like a breeze blowing through heather.

I ride the wind with out thought or care,
wishing this feeling I could share.
The higher i soar the cord stretches thin,
I disconnect from Mother Earth, leaving my Kin.

I long to fly, to the Sun...beyond,
this earthly body leave behind with the flick of a wand.
Fly on and on to new places and worlds,
a messenger of love, a peace I heard.

I reach the end of the cord feel it pull,
I look back at my home that tiny world.
The more I look the further back I fall
Then I slam back into my body in no time at all.

As I catch my breath, taking my journey to mind.
I realize only glimpses leaving the bulk behind.
The feelings however are held deep in my heart,
Which is still soaring the heavens, never the two shall part .

~EagleShadow 2006

Originally posted at Spirit of Rain

[MajestyJo]

I Was Chosen



I don’t deserve to be here today
I still can’t comprehend how I found my way
At times I was unable to fight
From a world of darkness to a world of light
Nevertheless, I had made it through
And I began to construct a life anew
Somehow a second chance I received
A new outlook upon life I now perceived

I have no clue why someone chose me
‘cause I wasn’t going to grow up to be
The savior to bring the world to peace
Leave that to one who knows what to do at least
I also won’t cure any disease
I don’t know how to put my stomach at ease
So someone, why me, may I question?
Why am I, an awful mess, your selection?

One of three places I should have been
For all of the misery I have given
Either locked up in a cold, damp cell
And the inmates, I would get to know quite well
Or have padded walls surrounding me
Then one of the crazy people I would be
Or I could make a major blunder
Place three for me should have been six feet under

The torture I’ve caused you must not know;
The destruction I caused many years ago
For their grief I am to blame
Through being a villain I had earned my fame
And I know their lives can never be
Restored to sanity, all because of me
So why I was chosen I don’t know
Despite the agony I caused years ago

I knew in my heart I could not win;
Tried to force myself into oblivion
But then I threw out one final prayer
Sobbing to anyone who just might be there
I don’t know what changed in me that day
Through that darkness I had discovered my way
Back then that wasn’t of my concern
Since a whole new life I was about to earn

I found some people of my own kind
Which I thought existed just in my own mind
For the first time I wasn’t alone
With these people I had found a comfort zone
Even though they were complete strangers
I was certain that they possessed no dangers
For they helped me to regain my life
To a world of new hope from a world of strife

I’m a walking miracle I keep hearing
Despair around me keeps on clearing
Scars of yesterday are history
While tomorrow’s life remains a mystery
Now I can see the light in my heart
Even when my hands can’t pull the darkness apart
The sun finally begins to shine
And this heavenly world can now be all mine

Someone out there wanted to save me
Restore my hectic life back to sanity
They must have seen something inside me
That something, must have established me worthy
I haven’t found that divine force yet
Whatever it is, I’m forever in debt
‘cause it somehow chose me to survive
Although I shouldn’t be, I am still alive

~*~*~Mandie~*~*~

~*~"I haven't found that divine force yet whatever it is, I'm forever in its debt. 'Cause somehow it chose ME to survive, although I shouldn't be, I'm still alive"~*~

Lest we forget where we came from.

Something I posted on another site in 2010.

[MajestyJo]

GOD'S HOTEL



I checked you in again last night, my child,

Because it hurt me so bad to see you out there running wild.

All tired and sucked up you appeared to me

But put a mirror in front of you, and you can't even see;

That you are a number among the walking dead,

Sores all over your body, confusion in your head.

Jail is not the place you want to be

But it's my hotel, where I can work on thee you see.

You weren't just arrested, you were rescued from yourself.

I had to bring you back here, to put your habit on the shelf.

Give you some rest, some food, and some talk

Encourage you and love you, before I let you walk.

Dont be like a mule that's led around by a bit,

Just listen to your warnings, and I can help you quit.

This could be the last time you have to come into this place,

Just listen to me the Creator Of All with tears upon my face...

Original Source Unknown - posted on FB's Addict's Mom

[MajestyJo]

PERSONAL POWER

When you consciously invoke growing, you consciously invoke the parts of yourself that are not whole to come into the foreground of your life. With each recurrence of anger, jealousy, or fear, you are given the choice to challenge it, or to give in to it. Each time you challenge it, it loses power and you gain power.

- Gary Zukav

For so many years, I gave away my personal power. I did not know I had a choice.

Each time I am faced with an old scenario, I am given the choice in recovery as to whether I am going to let it continue to play out in my life or am I going to step up to the plate and challenge it and do what I can do to heal and change things.

When I surrender, I am empowered to do what I need to do for myself. I no longer have to give those old patterns and behaviors the power to rule my life.

Just for today, I take back my power. I am worthy of a new life and a new sense of well being and peace.

Just because you are a strong woman, there is no reason to give up a part of yourself for someone else. It is okay to be you. Own your own power.

[MajestyJo]

TEXT Today we hear a lot about "Happy, Joyous and Free" but as life happens in sobriety, we all go through rough times.

This recalls a statement an old-timer told me many years ago. He said "AA doesn't promise you a rose garden but will teach you to live life on life's terms SOBER.

There will be times we are not happy, joyous but we will always be free if we *accept* life on life's terms SOBER!.........just for today. TEXT

Tiger

How true this is! Yet when you think of it, in order to get the roses and see them bloom, it takes a lot of work, turning over the soil, adding the fertilizer, pampering and care, love and attention, food and water, digging out the weeds and trimming the bush so the picture and plant is whole.

That is what recovery and the Twelve Steps have done for me. Now I have the privilege of seeing some blossoms, but I know it takes continuous work, to keep the plant alive.

Originally done by Lynn Anderson

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/marti...osegarden.html

[MajestyJo]

1 On this day in 1997, the funeral of Diana,
the young Princess of Wales, was held
in Westminster Abbey. The following
words were sung, and they can be our
words of commitment today:

2 I would be true
- for there are those who trust me.
I would be pure
- for there are those who care.
I would be strong
- for there is much to suffer.
I would be brave
- for there is much to dare.

3 I would be friend of all,
the foe, the friendless.
I would be giving,
and forget the gift.
I would be humble,
for I know my weakness.
I would look up,
laugh, love and live.

[MajestyJo]

HOW TO LOVE YOURSELF

STOP ALL CRITICISM.
Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept
yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.

DON'T SCARE YOURSELF.
Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It's a dreadful way to live.

Find a mental image that gives you pleasure (mine is yellow roses), and
immediately switch your scary thought to a pleasure thought.

BE GENTLE AND KIND AND PATIENT.
Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself as you learn the new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would someone you really loved.

BE KIND TO YOUR MIND.
Self-hatred is only hating your own thoughts. Don't hate yourself for having the thoughts. Gently change your thoughts.

PRAISE YOURSELF.
Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can. Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.

SUPPORT YOURSELF.
Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it.

BE LOVING TO YOUR NEGATIVES.
Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill a need. Now you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs. So lovingly release the old negative patterns.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY.
Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercise. What kind of exercise can you enjoy? Cherish and revere the temple you live in.

MIRROR WORK.
Look into your eyes often. Express this growing sense of love you have for yourself. Forgive yourself looking into the mirror. Talk to your parents looking into the mirror. Forgive them too. At least once a day say: "I love you, I really love you!"

LOVE YOURSELF... DO IT NOW.
Don't wait until you get well, or lose the weight, or get the new job, or the new relationship. Begin now - and do the best you can.

by Louise Hay

This was why I was in codependent relationships. I always looked to others to make me feel good because I couldn't find it within myself. Always looking for the validation and approval outside of myself, thank God for recovery.

[MajestyJo]

ACCEPTING



Samuel Thadeus Short

“God speaks to all individuals through what happens to them moment by moment.” — J. P. DECAUSSADE

What if we were to open ourselves peacefully and trustingly to accepting good rather than pugnaciously trying to coerce life into responding to us? What if we came to life with our palms out and raised upward rather than greeting it with a double fist? We would develop a consciousness of acceptance of good which is immense and would unfold into every area of our existence.

Such a consciousness of this sort invites the natural wholeness of God to enrich us at every turn. We discover that the atom of God is always flowing through our thoughts and through our deeds.

We can come to know and trust this action to support our good at all times. As we accept only good for ourselves we do the same for all other life forms as well. The perfect manifestation of God comes through us.

The Antesian Road To Enlightenment
antesianroadtoenlightenment-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

EXPANDING CONSCIOUSNESS

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

When I read this, one thought came to mind. When I get out of the way, God works through me. When I am willing to be a channel of His Blessing, I live my life in today, that when I surrender that direction is there and it is my acceptance and acknowledgement of that good orderly direction, which determines how smoothly my day goes, how well equipped I am to hand today on life's terms, and accepting that God knows what is good for me, more so than my own narrow minded concepts and outlook at myself and others.

So many times I have been grateful that God doesn't think like I do, but I am sure He has thought that He is very grateful His thinking isn't based on my thoughts.

Today He is companion and friend. I have been known to question His actions, yet I have found that He has much more acceptance of me than I have had of Him over the years.

[MajestyJo]

What Do I Accept?

1. Do I accept I have an addiction to substances?
2. Do I accept my addiction is a disease, that cannot be cured?
3. Do I accept that all mood altering substances are all equally bad for me because of my disease of addiction?
4. Do I accept I cannot change past events that happened to me or my past actions?
5. Do I accept I cannot control other people?
6. Do I accept that I am responsible for the effort I put into my recovery and my life, but I cannot control the outcomes?
7. Do I accept that bad things do happen to people in recovery?
8. Do I accept that there is no situation, good or bad , that a drink or drug won't make worse
9. Do I accept that if I do not change my thinking and my attitude, my recovery may be at risk?
10. Do I accept that if I keep doing what I did, I'll keep getting what I got?
11. Do I accept that when I am drinking or using I become a slave to the alcohol or drugs and it is my master?
12. Do I accept that I can learn something from every situation good or bad if I am open to learning?
13. Do I accept that recovery is hard work and requires rigorous honesty?
14. Do I accept that the 12 steps (of any of our programs) work if I work the steps?
15. Do I accept suggestions?
16. Do I accept I cannot control situations or people , but I can control how I respond to them
17. Do I accept that recovery needs to be the number 1 priority in my life?
18. Do I accept that I have choices today and I need to accept the consequences of my choices?
19. Do I accept there are always excuses to use or drink but they are all lies I tell to myself
20. Do I accept that when I was drinking or using my Higher Power was drugs and alcohol (gambling, sex, food etc)
21. Do I accept that if I continue to drink or drug my options in life are" insanity, jail, or death?
22. Do I accept that I am responsible for my own recovery, others may help , but the responsibility is mine?

by. Del Larkin

[MajestyJo]

Accept me as I am I have no guarantee.

A claim to perfection I have not. Perfect I cannot be.

I, like you.....am human. Prone to make mistakes.

Failure is not a character flaw, Just a part of the human makeup.

I live, I laugh and I also learn. My knowledge is incomplete.

I am searching all the time, in waking hours as well as sleep.

I have a long road to travel, as well as you do.

We learn our lessons on the way. Wisdom we shall accrue.

So please accept me as I am Because I am .... Just me.

No one like me in the world. That is my only guarantee.

This is how I feel I have a heart, open it and see
Please take care That's all I am, just me.


--Author Unknown

[MajestyJo]

Acceptance of others is easier for me than of where I am in the moment. I also find that when I don't listen to myself, I get resentful. Often that puts me in places, with others, that I wish not to be around. Accepting of them, tolerance is another matter. I am grateful for the knowledge of knowing where people come from, yet have very little acceptance and tolerance for those who excuse their behavior by saying, "I'm an alcoholic you know?" I am an adult child, what do you expect? I am an addict, that is what addicts do. Recovery is about change and not staying in old behaviour, about moving ahead and not going back to where I came from. So, you can see, I can still be judgmental, yet I am my hardest critic!

Knowingness is such a powerful thing. To be able to be in the 'know' instead of the chaos and uncertainty of active addiction, be it living with my own, or someone else's. Being at one with oneself, in the know with what is best for me it a great gift. I lived my life through other people for so many years and I had no identity of my own.

Serenity and being comfortable with myself is certainly a God given gift of this program, through working the Steps, I not only found God, I found myself.

Acceptance is the key to all areas of recovery, it doesn't matter what substance you use, be it people, places, and/or things.

[MajestyJo]

This is probably posted somewhere on the board but something I needed to read, so copied it from another site. It was originally posted in 2013.



A is for Acceptance. Accepting what is in the moment, knowing it is subject to change. Accepting that I have a dis-ease, which cause me to look for something outside of myself. When I found something, I couldn't stop there, I always had to have more and it because a disease that made me obsessive compulsive and wanting more. I developed an allergy, because I couldn't metabolize the drugs and alcohol the same way normal people do. I had a disease of perception, and thought I was in control, when in fact it was an illusion. When I wanted to stop, I couldn't.

[MajestyJo]

Our pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. --Kahlil Gibran


Quiz - Are you in a true state of being?

Adapted from On the Toltec Path,
by Ken Eagle Feather (Inner Traditions, 2006).

Simple Solution

Many teachings focus on how to develop the state of true being.
Although the word "being" sounds passive, a state of true being is highly dynamic. It embodies a quiet flow of deep awareness.

Take this quiz to see how close you may be to experiencing a state of true being:

See how many of these statements are TRUE for you:

* I experience immediate attention to the here and now.

* I experience a sense of newness in all my activities, no matter
how repetitive.

* I experience peacefulness.

* My perception accentuates the environment more, focusing less on myself.

* I feel a sense of rightness or perfection about everything.

* I experience little or no thought.

* I experience a touching, or at least a getting closer to, my core
nature.

* I feel a strong, clear connection with the world.

* I experience reality as a reflection of myself.

* I feel an innate sense of purpose.

* I experience a complete abandon or surrender.

* I feel nonattachment.

* I experience balanced energies.

* I feel unconditional love.

* I experience joy and/or bliss.

* I feel patience.

* I experience the sense of residing in a timeless present that
stretches throughout eternity.

No matter how many of these statements were or were not true for you, these are all experiences that are attainable with practice.

[MajestyJo]

What would you do if for every moment you were truly happy there would be 10 moments of sadness?

What would you do if your best friend died tomorrow and you never got to tell them how you felt?

So, I just wanted to say, even if I never talk to you again in my life, you are special to me and you have made a difference in my life.

I look up to you, respect you, and truly cherish you.

Let old friends know you haven't forgotten them, and tell new friends you never will.

Remember, everyone needs a friend, someday you might feel like you have NO FRIENDS at all, just remember and take comfort in knowing somebody out there cares about you and always will.

I'll Always Be There in times of trouble,
In times of need,
If you are feeling sad,
You can count on me.

I will give you a wink,
Until you smile,
Give you a hug,
And stand by your side.

I'll be there for you till the end,
I'll always and forever, be your friend!

[MajestyJo]

An old one, but a good one.



I've never made a fortune, and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow
And as I go along life's way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough
But I've got loving ones all around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for his blessings,
and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.

So Lord, help me not to gripe,
about the tough rows I have hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Original source unknown to me

Something I posted in 2005