Feelings Follow Action

Thelma had taught me to “act as if.” She told me that I didn’t have to want it, like it, or believe it. “Just take the action,” she had urged, “and the feelings will follow.” ~ Overeaters Anonymous. Overeaters Anonymous, Third Edition (p. 33). Overeaters Anonymous, Inc.. Kindle Edition. The speaker was Rozanne, the founder of Overeaters Anonymous about her first sponsor, Thelma. Have you tried the advice to “act as if” even when you don’t want to? I can certainly identify with not wanting something nor liking it, or even believing it! When I decide on a course of action wisdom says will help me, though, may God make me willing to set aside my presumed wisdom and just do it! I can stand looking foolish and accept superior insight if I find it!

Unbeing Dead

Unbeing dead isn’t being alive. ~ e. e. cummings Just because you’re breathing doesn’t mean that you are living the life you were intended to live. Everyone has a story to tell. Maybe it’s time to create yours… # What life were you intended to live? Are you living the life you choose to live? Why not? …or why? How do you come closer to the life you intended to live? The rest of the quote: Just because you inhale and exhale, consume nutrients and vitamins, does not mean you are alive. Taking every second life gives you into your own hands and working towards being happy for as many of those minutes as possible… that’s being alive. Walking off the paved path to discover your own in the jungle… that’s being alive. Having your heart beat at a dangerously fast pace because you are about to do something you never thought you could do… that’s being alive. Experiencing good nature, good people, good food, and good conversations… that’s being alive. # skinnyartist.

No Longer Alone

The amazing secret to the success of this program is just that: weakness. It is weakness, not strength, that binds us to each other and to a higher power and somehow gives us an ability to do what we cannot do alone. ~ Overeaters Anonymous

Have you felt most of your life you were all alone, understood by nobody, unable to rely on help from any source? Do you feel responsible for all around you? Do you find your comfort in a habit you hate…like eating junk food when nobody you know is likely to know? That was me. And if the clerk at the fast food drive-through reached the point she knew my order, I went there no more but found my treat at another location…for a while. Then I read a book of personal stories where they sounded eerily like me, found an online group of kindred souls then a meeting near me where I was home. I’ve been coming back for fifteen years and I’ll continue to come. Why would I? I’ve found my people. I’m no longer alone! The amazing secret to the success of this program is just that: weakness. It is weakness, not strength, that binds us to each other and to a higher power and somehow gives us an ability to do what we cannot do alone. If you’re our people, come find us. You’ll no longer go through life alone!

A Letter to my Child

My dear daughter, I know what I did to you and I know now that you know the how and why. I passed on to you my hair color, my eyes, even my moles, but those are fine... the problem was I passed on as well my insecurities, my fears, my habits and the ways I used to deal... the hidden eating, the snacks in the car then hiding the evidence... but I guess a parent seldom knows how much the child sees,  admiring and learning just because it seems like honoring your parent, doing what I did...not knowing how I despised it. Dear, I've watched you as an adult, how you made yourself miserable, copying me in the choice of men, in how you dealt with them, in trying to earn their love... I know it didn't work for you any more than it did for me. But I've seen you, too, work out your life with those meetings and I love what it does for you and I love that you're passing on  to my grandchildren better than what I passed to you.

Changing Who?

When we do for other people what they should do for themselves, we both stay stuck…. Most of us came into the program because we wanted someone else to change! Now we’re learning that the only change we can be certain of is one we make in ourselves. ~ Casey, Karen. A Life of My Own: Meditations on Hope and Acceptance (Hazelden Meditations Book 1) . Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

What did you expect to change when you came into the Rooms of Recovery? Was there someone else you wanted to be different? Your mate? Your child? Your parents…at least one? Your boss, your sister, your chum? Or “merely” your bad habits, your addiction? Are you now learning the only change you can be certain of is one you make in yourself? God, I once would have said you needed to be different, but I was wrong about you… and everyone else. Here I am, God, ready to become who I need to be, ready to “allow” you to lead the way. Make it the truth, God, let it be that I allow you to mold me into who I need to be! Take me, mold me Use me, fill me, I give my life into Your hands Hold me, guide me Walk beside me I give my life to to Your control.

Graduation

Puppies suck love-nuzzling warmth. Mouth to mouth worms give chicks verve. Cats taxi kits by the scruff. Mommies hold bikes and spur nerve. Six week old pups will be weaned, feathered youth pushed from the nest. Frolicking  kittens implore mother to stir from her rest. Animal babies move on, human ones stay on for years. Sometimes I long to clear nests; Other days college means tears.

Remember...

Practice the principles, partake of the promises Providence provides. Twelve Steps, two hundred words a lifetime’s lessons

Two Kinds of Birthdays

People in the Rooms of Recovery often need to differentiate between the "birth" of their Recovery and the original birthday, the Belly Button one. Both are important, but after a while in Recovery the beginning of Recovery often outshines the natal day since the repetition of BB days might not have continued without the intervention of the one celebrated in the Rooms. Let us hold on to the strings of both for we have contributions to make because of each kind!

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We're Home!

We’re not in Oz anymore, Toto! I can’t believe it was that simple, getting home, so easy, so uncomplicated, just trust with action. I wouldn’t take anything for the journey, for it’s shown me so much about myself, given me everything I need to know for other people struggling to get out of Oz. How marvelous! How wonderful. It was here all along, as familiar as my own hand, but I couldn’t see it. The fourth dimension of existence, just a step of faith away, and we’re HOME!

This Chip of a Book

This Chip of a Book Our hope is that when this chip of a book is launched on the world tide of alcoholism, defeated drinkers will seize upon it, to follow its suggestions. Many, we are sure, will rise to their feet and march on. They will approach still other sick ones and fellowships of Alcoholics Anonymous may spring up in each city and hamlet, havens for those who must find a way out. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 153)

Humility and intelligence coexist just fine if humility stands first. So Bill W said ten years after he wrote the chip of a book that named Alcoholics Anonymous and launched recovery not just for drunks but for us all. Intelligence Bill had in spades, too smart for his own good for years, yet a scant four years before the launch he sat, drunk, before the dawn, about to be launched himself to existence’s fourth dimension.

The Effect of Righteousness

“And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” ~ Isaiah 32:17 NIV

How badly do you long for quietness and trust forever? Do you have righteousness? What is righteousness? It's the quality of being morally right or justifiable. Could you say, "We had little doubt about the righteousness of our cause."? Let us choose righteousness!

Respecting Our True Selves

...holding on to ourselves involves maintaining a relationship with ourselves. It is not surprising that self-esteem also requires maintaining this relationship. To esteem something is to respect it. Self-esteem is another way of saying that we respect our true-selves. ~ Berger, Allen. 12 Smart Things to Do When the Booze and Drugs Are Gone: Choosing Emotional Sobriety through Self-Awareness and Right Action (Berger 12) (p. 167). Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

What is your relationship with yourself? And what is my relationship with myself? I look at this seventeen-day old year, aware I've got reasons for failure to  resume long-standing routines... good, solid reasons, to be sure but as I reuse past posts, I find myself relieved to be creating new material today based on readings encountered today. I do esteem (respect) myself, and I respect you, my readers. I commit to respect you and me and to grow in understanding as we move forward into this Anno Domini, the Year of Our Lord, two thousand twenty-two.

God As We Understand God

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin….” Exodus 34:6-7a NIV

The Big Book tells of Ebby’s suggestion to Bill W, “Why don’t you chose your own conception of God?” Many of us find this wise advice! God Himself told Moses to consider, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” Could we not adopt this as God as we understand God? I’ve chosen to edit out the rest of the verse describing God’s not leaving the guilty unpunished; and that he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation. I’m free to set aside as part of my own understanding material probably not quickly transcribed and checked for accuracy. How do you choose to understand God?

CURSED NO LONGER

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. ~ Galatians 3:13-14 “I had been preached to, analyzed, cursed, and counseled, but no one had ever said, ‘I identify with what’s going on with you. It happened to me and this is what I did about it.’” ~ Story “He Only Lived to Drink” Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition . A.A. World Services, Inc.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. ~ Galatians 3:13-14 “I had been preached to, analyzed, cursed, and counseled, but no one had ever said, ‘I identify with what’s going on with you. It happened to me and this is what I did about it.’” ~ Story “He Only Lived to Drink” Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition . A.A. World Services, Inc.

Do the ends always justify the means? Does a blessing ever come from being cursed? Is the world cursed through the law? Or was it before Christ? Paul thought so, believed the curse was lifted through Jesus and fulfilled promises. Are we cursed by addiction until Recovery comes from the despair of ruined lives? God, thank you for taking away the pain, for replacing it with the knowledge and comfort of your love, for teaching us to love ourselves and those around us!

I Am Nothing

Now if, as we seek the real truth about justification, we find we are as much sinners as the Gentiles, does that mean that Christ makes us sinners? Of course not! But if I attempt to build again the whole structure of justification by the Law then I do, in earnest, make myself a sinner. ~ Galatians 2:17-18 (Phillips) It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. ~ (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 85)

Now if, as we seek the real truth about justification, we find we are as much sinners as the Gentiles, does that mean that Christ makes us sinners? Of course not! But if I attempt to build again the whole structure of justification by the Law then I do, in earnest, make myself a sinner. ~ Galatians 2:17-18 (Phillips) It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. ~ (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 85) Out of alignment I reclaim my course, tried, proven untrue, but so logical, so cogent, so clear. And so wrong. Of myself I am nothing. I become something only when abandoning myself I yield to God, to a higher will a greater good to the real truth. The gifts received, recovery gained, persist conditionally dependent on my choice of acceptance or rejection each this day.

Now if, as we seek the real truth about justification, we find we are as much sinners as the Gentiles, does that mean that Christ makes us sinners? Of course not! But if I attempt to build again the whole structure of justification by the Law then I do, in earnest, make myself a sinner. ~ Galatians 2:17-18 (Phillips) It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. ~ (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 85) Out of alignment I reclaim my course, tried, proven untrue, but so logical, so cogent, so clear. And so wrong. Of myself I am nothing. I become something only when abandoning myself I yield to God, to a higher will a greater good to the real truth. The gifts received, recovery gained, persist conditionally dependent on my choice of acceptance or rejection each this day.
I give up, God. I still can’t run my life. It’s in your hands.

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A Decision to Hope

Having hope, we come to understand, is a decision. Other men and women have made this decision. We can too. ~ Casey, Karen.  (Hazelden Meditations Book 1) . Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Would you consider having hope to be a decision? It never occurred to me! I read of North Korean prisoners of war stripped of hope by having bad news  from home passed on to them while good news or fond letters were deliberately withheld. I choose to emphasize the positive, to remember kindness and love, to decide to have hope.Join me, will you?

My Footing Is In the Present

There may be life in the future, and there was certainly life in the past, but my footing is in the present. Today is where the past has its meaning, and where the future is shaped. ~ Anonymous, Overeaters. For Today (Kindle Locations 60-61). Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. Kindle Edition. Do you stay in the present or find yourself residing in the past or dreaming of the future? We really have a single option, that being the here and now! The past is history, not subject to change, though certainly coming to an understanding helps the present! But we must beware of a tendency to judge when we see one set of footprints rather than two, for those are the times our God stops walking with us and carries us over the rough places!

The Blessings of Peace

We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will the world know the blessings of peace. ~ William Gladstone

…Today’s world seethes with hypocrisy. Though we say we prefer love over power, the way we behave in the political corner of our lives testifies all too often to the contrary. Let us look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will the world know the blessings of peace. Amen. So be it!

God Is Here

I was one of those people who prayed regularly for God to remove the fat and allow me to continue overeating. I prayed for the day to be different, not understanding the concept that taking the first bite triggered the disease. I also ate secretly, making sure everyone was out of the house so that I could eat. ~ Overeaters Anonymous, Voices of Recovery, page 25. (with thanks to my Monday OA Clutch for inspiration) God hadn’t gone to bed when others had, nor could I avoid His presence eating “alone” in the car. It’s like He was standing around, arms crossed, waiting for my admission that I needed help. And the help He gave me was a book, Overeaters Anonymous, 2nd Edition. I read it, cover to cover, and knew I belonged. I committed to go…once Christmas was past! (You don’t start a diet in December!!) But Sunday morning, December 17th, I walked from a convenience store, cappuccino and sweet-roll in hand, got into the car and said aloud to God, “This is stupid!” I suddenly knew you did start a diet in December. I researched online, found a friend listed as a contact for OA and consider that Sunday my first day in OA. Sure enough, God didn’t go to bed, nor could I avoid His presence “alone.” Before I got to a meeting, I had fallen on Christmas Eve, flown to London on the 27th, and contacted worldwide friends from internet cafes every chance I got, and been the only one at a meeting one snowy morning! God’s been with me, guiding me, ever since…more than thirteen years!

A Case of Opposites

No man safely goeth abroad who loveth not to rest at home. No man safely talketh but he who loveth to hold his peace. No man safely ruleth but he who loveth to be subject. No man safely commandeth but he who loveth to obey. ~ Kempis, Thomas à. The Imitation of Christ (Illustrated) (p. 41). LiberWriter.com. Kindle Edition.

Fifteenth century analysis makes more sense than such archaic words. The wisdom works, though. Love staying home and travel appeals. Talk well and forbearing talking freely is facilitated. Ability to lead a government leads to better being led. A commander needs ability to accept and follow commands. Practice peaceful living, wisdom in following, exercise good judgment away from leading, and become a whole, healthy, and effective in all you undertake.

Help Me to Help Them

17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. 20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. 21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22 What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. ~ Ecclesiastes 2.17-23 (NIV)

Giving away things seems easier for the old. What I treasured at twenty — would fight to keep — sixty years later can easily go to a youngster who will treasure it. What if I’d passed it by for fear of having to give it up? Both would be robbed – I of the joy of holding and passing the joy, the youth of treasuring it for it was mine. Meaningless? Worry is meaningless. God, help me see those people miserable as The Teacher. Help me to help them love.

What Is Faith?

What is faith? The dictionary says “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” The Bible says “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The Second Step says, “came to believe a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity,” enhanced by the Third, “Made a decision  to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.” I would define faith as trusting, believing there is a Power able to do what I can’t do and if you can do more than I can it doesn’t matter to me because what you do…or can do… is none of my business. So when I find a relationship comfortable t0 me, and if it is comfortable to me it’s going to be comfortable for God because if I have it wrong he’s not going to allow my comfort there. So my faith…and yours… are our own business and nobody can say we’re wrong. Having faith is good, it's right.

Silence Beyond Words, Emotions, Thoughts

…a call to contemplation—to quiet the mind and enter the silence beyond words, emotions, and thoughts. ~ Room, The Upper. The Upper Room Disciplines 2022: A Book of Daily Devotions (p. 591). Upper Room Books. Kindle Edition. Silence may become an effective rhetorical practice when people choose to be silent for a specific purpose. It has not merely been recognized as a theory but also as a phenomenon with practical advantages. Rhetorical silence cannot be explained since it happens when lack of communication is not expected. When silence becomes rhetorical, it is intentional since it reflects a meaning. Rhetorical silence targets audience rather than the rhetorician. One of those advantages of silence is to achieve various types of rhetorical and literacy practices. ~ Macintosh Dictionary /System/Applications Silence beyond words, emotions, thoughts… Have you experienced this extreme of silence? How can you recognize it without words, emotions or thoughts? Can it be the state of people so close, so connected, so in synch, so in agreement words, emotions, and thoughts are superfluous? Have you experienced that with another person? What about with your higher Power? And the vision that was planted in my brain Still remains Within the sound of silence.1 Image Copyright: kirkikis 1Simon & Garfunkel

Irresolute

It’s the day of New Years Resolutions but I decline. No, I refuse! I choose to be irresolute than to go through the motions of changing for a day, a few days, even a couple of weeks! I’d prefer to be irresolute: showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain: she stood irresolute outside his door. Why? Because I have seen the difference between failed resolutions, a firm decision to do or not to do something, and a Third Step: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Unlike virtually all Resolutions a Fourth Step has Power and a real hope for lifelong change! Will you join me today to be irresolute and consider accepting a partnership with God to really change at the essence?