A Community

It’s easier to make any new, positive behavior or way of thinking habitual when you surround yourself with role models who do likewise. But even when we sit among the naysayers, we don’t have to give our minds to the ego. Perhaps it’s our job, at that moment, to be the role model for everyone else. ~Casey, Karen. Daily Meditations for Practicing The Course (Kindle Locations 3390-3392). Hazelden Publishing.

Recovery people are a community,
folk who, like the Big Book says,
would never speak to each other,
much less be fast friends but for
that shipwreck we escaped!
But we recognize our common tales,
feel the family of choice...
We're home. We find people
experienced in living lives
filled with the traumas we face.
Amid our heroes, our role models,
we stay long enough, brief as that may be,
and find we've found solutions,
been led by our Higher Power
to understanding, and are amazed
to find we ourselves can lead
as others guided us before.

How Do You Pray?

Trying to pray, is praying. ~ Fox, Emmet. Find and Use Your Inner Power (p. 127). New Albany. Kindle Edition.

There's no excuse.
You don't even have to believe.
You can borrow someone else's God.
You can repeat any prayer...
Now I lay me down to sleep.
Just Hey, God!Just talk, like talking to yourself,
anything at all, just call it a prayer
and want it to be one,
and It's a prayer!

Mad at What?

I wasn’t angry about this driver in front of me. I was angry because I was trying to control something that I couldn’t change. ~ Beattie, Melody. More Language of Letting Go: 366 New Daily Meditations (Hazelden Meditation Series) (p. 335). Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

The idea of changing other people intrigues me.
I know in the Serenity Prayer the fact is
that I cannot change anything, anybody
but me and that I'm to accept that fact,
to be willing to change me
when the whole world feels wrong
and surely should be changed!
And I should seek not the ability
to change that vast pool of wrong
but the wisdom to know the difference,
but often I need add an addendum
to the prayer and tuck in after wisdom
"and willingness" to know the difference!

The Mythology of Old Ideas

We find eventually that pride and fear are mere wisps of smoke, the cloudy strands from which were woven the mythology of our old ideas. ~ Anonymous. A Day at a Time: Daily Reflections for Recovering People (Hazelden Meditations) (Kindle Locations 2976-2977). Hazelden Publishing.

Old ideas. My life the first sixty years.
Someone attacks, you strike back.
Who wouldn't? Me, I hope.
What good comes from responding
when told to go to Hell with
"I've told you I live there?"
No good comes that way.
The years that are left
I choose to love, to make that
the truth where I dwell,
and I'm learning, far too slowly
to bring those around me
into the hug that is love.
I believe Karen Casey when she says,
"We can let go of our problems.
It’s ourselves and the attitude we have cultivated
that make any situation a problem."
I'll trade in pride, fear, and old ideas
for love today!

A Wound for the Salt

“If one throws salt at thee thou wilt receive no harm unless thou hast sore places.” ~ Latin proverb

Do you have sore places
that proverbial salt would burn?
You may know them as character defects...
things that irritate you in others
because you share the proclivity.
And interaction with those people
not only throws salt but deliberately rubs it in.
And the remedy? Deal with the burning,
seeing it as a warning and be...not just say...
you're entirely ready for the defect to be removed
and rejoice for the burn and the help in seeing
this is the defect now standing in the way
of your usefulness to God or your fellows.
Hooray for salt and sore places that sting!

Contented

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him – for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. ~ Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 (NIV)

Paul learned to be content
in every circumstance.
He learned, acquired the skill.
What a blessing not to have concern
about the days of life,
about tomorrow. 

God, keep me occupied
with gladness of
heart.

 ( Kindle Locations 425-433). 

.

Finding Our Choices

ç\“We may never have the choices we would have if we were writing the script, but we always have choices.” . . . In All Our Affairs
I've written novels, had one published,
and another caught the eye of an editor
for a major publisher. I made mistakes
but love the control, the role of God.
Somehow the characters in the book of life
are tougher to manage. Some authors pair up
and write that way. I'll skip that option
those were it really available in living I'd try.
Meanwhile I can chose my moves...
and everyone else's...but only I follow my directions.
Lately my reading guides me to change others
by loving them, by not blaming them,
by accepting them. Sometimes it seems to work
but not for long. Still, I always have choices
including anger, fear, rescuing, resenting...
But those don't feel as well. I think I'll choose
to love, changing what I can change,
and trust the real God to change the rest.

Please Be my Mirror

The paradox of self-honesty is that I need the help of others to achieve it. I need their support to explore my feelings and motives, and to see that others have benefited from taking this great risk. ~ Family Groups, Al-Anon. Courage to Change—One Day at a Time in Al‑Anon II (Kindle Locations 3801-3803). Al-Anon Family Groups. Kindle Edition.

A friend recently told me
a person she had not met
was a buffer for me with another.
I recognized the truth she spoke
and understood myself better for it.
Analytical I am, and I can figure you out,
but I've blinders about things
I've buried inside for years.
I'll listen to what you have to say
about how you understand me,
I sort of feel like we have been doing this,
you and I, for a long time.
Taking a look at things...
you know...who we want to be,
that sort of thing.
We didn't used to, before Recovery.
Other folks, outside the rooms
don’t do it until they’re in mid life
and then think they need a new mate....
and a Corvette! Or else, they never look...probably most cases
because it’s too painful to look.
So I’m gonna stay in my own little head
and get my stuff right, but to get me there
please be my mirror!

Living Today

If I knew what was coming, I suspect that I would spend all my time trying to run from painful experiences instead of living. I would miss out on so much great stuff. ~ Family Groups, Al-Anon. Courage to Change—One Day at a Time in Al‑Anon II (Kindle Locations 3471-3472). Al-Anon Family Groups.

A scary day is coming...
and I don't mean Halloween!
No, it's called tomorrow,
and a new one falls into place each
twenty-four hours! So, why is it scary?
Because we anticipate it,
we worry about it, we dread it.
Then when it becomes today
replacing the one shifting
to yesterday, when we wake
with the words in our thoughts
or in our voice, "God, I offer myself to Thee -
To build with me and to do with me
as Thou wilt. Relieve me
of the bondage of self,
that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties,
that victory over them
may bear witness to those I would help
of Thy Power, Thy Love,
and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!"
then the day is manageable
even if unpleasant things come.
but our lives are in God's hands.
and what had been scary
is easy, since we live it
in the very best company!

Happiness How

Happiness does not come from an object, a person, or place. Nor does it come from endless striving or attempting to capture it like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. ~ Dean, Amy E. Morning Light: A Book of Meditations to Begin Your Day (Kindle Locations 3831-3832). Hazelden Publishing.

Are you happy? How did you get that way?
Are you unhappy? Why? Does it vary drastically
day to day? Do you buy into, "Don't Worry.
"Be Happy." Or even, "What? Me worry?"
Do you think about being happy?
Is that when you aren't or when you are?
Can you decide to be happy...and get there?
How can you change your happiness meter?
I find I'm generally happy.
Recently I tried a "I-am-woman-hear-me-roar" day
and it boosted my contentment quota,
but the lasting, substantial moment
was in finding Recovery, changing
my powerlessness over addiction
and my unmanageable life
for a real relation with my Higher Power,
surrender of attempts to control,
and finding a supportive, understanding fellowship
I know has my back. With that wealth of assets
I can't help but be happy!

Find Your God

Whatever you put first, above everything else, that’s your god. Whatever you serve, whatever you live for, whatever it is that drives you, that’s your idol . . . whether your idol is money, pleasure, success, beauty, comfort, power, possessions, a career, an object, a goal, or your own self . . . whatever you put first and serve, that’s your god and idol. But here’s what you must always remember—every god and idol has an altar.” “What does that mean?” “There is always a cost to serving them, there’s a price to the idols and gods. There’s always an altar. And the altar will always require a sacrifice. Some will require the sacrifice of your peace; others will require the sacrifice of your health, your marriage, your time, your family, your integrity, your well-being . . . And the more you serve them, the more you must sacrifice.” ~ Cahn, Jonathan. The Book of Mysteries (p. 242). Charisma House. Kindle Edition.

What do you put first?
What do you serve?
Is it a person, a community,
a cause?Is it a profession?
A substance, a habit, a reputation?
Is it the way you look, something you do well,
a possession, wealth, land, a place?
What is more important than anything else?
Is it your idol? An altar on which you would sacrifice
everything else in your life?
What is it holding center stage.
the god in your life?
Are you ready to make a change?
Who or what is your God?

Courage to Change Your Thoughts

And Friedrich Nietzsche said it well when he said, “It’s not simply a question of having the courage of one’s convictions, but at times having the courage to attack one’s convictions.” ~ Pincott J., Excellence: Inspiration for Achieving Your Personal Best

Socrates said, "I know that I am intelligent,
because I know that I know nothing."
Paul said, "When I was a child, I spoke and thought
and reasoned as a child.
But when I grew up,
I put away childish things."
Coming into the Rooms of Recovery
takes away the solution we found,
the substance we relied on for comfort,
our method of living our lives.
We may have believed in God
though we at least had alternate deities,
those we relied on for solace,
but the relationship changes
and we begin to rely on God
to address our needs, not on ourselves.
We examine our relationships
with ourselves, our family,
our friends and coworkers
and everything changes...for good!
But not always the best.
We need never stop growing.
We will always have room to improve.
Do you have the courage to continue to change?
I trust I have. Shall we walk
this path to Serenity and Peace together?

Why Did She Say That?

One will rarely err if extreme actions be ascribed to vanity, ordinary actions to habit, and mean actions to fear.  ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

We act for a reason,
a good one or a bad one.
We speak based on emotions,
sane ones or defective ones.
We are on the receiving end
and react for reasons,
good ones or a bad.
We heard sounds or words
and our reactions
are sane ones or defective ones.
Either person, controls the exchange
and can make the experience
a positive or negative one.
Let us choose positive
each encounter today!

Do You Choose to Fear God?

When the fear of God is gone, there are no obstacles that still remain between you and the holy peace of God. ~ Schucman, Dr. Helen. A Course in Miracles (Kindle Locations 19241-19242). Foundation for Inner Peace.

Is it good to be a God-Fearing person?
Why would it be? Webster defines it as
"having a reverent feeling toward God : DEVOUT"
and goes on to say the adjective is used
to describe religious people
who try to obey the rules of their religion
and to live in a way that is considered morally right.
Because we are AFRAID??
God is love and wants our love in return,
not our fear! Did you fear your parents?
Did you love them more? Which
made you more likely to do what was right?
As for me and my house, I choose love!

Copyright : Kevin Carden

Be Attitudes

Ours is a disease of the attitudes. ~ Overeaters Anonymous. Voices of Recovery (Kindle Location 3893). Overeaters Anonymous.

~~~~~~~~~~~

He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely
say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ~Zondervan. NIV, Holy Bible, Matthew 5:2b-10 (Kindle Locations 59197-59220). Zondervan. 

We come into Recovery with attitudes.
When we surrender, God is willing
to substitute another list for those inclinations.
Rather than being haughty or in other cases
humiliated, we learn to be humble, poor in spirit.
When we are sad we can learn...or remember...
God is in control, has our best interest at heart
and in His presence we find peace, in spite of, and through
and realize the constant presence.
We learn that our attitude, our acceptance, our peace
in the presence of God is as a child with a trusted parent.
We find ourselves supported, undergird,
sustained even...or especially...when we face dissension
for we're with our Father, our brothers, our friends
and perfectly at home. Where once we cringed
in the midst of conflict we stand confident in our position,
affirmed, sustained. When confronted with adversity
we find serenity and peace, knowing we're on the right side
and stand in a mighty crowd of witnesses.
We find a sense of fulfillment and stand straight,
delighted to have found our place, our home, our kin.
The old emotions have matured, evolved, recovered
as has every other part of our lives.
These are attitudes we're ready to be.

Physician, Heal Thyself

It’s good and right that I should encourage someone else today. I will pay the same respect to myself, too. ~ Casey, Karen. Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women (Kindle Locations 3279-3280). Hazelden Publishing.

Jesus quoted a saying
old two thousand years ago.
Obviously we it's in the genes
to see to others before ourselves,
never getting around to ourselves.
But it's easier to ignore myself.
I know God made me and makes no junk.
I know Jesus assumed we love ourselves
in saying to love others as we love us.
I know I deserve to be loved
even by myself. So today
I choose to respect myself
and to love me, too.
God help me!

Your True Path

A few steps away from your true path are pits of self-pity and despair, plateaus of pride and self-will. ~ Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace in His Presence. Thomas Nelson Nook Edition location 604

Love is the path. Love is the only way.
We're not alone, never on our own.
We are a fellowship, together or apart
and carry our fellows, or lean on them.
We walk as well with our God
as we understand God, or even if we don't.
We understand the path our friends travel
and even when no one's we walk together.
But even better, our God is there, Love itself
wrapping us in peace and security.
Stumbling seems inevitable
but we cling to the hand of our friends
and our God, the next right step after its fellows,
following the true path a step at a time
every day all day until our true path
leads us to our true love.

Coincidence

Coincidence is God being anonymous. - Wanda S

Do you believe it when your prayers are answered?
Do you write it off as a coincidence?
Do you find yourself giving lip service
to God but you're really a doubter?
What would it take to believe?
Do you find you trust a person
to do what your ask more than you do
when it's God you address?
Have you read the story of Gideon?
An a angel  appeared to Gideon  Gideon
who was threshing wheat
in his father's winepress when an angel
when Gideon wanted proof
caused fire to shoot out of a rock.
Then there were the fleeces, wet one morning,
dry the other. Gideon wanted proof.
Is God giving you what you pray for
while you deny it came from Him?

It's Prayer if That's Your Intention

Any spiritual connection begins with prayer. You can use familiar prayers from your youth or repeat a positive affirmation or a favorite slogan from the program. ~ Dean, Amy E. Morning Light: A Book of Meditations to Begin Your Day (Kindle Locations 3720-3721). Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

First Things First.

Don't Use No Matter What.

This too Shall Pass.

Live and Let Live.

Let go and let God.

Time takes time.

One day at a time.

Principles before personalities.

Is your program powered
by Will Power or Higher Power?

Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

Misery is optional.

God doesn't make junk.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself,
but thinking of yourself less.

Live life on life's terms.

You can't think your way into a new way of living...
you have to live your way into a new way of thinking.

The key to freedom is in the Steps.

Don't pick up, ask for help,
call your sponsor, and go to meetings.

It's a simple program for complicated people.

The newcomer is the most important person in any meeting.

Keep coming back, it works if you work it.

Learn to listen and listen to learn.

Many meetings, many chances;
few meetings, few chances;
no meetings, no chances.

Meeting makers make it.

People who don't go to meetings
don't hear about what happens
to people who don't go to meetings.

To keep what you have, you have to give it away.

How does it work? It works just fine.

If you don't want to slip, stay away from slippery places.

If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got.

If you sit in the barber's chair long enough,
you'll eventually get a haircut.

Most things can be preserved in alcohol;
dignity, however, is not one of them.

Progress, not perfection.

Resentment is like drinking poison
and expecting someone else to die.

think......think.......think.

Keep it simple.

Stick with the winners.

Hope Is the Risk

Hope is the risk that must be run. ~ George Bernanos

To run the risk – exposing self
to possibly unpleasantness.
Hope is the risk;
the risk is hope.
Risk, a word sprung
from danger.
So is danger ancestor
to hope? How deep the kinship?
Risk, hope – how deep the kinship!