A Lack of Connection

Ultimately, all addiction—no matter the type or the severity—stems from a lack of connection. When we feel disconnected from other people, from our society, from our deepest hopes and dreams, and from a sense of love, then this disconnection brings about powerful emotions. These emotions hurt, and so we run to the seeming solace of the addiction. ~ Anya Light

When life feels tough
and we seem to be facing it alone,
we stand aligned with only ourselves,
forlorn and isolated,
with nobody on whom we can rely.
Our only solace is those “diversions”
that become the focal point of our lives.
Thus it’s no wonder that when we first enter
these rooms of recovery and finally
have others like us, people who understand us.
whose story is our own,
that the rooms of recovery
are more our home
than any false solace we ever had found before!

Forgiveness

Forgiveness leads to peace which leads to happiness, and it’s priceless. ~ Reneé Gaskin

Who do you need to forgive?
Is your name on the list?
Most likely it should be…
We tend to be harder on ourselves
than on anybody else!
Who do you need to forgive?
Do it now. Forgive each person
who comes to mind.
You owe them forgiveness.
Do you also have amends to make?
So often we tend to wrong people
who we feel wronged us.
Make amends soon!
But forgive now! Why?
Because forgiveness leads to peace
which in turn leads to happiness.
So, with forgiveness comes peace
and happiness, too…
And that combination is
of tremendous value….
so valuable, it’s priceless!
And yours for the claiming!

Same Measure

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you….” ~ Matthew 7:1-2 NIV

There is a difference between judgment and observation without condemnation. ~ Lawton, Sabrina Universal. Each Day a Gift: A Gratitude Devotional for Women: 90 Devotions to Make a Habit of Praise and Thanks (p. 54). Althea Press. Kindle Edition.

Loving everyone you meet,
all the people you know, is an idea,
an ideal to be achieved.
When we follow the two rules.
They’re the two top commandments:
“Love the Lord your God
with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your mind.
This is the first
and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Surely when we can manage love
for everybody, we see things differently.
We can notice differences
but by choosing they become mere observations
devoid of the judgment we’ve often made,
naturally substituting noticing distinctions
for the classification of deficits we once practiced.
Let us move through today
without any condemnation…
only love!

Who’s Most Inferior…Inferiorst?…Lowest Rung?

I had to be first in everything because in my perverse heart I felt myself the least of God’s creatures. I could not accept my deep sense of inferiority, and so I strove to become captain of the baseball team, and I did learn to play the fiddle. Lead I must—or else. This was the “all or nothing” kind of demand that later did me in. ~ AA World Services Inc. As Bill Sees It. A.A. World Services, Inc. Kindle Edition.

Bill Wilson speaks.
I had to be first in everything
because in my perverse heart
I felt myself the least
of God’s creatures.A deep sense of inferiority?
Believable? Oh, yes!
It seems we all come into
the Rooms of Recovery
could identify with a deep sense of inferiority,
and always strove to become in charge.
Lead we must — or else.
This was all or nothing need
made us the addicts
who identified, felt at home,
when we finally found these rooms!

Image . Copyright : Roman Samborskyi

Neat and Orderly?

Visualize your home neat and orderly. Thankfully, your mind knows no difference between reality and a thought. God has blessed you with a powerful mind that allows for abstract thinking, planning, and dreaming. The more you think on good things, the more you will appreciate the blessings that already surround you, and the greater the possibility that you will have more good things to be thankful for. When you focus on what is praiseworthy, you will naturally delineate what does and does not help you press forward toward your goals while also maintaining your peace. ~ Lawton, Sabrina Universal. Each Day a Gift: A Gratitude Devotional for Women: 90 Devotions to Make a Habit of Praise and Thanks (pp. 50-51). Althea Press. Kindle Edition.

My daily readings from fourteen books
seemed to be in collusion today to get me to
imagine this house clean and to believe,
to expect it to come to pass.
I have worked through a largish tub,
filled two trash cans, and kept a small box
of treasures. The room looks slightly worse,
not better, but progress has been made.
I have moved toward peace and comfort.
And sanity!

In Good Hands

     I believe that, on some deep level, we are at a point in our human history where we are subconsciously acknowledging a truth that we are struggling to admit to ourselves. And that truth is that we are lost.
    We have lost our relationships with ourselves. We have no idea how to be with ourselves. We have lost the art of being able to do nothing. We have no idea how to sit quietly in a room alone for any extended period of time. We are terrified of silence. We are afraid of not being busy, not being active, not doing anything.
     But most of all, we are scared of what goes on in our own minds when we are still, when we do sit quietly. ~ Monique Rhodes

Are you scared of what goes on
in your own mind when you sit still,
when you sit quietly?
Are you concerned about our world,
our nation, your family?
Are we lost?
Are you, individually lost?
I had a conversation recently with two friends.
I told them I was developing new habits,
that I was declaring them my accountability partners,
that I would report to them whenever
I failed to keep a scheduled commitment,
that James Clear told of a man
whose Twitter account daily promised five dollars
to five people when he overslept…past 5:40!
Another was reading about prosperity
and found Catherine Ponders’ Laws of Prosperityinstructive. The other was pondering
setting an example for her grandchild
and now her business could better treat customers.
We three have not accepted the idea
we our actions and attitudes cannot evidence hope.
Don’t fear solitude or a tumultuous world.
Have the courage to choose to change,
to know hope perseveres, that we’re backed up
by the awesome  Creator.

Image Copyright : Bruce Rolff

Change Your Life

Changing your life begins with the simple act of changing your mind. Whenever your mind wants to run amok and judge you for not getting enough done, or having that addiction, or telling you it’s too late for you to accomplish your goals, implore our ever-present God, “Help me be in your perfect will in this moment.” God may direct you to be still, press forward, take a nap, or say no. Thankfully, when you move your mind in the direction of God’s prompting, your life will naturally follow. ~ Lawton, Sabrina Universal . Each Day a Gift: A Gratitude Devotional for Women: 90 Devotions to Make a Habit of Praise and Thanks (pp. 46-47). Althea Press. Kindle Edition.

Change your mind to change your life.
When the sky is gray you have the power
to turn it blue by changing your mind,
tuning it into God’s radiance
by recognizing the gray is yours, not His.
Ask Him, “Help me be in your perfect will
in this moment.” Then listen!
Move your mind in the direction of God’s prompting,
and rejoice as your life naturally follows.
Change your mind to change your life!

 Image Copyright : Kevin Carden 

Transcendence

“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 my transcendence 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!” ~ AA World Services Inc. As Bill Sees It. A.A. World Services, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Most of us read this passage,
the Third Step Prayer, amazed
to see “victory” replaced by “transcendence…”
but then again this is Bill Wilson,
the major author of the Big Book, speaking.
What does this tell us of his understanding
of the intent of the prayer?
The Oxford dictionary offers:
“Transcendence: Existence
or experience beyond
the normal or physical level.”
Is that the same as victory?
Did Bill’s understanding
of Step Three evolve
between 1939 and 1967?
Was he avoiding a conflict
between VICTORY
and “we have ceased fighting anything
or anyone — even alcohol.”?
God doesn’t quibble about vocabulary.
God wants to communicate with us
on a personal basis deeper, more real,
than a choice of words.

Trust in God andClean House

The minute we put our work on a service plane, the alcoholic commences to rely upon our assistance rather than upon God. He clamors for this or that, claiming he cannot master alcohol until his material needs are cared for. Nonsense. Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job—wife or no wife—we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God.
Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house. ~ A.A. World Services Inc. Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition. A.A. World Services, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Job or no job—wife or no wife—
we hold on to our addiction
so long as we place dependence
upon other people
ahead of dependence on God.
We are good at playing the game
OH, ME, POOR ME!
YOU MUST HELP ME CHANGE
like you’ve said I can!
Certainly when working with others
we find ourselves wanting to rescue,
to help them get clean.
But it’s not our job. So long as we play the game,
the rescue game, They will depend on us
rather than the Power greater than we
that we offer. Recovery only works
if we help them understand,
“The only condition is
that he trust in God and clean house.”
I’m here to help but the real help you can get is through
understanding you’re powerless
and surrendering control to God.

Look for the Door

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door we do not see the one that has been opened for us. ~ Helen Keller

Tunnel vision.
Defective sight
in which objects
cannot be properly seen
if not close
to the center
of the field of view,
the tendency to focus exclusively
on a single or limited goal
or point of view.
Is the key word in Helen Keller’s quote…
you do  notice, I assume,
the irony in the quote and cite (sight?)…
but isn’t the key word happiness?
Do we assume the giver of happiness
has only one situs for it?
If so, our god is too small!

Image Copyright : ekinyalgin

Do Not Deprive Yourself

Only you can deprive yourself of anything. Do not oppose this realization, for it is truly the beginning of the dawn of light. Remember also that the denial of this simple fact takes many forms, and these you must learn to recognize and to oppose steadfastly, without exception. ~ Schucman, Dr. Helen. A Course in Miracles. Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition.

Surely we are our own worst enemies.
We believe ourselves unworthy, undeserving.
We don’t trust ourselves. But when we feel this way
we’re wrong. Our God is Love and we are His sons.
Only you can deprive yourself of anything,
and you do that by self-deprecation.
You do that by believing the lies you tell yourself.
Seek God’s truth to recognize and to oppose these lies
steadfastly, without exception.
Our God is Love and we are His sons.

Understanding?

Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. ~ Galatians 3:8-9 (Phillips New Testament)

We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God. ~ Alcoholics Anonymous, page 46.

We, the intelligent,
the educated,
the leaders…
don’t understand,
cannot make sense
of that which we know to be true.
We want to lead, to explain,
to interpret
the mystery that happened to us.
We understand
we’ve been here,
you’re new
and you have questions
needing answers.
We can say, “It works!
The miracle happened,
is happening in our lives.”
But to say more,
to give you resolution,
you’ll just have to accept…
We can tell you it works,
that it did for us,
but just accept, believe.
and feel the miracle!

God, thank you for the change
we welcome,
forgive our
impulse to demand
understanding as well.

Unstoppable

No more do you get to give up on yourself, Stay the course, don’t abandon ship. Become an unstoppable force for your own higher good. ~ Susan Peirce Thompson

Believe in yourself!
You may have hated yourself
most of your life, but enough!!
You are awesome. You are unstoppable!
It’s high time you believed that!
God believes in you. It’s time you did, too!
No more do you get to give up on yourself,
stay the course,
don’t abandon ship.
Become an unstoppable force
for your own higher good.

Peace

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident, knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us. ~ Saint Thérèse de Lisieux

Wikipedia says “Thérèse has been
a highly influential model of sanctity for
Catholics and for others
because of the simplicity and practicality
of her approach to the spiritual life.”
She died of tuberculosis at 24.
I’m quite sure she confident she knew
she was a child of God and that she
let this presence settle into her bones
and allow her soul the freedom t
o sing, dance, praise and love.
May you have that peace today!

Saint Thérèse de Lisieux

Dealing with Others

“Let us always love the best in others—and never fear their worst.” ~ AA World Services Inc. As Bill Sees It. A.A. World Services, Inc. Kindle Edition.

We can change one thing, no, tw0!
We can change our deeds
and we can change our thoughts.
But that is all we need!
We can consider every person
with whom we deal,
select the good, the best we can see.
then love that best we can see in
every person we meet!
We can see another person,
give them the benefit of any doubt,
and even the least admirable quality,
we understand the person
and never fear their reaction to us.
Let us always love the best in others—
and never fear their worst!

The Hope We Possess

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ~ Hebrews 10:19-23 (NIV) 

“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)

Our hope,
the hope we possess,
our expectation,
our desire,
a person or thing
that may save us.
Hope, for he who
promised is faithful;
hope for a book,
an idea,
a truth.
Hope for others to march on,
hope for a path
through the curtain,
through our uncertainty.
Hope. Eternal hope,
hope proven
by that which others
hoped for before.

Oh, God, our hope
in ages past,
our hope for years to come —
thank you.

I Choose Mature Love

Infantile love follows the principle: I love because I am loved. Mature love follows the principle: I am loved because I love. ~ Erich Fromm

Anybody can love back.
Don’t be “anybody.”
That’s infantile.
The baby in a cradle
smiles up at the grownup’s smile.
It takes maturity to love for no reason.
A mature person loves for no reason,
loving because love abounds,
love is what makes life civilized,
mature, cultured, meaningful.
Love enables hope, humanity.
Be somebody! Love the whole world.
Love life. Love people, lovable or not!
Love for no reason.
Love unconditionally.
Choose mature love!

Love Without Expectations

To love without expectation, you have to be okay with yourself. Okay with opening your doors, spreading your arms, baring your heart and understanding that not everyone is going to be gentle with it. You have to know that you can recover from those aches, that you can heal your own wounds, that you can trust yourself to walk away from the situations that do not grow or aid you. ~ Priebe, Heidi, This Is Me Letting You Go

Do you know how to love without expectation?
Are you okay with yourself?
Okay with opening your doors,
spreading your arms,
baring your heart
and understanding
that not everyone is going to be gentle with it?
Do you know that you can recover
from those aches,
that you can heal your own wounds,
that you can trust yourself
to walk away from the situations
that do not grow or aid you?
You are more powerful, more resourceful,
more capable than you know!
Have the courage always
to love without expectations!

Love Without Expectations

To love without expectation, you have to be okay with yourself. Okay with opening your doors, spreading your arms, baring your heart and understanding that not everyone is going to be gentle with it. You have to know that you can recover from those aches, that you can heal your own wounds, that you can trust yourself to walk away from the situations that do not grow or aid you. ~ Priebe, Heidi, This Is Me Letting You Go

Do you know how to love without expectation?
Are you okay with yourself?
Okay with opening your doors,
spreading your arms,
baring your heart
and understanding
that not everyone is going to be gentle with it?
Do you know that you can recover
from those aches,
that you can heal your own wounds,
that you can trust yourself
to walk away from the situations
that do not grow or aid you?
You are more powerful, more resourceful,
more capable than you know!
Have the courage always
to love without expectations!

Press On

When you’re tired, go slowly. Go quietly. Go timidly. But do not stop. You are tired for all the right reasons. You are tired because you’re supposed to be. You’re tired because you’re making a change. You are exhausted for all the right reasons and it’s only an indication to go on. You are tired because you’re growing. And someday that growth will give way to the exact rejuvenation that you need. ~ Priebe, Heidi. This Is Me Letting You Go (p. 34). Thought Catalog Books. Kindle Edition.

Do not stop. Go slowly, quietly, timidly,
thats fine but dob’t stop.
Tired? exhausted? It’s because you’re growing.
It’s because you’re changing.
It’s all okay. It’s for a reason.
A right reason.
That that growth will give way
to the exact rejuvenation you need.
Change is good. Don’t be concerned
when it doesn’t come quickly,
when time seems to drag.
You’re where you need to be
doing what you need to do.
Don’t stop. You’re on the right path
moving the right direction.
Do not stop!

Image Copyright : primagefactory