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Freefly
Administrator
964 Posts |
 Posted - 07/23/2010 : 06:56:05 AM
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AA Thought for the Day
July 23, 2010
Connecting
He said, "Now I know what's wrong with me. I am an alcoholic." . . .
When he talked about his feelings,
he talked about my feelings, about feelings I had!
Without knowing the precise moment when the change occurred,
I stopped feeling sorry for myself and for the first time
began to hope that maybe I might make it after all.
- The Best of the Grapevine [Vol. 3], pp. 8-10
Thought to Ponder . . .
I am unique, just like everyone else.
Day by Day is the only way.... |
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Pamela7030
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800 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2010 : 07:38:06 AM
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AA Thought for Today
July 24, 2K10
How dark it is before the dawn! In reality that was the beginning of
my last debauch. I was soon to be catapulted into what I like to call
the fourth dimension of existence. I was to know happiness, peace, and
usefulness, in a way of life that is incredibly more wonderful as time
passes.
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 8
“Share your experience, strength, and hope with another and see the miracles transform your life!” |
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Pamela7030
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800 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 08:31:09 AM
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AA Thought for Today
July 26, 2K10
The basic principles of the A.A. program, it appears, hold good for
individuals with many different lifestyles, just as the program has
brought recovery to those of many different nationalities. The
Twelve Steps that summarize the program may be called los Doce Pasos
in one country, les Douze Etapes in another, but they trace exactly
the same path to recovery that was blazed by the earliest members of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
Alcoholics Anonymous, P. xxii
We meet frequently so that newcomers may find the fellowship they
seek.
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 15
“Share your experience, strength, and hope with another and see the miracles transform your life!” |
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Pamela7030
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800 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2010 : 10:58:37 AM
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NA Thought for Today
July 28, 2K10
STEP ONE
“We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.”
Obsession and compulsion are aspects of our powerlessness. Obsession is the never ending stream of thoughts relating to using drugs, running out of drugs, getting more drugs and so on. We simply can’t get these thoughts out of our minds.
Compulsion is the irrational impulse to continue using drugs, no matter what happens as a result. We just can’t stop.
As we continue in our recovery, we will see how these aspects of our addiction can manifest themselves in many areas of our lives.
Denial is the part of our disease that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for us to acknowledge reality. In our addiction, denial protected us from seeing the reality of what our lives had become. We often told ourselves that, given the right set of circumstances, we might still be able to bring our lives under control. We refused to accept responsibility for the damage done by our addiction.
We lied to ourselves, believing that we could use again successfully. We justified our actions, despite the wreckage around us resulting from our addiction.
The spiritual part of our disease, the part we may recognize only by a feeling of emptiness or loneliness when we first get clean, is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of addiction for us. This part of our disease affects us so profoundly and so personally. Recovery doesn’t happen overnight for anyone.
As we start to look at the effects of our disease, we are sure to see that our lives have become unmanageable. Some of us never learned how to function as human beings at all. Our lives were governed by obsessive, compulsive and self-seeking behavior, and the end result has been unmanageability. Because of our self-centeredness, we were often the last ones to realize that we were addicts.
Honesty had to replace denial before we could face the truth of our addiction. All the lies, all the pretenses, all the rationalizations we had used to justify where we stood as a result of our drug use stopped working. Who and what we were became more clear. We could no longer avoid the truth.
We have found that we cannot recover without the ability to be honest. Many of us came to NA after spending years practicing dishonesty. However, we can learn to be honest, and we must begin to try.
In the first step, we begin to practice the spiritual principle of honesty by admitting the truth about our drug use. We face what is, not the way things could or should be. It doesn’t matter where we come from or how good or bad we think we’ve had it. When we finally turn to NA and the Twelve Steps, we begin to find relief.
How It Works And Why, pp. 6-9
As long as we think we can control our drug use, we are almost forced to continue. The minute we admit we’re powerless, we never have to use again.
While abstinence is the beginning, our only hope for recovery is a profound emotional and spiritual change.
Listen…
I can’t, but we can…..
We only have a daily reprieve from our active addiction. Each day we accept the fact that we cannot use drugs successfully.
“Share your experience, strength, and hope with another and see the miracles transform your life!” |
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Freefly
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964 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2010 : 08:43:26 AM
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SORRY I HAVE BEEN OUT CAMPING FROM FRIDAY UNTIL TUESDAY THEN I HAD A DAY TRIP TO FLORIDA YESTERDAY. TOMORROW I AM BACK TO SKYDIVE CHICAGO CAMPING FOR A FEWMORE DAY BUT AS OF MONDAY I WILL BE POSTING EVERYDAY.
TIM
AA Thought for the Day
July 29, 2010
Demands
If we examine every disturbance we have, great or small,
we will find at the root of it some unhealthy dependency
and its consequent unhealthy demand.
Let us, with God's help, continually surrender these hobbling demands.
Then we can be set free to live and love; we may then be able to
Twelfth Step ourselves and others into emotional sobriety.
~ The Language of the Heart, p. 238
Thought to Ponder . . .
I have been given a quiet place in bright sunshine.
Day by Day is the only way.... |
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Pamela7030
Moderator
800 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2010 : 09:15:13 AM
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Hope you had a great time Tim. Don't worry bout it, that's why we got sober, to enjoy our lives! Sounds like you have a full one!
Pam
“Share your experience, strength, and hope with another and see the miracles transform your life!” |
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Freefly
Administrator
964 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2010 : 09:13:08 AM
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AA Thought for the Day
July 30, 2010
Letting Go
The ideas that got so deeply embedded in our lives during drinking do not
disappear quickly, as if by magic, the moment we start keeping the plug in the jug.
Our days of wine and "Sweet Adeline" may be gone, but the malady lingers on.
So we have found it therapeutic to nip off old ideas that start to sprout up again.
And they do, over and over.
- Living Sober, p. 70
Thought to Ponder . . .
When I struggle, I sink. When I let go, I float.
Day by Day is the only way.... |
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Pamela7030
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800 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2010 : 08:12:36 AM
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NA Thought for Today
July 31, 2K10
By honestly looking at what we have become in our
addiction, we recognize the powerlessness and
unmanageability of our lives. Moving beyond our
reservations, we accept our addiction, surrender, and
experience the hope that recovery offers. We realize
that we can no longer go on as we have been. We
are ready for a change. We are willing to try another
way.
How It Works And Why, p. 16
“Share your experience, strength, and hope with another and see the miracles transform your life!” |
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Pamela7030
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800 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 5:24:11 PM
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AA Thought for Today
August 1, Twenty Ten
At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order. But this is not
an end in itself.
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 77
“Share your experience, strength, and hope with another and see the miracles transform your life!” |
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Pamela7030
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800 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2010 : 12:13:16 PM
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AA Thought for Today
August 2, Twenty Ten
"We must learn from the mistakes of others because we won't live long enough to make them all ourselves."
Before recovery, I was very judgmental. I especially liked pointing out other people's mistakes and making fun of how stupid they could be. When I made a mistake, I was quick to blame circumstances or others, and rarely did I take responsibility or admit that perhaps I was to blame. After years of avoiding or evading the consequences of my mistakes, they finally caught up with me and I had to surrender.
When I entered recovery, I was still in denial about my behavior, and each time I heard someone share I would think: "I wasn't that bad," and "They sure need to be here". My sponsor reminded me to listen for the similarities not the differences, and soon I began to identify not with their actions, but with their feelings. Once I identified with their feelings, I learned the powerful word "yet". I hadn't made those mistakes yet, but if I had continued drinking and using I probably would have.
Over the years I've learned to listen to and benefit from other people's experience. Now when I hear of the mistakes others have made I'm quick to see how I've done something similiar, or how I could have easily made the same mistake given similar circumstances. Today I'm grateful for the mistakes I've made and for what they have taught me, and I'm even more grateful for the mistakes of others. You see, I understand that:
"We must learn from the mistakes of others because we won't live long enough to make them all ourselves."
thewisdomoftherooms.com
“Share your experience, strength, and hope with another and see the miracles transform your life!” |
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Pamela7030
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800 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 09:12:02 AM
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AA Thought for Today
August 4, Twenty Ten
The Power of the Word
In the beginning was the word. -John 1:1
A woman in relatively good health underwent dilation and curettage (D&C) surgery. After her operation, however, Sally was not recovering, and each day she sank deeper into the abyss. Medical professionals were at a loss, since all tests revealed she was physically healthy. Finally, someone suggested hypnosis. During her session, it was discovered that under surgery Sally had heard one of the members of the operating team ask her doctor, "Do you think she'll make it?"
The doctor answered, "No way-I give her a few days at the most." What Sally didn't realize was that the conversation was about another patient. Although Sally's conscious mind was asleep, her subconscious heard every word and, not knowing the bigger picture, she accepted the statement as true about herself and went on to manifest the picture her subconscious had adopted. Sally's hypnotic regression assisted her to realize this was not her prognosis, and she recovered.
The subconscious is the part of our mind that manufactures our experience. Psychologists tell us that the subconscious cannot distinguish between imagination and reality. If you hold an image in mind long enough and feel it as if it is real, you can manifest it. This is the essence of creative visualization, as well as self-fulfilling prophecy. If we think or worry about something enough, we may draw that experience to ourselves. We can use the same principle to bring us what we want. Hold in mind images of the life you desire, and refuse to feed thoughts of what you do not wish. Watch your words. Be careful what you say to little children (or the little child in adults). for children emotionally absorb ideas even if they are said in jest or the heat of an angry moment. Feed your mind and heart with the most positive, energetic, and enlivening ideas and feelings you can imagine. Then you will live not in the world that is cast upon you, but the one you choose.
Help me to feed myself and others with soul-nourishing thoughts and feelings.
I speak the word of love, and it is manifested.
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This meditation is an excerpt from Alan Cohen's meditation book, A Deep Breath of Life.
“Share your experience, strength, and hope with another and see the miracles transform your life!” |
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| Information in this forum is not monitored or provided by a medical professional. The information reflects member opinions only. Do not act on advice from these forums without first consulting a qualified medical professional. All content is copyrighted and protected by Aelius Group. |
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Freefly
Administrator
964 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2010 : 09:26:32 AM
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AA Thought for the Day
August 5, 2010
Humility
In AA, we looked and listened.
Everywhere we saw failure and misery transformed by humility
into priceless assets.
We heard story after story of how humility
had brought strength out of weakness.
In every case, pain had been the price of admission into a new life.
~ Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 75
Thought to Ponder . . .
Learn to listen; listen to learn
Day by Day is the only way.... |
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Pamela7030
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800 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2010 : 10:00:54 AM
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AA Thought for Today
August 5, Twenty Ten
This too shall pass
No matter what is happening, it will eventually give way to something else. Try to hold on to an experience, and you will lose it. Try to make it go and it will cling to you. Allow it to be with you for its right time, and you will enjoy it or learn from it. Trust that you will have everything you need for the right amount of time. When it leaves, assume it is departing to make way for something better.
My friend Scott made a successful living as a car salesman. "The best piece of advice I ever received was from my boss at the dealership," Scott told me. "One day after I took a significant loss on a deal, I complained to him about it. 'Don't let it get you down: he told me. 'It's all in the averages.' He was right. In the long run, the good deals offset the bad ones. You have to remember the big picture."
The next time you face a problem, remember: "This too shall pass.” When you feel giddy, affirm: "This too shall pass." Only Spirit remains constant. With the right vision, we find comfort in the peace that remains behind all of life's changing forms.
Let me remember that Spirit is present, that I may enjoy my life as a colorful dance.
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This meditation is an excerpt from Alan Cohen's meditation book, A Deep Breath of Life.
intherooms.com
“Share your experience, strength, and hope with another and see the miracles transform your life!” |
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Pamela7030
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800 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 08:38:45 AM
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AA Thought for Today
August 6, Twenty Ten
Doubtless you are curious to discover how and why, in the face of
expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless
condition of mind and body. If you are an alcoholic who wants to get
over it, you may already be asking What do I have to do?
It is the purpose of this book to answer such questions specifically.
We shall tell you what we have done.
Alcoholics Anonymous, P. 20
“Share your experience, strength, and hope with another and see the miracles transform your life!” |
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Freefly
Administrator
964 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 09:19:04 AM
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AA Thought for the Day**
August 6, 2010
A New Life
It may seem incredible that these men are to become happy,
respected,and useful once more.
How can they rise out of such misery, bad repute and hopelessness?
The practical answer is that since these things have happened among us,
they can happen with you. ... Our own recovery proves that!
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 153
Thought to Ponder . . .
Life will take on new meaning.
Day by Day is the only way.... |
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