Jan. 10, 2016 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

Step by Step

Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016 

"AA has become a way of life and living for me. It has brought about a revelation of self, the discovery of an inner being, an awareness of God.

"I wouldn't give it up or trade it for anything. And the only one who can take it away from me is me - by taking that first drink." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, "They Stopped in Time," Ch 7 ("A Teenager's Decision"), p 355. 

Today, perhaps my deadliest enemy is not alcohol or the "contributing factors" that I came up with to "blame" for my alcoholism. Maybe my greatest enemy is myself. If I am fighting an urge or temptation to drink or if I haven't yet gone into recovery, how I react to either is my decision and responsibility and no one else's. If a slip is pending or if I continue to drink because I think I'm either not ready to quit or the state of my life makes sobering up uninviting, the consequences are mine and mine alone if I pick up the next drink. Let me look to the Fourth Step to identify the emotional and spiritual weakness or sickness that fuels my self-destruction. Today, I have no desire to give in or give up. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2016

Jan. 10, 2016 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016

AA Thought for the Day
When we were drinking, most of us were full of pride and selfishness. We believed we could handle our own affairs, even though we were making a mess of our lives. We were very stubborn and didn't like to take advice. We resented being told what to do. To us, humility looked like weakness. But when we came into AA, we began to be humble. And we found out that humility gave us the power we needed to overcome drinking.

Have I learned that there is power in humility?

Meditation for the Day
I will come to God in faith, and He will give me a new way of life. This new way of life will alter my whole existence, the words I speak, the influence I have. They will spring from the life within me. I see how important is the work of a person who has this new way of life. The words and the example of such a person can have a wide influence for good in the world.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may learn the principles of the good life. I pray that I may meditate upon them and work at them, because they are eternal.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 10, 2016 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016

Reflection for the Day
Since I came to The Program, I've become increasingly aware of the Serenity Prayer. I see it on literature covers, the walls of meeting rooms, and in the homes of new-found friends. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Do I understand the Serenity Prayer? Do I believe in its power and repeat it often? Is it becoming easier for me to accept the things I cannot change?

Today I Pray
God grant that the words of the Serenity Prayer never become mechanical for me or lose their meaning in the lulling rhythms of repetition. I pray that these words will continue to take on new depths of significance as I fit life's realities to them. I trust that I may find the solutions I need in this prayer which, in its simplicity, encompasses all of life's situations.

Today I Will Remember
Share the prayer.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 10, 2016 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener
Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016

Alcoholism, or compulsive drinking, is incurable. We have seen too much evidence of the fact to believe differently - yet, occasionally, some of us get the idea that we are exceptions to the rule. Then the Rat Race begins all over again.

We are alcoholics. We must admit it and accept it as one of those things we cannot change.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 10, 2016 - Good morning to a splendid Sunday, folks!

Jan. 9, 2016 - Video: Gus Kenworthy and boyfriend Matthew Wilkas recreate scene from 'Making a Murderer'

Gus Kenworthy (l) and Matthew Wilkas

Jan. 9, 2016 - Out.com - WATCH: Gus Kenworthy & BF Matthew Wilkas Recreate ‘Making a Murderer’ Scene | Out Magazine

Jan. 9, 2016 - Three logical reasons to stop watching porn

Jan. 9, 2016 - GoodMenProject.com - Three Logical Reasons To Stop Watching Porn -

Jan. 9, 2016 - Three high school basketball players accused in rape of male teammate

Jan. 9, 2016 - LGBTQNation.com - Trio of HS basketball players accused of raping teammate in cabin – LGBTQ Nation

Jan. 9, 2016 - One Alabama county ignoring chief justice's order not to issue gay marriage licenses

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore

Jan. 9, 2016 - LGBTQNation.com - Despite judge’s interference, Alabama county resumes issuing same-sex marriage licenses – LGBTQ Nation

Jan. 9, 2016 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016

Today's thought from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Today I will review the goals I've set for myself.

Have I met some of them? Do some of them seem out of reach? If so, I will consider how I can simplify them by breaking them down into smaller goals.

If one of my goals is to live in a nicer house, I'll look at ways I can begin to work toward that goal. Do I already know what kind of house I want? Where is it? What does it look like? How much will it cost? Perhaps I can change my spending habits, save more money, or begin to establish my credit. I might simply picture my new house in my mind or cut out a picture and tape it on my mirror.

If one of my goals is to have a specific career, I will get a catalog from a college and find out what classes might prepare me for that career. Perhaps I could go to a career training school, work toward a promotion at my current job, or get my GED, I can ask for the help I need to accomplish this.

Today I will choose one goal that seems hard to reach and make a list of the steps necessary to achieve it. When I work toward my goals one step at a time, I can feel successful with each day.

You are reading from the book:

52 Weeks of Conscious Contact by Melody Beattie

52 Weeks of Conscious Contact © 2003 by Melody Beattie

Jan. 9, 2016 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

Step by Step

Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 

" ...(A)ny alcoholic capable of honestly facing his problems in the light of our experience can recover, provided he does not close his mind to all spiritual concepts. He can only be defeated by an attitude of intolerance or belligerent denial.

"We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty and open-mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, "Appendices," No. 2 ("Spiritual Experience"), p 570.

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation." - Herbert Spencer

Today, I look to HOW - Honesty, Open-Mindedness and Willingness - to guide me if I continue to struggle with the concept of spirituality even if a spiritual awakening or experience may be little more than a change in personality and which usually comes over time instead of suddenly and with fireworks. If, indeed, a spiritual experience can be a simple improvement in my personality, outlook, perspective and philosophy of life, I can also expect that experience to be assured because, without alcohol, there is going to be some change in my emotional status and personality. It is up to me to employ the steps and traditions to make that change for the better. Deceit, closed-mindedness and a refusal to admit that something stronger than me - alcohol - could defeat me was my spiritual state as a drinking alcoholic. Today, as an alcoholic in recovery, I seek Honesty, Open-Mindedness and Willingness (HOW) out of necessity. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2016

Jan. 9, 2016 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016

AA Thought for the Day
When we were drinking, most of us had no real faith in anything. We may have said that we believed in God, but we didn't act as though we did. We never honestly asked God to help us and we never really accepted His help. To us, faith looked like helplessness. But when we came into AA, we began to have faith in God. And we found that faith gave us the strength we needed to overcome drinking.

Have I learned that there is strength in faith?

Meditation for the Day
I will have faith, no matter what may befall me. I will be patient, even in the midst of troubles. I will not fear the strain of life, because I believe that God knows just what I can bear. I will look to the future with confidence. I know that God will not ask me to bear anything that could overcome or destroy me.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may put this day in the hands of God. I pray for faith, so that nothing will upset me or weaken my determination to stay sober.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 9, 2016 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016

Reflection for the Day
In the past, and sometimes even now, I automatically have thoughts, "Why me?," when I'm trying to learn that my first problem is to accept my present circumstances as they are, myself as I am and the people around me as they are. Just as I finally accepted my powerlessness over my addiction, so must I accept my powerlessness over people, places and things.

Am I learning to accept life on life's terms?

Today I Pray
May I learn to control my urge to control, my compulsion to manage, neaten, organize and label the lives of others. May I learn to accept situations and people as they are instead of as I would like them to be. Thus, may I do away with the ongoing frustrations that a controlling person, by nature, faces continually. May I be entirely ready to have God remove this defect of character.

Today I Will Remember
Control for the controller (me).

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 9, 2016 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016

It would be most difficult to contradict the statement that you cannot get sobriety unless you honestly want it. You cannot find a God of your understanding unless you honestly seek Him. It is likewise true that you cannot reap full measure from our Program unless you honestly live it.

Self-deception is very hard to recognize for, if we recognized it, it would no longer be deceptive. Honesty with ourselves can only be acquired by diligent study of ourselves, our ideals, our ambitions and our motives.

Hazelden Foundation

Jan. 9, 2016 - Good morning & welcome to a super Saturday!