Sept. 27, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Monday, Sept. 27, 2021

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Pity is the deadliest feeling that can be offered to a woman. — Vicki Baum

We must move forward with confidence, trusting that the strength we need will be given us, having faith in our visions to guide us. Problems need not daunt us. Rather, they can spur us on to more creative activity. They challenge our capabilities. They insist that we not stand still.

Pity from others fosters inaction, and passivity invites death of the soul. Instead, our will to live is quickened through others’ encouragement. All else dampens the will. Pity feeds the self-pity that rings the death knell.

We can give strokes wherever we are today and know that we are helping someone live. And each time we reach out to encourage another, we are breathing new life into ourselves, new life that holds at bay the self-pity that may appear at any moment.

We can serve one another best, never by commiserating with sadnesses, but by celebrating life’s challenges. They offer the opportunities necessary to our continued growth.

Someone needs a word of encouragement from me. l will brighten her vision of the future.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 27, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Monday, Sept. 27, 2021

"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

" ...(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, "Spiritual Experience," p 570.

Today, to close my mind to the possibility of a Power greater than myself is equivalent to self-absorption and, as such, my recovery Program predictably will fail. Not only does a Program that focuses on my wants and needs trample over the 12th Step marching order to help the alcoholic who still suffers, it is destined for failure. There is humility and gain in service to others if for no other reason than the possibility that a Higher Power exists and can pull me from inside myself and heed the lessons of other alcoholics. In the process, I may learn that what I think is the enormity of my problems is minuscule against the problems of others. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2021

Sept. 27, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Monday, Sept. 27, 2021

AA Thought for the Day
Continuing the consideration of the term "spiritual experience:" "What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been accomplished by years of self-discipline. With few exceptions, our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource when they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves. Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves the essence of spiritual experience. In any case, willingness, honesty and open-mindedness are the essentials of recovery."

Have I tapped that inner resource which can change my life?

Meditation for the Day
God's power in your life increases as your ability to understand His grace increases. The power of God's grace is only limited by the understanding and will of each individual. God's miracle-working power is only limited in each individual soul by the lack of spiritual vision of that soul. God respects free will, the right of each person to accept or reject His miracle-working power. Only the sincere desire of the soul gives Him the opportunity to bestow it.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may not limit God's power by my lack of vision. I pray that I may keep my mind open today to His influence.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 27, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

 

A Day at a Time

Monday, Sept. 27, 2021

Reflection for the Day
In times past, even as adults, many of us childishly insisted that people protect, defend and care for us. We acted as if the world owed us a living. And then, when the people we most love became fed up, pushing us aside or perhaps abandoning us completely, we were bewildered. We couldn't see that our over-dependence on people was unsuccessful because all human beings are fallible; even the best of them will sometimes let us down, especially when our demands are unreasonable. Today, in contrast, we rely upon God, counting on Him rather than on ourselves or other people.

Am I trying to do as I think God would have me do, trusting the outcome of His will for me?

Today I Pray
May I know, from the dependencies of my past, that I am a dependent person. I depended on alcohol, mood-altering chemicals, food or other addictive pursuits. I was inclined to "hang" on other people, depending on them for more than they could give. May I, at last, switch from these adolescent dependencies to a mature healthy dependency on my Higher Power.

Today I Will Remember
I have more than one dependency.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 27, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

 

The Eye Opener

Monday, Sept. 27, 2021

For us alcoholics, the First Step in life was the usual toddle of the infant. The Second Step, we learned to walk erect like a man; the Third Step, we started to run to keep up with the world; the Fourth Step, we were staggering; the Fifth Step was stumbling and falling; and the Twelfth Step found us erect again.

What happened between the Fifth Step when we fell and the Twelfth Step? Don't ask me, I'm an alcoholic, too. I had probably just blacked out. Watch your steps - they take you places.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 27, 2021 - Good morning and let's get flexed for another Monday and new week

 

Good morning with faith and confidence that we can handle whatever Monday and the new week have in store for us ...get out there and make it a worthwhile day and don't waste time on anything and anyone out to sabotage it

Sept. 26, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Politeness is the art of choosing among one’s real thoughts. — Abel Stevens

We’re flooded with thoughts nearly every minute. We’re making grocery lists, rehearsing conversations, or making plans for tomorrow. Our mind is seldom quiet in anticipation of God’s timely messages for us and others. And we’re sometimes too quick to speak before we think. The result is that we too often fail to share the messages we have for others, and we fail to consider how our misguided words affect them.

The people who always seem to be gentle, diplomatic, thoughtful, and “successful” in their conversations aren’t blessed with more skills for living than we are. Perhaps they have learned to rely on their intuition before speaking — let their Higher Power help them sort out appropriate responses before they blurt out their views.

Pausing before speaking calms us. It ensures better communication, and it honors God, the people around us, and ourselves.

I will experience many moments of calmness today, and I’ll see positive results.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 26, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021

"God willing, we members of AA may never again have to deal with drinking, but we have to deal with sobriety every day. How do we do it? By learning - through practicing the Twelve Steps and through sharing at meetings - how to cope with the problems that we looked to booze to solve, back in our drinking days." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, "They Lost Nearly All," Ch 13 ("AA Taught Him to Handle Sobriety"), p 560.

Today, my Higher Power's will and the 12 Steps will steer me from dealing with drinking again because my challenge now is not drinking but living sober - living no longer in the problem but being a willing participant in the answer of living sober. In drinking, I experienced what drinking held for me - fear, anger, disgust, regret, loneliness, pain, resentment. In sobriety, the answers aren't as clear because I either have lived too long in alcoholism or lived most of my life without sobriety. The key to living in the answer instead of the problem is, indeed, the 12 Steps. And if they sometimes lead me to uncertain and even scary places because they are not familiar, I know they cannot be as frightening as the certainty of where drinking will take me again. Today, I choose - because now I have a choice - to live in the solution of sobriety and not in the problem of drinking. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2021

Sept. 26, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021

AA Thought for the Day
Continuing the consideration of the term "spiritual experience:" "The acquiring of an immediate and over-whelming God-consciousness, resulting in a dramatic transformation, though frequent, is by no means the rule. Most of our spiritual experiences are of the educational variety, and they develop slowly over a period of time. Quite often friends of newcomers are aware of the difference long before they are themselves. They finally realize that they have undergone a profound alteration in their reaction to life and that such a change could hardly have been brought about by themselves alone."

Is my outlook on life changing for the better?

Meditation for the Day
Look at the world as your Father's house. Think of all people you meet as guests in your Father's house, to be treated with love and consideration. Look at yourself as a servant in your Father's house, as a servant of all. Think of no work as beneath you. Be ever ready to do all you can for others who need your help. There is gladness in God's service. There is much satisfaction in serving the highest that you know. Express your love for God in service to all who are living with you in your Father's house.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may serve others out of gratitude to God. I pray that my work may be a small repayment for His grace so freely given me.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 26, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

 

A Day at a Time

Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021

Reflection for the Day
Is freedom from addiction all that we're to expect from a spiritual awakening? Not at all. Freedom from addiction is only the bare beginning; it's only the first gift of our first awakening. Obviously, if more gifts are to come our way, our awakening has to continue. As it does continue, we find that slowly but surely we can scrap the old life - the one that didn't work - for a new life that can and does work under any and all conditions.

Am I willing to continue my awakening through the practice of the Twelve Steps?

Today I Pray
May I remember how it was when my only goal in life was to be free of my addiction. All the words and phrases I used were stoppers - "giving it up," "quitting," "cutting myself off." Once I was free, I began to realize that my freedom had more to do with "beginning" than "stopping." May I now continue to think in terms of starters - "expanding," "awakening," "growing," "learning," "becoming."

Today I Will Remember
My stopping was a starting point.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 26, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

 

The Eye Opener

Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021

Famous Last Words: "If I had one more drink, I could cut off." "Lord, get me off this one and I'll never touch another drop." "A glass of beer won't hurt me." "I'm sober, ain't I? I don't need the meetings." The list is too long to go on.

We constantly sell ourselves a phony bill of goods and then cry our eyes out when we find we have gypped ourselves, but - it wasn't our fault, understand? If the wife hadn't ---, if the boss hadn't ---, if, if ...

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 26, 2021 - Good morning with hopes for a peaceful but productive Sunday for all

 

Good morning and everyone work for a calm yet productive and safe Sunday ...and no need to waste time on things and people out to screw it up

Sept. 25, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

No sainthood

Life leads never to perfection but always toward it. — James Lane Allen

Our friends in the program repeatedly pound into our heads: “We are not saints.” The improvement we make in recovery could easily lead us to believe that we may be approaching sainthood. That idea doesn’t last past one honest inventory. Old-timers remind us “Don’t try to be a saint by Thursday.”

If we believe we are superior because of our success in recovery, we will find ourselves impossible to live with. We seek spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. Perfection is impossible for humans to achieve. Our limitations, as well as our potentials, add to our spiritual growth.

Those who have all the answers for themselves and others, and reject suggestions or advice are probably headed toward relapse.

One of the best pieces of advice for improving myself and my attitude is “Easy does it.” There really isn’t anything beyond the very best I can do.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 25, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021

Today, accept myself first in starting to change the things I can - and must. And to change myself, I need the courage and brute honesty to see myself as I really am and not as I want myself and others to see me. If I can be strong and honest enough to see in myself what must go and what can be kept, I have to accept the good and bad before I know how to begin the work of moving forward. But if the bad out-weighs the good, I can keep the good as a building block to tear away the bad. If, on the other hand, I accept myself with no improvements needed, I've lied to myself. Today, I pray for the courage to change the things I can - me. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2021

Sept. 25, 2021 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021

AA Thought for the Day
Let us consider the term "spiritual experience" as given in Appendix II of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous: "A spiritual experience is something that brings about a personality change. By surrendering our lives to God as we understand Him, we are changed. The nature of this change is evident in recovered alcoholics. This personality change is not necessarily in the nature of a sudden and spectacular upheaval. We do not need to acquire an immediate and overwhelming God-consciousness, followed at once by a vast change in feeling and outlook. In most cases, the change is gradual."

Do I see a gradual and continuing change in myself?

Meditation for the Day
"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." For rest from the care of life, you can turn to God each day in prayer and communion. Real relaxation and serenity come from a deep sense of the fundamental goodness of the universe. God's everlasting arms are underneath all and will support you. Commune with God, not so much for petitions to be granted as for the rest that comes from relying on His will and His purposes for your life. Be sure of God's strength available to you, be conscious of His support, and wait quietly until that true rest from God fills your being.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may be conscious of God's support today. I pray that I may rest safe and sure therein.

Hazelden Foundation