Back in the final days of drinking I can forget how bad it got… Then I hear a harrowing share detailing the physical and emotional horror. I sat there feeling the shock of truth. My story no less shocking mirrored what I heard. We humans have amazing capacities to recover when we find a path. In recent months many newcomers to the fellowship. Some very wary of the people, the places, what they hear and what they see. In early days I wanted to fit in and be a good student. I did people please, and I did get caught in the web of some with little or no integrity. And then realised that fellowship is like all walks of life, people are people, some good and some bad, plenty of wisdom to learn and plenty of chaff a day at a time… August 2008 ~ 2010 Spiritual experience, all day every day… some suggest it is the ability to cope with now, some suggest it is letting go our opinion and personal view “thinking kept me drinking,” some suggest less denials and more truth, less of a personal judgment and standing in others shoes. Could it be simply living in the moment? “All inclusive today” In fellowship, in life and more in tune with “truth, love and wisdom shared with me.” To be included, loved and develop choices in life as life happens. There is always a balance in what we can and cannot do today, accepting the truth is my connection to spiritual today… -/- AA Daily Reflections ~ “August 24 Step 8 Daily Reflections Video Reading: A riddle that works… It may be possible …
Andy describes how important substance abuse rehab programs are to the state of NH. Video Rating: 0 / 5
August 9 | Steps In Action Alcoholics Anonymous DonInLondon ~ On a positive note, Thank God I am sober Riots in London. A breakdown in law and order. Anger and resentment, loss of reason and insanity rules. Why? The answers will come in time. Most of us know the answers, and many just cannot accept them. If we do not invest in people, people will likely divest those privileged in a broken society. Weak leadership, process driven, reliant on “the establishment,” out of touch and out of sight need a kick up the arse… I can recall working hard and putting every effort into my work. Driven beyond reason to sustain the unsustainable. Job cuts, sell off and no guarantees of a future. I did what I always did, found another job to start. It looked bigger and better, and turned out to be more of the same. A breakdown, loss of purpose and no identity, I sought oblivion and wanted to end it all. Drink helped me on my way to hell back then… August 9 2010 ~ Before I go to bed at night, I forgive everyone and everything who has ever harmed me… Much easier after step 9 in our programme and after a while of practicing the steps. But if the resentment still lingers, I say “fuck em” and then pray for them and eventually forgiveness finds its way. Progress not perfect today… August 9 2010 ~ This matter of honesty everyday… Upon waking, my daily practice, is ask myself how am I feeling, then think why, then what may I do. If I try deny my feelings, I start my day dishonestly. What … Video Rating: 0 / 5
“The AA Steps & Traditions are neither rules, regulations, nor laws. Perhaps the secret of their power lies in the fact that these life-giving communications spring out of living experience and are rooted in love.” 1. AA COMES OF AGE, P. 105.” “We find it amazing that the newcomer can start the AA program without any specific beliefs or, for that matter, without any beliefs whatsoever. All a person needs is the open-mindedness and the willingness to believe that WE BELIEVE this program works…” AA Daily Reflections ~ “The best for today: July 1 ~ The principles we have set down are guides to progress. [big book] Just as a sculptor will use different tools to achieve desired effects in creating a work of art, in Alcoholics Anonymous the Twelve Steps are used to bring about results in my own life. I do not overwhelm myself with life’s problems, and how much more work needs to be done. I let myself be comforted in knowing that my life is now in the hands of my Higher Power, a master craftsman who is shaping each part of my life into a unique work of art. By working my program I can be satisfied, knowing that in the doing the best that we can for today, we are doing all that God asks of us.” DonInLondon July, my focus in recovery is step seven,”Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.” Which is very appropriate after last night’s tantrum by me. Shortcomings… We have every feeling and thought available to us, life experience and who we have met are our teachers. We have …
Dr. Clapp discusses the DUI prevention program they developed and had great success with at SD State College. About 28 to 30% of students reported drinking and driving, and an even higher percentage of students drove with a drunk driver. Of the roughly 1800 college student deaths each year, about 83% are related to drunk driving. They looked to see what worked in community centers and adapted that for a campus setting. It was found to be very important to hire undergrad marketing students to come up with a campaign. The campaign was basically designed to raise the perception of risk for getting arrested for drunk driving among other students. They wanted students to believe that if they drank and drove there was a high likelihood of getting arrested. Media advocacy was implemented and they had students write into the school newspapers, letters and editorials and talk about drunk driving and supporting the campaign. Major streets were blocked off and SD and campus police set up several DUI checkpoints around the campus. Roaming view campaigns were also implemented where police drove around with ‘DUI enforcement’ emblems on their vehicles and pulled over people. The police would always put their sirens on to make it appear that a lot of people were getting pulled over for drunk driving, even if it had been for a minor traffic violation. With this combined effect of this campaign, DUIs on SD State decreased by 27% in one semester. Dr. Clapp is Director of the Center for … Video Rating: 5 / 5
Happy, joyous and free! Or unhappy, sad and imprisoned? Romance and finance… How am I feeling, why and what can I do? No romance presently, still learning to be me, and I’m free. Finance, needs met and not wanting. Happily open to romance and not yearning, no need to fear, no need to put on a brave face. I can learn and endeavour today… Living in the moment, feeling life as it is, rather than willing it different, knowing what we can do, knowing what we cannot, we see our choices and know what changes we can make. Connected to reality, with choices, dreams become possibilities in the moment of now. We share, gain wisdom, change as we may, needs met wants forgotten, and can strive for the achievable just for today… We are all spiritual, everything is spiritual? ~ “It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come. We learn the art of the possible, the probable and reality, the truth of now” inspired by the Dalai Lama… Daily Reflections ~ A LIFETIME PROCESS We were having trouble with personal relationships, we couldn’t control our emotional natures, we were a prey to misery and depression, we couldn’t make a living, we had a feeling of uselessness, we were full of fear, we were unhappy, we couldn’t seem to be of real help to other people. . . . ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 52 These words remind me that I have more problems than alcohol … Video Rating: 0 / 5
“AA-Not the Only Way” responds to the growing demand from recovery experts, US court rulings, problem drinkers and drug addicts for a global resource directory of alternative treatments. The highly anticipated 2nd Edition is now available, where you can find a multitude of different self-help groups, a variety of alternatives to help with your alcohol or drug use, such as hypnosis or acupuncture, a section for family members and other loved ones, what works and what doesn t, how to choose a treatment program and a comprehensive directory of licensed professionals all over the US, and treatment facilities both within the US and abroad. While everyone has heard of Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs that suport millions of people each year with addiction, they are not the only effective programs available. Melanie Solomon’s book compares and contrasts many different self-help programs so the client can better choose which one best suits his or her needs, as well as contact information for licensed professionals and treatment facilities throughout the US and abroad. “This book is ideal for any addiction professional’s waiting room, treatment process, or as an integral part of the client’s continuing care plan.” (NAADAC-The Association for Addiction Professionals). “AA-Not the Only Way fills an important niche in the recovery literature. It offers a compact but wide-ranging guide to addiction support and treatment options. The author’s recovery story will also …
Forgiving? Seeing my part in situations, it may be simply I was in the wrong place, with the wrong person or people and things went bad. I may be angry and resentful, feel like I need react and state my case. Often we push on when we intuitively know we could change sooner and let go. There is freedom in forgiving ourselves and others… New freedom, new happiness comes as we let go? Yes, letting go our extremes of fear, putting on a brave face and our veneer of ego. Enough fear to keep safe, developing courage to change, faith we have choices, and confidence to be more ourselves for today.. On waking, a thousand fragments merge and noise of needs, musts and wants burst into thinking. I pause, need do now, reflect, choices. I feel better, I can meet some needs, I can do some musts, and the wants? A balance in “being good enough for today” AA Daily Reflections ~ “FREEDOM TO BE ME… If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83 My first true freedom is the freedom not to have to take a drink today. If I truly want it, I will work the Twelve Steps and the happiness of this freedom will come to me through the Steps — sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Other freedoms will follow, and inventorying them is a new happiness. I had a new freedom today, the freedom to be me. I have the freedom to be the best me I have ever been.” “The … Video Rating: 0 / 5
Spiritual Angle? Living spiritual is living reality, open honest and willing. Ever present, in the imperfectly perfect moment, happy or sad, exhilerating to excoriating ~ Stephen Covey “We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.” -/- Spiritual is not some thing we can pick or choose, like serenity we develop our ability to live in the moment, where spiritual is constant change in real time.. ~ Mohandas Gandhi “Spiritual relationship is far more precious than physical. Physical relationship divorced from spiritual is body without soul.” Truth is now.. Spiritual understanding for me is explicit in the serenity prayer, can do, cannot do, wisdom in the moment, and then choices.. ~ Similarly Oprah Winfrey “It isn’t until you come to a spiritual understanding of who you are – not necessarily a religious feeling, but deep down, the spirit within – that you can begin to take control.” Working what works for us.. Step 2 “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity” We find it amazing that the newcomer can start the AA program without any specific beliefs or, for that matter, without any beliefs whatsoever. All a person needs is the open-mindedness and the willingness to believe that WE BELIEVE this program works… “God [it is what I understand to be God or a "Higher Power," always a personal understanding we have for ourselves, there is no AA or common understanding, simply what you believe] grant … Video Rating: 0 / 5
Again! Hahaha! I still did not have a clue what was wrong! Maybe the amout of booze we drunk! Hahaha. xxx I wanted to take a photo, but could not work out why the flash was going on and why my camera was “not” working. Hahaha! xxx That’s one of my best friends, Bruno.
Letting go fear, wanting to put on a brave brave face, hiding behind a mask of ego ego [defects Step 6]. Open, honest and willing to develop our courage, faith and confidence [shortcomings. Step 7] ~ Wentworth Miller “Confidence is at the root of so many attractive qualities, a sense of humor, a sense of style, a willingness to be who you are no matter what anyone else might think or say..” -/- Change is part of nature when we are young.. and remains so if we stay young at heart ~ Jack Welch “Willingness to change is a strength, even if it means plunging into total confusion for a while.” -/- We need work at change because.. simply we are all worth it! We help another, we feel happier? Provided we do some good, and not be a do gooder ~ Gerald Jampolsky “Through our willingness to help others we can learn to be happy rather than depressed.” Better to help someone asking than seek out a target? We cannot fix anyone, we may help someone.. Sanity restored, just for today, sober life is a choice ~ Leo Buscaglia “What we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret than our willingness to choose life.” -/- Relapse and slips bring back the insanity where there are no choices in living but to see it through the bottom of a glass.. and at rock bottom. We can come back from the brink in fellowship… Into the fabric of recovery from alcoholism are woven the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions, steps to be open honest and willing to learn, traditions to live unity service and … Video Rating: 0 / 5
Website: www.facebook.com Jessica, 21, comes from a tight-knit family. Her father, mother, sister and grandfather all work at the family-owned gas station. But Jessica’s not allowed to work there any more. Ever since Jessica became addicted to heroin at 17, her family cannot trust her. And even worse — her addiction is straining family relationships. Everyone wants to see her go to treatment. But just organizing the intervention is tearing them apart. Hubert is a middle-aged American Indian man whose struggles to keep his family together amidst an abusive childhood at the hands of his alcoholic stepfather, along with the pressure to protect his siblings from the verbal, emotional and physical violence from his alcoholic parents, eventually drive him to the bottle as well during his life in Las Vegas as a bartender. Hubert moved back to Los Angeles to care for his dying diabetic mother, but after her death, his alcohol abuse worsens. His stepfather, showing “Tough love”, kicks Hubert out of the house and Hubert becomes homeless, depending on recycling bottles and cans for booze money. Another homeless friend, John, a bipolar who is non-compliant with medication, helps take care of Hubert on the streets by feeding him, buying him alcohol and helping him find safe places to sleep at night. A real estate agent who frequents the park where John and Hubert “live” during daylight hours had gotten to know Hubert and John and realized what a kind gentleman Hubert was underneath …
The best for today: July 1 ~ The principles we have set down are guides to progress. [big book] Just as a sculptor will use different tools to achieve desired effects in creating a work of art, in Alcoholics Anonymous the Twelve Steps are used to bring about results in my own life. I do not overwhelm myself with life’s problems, and how much more work needs to be done. I let myself be comforted in knowing that my life is now in the hands of my Higher Power, a master craftsman who is shaping each part of my life into a unique work of art. By working my program I can be satisfied, knowing that in the doing the best that we can for today, we are doing all that God asks of us.” Alcoholics Anonymous, Addiction And Recovery, Alcohol, Alcoholism, DonInLondon, Don Oddy, Recovery Life Works Video Rating: 1 / 5
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