Spirituality

Spirituality that is a big word in AA. It has so many meanings. Today I want to keep it simple. Here is the one and only miracle that applies to everyone who is a part of this fellowship. When a newcomer walks into the door that is a miracle. Why you ask. Many reasons. First that they even got there is a miracle. That we now have someone new to work with. Having someone new to work with means one of us is going to stay sober one more day.

The newcomer has so much on and not on their mind they have no idea how important they are to our sobriety. After all look at step 12 ...Yes this means you have to open your Big Book....xoxo

Working with others

Did you know you do not need to have more than one day sober to work with another alkie! Yup that is it. This program works miracles but not with out one alkie working with another. Now this does not mean that you have to "sponcer" someone. Working with another is just what is says "One alkie working with another" how simple could it be. You are getting sober you want to stay sober you talk to another person wanting to stay sober and low and behold just the time it takes to talk you have compiled another hour sober.

It is a really hard thing for some of us. We want it so bad yet it seems so out of reach. The only thing that you have to remember is that all you need to do today is stay sober one second at a time. When we are new One day seems so daunting. And when we sit in a meeting and think about it Wow how am I going to stay sober? Simple just do not drink today. I got it 24 years ago and never went back. I do not back the ole' relapse is a part of my recovery crap. If you want it you will stay sober. If you do not it is because you are not using the tools. Think about that!

Back home

This is how my life use to be

You know people say " You are so good to do all you do for your parents" but let us think about that for a moment and reverse it. "They were so good for raising me to know what to do"

Granted I had a great childhood in my opinion what I can remember. And my teen years worked for me...I think it was when I moved at the tender age of 17 that the real trouble began...There is so much to that story I have to finish the book! Point being that my parents raised me to know right from wrong. To be polite. To have some sort of standards even though mine changed with my moods and how much I drank. So now at this time in my life I am blessed to have some time to spare and give back what has been given to me...Hey wait minute that sounds familiar?????

Yes it is step 12.

How does that read again.....

"Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps,we carry the message to alcoholics and practice these principles in all our affairs"

Not so hard. Here are the benefits.

A. You stay sober
B. Someone else stays sober
C. You get to learn more
D. You can read your Big Book.

Take this step one step further and work with others in ever part of your life. It is like my helping my mama. I am working with another now it may not be an alkie but it is keeping me out of self. This is key. We alkies are selfish people and it is always about us. It took me a long time to stop thinking it was all about me. But eventually I started to think about others needs because mine became not so important.  It feels good to do stuff with out looking for approval or praise. So go find a newbie or take the cart back to the cart cage at the market...Little baby steps....xoxo

Big Book Guide

Today I was at my meeting and the topic was "The Promises"  . If I hear one more person say that the promises are one just one section.... I think I will scream ... the promises are through out the first 164 pages of the Big Book of ...The day you walk in the doors you get your first glimpse of a promise that you will stay sober and here is the gift to help you get there! Oui Well it made me think I have a tiny list of pages that can be helpful. This is in no way to say that any of these  topics are not on other pages through out the book. This is just a quick go to reference.

 Here is a list of pages in the Big Book that may help you:

 

 

Topic                                           Page

Acceptance                                                     14, 449, 452
Anger                                                              64, 66, 111
Attitudes                                                               449
Compassion                                                        108
Disease                                                          21, 23, 392, 448
Easy Does It                                                      516
Fear                                                      67, 68, 115, 481, 482, 507, 550
Humility                                                         12, 12 again, 63, 73
Inventory                                                        64- 71
Insanity                                                           24, 37, 38, 57
Jealousy                                                             82, 119, 131
Meditation                                                          86-88
Patients                                               67, 82, 90, 111, 118, 123, 126, 127
Prayer                                                  63, 67, 70, 75, 76, 79, 80, 82-85, 552
Promises                                              63, 75, 83-84, 100, 115, 116, 120
resentment                                               64-66, 117-119, 552
Recovery                                                           1-164
Self Will                                                          60-62
Self Knowledge                                            7, 36
Sex                                                              68-70, 124, 134
Steps                                                               59-60, 292
Serenity                                                        68, 544, 551, 552,
Slips                                                                    120, 139
Understanding                                                    570
Willingness                               12, 13, 26, 46, 47, 53, 57, 60, 70, 76, 79, 93,
                                        118, 124, 152, 153, 159, 159, 162, 218, 229, 503, 550                                       

Enjoy!

Routine

Routine this is something we know nothing of. Well I do admit there are some "Functioning" alkies and for me that is an ox-ee-moron-ic statement. How does a alkie function? We need to start to do things daily and keep doing them for the rest of our lives. If we were diabetic we would surly take our insulin each day. If we had cancer we would go do our treatment each day . And drinking we surly made it a point to get that liquor down our throats each day no matter what.



This is the start of things we were unable to do prior to getting sober. Now here is a list of what I do each day and what you should think of putting in place for yourself.

1.  Wake up
2.  Say Good Morning to your higher power
3.  Morning pages 86-87-88
4. Stop and think when agitated
5. drink plenty of water ( just thought you could use that)
6. Call another alkie
7. Focus on others not yourself

Do one good deed with out looking for anything in return

And Just for Today do not drink that is really all you have to do. 

Sunday what does this day mean to you? Church, Rest, Football or sports of some sort, family, garden, read, relax. Do you remember not so long ago it was the day of rest from a long weekend of drinking. And it would not be so bad to have a hair of the ole' dog to take the edge off!

Today I am up and thinking about gratitude. Have you made you gratitude list it is really an on going list. When we are first sober it is so hard to think we are grateful for anything. To breath even seems hard. But as time goes  forward you will be able to see a bit clearer. Take the time to write a gratitude list. This list does not have to hold the keys to serenity. Nope just a few things. Let me show you an example.

Gratitude List

1. Sobriety
2. New friends
3. Another day above ground

See it can have as little as one thing or ten. It really helps you get out of the nasty thoughts we all have.  We alkies tend to have negative brains going on but with time and the help of the program you will soon have a foundation that will keep all the shit out. Go now and make a gratitude list you will fells better. Then go outside and take on this great day.

Well tis Friday. A day we look forward to sober! I can not ever forget how I use to look forward to Thursday night prior to Friday. The reason for this is that Thursday night  was always ladies night back in the day. You would get great deals on drinks, guys would surly buy you one, not like today all you independent fools!

Now honestly Friday makes me think (working or not) that the weekend is upon us. There is so much we can do. And the weather is well raining here but Spring like. If you are newly sober take advantage of getting to know the weather again. Seriously did you ever think twice about the weather. Did it ever keep you in or stop you from getting that drink. I think not!

Take this weekend go to a meeting, stick your hand out to another and hold on tight this is one wonderful way to live life. And think about the weather did you ever do that before?