|
|
Post by BW on Mar 25, 2011 11:58:54 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
The restless changing tides of the sea seem to parallel our recovery. The tide comes in, the tide goes out. A fact of life. Whatever is high tide in your emotion now, will eventually ebb to low tide. Remember: This too shall pass.
Help me recognize that my emotions are like the tides of the sea. Nothing is forever. This too shall pass.
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Mar 25, 2011 12:24:55 GMT -5
Sometimes I am aware of things, know something but forget. This too shall pass applies to the good as well as the not so good.
Last night, I did a meditation and I pulled a card that said, "Talk to somone you feel safe talking to and share your emotions." Went online and a friend contacted me on messenger. We have never met personally, and yet she feels like a sister. She is not in recovery. We do have fibromyalgia in common. Things do work out.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Mar 26, 2011 14:13:25 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Our anger often depicts the struggle we face in withdrawal. It seems our anger explodes over nothing. But in our hearts we know we want our DRUG and we're angry we can't have it. We stay clean, go to meetings, talk to our sponsor or counselor, and the anger passes.
May the Light of recovery outshine my anger of withdrawal as I live from hour to hour in the first month.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Mar 27, 2011 10:46:16 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Fragments of our addiction never stop calling, 'Hey, just one won't hurt; look, what's so wrong with going to that party; it's disloyal to stop seeing old friends.' But those of us who've been around awhile recognize the 'callings' for what they are. Give the 'calls' an inch and we KNOW addiction takes a mile.
When my mind is niggled with addiction excuses for setting myself up, may I follow program advice and call my sponsor or counselor.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Mar 28, 2011 11:16:34 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Keeping life simple right now is imperative. You need to learn how not to use mind-affecting chemicals. You do this by following instructions. That's all. Your family problems, job instability, or other concerns must take a back seat until you stabilize yourself.
Let me realize that my thinking is not balanced enough now to solve past problems. May I stow away my concerns for the first 30 days.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Mar 29, 2011 12:31:11 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Anger is one letter short of Danger. ( Dolores )
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Mar 30, 2011 13:41:30 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Any of us who feel insecure, inferior, or unattractive may think we drink and take other drugs to counteract this. We do drugs compulsively because we are addicted and not for other reasons; other reasons are only rationales.
May I understand that fixing the 'rationales' in my life will not stop my disease. Not picking up will stop alcoholism and other addictions.
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Mar 30, 2011 17:42:18 GMT -5
Like this, again the substance isn't the problem, the disease originates in me.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Mar 31, 2011 9:56:49 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
You want to be able to respond, not just react to the chaos of early recovery. Reaction is simply from the genes, primal and mostly instinctual. To respond requires thought. Think about your situation and how you want to respond to what happens to you.
I do not simply react to situations in an instinctual mode. I respond in a thoughtful, thought-out manner.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Apr 1, 2011 11:10:46 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Things go wrong and they are not particularly anyone's fault. You can't expect every meeting to be perfect, all the words you hear perfect wisdom, your treatment center to meet every need, or court rulings in your favor. You will experience many imperfect actions and reactions. You know you can't control or fix everything that goes wrong and neither can 'they.'
I correct only the things that are under my immediate control and I allow other imperfections to be corrected by others, or not corrected at all. What a relief.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Apr 2, 2011 14:36:15 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
The darker the shadow, the brighter the Light. As we stop using and leave the shadow of drug addiction, we slowly begin to see the new light of our life. Sometimes its so bright, it hurts. We are not used to it.
God, as I understand You, as I clean up and the Light of recovery hurts, help me understand, adjust, and be grateful to leave the shadow.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Apr 3, 2011 12:05:42 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Compulsion is a word you will hear a lot now that you have made the decision to begin recovery. You may often feel compelled to drink or use drugs again even when you don't want to. Compulsion is a symptom of our disease and we use all the new tools of our program to counteract compulsions.
Please help me understand that compulsion is a symptom of my disease and as such need not be acted upon. I offer my compulsive behavior to God, as I understand God.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Apr 4, 2011 11:02:40 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
When we describe recovery as 'accepting a fate worse than death,' we don't understand the true nature of acceptance. This is called the 'sigh and die' syndrome. Rather than dwell on what can't be changed, we learn to do what is right at this moment, in this hour.
I don't want to be a part of the 'sigh and die' syndrome. Right this moment, I will pick up another book on recovery and read one page, any page, and that will break the spell.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Apr 5, 2011 13:29:09 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Sometimes it just doesn't seem worth it. What does this new life, seemingly full of discipline and deprivation, offer us anyway? There are many promises that only time can bring. Until then we must cherish our new freedom--freedom from the expense, cravings, and cost to our personal lives in that old chemical world.
Let me see the bondage of my addiction and remember not the questionable good times but the very real chains that bound me.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Apr 6, 2011 14:06:09 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Vengeance sometimes seems the only way to get back at who've hurt us. But we've found the best vengeance is living well, practicing our principles, and letting our Higher Power take care of the offenders.
May I recognize and internalize that vengeance is an attribute of addiction, not recovery.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Apr 7, 2011 9:27:55 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
You may be angry with God at some point in your process of withdrawal and recovery which in turn is going to lead to guilt. You may not be sure it's 'safe' to be angry with your Higher Power. It is, because God loves you just as you are and that includes your explosive emotions as well as the sweeter ones.
My God is a god of unconditional love and accepts me as I am today.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Apr 8, 2011 9:55:44 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Many times non-program people will go off on tangents of what religious, spiritual, or philosophical paths we now take. We do not engage with this type of conversation. We simply know that we will not drink or use drugs this hour and we will hang around other people who are doing the same thing.
I don't need to figure anything out right now. It is alright to not engage in any confrontation and simply be in recovery.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Apr 9, 2011 11:53:10 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
By witnessing the miracle of recovery happening for others, we can come to believe that this miracle can happen for us as well. Look at the miracles around you, 1 month off drugs, 3 months, 6 months or years. You are surrounded by living miracles.
Let me know that all the living miracles around me once felt as desperate as I--and that I too am a miracle every hour I stay away from that first fix, pill, drink, toke, or snort.
|
|
|
|
Post by BW on Apr 10, 2011 11:25:45 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
When we feel like we can't hold on for a whole day, we get a clock and hold on for an hour. When an hour is too long, we hold on for 10 minutes. At the end of 10, do another 10, and another and another, until it's OK.
Help me make it from hour to hour, or minute to minute if need be!
|
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Apr 10, 2011 14:40:47 GMT -5
My sponsor has narcolepsy (goes into seizures, looks like she is sleeping) and she says it is 3 seconds for her. She will fall asleep on a bus and miss her stop, often ending at the end of the route or the other end of the city from where she wants to go. She has 31 years sober.
|
|
. I will be back looking for Lin and others.