|
Post by BW on Sept 21, 2011 13:03:56 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
If you were the helper and not the helpee, how would you like the person you were working with to behave? Are you acting in a manner consistent with what you believe is right?
Help me act in the same manner I would have others act with me under the same circumstances.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Sept 21, 2011 13:12:57 GMT -5
Patience and tolerance are the watch words here for me. We all have bad days.. when someone is "not acting" the way others think they "should be acting" isn't it possible they are in fear mode or they may have gotten some tragic news about a fmaily member or maybe they are worried about how they are going to get the rent paid or groceries for their children?
We never know what demons another maybe facing and the question is who am I to judge? The only thing that is in my hula hoop is how I act or react, how I respond or behave. even if that person is rude and offensive i can hold that person up in prayer and ask for God's healing mercy to touch them or bless them always remembering the qualifier...'They will be done" and I can treat that person with kindness.
That does not mean I am a doormat for verbal or emotional abuse. I can choose to walk away. It just means I do not have to act in the same manner as they do. As the saying goes..if I don't want to get beat up..I do not jump into the ring...
the traditon that comes to mind here is "attraction rather than promotion...Am I acting in a manner that will attract others to this journey of recovery?
|
|
|
Post by BW on Sept 22, 2011 10:37:02 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
The slogans we are learning are like combinations to unlock something of value and make it accessible to our mind. Even if we don't like the slogans hanging on the walls and repeated at meetings, we at least consider the possibility of opening our mind to it's intent.
What situation, God, can I find this hour where a slogan will lead me to the solution?
|
|
|
Post by BW on Sept 23, 2011 14:59:55 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Even though you are a unique human being, you are not so unique that your recovery is any different then thousands before you. If you think we don't understand, then your disease is playing tricks on you because it doesn't want you getting well with us.
I name three reasons why I am just like every other chemical dependent seeking recovery.
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Sept 24, 2011 22:54:27 GMT -5
There is a fundamental unity that underlies the fellowship of our programs. It is this unity that can comfort us and help us hold on when we want a fix, pill, drink, smoke, or snort more than we want this new unfamiliar life.
God, as I understand You, show me how to take comfort from the unity of fellowship when drugs call me back.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Sept 27, 2011 10:44:58 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
There is a fundamental unity that underlies the fellowship of our programs. It is this unity that can comfort us and help us hold on when we want a fix, pill, drink, smoke, or snort more than we want this new unfamiliar life.
God, as I understand You, show me how to take comfort from the unity of fellowship when drugs call me back.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Sept 28, 2011 11:06:00 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
This hour may be rough. No one promised us a rose garden and if they did they were wrong. Recovery is not a thing like a rose garden; it is a process like the act of gardening. Right now we are tilling the soil; soon you will be planting seeds; later new growth will reach for the sun.
Let me know Higher Power, God as I understand You, that I can't reach for the sun until I've left the muck of addiction.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Sept 29, 2011 9:15:00 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Right now you don't have to pretend to be someone you are not. You don't have to pretend to be strong (if you're a man) or weak (if you're a woman). You don't have to pretend that you don't want to use, if you do--share what is real. We can't help if we don't know the truth.
Grant me the courage to simply be who I am, say what is real in my gut, and respond genuinely to others.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Sept 30, 2011 10:56:46 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Sometimes all we can do is not use, hold on, go to another meeting and tell them, 'I am not using, holding on, and going to another meeting because that's what you told me to do at times like these.' Our answers will come.
Help me take the steps necessary when times get tough, to do what the people in the program tell me to.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Oct 1, 2011 17:20:24 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Sometimes we are confused about what to do. But we tell people, 'Do the next right thing.' We do know what is right and what is wrong from the age of seven. Often our mind tries to muddy our thinking by making excuses or rationalizing. You really do know the right thing to do.
Higher Power, of my understanding, please let me respond to the right and wrong of my Higher Self--for the basic knowledge that was once so clear.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Oct 2, 2011 14:02:12 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
How do we know that this process of sobriety is valid for us? We all ask this at one time or another. But we need to give the program time. How long has addiction had? Months, years, decades? Ask this same question at the same time, next year. Why not judge the effect on your life then when there is an 'effect' to judge?
Higher Power, as I understand You, grant me the ability to stay clean and sober today, so in future 'todays' I will be able to judge the effect of sobriety
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Oct 4, 2011 2:32:19 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Service to another addict/alcoholic or to our group can help calm us when the jitters get rough. Think of one other fellow recoverer who also seemed jittery at the last meeting or maybe didn't show up. You can get in touch with them today and ask if you can help.
God, as I understand You, give me the right words to comfort or to encourage a fellow recoverer.
|
|
|
Post by caressa on Oct 4, 2011 2:34:05 GMT -5
Always seem to get a phone call from a former sponsee who has relapsed, or my AA sponsor and/or my friend(s) just when I need it. We may help them, but I see it as a two-way street and it works both ways.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Oct 4, 2011 16:25:08 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
At times, while traveling this road, we find it easier to just agree with everyone now, and do our own thing later. It's called 'just talking the talk.' This means we are not serious about our new life and can quickly travel to our next high. We tell these people that a belly full of booze and head full of program is a miserable way to live.
Let the next thing I say be straight from my heart and not just something I think the person in front of me wants to hear.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Oct 5, 2011 11:19:39 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
You don't have to worry about your faults now or feel shame. None of us are near perfect, even if we've been clean and sober a long time. We strive for progress, not perfection.
Let me know I don't have to put up a front of perfection, my goal is progress in sobriety.
|
|
|
Post by SunnyGirl on Oct 5, 2011 13:16:45 GMT -5
good reading BW....
The saying "progress not perfection" is why we work the program one day at a time. Not likely I will ever be perfect in this lifetime. Hugs, SG
|
|
|
Post by BW on Oct 6, 2011 11:03:56 GMT -5
Thanx SG, for me...I need to keep reminding meself that is why it also says "PRACTICE" Just he other day I messed up on something and I started to beat myself up but before I went to far I chuckeled and said to myself..."practice practice practice silly goose"
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Right now, you are getting rid of the toxic things in your life: toxic substances, toxic people, toxic behavior patterns and toxic thoughts. The only way to do this is to look, listen, and imitate those that have already done it. Slowly it becomes real for you, too.
I know that I cannot find this new path alone. Let me accept the guidance of those that have gone before me.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Oct 7, 2011 10:50:37 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
'First Things First' is definitely a good philosophy but in the third week of recovery it seems impossible. For us at this time the ONLY thing we have to do is stay away from that first fix, pill, or drink.
Whatever problems I think I have, the first and most important consideration is to stay away from that first fix, pill, snort, or drink!
|
|
|
Post by BW on Oct 8, 2011 12:03:08 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Everyone has the right to be wrong! That includes whatever occurs this hour--either our mistake, or another's. But we, or they, have the right to make that mistake. This is not cause for anger or guilt, just understanding.
This hour, understanding our right to be wrong will see me through. Please help me understand.
|
|
|
Post by BW on Oct 9, 2011 11:06:28 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Our freedom lies in recognizing the threefold illusion of this disease--mind (I can handle it), desire (it feels good), and flesh (I need it). These are all illusions which we soon will be liberated from.
May I surrender my illusions about the 'goodness' of mind affecting chemicals for myself and any addict / alcoholic.
|
|