Topic of the Week - Giving Thanks

[caressa]

A grateful alcoholic/addict will never have a reason to pick up.

If you have one hand in the hand of your Higher Power and the other hand in the hand of a newcomer, you won't have any hands left to pick up.

When ever I find and/or acknowledge a God Moment, I always try to remember to say, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Attachments:

[caressa]

Gratitude meetings are something I miss now that I can't get out to f2f meetings. I especially liked them when they had candles going. One had music and candles and was one of the many spirtual experience of my recovery.

I have so much to be grateful for, no longer living in a room in the YWCA, have my own apartment in a Senior Complex, I have money for food and can pay my way as long as I don`t go on shopping sprees and buy things I don`t need, I found a God who I have built a relationship with, and the gift of the friends you meet in the fellowship on and off the internet is priceless. This is a long way from the girl who moved into her first apartment at 6 months sober, with 8 garbage bags of stuff, a little square table that I had inherited from my Aunt Violet and a tri-light given to me by my Aunt Marion. I borrowed a mattress and slept on the floor, borrowed dishes, and cooked on a two burner stove which wasn`t grounded and I kept blowing fuses and had to disrupt my landlady too many times.

Just for today, I am grateful for my sobriety. The gifts of recovery is priceless. The biggest gift has been myself.

[Lin]

For abtou 20 yars we have had a gratitude meeting here every Thanksgiiving moring at 9 AM. It is for alanon, alateen and AA. Allthree meeting in that building on Tuesday night so this meeting they meeting together. We always have family plans that day so I have not been, but those who go every eyar say it is awesome.

I am also very grateful. I have a dependable vehicle, a warm house...both paid for, I have good health, I have good friends and even better recovery friends. I have my faith and my church family. I have three schnauzers who give me unconditional love. I have enough money to buy whatever I need and most of what I want. LOL
I dont have to worry abotu paying my bills these days. For the last five eyars I have had a new daughter, son in law and grand-daughter. I have a husband that I love.

For many years I didn't have God in my life and we had credit card bills charged to the max. We lived paycheck to paycheck.

I think the biggest differentce in my life today is GOD is a huge part of my life and for many years I didn't even pray.

LIN

[caressa]

Thanks for sharing Lin. I am grateful that you shared your esh. The meeting sounds awesome, something I could relate to, since I qualify for most fellowships.

As you say, my God did not go away, I did!

[caressa]

Try to recognize the small things and the big things and the special things, like seeing two ladies from AA and another one from NA in my travels. I found a pair of tights (which I often wear to hold my skin on because of my Fibromyalgia) on sale, hope they are still on sale when I get some money.

Grateful that my son prepared dinner. Grateful when he goes to bed and all is quiet except for my music (no words) playing while I post. I am grateful when a thought gets through and even better, when I get a new awareness and awakening.

Even if I don't like it, I still need to say thank you, because there are always lessons to be learned.

As the old prayer says, "God is Great, God is Good, let us thank Him for our food. Not only physical food, but food for the body, mind, and spirit.

[caressa]

Grateful that there is a place where I can come and read and share and received the spiritual food I need daily.

When I find myself thinking, "I want something, I don't know what it is." then I know it generally means a spiritual experience, awakening, awareness, or some Good Orderly Good or some Divine Orderly Good. I have what I call a hole is my soul.

When I don't know and I seem to be blank and a bit brain dead, or if I think I know it all and have the answers, I know it is time to reach out and ask for help. It is aLways there, no matter which way I choose to go look for it. Today, I put on my music, did a meditation with animal and Native American cards and then sat with my crystal.

Before I came on line, the eyes started to water from reading, had a head ache, told myself I needed to go to bed, and proceeded to ignore my disease, said a prayer and did a small meditation, and though I am late, I started doing what I needed to do for my own recovery.

I am grateful that the program says I have to share it in order to recovery. I don't know if my posts help anyone else, but they sure help me to stay sober, and for that, I will always be grateful.

I can't do the service work I use to do, so I am ever so grateful that my God opened another door, which lead to many more doors.

I am grateful to those who share this journey with me. I share because I care.

[schell08]

Thank you for sharing Caressa! I like that the topic of the week is gratitude...don't feel I have been very grateful lately...when I am self-absorbed, it is my disease and this deadly disease has no room for gratitude...I thank God, I read your share, and am grateful that I need to be reminded that an ungrateful heart leaves room for the exit of recovery...when I don't share I do get caught up in my own little life bumps, tangles..in comes the self-loathing, thinking that if I share where I am at, it is only spreading the disease when in reality , like you said, some of that, can actually help others, including myself to get it out. Well, I usually say my gratitudes before I go to bed..lately my mind drifts and I end up closing up shop. Today I am grateful, for the many friends in recovery on and off line, the beauty of true friendship, away from slippery people, places, and things...we have a common thing amongst us , the desire to stay sober, one day at a time...just for today I thanked my HP this morning with a big stretch , hands raised and said thank you for a new day, a new beginning , waking me up alive and sober...I am grateful that even in the hardest times there is a place of peace within, a place I received so freely by working the steps, going to meetings, and listening to shares on line....I am grateful that where there was fear and isolation , there is love, acceptance and the patience to wait...I am impulsive to the upmost...I always say, there is that place, that space, between the impulse and the reaction...it is in that momentary space where I can pause, look within and ask for guidance...I never did this until some time in the programs...so just for today, I pray I may look at what I can share with others, offer hope, and be free from simply reacting to a situation. Peace, Schell

[caressa]

Thanks for sharing. Love how the truth comes out of your heart. Self realization is a big step in recovery. I told my friend John last night, that I liked how you shared because it is 21 years since I was a newcomer, your posts helps me to remember what it was like.

[monty]

The first post here is the one majestyjo shared with me in another thread. Thanks majestyjo.

I've read schells post here and I know for myself that I once was in the same shoe. I was depressed, so I clung to what I can easily get a hold of, which was alcohol. But the time came where I said to myself that I have to get rid of this. If I want to have a better life, the first thing I need talk to is myself. And that decision is the best I have ever made. As schell posted "the desire to stay sober, one day at a time". I keep this thought to myself and just remember the promise i made with my family.

[majestyjo]

Thanks for sharing and carrying the message of recovery, hopefully one of our guests will be able to relate to you.  They are more apt to relate to you the newcomer than to me who has been around for a few 24 hours.