ABC's of Grateful Sobriety

[caressa]

A is for Action. Words mean nothing unless I follow them by action. I need to take action to practice the principles of the program into my life.

Irish Blessing:

www.castlemountains.com/index.cfm?action=sendcard&card_id=4045&type_id=1

[Lin]

The column is on sobriety now...and since I'm not AA i will have to skip it or post from a different angle. How about...

B is for BREATH. I am glad my husbands BREATH no longer smells of stale beer , whisky, mad dog, vodka, etc.

LIN

[caressa]

C is for Control. When I try to control my life and that of others, I am playing God. In order to maintain my sobriety (peace of mind), I have to let go and let God.

[lildee]

D is for..... Denial

It keeps us from dealing with reality and who we really are.

[caressa]

E is for Everyone. This program is for everyone. As a long-timer once said, "The tools of recovery fit anyone who walks through the doors of recovery." It is up to them whether they choose to pick them up and walk with them.

[Lin]

F is for FELLOWSHIP. No matter what side of the hallway we are on, the FELLOWSHIP is awesome.

LIN

[Kathleen]

G- is for God:

A higer power that I trust today, he gives me what I need daily, not what I wont. lol and some times the answer is no. Only cuz he knows beter than I.

Love you all Kathleen

[caressa]

H is for Help. It is important that I reach out and ask for help and not try to work and live this program by myself.

[lildee]

I is for ..... Insanity.
No matter which side of the hall you are on Insanity runs a muck causing chaos. Glad I am not totally insane anymore. (only a little nuts!)

[caressa]

J is for Just. My life isn't just about me today. I don't have to justify my existance and my reason for my reason for being and doing. I live this program just for today.

[Lin]

K is for K.I.S.S....some say that means keep it simple STUPID. I choose not to callmyself stupid and I say Keep it simple SWEETHEART.

( and it still feels funny to be posting on greatful sobriety when I never had to worry about being sober...I guess if I look at it as being greatful OTHERs are sober I can be OK. I respect a closed meeting and that's what I feel like posting on sobriety. I'll also try to see it as getting more NEW folks to post.)

LIN

[lildee]

L is for ..... Laughter

But we aren't a glum lot.

[/u] If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life. We try not to indulge in cynicism over the state of the nations, nor do we carry the world's troubles on our shoulders. When we see a man sinking into the mire that is alcoholism, we give him first aid and place what we have at his disposal. For his sake, we do recount and almost relive the horrors of our past. But those of us who have tried to shoulder the entire burden and trouble of others find we are soon overcome by them.

So we think cheerfulness and laughter make for usefulness. Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn't we laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others. [/u]

AA Big Book 4th Edition page 132 paragraph 2 & 3 [/size][/quote]

Love and God Bless
Arlene

[Lin]

M is for manipulatiohn. The alcohlics in my life have been skilled manipulators and I larned well from them. I was also one for many years.

today i am grateful i dont make a habit of manipulationg and i dont ALLOW others to manipulate me.
LIN

[caressa]

N is for New. Each day is a new beginning. I am grateful for the tools of recovery that allow me to learn new ways of living in today.

Sobriety is soundness of mind. I am grateful that I don't have to use people, places, and things to escape my reality in today.

[lildee]

O is for ... Obsession

Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistance of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursure it into the gates of insnity of death.

AA Big Book 4th Edition Chapter 3 pg 30

[Lin]

I is for PRAYER...what a huge difference my life has becomne since I started praying again.

LIN

[caressa]

Q is for Quiet. Finding a quiet place and just being, whether it is alone or with friends.

[lildee]

R is for..... Resentment (s)

Resentment is the "number one" offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically. In dealing with resentments, we set them on paper. We listed people, instistutions, or principles with whom we were angry. We asked ourselves why we were angry. In most cases it was found that our self-esteem. our pocketbooks, our ambitions, our personal relationships (induling sex) were hurt or threatened. So we were sore. We were "burned up."


AA Big Book 4th Edition page 64-65 paragraph 3

[Lin]

S is for SERENITY PRAYER> It has been such a comfort and strength to me in my recovery.

LIN

[ChrisK]

THRILL


I'M THRILLED TO HAVE FOUND EVERYONE ON HERE AND GLAD YOU'RE WITH ME FOR THE JOURNEY:)


LOVE

CHRIS