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Post by BW on Sept 28, 2010 11:10:42 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.
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Post by BW on Sept 29, 2010 11:24:54 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.
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Post by BW on Sept 30, 2010 12:30:48 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.
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Post by BW on Oct 1, 2010 10:20:36 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.
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Post by BW on Oct 2, 2010 8:55:06 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.
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Post by BW on Oct 3, 2010 14:01:14 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.
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Post by BW on Oct 4, 2010 11:57:19 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.
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Post by BW on Oct 5, 2010 10:13:22 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.
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Post by BW on Oct 6, 2010 10:13:49 GMT -5
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.
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Post by BW on Oct 7, 2010 10:29:14 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!
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Post by BW on Oct 8, 2010 9:24:02 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.
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Post by BW on Oct 9, 2010 10:41:59 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.
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Post by BW on Oct 10, 2010 13:53:30 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
We must always fan the flame of inspiration and enthusiasm or our slight hold on sobriety will flicker and fade. We fan the flame by going to meetings, listening to the professionals we hire, choose and use a sponsor, and we must help others.
God, as I understand You, please show me one person I can give an encouraging word to in this hour.
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Post by BW on Oct 12, 2010 14:04:55 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
We do not believe in blind following. As when Clement wrote 'faith must go hand in hand with inquiry.' If you do not 'get' something, ASK. Ask at meetings, ask a sober friend, ask your sponsor, or ask your Higher Power in meditation. Honest questions get honest answers.
God, as I understand You, right now I want to know ______________. Thank You for the answer I know I'll receive.
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Post by BW on Oct 13, 2010 16:23:14 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Even when our intentions are good, when we try to dominate the actions of others, we usually end up on a collision course with them. This hour, let us tend to our affairs and not the affairs of others.
Tolerance is my path to harmony with my fellows. May I be granted some tolerance this hour.
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Post by BW on Oct 14, 2010 11:38:03 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
When intense cravings for our drug of choice overwhelm us, we immediately talk to another person in recovery, even late at night and people are going to bed. Our program teaches us to rely on each other and they will welcome the contact!
Give me the strength to contact another clean and sober person BEFORE I think of satisfying that craving.
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Post by BW on Oct 15, 2010 10:02:11 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Are we remembering the so-called 'good times' right now? How nice a 'high' would be? We use this hour to REALLY think about what got us to this fight for sobriety. It wasn't because we were having a lot of fun!
Help me to think a drink and drug all the way through, not just the high but the hell it leads to.
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Post by BW on Oct 16, 2010 10:50:02 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Whatever is on our mind at this time is probably something we can do nothing about just now. We're fighting a fatal disease here and our recovery is our TOP PRIORITY. Other considerations will simply have to wait.
Help me to prioritize my needs: clean time, sober time, recovery.
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Post by BW on Oct 17, 2010 14:58:07 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
Let us speculate on another subtle 'trick' of our disease: It lies to us! 'It wasn't so bad; I'm not really out of control; everyone drinks a little; these people are stupid.' These are lies.
I pray that the subtle lies of addiction go in one ear and out the other!
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Post by BW on Oct 18, 2010 10:11:41 GMT -5
Hour To Hour - Book - Quote
There is a certain universality to the truths taught in our 12 step programs. They are nothing new. These principles are derived from eons of experience and spirituality. What is new is our personal understanding that living these principles gives us a reprieve from our addiction.
Thank you God, as I understand You, for my daily reprieve from addiction based on my sincere attempt to practice these principles.
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. I will be back looking for Lin and others.