Thoughtfood for Saturday, November 28, 2009 

Surrender

When I came to realize that, by myself,

I could do nothing to overcome the power of alcohol,

I realized I had no recourse except surrender.

In surrender, I found victory.
- Daily Reflections,  p. 14

From the Big Book:

"His alcoholic problem was so complex, and his depression so great, that we felt his only hope would be through what we then called "moral psychology," and we doubted if even that would have any effect.

However, he did become 'sold' on the ideas contained in this book.  He has not had a drink for a great many years.  I see him now and then and he is as fine a specimen of manhood as one could wish to meet.

I earnestly advise every alcoholic to read this book through, and through perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray."

__William D. Silkworth, M. D.

c. 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous, The Doctor's Opinion, pp. xxix-xxx.

Prayer for the day:

"I pray that I may be very grateful today.  I pray that I may not forget where I might be but for the grace of God."

c. 1975, Hazleden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, Nov. 28.

Quote for the day:

"Once we surrender our mind to God completely, He will take care of us i every way." __Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Indian Spiritual leader, b. 1926.) 

My share:   I will pass my share today to Anne.  Be Good To You, Dave

A MEMBER SHARES:
Hi!  Anne, recovering alcoholic here.  "Surrender" is a brilliant topic.  I felt I'd been shoved into outer space when I came to in a non-medicated detox 18 years ago.  It was the first time in 28 years I had been non-medicated in one form or another.  As a result, I attended my first AA meeting with nothing but blood in my veins after 11 days there.  During the course of that meeting, I identified what blackouts were, and the blanks to my lifelong problems were discussed.  I was an alcoholic!  Being able to discern this and finding out there was a solution to what passed for a life of mine, I surrendered to AA.  To this day, I have never regretted nor wished to change back to what I was, how I existed, nor how I longed to die.  From there, there have been many other 'surrenderings' and I am always grateful after the event.  Hindsight is grouse, hey!  Anyway, I will leave it there for another share, hopefully.  Thanks for being here.  I am grateful. 

Thoughtfood for Friday, November 27, 2009

Self-restraint

We enjoy certain inherent advantages

which should make our task of self-restraint relatively easy.

There is no really good reason for anyone to object

if a great many drunks get sober.

Nearly everyone can agree this is a good thing.

If, in the process, we are forced to

develop a certain amount of honesty,

humility, and tolerance, who is going to kick about that?
- Twelve Concepts for World Service,p. 69 

From the Big Book:

"When I need a mental uplift, I often think of another case brought in by a physician prominent in New York.  The patient had made his own diagnosis, and deciding his situation hopeless, had hidden in a deserted barn determined to die.  He was rescued by a search party, and, in desperate condition, brought to me.  Following his physical rehabilitation, he had a talk with me in which he frankly stated he thought the treatment a waste of effort, unless I could assure him, which no one ever had, that in the future he would have the 'will power' to resist the impulse to drink."

c.1939, AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, The Doctor's Opinion, p. xxix.

Prayer for the day:

"I pray that I may subordinate my will to the will of God.  I pray that I may be guided today to find His will for me."

c. 1975, Hazelden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, Nov. 27.

Quote for the day:

"Restraint never ruins one's health.  What ruins it, is not restraint but outward suppression.  A really self-restrained person grows every day from strength to strength and from peace to more peace.  The very first step in self-restraint is the restraint of thoughts." __Monhandas Gandhi

My share:

After 46 years of living unbridled,with a devil-may-care attitude, I was brought to my knees by a moment of clarity that helped me realize the importance of caring for my fellows.  Much has changed within me since then.  Most especially has my self-restraint grown.  Be Good To You, Dave.

Joy of Living

The joy of living we really have,

even under pressure and difficulty. . .

There is scarcely any form of trouble and misery

which has not been overcome among us.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 15

 

Thoughtfood for Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Keeping It Simple

Here are thousands of men and women, worldly indeed.

They flatly declare that since they have come to believe

in a Power greater than themselves,

to take a certain attitude toward that Power,

and to do certain simple things,

there has been a revolutionary change in their way of living and thinking.
- Alcoholics Anonymous,  p. 50

From the Big Book:

"About one year prior to this experience a man was brought in to be treated for chronic alcoholism.  He had but partially recovered from a gastric hemorrhage and seemed to be a case of pathological mental deterioration.  He had lost everything worthwhile in life and was only living, one might say, to drink.  He frankly admitted and believed that for him there was no hope.  Following the elimination of alcohol, there was found to be no permanent brain injury.  He accepted the plan outlined in this book."

c. 1939, AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, The Doctor's Opinion, 3rd ed., p. xxix.

Prayer for the day:

"I pray that I may feel the divine unrest.  I pray that my soul may find its rest in God."

c. 1975, Hazelden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, Nov. 25.

Quote for the day:

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." __Confucius  (China's most famous teacher, philosopher, and political theorist, 551-479 BC)

My share:

I pass my share today to Mikey.  Be Good To You, Dave

A MEMBER SHARES:
I'm Mikey, just an alcoholic.  I'm not all that good on history -- AA, or otherwise.  I forget; part of being or getting older.  I do know that the more I tried to find out how this thing works, and the more I got involved in who's, how's, why's, and wherefores, the harder it was for me to stay sober.  I found when I stopped worrying about such stuff the program came easier.  I could work it.  So if you are an AA historian, that's cool.  But I just need to remember as Dr. Bob said, "Let's not louse this thing up.  Let's keep it simple!"  I need to remember to be honest, stay sober, and never forget I'm just a drunk.  Mikey loves you all, God bless! 

Thoughtfood for Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Growing Up

The man with the grown-up brain and the childish emotions

-- vanity, self-interest, false pride,

jealousy, longing for social approval,

to name a few -- becomes a prime candidate for alcohol.

. . . that is a definition of alcoholism;

a state of being in which the emotions

have failed to grow to the stature of the intellect.
- Experience, Strength and Hope, p. 423

From the Big Book:

"The only relief is abstinence. This immediately precipitates us into a seething cauldron of debate.  Much has been written pro and con, but among physicians, the general opinion seems to be that most chronic alcoholics are doomed.  What is the solution?  Perhaps I can best answer that by relating one of my experiences."

c. 1939, AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, The Doctor's Opinion, 3rd Ed., pp. xxviii-xxix.

Prayer for the day:

"I pray that today I may do the next thing, the unselfish thing, the loving thing.  I pray that I may be content with doing small things as long as they are right."

c. 1975, Hazelden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, Nov. 24.

Quote for the day:

"You grow up the day you have your first real laugh - at yourself."

__Ethel Barrymore

My share:

Acknowledging mistakes in judgment I have made in the past that have brought me to this place in my life is only the first step in understanding what to do now to improve my tomorrow. I know that sobriety does not guarantee success in life, but it is a step in the right direction.  Be Good To You, Dave 

Thoughtfood for Sunday, November 22, 2009

Indecision

In thinking about our day we may face indecision.

We may not be able to determine which course to take.

Here we ask God for inspiration,

an intuitive thought or a decision.

We relax and take it easy. 

We don't struggle.

We are often surprised how the right answers come

after we have tried this for a while.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 68

From the Big Book:

"There is the type of man who in unwilling to admit that he cannot take a drink.  He plans various ways of drinking.  He changes he brand or his environment.  There is the type who always believes that after being entirely free from alcohol for a period of time he can take a drink without danger.  There is the manic-depressive type, who is, perhaps, the least understood by his friends, and about whom a whole chapter could be written."

c. 1939, AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, The Doctor's Opinion, 3rd ed.,p. xxviii.

Prayer for the day:

"I pray that my day may be brightened by some little act of charity.  I pray that I may try today to overcome the self-centeredness that makes be bored."

c. 1975, Hazelden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, Nov. 22.

Quote for the day:

"When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best - that is inspiration."  __Robert Bresson

My share:

Everyday I ask HP for inspiration about what to write here.  I seldom know what I am going to say until I start writing.  Sometimes the inspiration comes, sometimes it doesn't.  No dice today.  Be Good To You, Dave.

Thoughtfood for Saturday, November 21, 2009

Any Lengths

Remember it was agreed at the beginning

we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol.
- Alcoholics Anonymous,  p .76

From the Big Book:

"There are many situations which arise out of the phenomenon of craving which cause men to make the supreme sacrifice rather than continue to fight.

The classification of alcoholics seems most difficult, and in much detail is outside the scope of this book.  There are, of course, the psychopaths who are emotionally unstable.  We are all familiar with this type.  They are always "going on the wagon for keeps."  They are over-remorseful and make many resolutions, but never a decision."

c. 1939, AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, The Doctor's Opinion, p. xxviii.

Prayer for the day:

"I pray that I may be more comfortable in my way of living.  I pray that I may feel more at home and at peace within myself."

c. 1975, Hazelden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, Nov. 21.

Quote for the day:

"Don't get too comfortable with who you are at any given time - you may miss the opportunity to become who you want to be."

_Jon Bon Jove (American Musician and Actor b. 1962.) 

My share:

I pass my share today to Jessica.  Be Good To You, Dave.

A MEMBER SHARES:
My name is Jessica, and I am a grateful recovering alcoholic.  Good to be in a meeting today.  It's 1:30 or so here in China, and 'going to any lengths for sobriety' is a great topic.  There are no meetings here for hundreds of miles but I have the Internet and that makes it all perfect.  When I was new, as others have shared, I, too, was taken to the kitchen, and shown what to do for coffee and food.  I was given a set of keys as well.  It was a big meeting, and we needed to prepare a lot of coffee, decaf and food -- it's New York AA.  I was so happy when they gave me the keys to the room.  I had 7 days or so and I thought they could see I had management potential.  I was walking around my first two weeks of sobriety, always trying to find the boss of AA.  I wanted to get in good with the boss because I was afraid I'd be kicked out if I didn't.  No one else had wanted me around for a long while.  I never found the boss of AA -- thank goodness, we don't have one.  However, I did stick around to get sober.  It was hard to learn how to do things differently at first.especially things I didn't want  to do.  It was from my sponsors that I really learned what 'going to any lengths' meant.  My sponsor showed up for me every time she promised something, she did it, and she showed up.  No one in my life had ever done that.  I didn't trust her of course, and assumed she wouldn't show up most of the time.  But she surprised me, over and over again.  No matter what was going on, she was there when she said she would be.  It was from her and from others here in AA that I learned how to show up, one day at a time for myself, for others, and eventually became a sponsor myself.  Thanks for my sobriety folks, it's my 18th AA anniversary in a week, and I feel so glad to be here.

Alternatives

We were in a position where life was becoming impossible,

and if we had passed into the region

from which there is no return through human aid.

we had but two alternatives: 

One was to go on to the bitter end,

blotting out the consciousness of

our intolerable situation as best we could,

and the other, to accept spiritual help.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 25.

Thoughtfood for Thursday, November 19, 2009

Faith

The foundation stone of freedom from fear is that of faith:

 a faith that, despite all worldly appearances to the contrary,

causes me to believe that I live in a universe that makes sense.
- As Bill Sees It,  p. 51

From the Big Book:

"Faced with this problem, if a doctor is honest with himself, he must sometimes feel his own inadequacy.  Although he gives all that is in him, it often is not enough.  One feels that something more than human power is needed to produce the essential psychic change.  Though the aggregate of recoveries resulting from psychiatric effort is considerable, we physicians must admit we have made little impression upon the problem as a whole.  Many types do not respond to the ordinary psychological approach."

c. 1939, AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, The Doctor's Opinion, p. xxvii.

Prayer for the day:

"I pray that I may not keep my eyes forever downcast.  I pray that I may set my sights on higher things."

c. 1975, Hazelden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, Nov. 19.

Quote for the day:

"Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof." __Kahlil Gibran  (Lebanese born American Essayist, Novelist, and Poet  1883-1931.)

My share: I pass my share to Jane.  Be Good To You, Dave

A MEMBER SHARES:
Hi, I'm Jane, an alcoholic.  When I came to program, I didn't have a lot of faith in anything much.  Faith!  I could royally stuff things up with monotonous regularity, and faith in just about anything bad happening to me, I manifested it and a lot happened.  When I got to program, I saw people with faith and was beyond cynical.  But I did get hope from my first meeting, and hope kept me going back for some time.  Slowly, I gained faith in a few more people in program.  I was raised with strong faith.  My parents dropped us off to Sunday school each week. then drove home.  I asked them about it once, but never got an answer.  I did get my answers in program -- learning to trust, then let go.  As I slowly worked Steps, I found my own personal faith heavily buried but not forgotten.  My faith has grown in my recovery, but I do enjoy fighting with God.  I'm good at it, and it's a learning curve for me.  Right now, I'm ready to walk to the complaint department and let God have a good serve.  I figure I'll feel better and get a good whack upside the head with the Big Book then get over it and move on.  I've been loved and protected at every step I've taken in program whether or not I see it.  Acknowledgment isn't important.  Step Three shows me that my Higher Power is firmly in my life.  I just need to allow the journey to unfold in God's time, not mine.  Today, I'm focusing on peace and happiness.  They're available in every moment.  Peace in every step.  We shall walk hand in hand.  There are no political solutions to spiritual problems.  Remember: If the Creator put it there, it is in the right place.  The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.

Thoughtfood for Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Discovery

AA has accomplished so many things in my life today.

It has given me my sanity and an all-around sense of balance.

Now willing to listen and take suggestions,

I have found that the process of discovering who I really am

begins with knowing who I really don't want to be.
- Alcoholics Anonymous,  pp. 456-457

From the Big Book:

"After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they pass through the well-known stages of a spree, emerging remorseful, with a firm resolution not to drink again.  This is repeated over and over, and unless this person can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of his recovery."

c. 1939, AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, The  Doctor's Opinion, p. xxvii.

Prayer for the day:

"I pray that I may not desire the world's applause.  I pray that I may not seek rewards for doing what I believe is right."

c. 1975, Hazelden Foundation, Twenty-Four Hours A Day, Nov. 17.

Quote for the day:

"Learning is the discovery that something is possible."  __Fritz Perls   (German Psychoanalyst, 1893-1970)

My share:

Discovering that there was and is a solution for the problems in my life was an eye opening experience, to say the least.  I am daily awed by the power of this program.  Be Good To You, Dave.