My 12 Step Program
Saturday, August 31, 2002
 
Just Be

Be strong enough to face the world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone,

Be generous to those who need your help,
Be frugal with what you need yourself,
Be wise enough to know that you do not know everything,

Be foolish enough to believe in miracles,
Be willing to share you joys,
Be willing to share you sorrows of others,
Be a leader when you see a path others have missed,

Be a follower when you are shrouded in
the midst of uncertainty,

Be the first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds,

Be the last to criticize a colleague who fails,

Be sure where your next step will fall, so that
you will not stumble,

Be sure of your final destination, in case you
are going the wrong way,

Be loving to those who love you,
Be loving to those who do not love you, and
they may change,

Above all, be yourself!
 
Friday, August 30, 2002
 
The 7 Ups

1. Wake Up !!
Decide to have a good day.
"This is the day the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up !!
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth,
so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.
"He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!
. . . for what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up !!
. . . to the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me".
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!
. . . for something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!
. . . your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead
PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

A POSITIVE THOUGHT
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem;
not to mention that Friday at Calvary.
Face it, He's crazy about you.
 
Monday, August 26, 2002
 
T.G.I.S. #48 - What Makes Up Sobriety
Sobriety, a clinical definition... Abstinence from consumption of alcoholic liquor or use of drugs:

Those of us in a 12 step fellowship know there is more to sobriety than what a dictionary can define. So what makes up sobriety? There are probably as many right answers as there are people who are living sober.

Surrender. It all starts here. That moment of clarity you hear so many people in the program talk about when the truth about their situation becomes crystal clear.

Open Mind. The realization that our previous solutions didn't work and we become willing to listen to new ideas.

Big Book. Where we start to find the answers to our problem written by those who are just like us.

Recovery. The stage where we stop living in the problem and begin to live in the solution.

Improvement. When our lifes begin to change for the better from being sober.

Eleven Remaining Steps. A guide for living and a road map for continued sobriety.

Togetherness. The miracle the fellowship offers. What we could not do alone we accomplish together.

You.


 
 
"I wish for you..."
Comfort on difficult days,
Smiles when sadness intrudes,
Rainbows to follow the clouds,
Laughter to kiss your lips,
Sunsets to warm your heart
Gentle hugs when spirits sag,
Friendships to brighten your being,
Beauty for your eyes to see,
Confidence for when you doubt,
Faith so that you can believe,
Courage to know yourself,
Patience to accept the truth,
And love to complete your life.
God Bless you!
I asked the Lord to bless you
As I prayed for you today
To guide you and protect you
As you go along your way....
His love is always with you
His promises are true
No matter what the tribulation
You know He will see us through
So , when the road you're traveling on
Seems difficult at best
Give your problems to the Lord
And God will do the rest.
 
Monday, August 19, 2002
 
I get this via email weekly! It's great.


Sharing experience strength and hope in recovery


The Recovery-Network "Thank GOD I'm SOBER" newsletter is dedicated to those of us involved in recovery from addictions or life threatening diseases.
T.G.I.S. #47 - The Sobriety Script
By Joe Ruzek, Ph.D., Francis Abueg, Ph.D., and Ron Murphy,Ph.D.

From NCP Clinical Newsletter 3(3-4): Summer/Fall 1993

Relapse prevention is the name for a comprehensive approach to the maintenance of alcohol- and drug-free living. One small but helpful tool in our efforts to prevent relapse is the "sobriety script", which can be used to cope with urges to drink or to use drugs.

Cognitive therapists believe that what a problem drinker says to himself is one important influence on his sobriety. When he thinks about the positive aspects of alcohol, he is likely to experience a strong urge to drink. This is true whether he thinks that booze will help him sleep, blot out his intrusive thoughts about the war, make him more confident and outgoing around the opposite sex, or just make him feel better about himself. On the other hand, if he is careful to "think through the drink" and contemplate the destruction left in the wake of his drinking - damaged relationships, family problems, job and financial difficulties, health problems - he may be less likely to turn to the bottle.

The "sobriety script" is a series of carefully-prepared, personalized self-statements that can be used by individuals in recovery to talk themselves through temptation and initiate active coping. By asking our patients to write a personal script, we can help them identify their most important reasons for abstaining, their real benefits gained from sobriety, and their most reliable coping actions (e.g. asking for help, calling a sponsor, going to a meeting); assemble these constructive thoughts in written form; rehearse their scripts; and practice applying them when coping with real stresses and urges.

Helping our patients who have survived trauma develop a positive "internal dialogue" may be especially important because PTSD is often characterized by extreme and rigid ways of thinking. These cognitive distortions can be quite damaging to a person's confidence that he can resist the temptations to drink. Self-statements such as "No one understands me or what I went through" or "I will never be able to feel again" can keep our patients chronically vulnerable to relapse. By breaking the chain of associations and actively substituting new thoughts or beliefs, the probability of staying sober is increased.

Essentially, we can help those in recovery practice bringing to mind, in a coherent and developed manner, their own negative consequences of alcohol and drug use. This is important because almost all our patients will find themselves thinking, after they leave our program (and during their participation in it), how nice a drink would be - how it would help them relax, taste good, find romance, feel less pain - and as a result, experience strong urges to drink or use. The ones that survive such temptation will be the ones who immediately also bring to mind their alcohol- and drug-related losses and problems. People who remain substance-free are likely to be those who, whenever they think about drugs, think about drug-related harm, as well as those who think about drugs, next about drug-related pleasures, and then immediately consider the bad things associated with use. We cannot ensure that our patients only contemplate the negative side of drugging and drinking; we can help ! them rehearse replacing positive thoughts about alcohol and drugs with more sobering memories of negative experiences.

A good individualized script should include:

1) several powerful and personal negative consequences of past or future use,

2) some real, personal benefits already gained from sobriety,

3) a statement of personal committment ("I decided to stay clean and sober this time and I'm damn well going to stick by my decision"; "It's my choice whether I use or to stay clean, and I don't want to go back to how it was before"),

and 4) useful coping self-instructions ("I need to talk to (specific person) about this now"; "I'm going to call my sponsor and go to a meeting tonight"; "I think I'll leave this situation and go find some of my sober buddies").

Here are two real sobriety scripts developed by members of our addictions group:

"If I drink again it will most likely kill me. I may have another drunk left in me but I don't have another recovery. I can't have just one drink - I never have been able to quite at just one. It will destroy everything I'm working for now. I don't want to lose the family that has tried so much to help me. I have a future if I can stay off the alcohol. Alcohol is one crutch I don't need any more. My life is so much better without it. Look at what alcohol caused in my past - the hurt, shame, guilt, anger, fear. I am a good person and I deserve to have a life without alcohol. I feel good today because I haven't drank."

"Don't leave yourself open when you're feeling down. Remember that it can cost you your program and family. Remember that drinking is unacceptable and that I can function better without it. Call a sponsor or talk to a close friend here in the community."

Rehearsal of these scripts is important. In our groups, our participants are asked to say their scripts in front of the others. We point to one member at a time and he lays out his script from memory. The leaders can then see how able the veteran is to bring to mind a quality script that is convincing and significant.

==============================

If you have any spiritual truths or stories related to recovery and you would like to share please forward them to ....


The Recovery-Network

August 18th, 2002




 
Saturday, August 10, 2002
 
I am now working my Steps on a daily basis. No longer working to get "through" them.

I have my first sponsee and God has performed a miracle in my life. I take an AA meeting into the county jail once a week, I really ENJOY that. The women there are wonderful. Most are really ready to make a change in their life. Boy, it took me a LOT longer and more than jail to finally "get it"!

Email me if you want to. I really want to share my Experience, Strenghth and Hope!
 
 
T.G.I.S. #45 - Build On Solid Values

We can find many examples of situations which, although not related to recovery, can help us in our commitment to living one day at a time without picking up.

This weeks message is a submission from Jack H. You are invited to check out his recovery website from the link below.

==============================

BUILD ON SOLID VALUES

"I don't subscribe to the thesis, 'Let the buyer beware,'" said the American writer Isaac Asimov. "I prefer the disregarded one that goes 'Let the seller be honest.'"

A century ago, clothier John Wanamaker, whose retail business grew into one of the first department stores, would have agreed. He instilled the attitude of utmost honesty in his employees. The story is told of one of his advertising people who was instructed to make a sign advertising neckties that were reduced in price from one dollar apiece to 25 cents. After personally examining the ties, the adman asked the buyer, "Are they any good?"

"No, they're not," replied the buyer with all sincerity.

The advertiser wanted to be completely honest, so he finally wrote the copy this way: "They are not as good as they look, but they are good enough at 25 cents." The department sold out of ties almost immediately and was forced to purchase several more weeks' supply of cheap ties to fill the persistent demand (Selling Solutions, Juanita Ruiz, Ed., Oct. 1995).

Wanamaker's reputation for honesty helped to later catapult him to the office of U. S. Postmaster General. He believed that only a business based on values has real value. He built his company and his life on his values - and both were successful.

It is truer today than ever before. To be successful, it is not enough to just make a living. We have to make a life. Build your life on solid values and you will build a life of value.

------------------------------------------------------------

Building our lives on solid values! This is what the 12 Step program teaches us in our journey of recovery. One of the most important one of these values is honesty!! One of the things I have noticed in my recovery is the way that others react when I practice this rewarding spiritual principle!. And I do not mean just other persons in recovery. This is seen in all aspects of my life. Like the reaction above, in my dealings with customers, co-workers, and employees, I find that their respect for me goes way up whenever I practice this principle in my dealings with them. But one thing I have found that I must do is not only be honest with others, but above all, I have to practice honesty with myself. I cannot hide myself from me! I must face the face that I am, in all honesty, an addict, to deny this is to lead me back to active addiction. Active addiction will lead me to, not only losing the respect of others but to lose my self respect! I will also lose all that I have gaine! d in recovery, maybe even my life!

THANKS!

-- Jack H.

"Addict in Recovery"



==============================
 
Friday, August 09, 2002
 
Today's thought is:
Grudges and resentments are like strings of rocks tied around our
necks. Every time we add a rock, we increase our pain load.
--Ralph Sobostra

Resentment robs us of peace. Resentments don't hurt other people, they
hurt us. As we become obsessed with our anger, the people who make
us mad usually go merrily on their way, unaware of our feelings.

Forgiveness is the shovel that will dig us out of the hole of pain caused
by our grudges. We sometimes feel like we are giving up when we
forgive someone. We don't feel they deserve anything, much less to be
forgiven. Forgiveness is a gift we give to ourselves.

Forgiveness doesn't mean that we accept unacceptable behavior. It just
means we are living in today by burying our old pain.

Today let me know that forgiveness is a gift that I give myself
 
I started this page when I started in AA several years ago. Things have been up and down a lot since then. There are TONS of blogs now on the Internet. I remember when Blogger was IT! My home page is Jamie's Crazy Hectic Life . I hope to be back here soon............

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Location: Tampa, Florida, United States

I have given birth to 6 children, Joy ia 27 now, Jake is 23, Nikki (her given name is Jene) is 21, George is 18, Jamila is 17, Leighanne is 15. Destiny is my daughter/granddaughter and is 12. I have raised her since she was born.

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