Recovery ABCs

[MajestyJo]

A is for Action. I have freedom of choice. I can choose to apply the spiritual principles of recovery to my life or I can choose to stay in my old patterns and habits. I can take action to change, but turning things over to my Higher Power or I can choose to try to FIX things on my own. My way didn't work. They got me to the doors of recovery. I don't want to go back out. Each day I start my day with the Serenity Prayer. Sometimes, the action I need to take is none at all, especially if it is about using and going back to my old ways of living.

Each day is a new beginning, so have a great one. The Steps I need to take are those that originated with AA.

Principles of the Twelve Steps

1. Honesty2. Hope3. Faith4. Courage5. Integrity6. Willingness7. Humility8. Brotherly Love9. Self Discipline10. Perseverance11. Ever Presence of God12. Service to Fellowman,

Principles of the Twelve Traditions

1. Unity2. Direction3. Recovery4. Understanding5. Sharing6. Simplicity7. Independence8. Selflessness9. Service10. Survival11. Self Reliance12. Humility

Principles of the Twelve Concepts

1. Responsibility2. Reliance3. Trust4. Participation5. Democracy6. Accountability7. Balance8. Consistency9. Vision10. Clarity11. Respect12. Spirituality

[MajestyJo]

B is for Boundaries. Boundaries are set for our health and well being. They can be set at varying degrees. They are often overlooked, trampled, ignored, and when reinforced respected. They often have to be reconstructed in a way that both parties know the limits as to what is acceptable and what is not acceptable.

[MajestyJo]

C is for Change. Nothing changes if nothing changes. As the old AA joke goes: What do you get when you sober up a drunken horse thief? A horse thief.

Unless there is a spiritual experience and new awareness, he will not see the error of his ways and want to stop what he has been doings. Like the expression goes, "I have been doing this for many years why should I change now? Why not? Why continue to act out in your dis-ease?

[dwmoeller]

D is for Daily Meditation

There is a lot of daily readings available: Daily Reflections, Just for Today, 24 Hours A Day, Each Day a New Beginning, Keep It Simple, Stools and Bottles, A Day at a Time, In God's Care, Easy Does It. You could also read the Big Book.

[MajestyJo]

E is for Each day is a new beginning. You can also read: The Language of Letting Go, Courage to Change, One day at a time, Hope, As Bill Sees It, Thought for Today from OA, and so many more. We can find our own personal preference and see which books speak to us and aid us in our recovery. It may change over the years and we need to find other material to feed our soul and enrich our lives.

[MajestyJo]

F is for Frog. F.R.O.G. means "Fully Relying On God." I found that I needed to cleanse my body, mind and spirit and be open to new things.

I can't, my God can, just for today, I choose to put my life into His Care for safe keeping.

[MajestyJo]

G is for Green. Think green. This applies to your food amongst other things. Lots of green vegetables makes for a healthier way of life. The foods that come in this colour help to heal our bodies and allows us to grow into a spiritual being in a healthy body.

Green also stands for go. Go to meetings. Go talk to newcomers, make them welcome. Go talk to your sponsor. Go work on the Steps. Someone once asked me, "What Step are you on in today?" My reply was, "Some days I need all 12."

[MajestyJo]

G is for Good. God is good. Good is God. When I come from a place of Love, goodness abounds in my life. Even when things are not so good, I know my God is there.

[MajestyJo]

H is for Hope. I had hope today when I saw my sister. I talked to a friend last night and she shared that her sister had the same thing. She was in the hospital for 5 months and lived, so hopefully my sister will be out sooner than that. As her husband said tonight, now the work begins. With my God, there is always hope. What I need is acceptance and allow things happen from there.

[MajestyJo]

I is for Integrity. Walk your talk. Do your words reflect your actions? Do you remember to take your God with you?

[MajestyJo]

J is for Judge. Judge not lest you be judged. Who am I to judge another when I can't manage my own life, except through this program with the help of my Higher Power. My God didn't judge me, He is loving and forgiving, so why should I project judgment instead of love and forgiveness that my God gifted to me.

I just have to remember that the other person is in their dis-ease, what ever it may be.

[dwmoeller]

K is for Know

Know that its okay to be human...just don't drink over it.

Know that no matter what your problems, someone's had them before. Don't be afraid to share, as a problem shared is one 1/2 solved.

Know that if your insides match your outsides, everyone looks good.

Know that you are not alone, that's why the "We" in the steps.

Know that no matter how bleak and dark your past may be, your future is clean, bright, and clear if you don't drink today.

[MajestyJo]

L is for Leave. Leave everything in your God's Hands. He is much better equipped to handle things than we are. Leave your past in your past. It has no business being in today, so ask it to leave.

[MajestyJo]

M is for Miracle. I believe in miracles, I am one! I have seen people heal and change as a result of this program. They like me, should have been dead, but instead they are working a living program, through the Grace of God.

Make someone happy, pay forward this hug from me to you.

[MajestyJo]

N is for Now. All I have is now. In this moment, when I am balanced and centered in living in my God's Care, I am better equipped to handle things as they come my way. If my space is cluttered with thoughts of yesterday and tomorrow, it doesn't leave much room for today and how can I hear, with all that noise going on.