that has been a difficult thing to maintain.
balance when I am at home with my family close.
Mid-June :) I look forward to a nice long Memorial Day weekend.
of the season. We are hoping to sell our home and move in the near future.
There is A LOT to be grateful for....
I've got it real good,
Actually, I have never had it so good.
Thanks to God, and the 12 Step Program and Fellowship
Have a blessed day,
In loving service,
Scott
The weekly meeting topic is:
What is your definition of "balance" in recovery ?
Why is learning when to say "no" important to finding balance ?
What do you do when you get all out of whack and you need to regain some
balance ?
This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce
to share please visit
or email
A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
May 22
Today I choose to feel love in this moment.
Today I choose to let love fill my day and bring joy.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
for inspirational messages email
ru...@ruthfishel.com~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Acceptance of Serenity
After all these years you’d think I’d finally get it together —
Come to believe I never had to use again.
Crazy as it seems, I really want a life that’s better,
Even though I keep going out — hurting family and friends.
Perhaps I’m one of those who’s not supposed to make it, my sick
Thinking tells me, trying to keep me beat down.
After all, look how long I’ve been trying to stop using, this
New life they keep talking about seems nowhere to be found.
Could it be I’ve reservations? Clinging to that momentary
Escape the dope provides? I’ve got to realize I can’t run from me.
Once I come to, I’ll be deeper in whatever tragedy my life is in,
Falling further away from sanity, reality and my God.
So God, please help me. I’m asking once again.
Enter into my heart and in my daily life.
Replenish this spirit I’m surrendering, and then, help me
Educate others in how to live within your light.
Never Alone, Never Again — what a miracle and blessing!
I think I can make it with all of you by my side!
Thank you God and N. A. for your life-saving message, for
Your patience and tolerance — for giving me a new life!
Never again do we have to listen to the lie that "this one will be
different." Never again do we have to believe that the only life
we deserve is one of pain, misery and despair. We can come
out of the darkness, into the light of recovery, discovering a new
way of life — one that is happy, joyous and free!!!
john h.
joh...@yahoo.com~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Don't Use*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If anyone has any original recovery poetry that they
would like to share with us please copy and paste it into the body
of an email and send it to me, Thanks for your support and contributions.
What I can't do alone, We do together.
In loving service, Scott ~
YOUn...@gmail.com~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Positively Negative
http://www.marriagetools.com/creating/index.htm
Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
intheooms.com- IN THE ROOMS (ITR), is the premier FREE online social network dedicated to the global recovery community for people seeking help, in recovery and their family, friends and allies of recovery worldwide. Our mission is to augment or enhance traditional 12 step and other recovery programs by offering a place to not only find like minded people but also people who share the same interests, passions and hobbies. Our mantra is the acronym HITCH which is the Help, Inform, Touch, Connect and Heal.
Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
May 22 Symptoms of a spiritual awakening
"The steps lead to an awakening of a spiritual nature. This
awakening is evidenced by changes in our lives." Basic Text, p. 48
We know how to recognize the disease of addiction. Its symptoms
are indisputable. Besides an uncontrollable appetite for drugs, those
suffering exhibit self-centered, self-seeking behavior. When our
addiction was at its peak of activity, we were obviously in a great deal
of pain. We relentlessly judged ourselves and others, and spent most
of our time worrying or trying to control outcomes.
Just as the disease of addiction is evidenced by definite symptoms,
so is a spiritual awakening made manifest by certain obvious signs in a
recovering addict. We may observe a tendency to think and act
spontaneously, a loss of interest in judging or interpreting the actions
of anyone else, an unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment, and
frequent attacks of smiling.
If we see someone exhibiting symptoms of a spiritual awakening, we
should be aware that such awakenings are contagious. Our best course
of action is to get close to these people. As we begin having frequent,
overwhelming episodes of gratitude, an increased receptiveness to the
love extended by our fellow members, and an uncontrollable urge to
return this love, we'll realize that we, too, have had a spiritual
awakening.
Just for today: My strongest desire is to have a spiritual awakening. I
will watch for its symptoms and rejoice when I discover them. pg. 148
Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and would like to subscribe please email
me at
YOUn...@gmail.comThanks, In loving service, Scott :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Food For Thought Meditation
Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
Touchtones (Men) Meditation
Meditation of the Day
Viking Thought of the Day
Elder's Meditation of the Day
Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
Daily Zen
Grapevine Story Today
Daily Motivator
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A New Sense of Belonging
Until we had talked with complete candor of our conflicts, and had
listened to someone else do the same thing, we still didn't belong.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 57
After four years in A.A. I was able to discover the freedom from the
burden of buried emotions that had caused me so much pain. With
the help of A.A., and extra counseling, the pain was released and I
felt a complete sense of belonging and peace. I also felt a joy and a
love of God that I had never experienced before. I am in awe of the
power of Step Five.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ May 22nd
A.A. Thought for the Day
What impresses us most at an A.A. meeting is the willingness
to share, without holding anything back. And pretty soon we
find ourselves sharing also. We start telling our own
experiences and by so doing we help the other person. And
when we've got these things off our chest, we feel a lot
better. It does us a lot of good to share with some other
poor unfortunate person who's in the same box that we were
in. And the more we share, the more we have left for
ourselves. Do I know that the more I share, the better
chance I'll have to stay sober?
Meditation for the Day
Constantly claim God's strength. Once convinced of the
right of a course of action, once reasonably sure of God's
guidance, claim that strength now. You can claim all the
strength you need to meet any situation. You can claim a
new supply when your own supply is exhausted. You have a
right to claim it and you should use your right. A beggar
supplicates, a child appropriates. When you supplicate, you
are often kept waiting, but when you appropriate God's
strength in a good cause, you have it at once.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may claim God's strength whenever I need it.
I pray that I may try to live as a child of God.
"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation. No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Today's Thought
MAY 22
You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©
Times of Reprogramming
Do not ask for love unless you're ready to be healed enough
to give and receive love.
Do not ask for joy unless you're ready to feel and release your
pain, so you can feel joy.
Do not ask for success unless you're ready to conquer the
behaviors that would sabotage success.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could imagine ourselves having or
becoming - and then immediately receiving - what we wanted?
We can have and be the good things we want. All good things are
ours for the asking. But first, groundwork - preparation work -
must be done.
A gardener would not plant seeds unless the ground was
adequately prepared to nurture and nourish those seeds. The
planting would be wasted effort. It would be wasted effort for us to
get what we wanted before we were ready.
First, we need to become aware of our need or desire. This may
not be easy! Many of us have become accustomed to shutting
off the inner voice of our wants, needs, and desires. Sometimes,
life has to work hard to get our attention.
Next we let go of the old programming: the behavior and beliefs
that interfere with nurturing and nourishing the good. Many of us
have strong sabotaging programs, learned from childhood, that
need to be released. We may need to act as if for a while until the
belief that we deserve the good becomes real.
We combine this process with much letting go, while we are being
changed at the core.
There is naturalness to this process, but it can be intense. Things
take time.
Good things are ours for the asking, if we are willing to participate
in the work of groundbreaking. Work and wait.
Today, God, give me the courage to identify the good I want in my
life and to ask for it. Give me also the faith and stamina I need to
go through the work that must be accomplished first.
©1990, Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. No portion of this
publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission
of the publisher.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*You Are A Miracle*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An Escalation In Awakening
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/04/editorial.htmMake Time Work in Your Favor
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/March/0397-14.htmlMaking Your Life Real
by P.M.H. Atwate
http://www.innerself.com/Behavior_Modification/life_real.htmAt The Heart Of Peace
We Are The Same
Remember The Child Within
Finding Joy
Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
Has Anyone Told You
Meditationroom
Native American 10 Commandments
The Secret
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
And So Life Goes...
by Marie T. Russell
Marie T. RussellWhile speaking to a friend who has recently "lost"a dear one to death, I was reminded that we sometimes don't feel comfortable around such situations. The thoughts come up: "What do I say? How can I make that person feel better? Is it better to speak or to be silent?"
I recall that years ago, when my mother passed away, I really felt happier when I was not remembering her absence -- I know this may seem obvious, but think about it. When we dwell on something, it takes up our whole consciousness, and sets the tone for our whole experience. The times when I was stuck in depression were the times when I felt sorry for myself and did not seem to be able to think of anything else but my loss. I had not progressed to the stage where I could remember her with love and gratitude, and happy memories. I was still in the "poor me" stage, so thinking about her, or being reminded of her, just brought out the tears, not the smiles and cherished memories.
There were other days or moments when I would be living in a world of pleasure and beauty enjoying the present. I once again felt in love with life and would go out to meet it with peace of mind, not focusing on my loss. Then someone would come along who, of course with good intentions, would say "Oh, I'm really sorry about your mother..." etc. I would once again drop off of the wavelength of 'feeling happy' and on to one of 'feeling sad and sorry for myself'. I remember hating those situations... to the point where I moved away from our small community in order to start anew without all these painful reminders. (In those days, running away was my medicine of choice.)
Now, of course, I see more clearly that I was not yet able to face and deal with the emotions that were coming up in me following my mother's death ...anger, sorrow, guilt, pain, rejection, abandonment, lack of control... In other words, all my stuff was coming up -- but at that time I had not yet discovered the tools to process all this emotional matter and had to leave the scene of the crime (so to speak!) in order to heal my wounds.
I did indeed feel like a wounded animal and certainly did not appreciate people kindly wanting to dig into my wound. I did what animals do when hurt... They go off alone to rest and heal. They don't "hang out with the pack" for sympathy, but rather go away in solitude to let nature take its course.
I realize that we feel uncomfortable in a lot of other day to day situations. We may have feelings come up that we don't want to look at, or we simply don't know how to respond. We often respond in the way that we have learnt... we sympathize, we say "Aah, poor you" -- whether the comment is addressed to us, or to someone else.
Look at a typical response when someone is ill (talking about the illness), or when two lovers go separate ways (talking about the separation), or any other situation when we sympathize with the other's "negative" situation. We usually respond with "sympathy", which usually means we utter some comment to the equivalent of "poor you".
Sympathizing means (according to Webster) sharing another's feelings... It is not a very uplifting and positive way to deal with negative occurrences. You cannot get someone out of the ditch by sharing their plight and getting into the ditch yourself -- then you'll both be in the ditch, and will need someone else to "rescue" you. You can only help by lifting them out from above.
So also with emotional ditches. You have to stay on the outside so you can lend a helping hand by extending love and inspiration. Getting into the rut yourself with "sympathy" will certainly not make the other person feel better. They may just end up feeling much worse when you agree with them that they are indeed in a terrible situation, thus adding fuel to the fire... Sharing thoughts along the "poor you" line, and commiserating with the person on how bad things are, will not in any way uplift or inspire.
I am not referring to feeling empathy, which is quite different... When we empathize, we "understand the other's pain", but we don't get into the rut with them. Empathizing allows us to get in touch with the emotions of the moment, feel what they are feeling, become aware of their experience, and then respond from a "higher" place in our consciousness.
It might serve us to think twice before uttering trite sympathies in such situations, and instead ask ourselves "what is the most loving thing to do and say?" Each situation, each moment is different, so the response one moment may be entirely different than the response the next.
In some situations, a caring hug and allowing the other to express their pain and their grief is required. At other times, it may be more loving to not speak about the "negative" or painful situation and instead bring some joy and light to the "afflicted" person. It may be indeed a highly loving action to go out and play tennis with the person, bringing pleasure to their life, rather than get into a sympathy or "poor you" framework.
When we take a moment to "tune in" and reflect, and asking our Higher Self for inspiration, we will be guided to the "right" words or action. Our intention must be to support and love, in whatever way feels appropriate at the moment.
Marie T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985). She also produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from 1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our own inner source of joy and creativity.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Letting Go
A form of magic emerges/materializes
when given permission by two little words
*let go*
it's as if an invisible door opens
double french patio doors, wide and large
and a full view of landscape/seascape
spreads itself at your feet
Two little words that strip down walls
of restraint, judgment, cold heart and
expectations ~ those defense mechanisms
that exist to protect the selfish ego ~
leaving bare a kind of innocence
as a wrapped up gift
colourfully boxed just for you
Freedom blossoms only in the arms
of an open heart
Permission gives birth to Passion
only with Surrender
to the gentler forces
of Nature
Replacing the good with the better
Don't hold on so tight
Let go
Surrender
Love
Stella
©2000 Stella Savoie
stellar...@soulopen.com~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rare Gift
A rare gift
indeed
when one can look
into another
see the beauty
the potential within
and nurture
that fragile bud
into a growing
rose
(c) *Star*
smo...@pdq.net~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
No Longer
The pool of my soul,
brings forth the ripple from my tongue
With love and joy,
my praise for you, to God, I have sung
May I pray, always to
live this new life I've begun
For I know over that death
with you, I have won
Now the shadows in the night
no longer cast their wicked spells
For in the rooms, I found God
and was thrown safely out of hell
No longer will the alcohol
take my soul away
For now you have taught me
to live just for today
No longer is there the pain
of loneliness and despair
For you all reached out with love
and showed me that you cared
No longer do I cry
from the pain I held inside
For you too have also lived it
and showed me, not to hide
No longer do I have that strife
for you've given me a brand new life
Yes, with you, my new family
I have come a long, long way
I definitely feel stronger
For the drugs and the alcohol
I crave no longer
By: Angela F Moore whfl
Amoo...@aol.comPrinted with Permission
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Free...
Hope is such a fragile thing
Faith is ever stronger.
God and you have shown me how
To run from life no longer.
Love is such a precious thing
Life is even greater.
I work the steps and learn today
And go to God in Prayer.
Thank you for this brand new day
Thank you for loving me.
NA, the steps, and you my friends
Have helped me to be free.
Meg M.
mm1...@hotmail.com~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Every situation, properly perceived, becomes an opportunity to heal.
A Course in Miracles
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Too often we under estimate the power of a touch,
a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment,
or the smallest act of caring,
all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Leo Buscaglia
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If God brings you to it,
He will surely see you through it
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you can place yourself in the company of people
who are infused with spirit, their energy gives you
spark and facilitation -- a confidence boost.
Fortunately, the electricity of spirit is contagious.
When this positive energy of well-beingness circulates through
your system, people often refer to you as being "lit up."
Benjamin Disraeli
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If I try to be like him,
Who will be like me?
Yiddish proverb
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In helping another,
God helps me.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I share my pain so that I can heal.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We are the eyes and the ears for each other.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I am so glad that you are here,
It helps me to realize how beautiful my world is.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
CLICK for FREE to Help people in Haiti
Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
Track Your Impact in GIVING
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Al-Anon/Alateen
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
Clutterer’s Anonymous
Cocaine Anonymous World Services
Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
Crystal Meth Anonymous
Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
Depressed Anonymous
Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
Eating Disorders Anonymous
Emotions Anonymous
Families Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
Hepatitis C Anonymous
HIV Anonymous
The Marijuana Anonymous
Methadone Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous Official Homepage
Earth Group N.A. online meetings
Nar-Anon is a family support group
Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
Overeaters Anonymous
Parents Anonymous
Rape Survivors Anonymous
Recovering Couples Anonymous
Sexaholics Anonymous
Sex Addicts Anonymous
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
Shoplifters Anonymous
Spenders Anonymous
Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
Workaholics Anonymous
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone, with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within." We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to online recovery friends "We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing. Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server that yahoo groups and google groups provides.
Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions, "What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to me you can email me at
YOUn...@gmail.com
Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine by sending an Email message to me and write subscribe in the subject line.
Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress this letter cannot be considered spam as long as the following words are included:
To unsubscribe to to this list send an Email message to the group that you belong to
or
YOUn...@gmail.com and write unsubscribe in the subject line or go to the website and unsubscribe
By the grace of God and through your efforts of passing on this email, we are reaching many recovering people in different areas of the world. If you are receiving this, from a country outside of the USA please send me an email and tell me where you are receiving this. So far we reaching over 17,000 recovering people in 66 countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada , Columbia, Costa Rica, China , Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Guatemala, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Mali West Africa, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia , Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa , Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, U.S.A., Venezuela, Wales, West Indies, Zimbabwe.
Even if your country is listed please email me, and let me know where you are from
When we hug we pray,Stay in the Light, In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUn...@gmail.com == == "we are each of us angels
<^\()/\()/^> with but one wing,
\/ \/ \/ and can only fly by
/ \/ \ embracing each other"
`""``""`
Scott’s Daily Blog
http://intherooms.com/younmenhp For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
When we hug we pray,Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUn...@gmail.com == == "we are each of us angels
<^\()/\()/^> with but one wing,
\/ \/ \/ and can only fly by
/ \/ \ embracing each other"
`""``""`
Scott’s Daily Blog
http://intherooms.com/younmenhp For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at: