April 15
I will put aside all judgments and accept each
and every situation with openness and trust today.
Only then will I discover the joy that lies beyond my fear.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
<http://www.spirithaven.com/>
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
THIS IS MY STORY

all this hype about substance abuse
drugs and alcohol, a likely excuse
some people say i planned it that way
so life could be one big game to be played

lookin for love in all the wrong places
searchin out the most despirate faces
the pig at the bar stool next to mine at last call
to pick me up when i fall

waking up or coming to
to a whole new nightmare i have to get through
the car, where is it? did i even drive?
and who the hell is this smelly, fat guy???

my head is banging, my mouth is dry
i don't know how i don't just die
i welcome the idea as the only solution
for the nightmare i'm trapped in, this hopeless delusion

voices are ringing in my head
telling me i'm already dead
but my heart is still beating and my body wants drink
and i know i can still choose to swim or to sink

so i go to the faucet and quench my undying thirst
let me just spill some onto my fat, smelly friend first...
"whoooops, i'm sorry did i do that?
my hands are so shaky and you're just so fat"
so he leaves, must have been something i said
and i'm left to wonder if i'm better off dead
i can't stop this torture inside my head.

then one day i meet a guy, you see
who i think means something special to me
he's looking for a fun, a little honey
he's right up my alley; he's cute and has money.

we fall in love, head over heals,
and down the road he says how he feels
"you drink too much, it's got to stop"
it rings like an echo, in the words of my pop.

hadn't thought of my poppi in years
almost brought my heart to tears
to know i disappointed him
and now this man, whose hopes were dim

that was the start of a journey, you see
our dysfunctional love served a purpose for me
i stopped drinking and then somewhere along the way,
couldn't tell you the day,
i discovered a moment of sanity.
now on to step three...

realizing you can't change what you are
or your past for what it represents
but you must learn to let go and allow yourself
to open yourself to a new life experience
if you will drop your ego and pride
to admit you aren't your own hero
that everyone needs help sometimes
you might be surprised by what you find
there's a solution to every problem,
and a problem to every solution if you look at it that way
or you could just say....
there are no problems but only solutions
to circumstantial life events
so maybe it's not even in the event anymore
but what it represents
old tapes will play through my head
till the day i lay down with the dead
i have learned only to arrest them, detest them, molest them
just as they have done me
i treat them as poison and replace them, deface them;
i let my father set me free.....
Step Three.

i have told you my darkest secrets above
for which i'm no longer deeply ashamed
you're only as sick as your secrets
and you can be weller than the people you blamed
the parents, the system, the in-laws as well
because of them, your life was hell
forgive them you must, or you'll surely succomb
it's an inside job and it starts with the bum
take a real hard look at what you've become
is this what you want for yourself, for your daughter, your son?
now steps four and five are done.

now to step six and this one's a winner
you recognize that you're a sinner
with flaws in your make-up you can't use anymore
they try to keep you stuck in your past
rebellion, thinking you control what's in store
life has a way of proving it's force
so the pride has to be completely removed
total control in the hands of god
the devil will try to confuse you, of course
pulling you in like a fish on a rod
if you don't drop the pride and let go
commit to a way besides your own
then you're still running the show
holding the cards and keeping control
this is where i am today
still struggling to let go of the obstacles that stand in the way
recovered today
from alcohol
they say it's not was'm , but ism...
the "isms" for me are the character flaws
from the ghosts of ancient history
that keep me stuck in yesterday
and won't let me be free

that is where i'm at today
and so this poem has to end
i can only share what i know
i hope it spoke to you, my friend
it's worth the journey, look at me
10 years without a drink, I finally see
the solution lives with the problem
and the problem is centered in me.

Jodi S.
jes1239@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 ~ YOUnMEnHP@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Insanity
<http://www.anonymityone.com/story62.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Earth Group N.A. presents:
2nd Annual Marathon Meeting
"Stepping Into Spring"
Saturday April 17th 6 PM EDT
through
Sunday April 18th 12 PM EDT
18 hours of continuous meetings!!!
ALL are welcomed to attend
WE need YOUR support to carry the message
to our world wide membership to help others to stay clean.
To find our marathon, please go to:
www.egna.org
<http://www.egna.org>
and find Meeting at top of page.
Scroll your mouse over and down
to Online Meetings and click there.
WE hope to be able to read you all at our Marathon!!!
For any additional info,
you can contact Judy O at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Marathon Meetings ROCK*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Just For Today
April 15 Keep coming back

"We have come to enjoy living clean and want more of the good things
that the NA Fellowship holds for us." Basic Text p. 26

Can you remember a time when you looked at the addicts recovering in NA
and wondered, "If they aren't using drugs, what on earth do they have
to laugh about?" Did you believe that the fun stopped when the using
stopped? So many of us did; we were certain that we were leaving the
"good life" behind. Today, many of us can laugh at that misconception
because we know how full our life in recovery can be.

Many of the things we enjoy so much in recovery are gained by actively
participating in the Fellowship of NA. We begin to find true
companionship, friends who understand and care about us just for
ourselves. We find a place where we can be useful to others. There are
recovery meetings, service activities, and fellowship gatherings to fill
our time and occupy our interests. The fellowship can be a mirror to
reflect back to us a more accurate image of who we are. We find
teachers, helpers, friends, love, care, and support. The fellowship always
has more to offer us, as long as we keep coming back.

Just for today: Just for today: I know where the "good life" is. I'll
keep coming back.

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
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The weekly meeting topic is:
"What do they mean by
going to any lengths to chase your recovery"
This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you
MUST join this club in order to participate
Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
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.
Thanks for your participation and support :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Call Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Sober Thought of the Day
<http://www.geocities.com/soberword/>

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
<http://www.gatewayrehab.org/April.html>

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


GROWING UP

The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and
then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this
entails.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 115

Sometimes when I've become willing to do what I should have been doing all
along, I want praise and recognition. I don't realize that the more I'm
willing to act differently, the more exciting my life is. The more I am
willing to help others, the more rewards I receive. That's what practicing
the principles means to me. Fun and benefits for me are in the willingness
to do the actions, not to get immediate results. Being a little kinder, a
little slower to anger, a little more loving makes my life better day by
day.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 15th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Terrible things could have happened to any one of us. We
never will know what might have happened to us when we
were drunk. We usually thought: "That couldn't happen to
me." But any one of us could have killed somebody or have
been killed ourselves, if we were drunk enough. But fear of
these things never kept us from drinking. Do I believe that
in A.A. we have something more effective than fear?

Meditation for the Day

I must keep calm and unmoved in the vicissitudes of life. I
must go back into the silence of communion with God to recover
this calm when it is lost even for one moment. I will accomplish
more by this calmness than by all the activities of a long day.
At all cost I will keep calm. I can solve nothing when I am
agitated. I should keep away from things that are upsetting
emotionally. I should run on an even keel and not get tipped over
by emotional upsets. I should seek for things that are calm and
good and true and stick to those things.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may not argue nor contend, but merely state calmly
what I believe to be true. I pray that I may keep myself in that
state of calmness that comes from faith in God's purpose for
the world.

"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.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*You Are A Miracle*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Say Whatever With As Much Love As You Can

There's an old story about compassion,
detachment, and Mohammed,
the prophet of Islam.

Mohammed had a neighbor
who had a garbage problem.
This neighbor was a cranky old man
who let his garbage pile up
and spill out all around his yard.
The mess was unsightly, but Mohammed
practiced tolerance and compassion.
He didn't say anything to the annoying
neighbor, for years.

One day, the unsightly mess
from the garbage disappeared.
Mohammed went over to his neighbor's house
and knocked on the door.
The neighbor answered the knock.
"I got worried when I didn't see your garbage,"
Mohammed said.
"I was just checking to make sure you
were all right."

We need to set boundaries, be clear,
and stand up for ourselves.
We need to check regularly to make sure
we're taking care of ourselves.
But once in a while, we also need to check to see
if we're allowing ourselves to become irritated
and upset by nonessential and forgetting
the essential of love.

Learn to say whatever, but learn to say it with
as much compassion and love as you can.

God, help me learn to take care of myself
and live with passion, compassion,
and an open heart.

Melody Beattie ©


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Stone Cutter
<http://www.storybin.com/sponsor/sponsor137.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


"The Story of Creation"
by William Mistele

And seven mighty cosmic angels, Lords of Creation, stood
before the throne of God.

And God spoke and said: "What part will each of you play in
fulfilling my Will to create the universe?"

And the first angel spoke and said: "I shall create the sky
and the stars that Light might shine forth. Thereby a trace
of Your Glory and Joy shall echo throughout the universe till
the end of time."

And the second angel said: "I shall create the worlds and
planets separating liquid from earth so that Order might
prevail out of chaos. Mountains and seas, hills and streams,
volcanoes and trees, clouds flowing, lightning striking - these
shall I call into being that the firmament might bear witness
to the notes with which Your Voice sings."

And the third angel said: "I shall bring forth Life upon these
worlds and planets. All manner of creatures I shall design that
Life might come to know itself as each gazes into the other's
eyes."

And the fourth angel said: "I shall grant these creature
Intelligence so that thought and choice might arise. There by
living creatures shall guide and refine Nature itself into its
quintessence."

And the fifth angel said: "I shall place dreams of what can be
within both matter and living beings. Thereby ideals shall take
root and be born even in the darkest place so that planets,
stars, and creatures shall walk on paths which lead to Ecstasy."

And the sixth angel said: "I shall place within the minds of living
beings a mirror so clear the stars, planets, and galaxies shall be reflected
therein to perfection. In this way, they shall attain the enlightened mind."

The seventh angel waited a moment, meditating quietly to herself
on what within God's Will was still left undone. She then came forth
and stood before all the others. She said, speaking both to the
other angels and to God: "I shall create Love and hearts deep
enough to hold the entire universe within themselves. Thereby, in
the fullness of time, living beings shall unite all creatures, planets,
stars, and angelic powers into One Song - Love and Beauty joined.
Then and only then will Your Will to create the universe be done."


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and
fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so
that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are born to make manifest the Glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone,
and as we let our own light shine,
we consciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

Our Deepest fear
<http://www.goodworksonearth.org/nelsonmandela2.html>

Our deepest fear, Marianne Williamson, (Nelson Š
<http://www.skdesigns.com/internet/articles/quotes/williamson.html>

Marianne Williamson's prayer used in Nelson Mandela's speechŠ
<http://www.the-reflectory.com/mw_fear.html>

Our Deepest Fear
<http://www.technomom.com/reading/fear.html>

Deepest Fear
<http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/9290/DeepestFear.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

We come into these rooms admitting defeat
thru the pain of addiction, we truly earned our seat
we really found a home when we found N.A.
and we were told we could live life, "Just For Today"

Addicts in Recovery told us where they'd been
they told us we never have to use again
and just when we found it difficult to cope
they shared with us their "Experience, Strength and Hope"

They said to fill the emptiness deep within our soul
we must learn to surrender & give up control
And honor a God that only we need comprehend
to be honest & willing to trust in a friend

They introduced the "12 Steps" they hold so dear
they said that if we worked them we'd have "nothing to fear"
that they'd help us learn to live life clean
and help us clear the wreckage, make amends & feel serene

They they taught us "12 Traditions" to live them everyday
which showed us to treat others in a kind & loving way
they suggested doing service, so we'd finally know
that carrying the message can only help us grow

There's still so many addicts out there in the rain
Stuck in their addiction, stuck in their pain
Only we can help them when they're ready to see
That Narcotics Anonymous can truly set them free

Randi7258@...
Miami Beach, Florida
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Process

Complete chaos
Confusion blankets my brain
Ideas
Half-formed
Bombard my being
Unasked questions
Remain unanswerable
Truth is deceitful
Deception, truth
Delusions of grandeur
Short-lived
Feelings of failure
Constant
Loneliness above all else

You reach in
Handing me hope
Answer my questions
Without a word
Give me steps
Lead the way
Brighter tomorrow
Feeling new
In recovery
Friends emerge

Karen S
sngnrnbwwmn@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Don't ask God to send you a brilliant career,
but rather ask Him to show you the brilliance within you,
It is the recognition of our brilliance that releases it into expression."
Marianne Williamson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live Go And Let God*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"People shop for a bathing suit with more care
than they do a husband or wife.
The rules are the same.
Look for something you'll feel comfortable wearing.
Allow for room to grow."
- Erma Bombeck
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Turn It Over*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I recently read this line:
"If you ever think you are too small to be effective,
then you have never been in bed with a mosquito."
There are times we forget who we are, what we're made of,
or we struggle to know the purpose for which we've been born.
That's why it's so important to build support into our lives,
with prayer groups or Master Mind partners.
We are not too small to make a difference in the world.
By infusing each day with practices that help us remember this truth,
we can begin and continue to do the work we have been sent here to do.
--Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The wise man in the storm prays to God,
not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear.
It is the storm within that endangers him,
not the storm without.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Many are called
and few choose to listen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Move a muscle,
change a thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*The Miracle Is You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The answers don't come before the question.
Ask the question.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We can disagree without being disagreeable.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
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 6000 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.
Thank you, Have a nice day , Keep Stepping ~ Scott
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Gratitude Up Front*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



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 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
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com

"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
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Walk The Walk*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...
(\o/\o/) we are each of us angels with only one wing (\o/\o/)
/_\/_\ and can only fly by embracing each other /_\/_\
please visit me at:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adult Children of Alcoholics
http://www.AdultChildren.org/

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org/

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/access.htm

Cancer Anonymous
http://www.ccsi.com/~decklund/CA/

Clutterers Anonymous
http://www.clutterers-anonymous.org/

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org/

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org/

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous/

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship forŠ
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org/

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org/

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org/

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org/

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com/

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com/

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Officail Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://naranon.com/

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page)NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org/

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org/

Self Mutilators Anonymous
http://www.selfmutilatorsanonymous.org/

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org/

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Suicide Anonymous
http://www.geocities.com/samemphis/

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org/





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]