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#1543

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Tue Feb 1, 2005 10:43 am
Subject: 2/1/05 "12 Qualities of Sponsorship" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

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History
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/classics/history.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is February, PLEASE share on the 2nd step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
open-mindedness and hope....
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
February 1
I know that one step at a time
I am making progress today.
I am grateful for all my growth,
even though it is not always very obvious.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
12 Qualities of Sponsorship

1.   I will not help you to stay and wallow in limbo.

2.   I will help you to grow, to become more productive, by your definition.

3.   I will help you become more autonomous, more loving of yourself, more
      excited, less sensitive, more free to become the authority for your
      own living.

4.   I can not give you dreams or "fix you up" simply because I can not.

5.   I can not give you growth, or grow for you. You must grow for
       yourself by facing reality, grim as it may be at times.

6.   I can not take away your loneliness or your pain.

7.   I can not sense your world for you, evaluate your goals for you, tell
       you what is best for your world; because you have your own world in
       which you must live.

8.   I can not convince you of the necessity to make the vital decision of
       choosing the frightening uncertainty of growing over the safe
       misery of remaining static.

9.   I want to be with you and know you as a rich and growing friend; yet
      I can not get close to you when you choose not to grow.

10. When I begin to care for you out of pity or when I begin to lose faith
      in you, then I am inhibiting both for you and for me.

11.   You must know and understand my help is conditional. I will be with
       you and "hang in there" with you so long as I continue to get even the
       slightest hint that you are still trying to grow.

12.   If you can accept this, then perhaps we can help each other to
       become what God meant us to be, mature adults, leaving childishness
       forever to the little children of the world.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A.A. History
<http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml>

N.A. History
<http://www.na-history.org/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
February 1                         Hardships

"We felt different... Only after surrender are we able to overcome
the alienation of addiction." Basic Text p. 22

"But you don't understand!" we spluttered, trying to cover up. "I'm
different! I've really got it rough!" We used these lines over and over
in our active addiction, either trying to escape the consequences of our
actions or avoid following the rules that applied to everyone else. We
may have cried them at our first meeting. Perhaps we've even caught
ourselves whining them recently.

So many of us feel different or unique. As addicts, we can use almost
anything to alienate ourselves. But there's no excuse for missing out on
recovery, nothing that can make us ineligible for the program—not a
life-threatening illness, not poverty, not anything. There are thousands
of addicts who have found recovery despite the real hardships they've
faced. Through working the program, their spiritual awareness has grown,
in spite of—or perhaps in response to—those hardships.

Our individual circumstances and differences are irrelevant when it
comes to recovery. By letting go of our uniqueness and surrendering to
this simple way of life, we're bound to find that we feel a part of
something. And feeling a part of something gives us the strength to walk
through life, hardships and all.

Just for today: I will let go of my uniqueness and embrace the
principles of recovery I have in common with so many others. My
hardships do not exclude me from recovery; rather, they draw me
into it.

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:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is February, PLEASE share on the 2nd step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
open-mindedness and hope....
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE"

A few hours later I took my leave of Dr. Bob... The wonderful, old, broad
smile was on his face as he said almost jokingly, "Remember, Bill, let's
not louse this thing up. Let's keep it simple!'' I turned away, unable to
say a word. That was the last time I ever saw him.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, p. 214

After years of sobriety I occasionally ask myself "Can it be this
simple?" Then, at meetings, I see former cynics and skeptics who have
walked the A.A. path out of hell by packaging their lives, without
alcohol, into twenty-four hour segments, during which they practice a few
principles to the best of their individual abilities. And then I know
again that, while it isn't always easy, if I keep it simple, it works.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / February 1st

A.A. Thought for the Day

When we think about having a drink, we're thinking
of the kick we get out of drinking, the pleasure, the
escape from boredom, the feeling of self-importance,
and the companionship of other drinkers. What we
don't think of is the letdown, the hangover, the
remorse, the waste of money, and the facing of
another day. In other words, when we think about
that first drink, we're thinking of all the assets of
drinking and none of the liabilities. What has drinking
really got that we haven't got in A.A.? Do I believe
that the liabilities of drinking outweigh the assets?

Meditation for the Day

I will start a new life each day. I will put the old
mistakes away and start anew each day. God always
offers me a fresh start. I will not be burdened or
anxious. If God's forgiveness were only for the
righteous and those who had not sinned, where would
be its need? I believe that God forgives us all of our
sins, if we are honestly trying to live today the way
He wants us to live. God forgives us much and we
should be very grateful.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that my life may not be spoiled by worry and
fear and selfishness. I pray that I may have a glad,
thankful, and humble heart.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Separating From Family Issues

We can draw a healthy line, a healthy boundary,
between ourselves and our nuclear family.
We can separate ourselves from their issues.

Some of us may have family members who are addicted to alcohol and other drugs
and who are not in recovery from their addiction.

Some of us may have family members who have unresolved codependency issues.
Family members may be addicted to misery,
pain, suffering, martyrdom, and victimization.

We may have family members who have unresolved abuse issues or unresolved
family of origin issues.

We may have family members who are addicted
to work, eating, or sex.
Our family may be completely enmeshed,
or we may have a disconnected family in which the members have little contact.

We may be like our family.
We may love our family.
But we are separate human beings with individual rights and issues.
One of our primary rights is to begin feeling better and recovering,
whether or not others in the family choose to do the same.

We do not have to feel guilty about finding happiness and a life that works.
And we do not have to take on our family's
issues as our own to be loyal
and to show we love them.

Often when we begin taking care of ourselves,
family members will reverberate with overt
and covert attempts to pull us
back into the old system and roles.
We do not have to go.
Their attempts to pull us back are their issues.
Taking care of ourselves and becoming healthy
and happy does not mean we do not love them.
It means we're addressing our issues.

We do not have to judge them because
they have issues; nor do we have to allow
them to do anything they would like
to us just because they are family.

We are free now, free to take care
of ourselves with family members.
Our freedom starts when we stop denying their issues, and politely, but assertively,
hand their stuff back to them - where it belongs - and
deal with our own issues.

Today, I will separate myself from family members.
I am a separate human being, even though I belong to a unit called a family.
I have a right to my own issues and growth;
my family members have a right to their issues
and a right to choose where and when they will deal with these issues.
I can learn to detach in love from my family members and their issues.
I am willing to work through all necessary feelings in order to accomplish this.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A Deep Breath of Life, Alan Cohen
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part10.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part11.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part12.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part13.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part14.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part15.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
God's Will Is Love
by Karen Anne Bentley

Many people are highly suspicious of doing God's Will. For one thing, it sounds
very hokey and simple-minded, like something you'd read on a bumper sticker. But
even more important, we may think that doing God's Will is contrary to our
individual will. We might think He wants us to do something that we don't really
want to do or wouldn't like doing. Maybe He wills us to change everything in our
life as we know it and become selfless like a Mother Teresa. Or even worse, we
could be afraid of God's Will. Maybe He wants us to sacrifice our children, like
those stories contained in the Bible. Or maybe we think He wants to punish or
destroy us, because we are so bad, so disobedient, and so wasteful. Truly, who
would want to know or do God's Will if it's going to be so awful?
The most important thing to remember is that God is love and only love. He does
not have an ego and is therefore not punitive, vengeful, demanding, or
controlling. These are human ego characteristics, not divine ones. God is only
good and therefore He wants only good for you. He wills your happiness. And why
does he will your happiness? Because your happiness is the one thing that makes
you want to stay alive. God is life, and He wills the experience that promotes
and extends life.

When you ask to know God's Will, you are really asking to become aware of what
makes you happy. As you repeatedly ask God for His Will over and over, you come
to realize that He will lead you to happiness by always reminding you to extend
your love. Being love is happiness now. It's a big leap in awareness to
understand that being love is more useful and satisfying than getting a result
or achieving a goal at some unknown future time. This is because form, no matter
how pleasing or desirable, is a substitute for love, and will therefore not
result in happiness. Things may pacify and distract you for a while, but they
will not fill the empty hole in your heart.

There is a mistaken and deep-rooted belief that the will of the individual and
the Will of God can be separate, but this is not possible. You want to be happy,
and God wills you to be happy. So you see, the goal of happiness is the same.
Your will to be happy cannot be separate or apart from His. So if your will and
God's Will are the same, why bother to ask? This is a very appropriate question.

When you make decisions independently, without knowing God's Will, you are
making a decision with your ego mind. As you already know, the ego is not your
friend, and it will not advise you to think, talk, or act in ways that are
always harmless. The reason for taking the time to ask God's Will is to
disengage and filter out the ego. Then you can know, without any hesitation or
doubt, which decisions will make you happy.

Many of us do not know how to make ourselves happy. Some of us think that our
happiness is expendable or unimportant, so we willingly sacrifice it. However,
the sacrifice of happiness does not lead to happiness. It leads to despair.
Happiness is occasionally sacrificed as an offering to God, so that He will look
down on us in mercy or favor. But our happiness is most frequently sacrificed in
the name of maintaining a special relationship. Loss of self in another is not
usually perceived as sacrifice. More typically, it takes on an elevated meaning.
There are terms like "sacred love," or "holy matrimony." We all joyfully buy
into the idea that a special relationship will make us happy and that getting
and keeping a special relationship is the most important thing in our lives.
This idea is based on the concept that we are incomplete and can be made
complete by someone else. We think someone else can make us better than we are.
Or that someone else can make us happy. Someone else wants you, so therefore you
must be valuable, worthy, and lovable. This distracts you from doing the work of
learning how to love yourself.

Authentic and real expression of self is often suppressed in the name of
maintaining a special relationship. You don't say what you really think, because
your partner, children, relatives, or friends won't like it or might get mad at
you. You don't do what you really want to do, because they may disapprove or
reject you. When you're authentic, you sometimes risk losing a relationship,
experiencing anger from another, being shunned, and/or becoming the recipient of
a variety of other unsavory treatments.

God wills us to make decisions that are loving to self as well as to others. By
asking God's Will, we can always be sure that we are doing the right thing and
that we're not forgetting our own happiness in the process. Asking first
prevents mistakes, saves time, and fills our acts with boldness and confidence.
When we're not timid, our acts become big and magnificent, because we are not
withholding anything. A decision that is reached with the help of God becomes a
full expression of being.

Even more, a decision that's in alignment with God's Will is a way of going with
the Life force, rather than against it. The characters in the Star Wars movie
series would say, May the Force be with you. This is the little farewell prayer
that the good guys say to each other before they start on a mission against the
bad guys. It's their way of asking for life to win over death, or for light to
overcome darkness. What we don't realize is that the Force is always with us.
We, however, are not going with the Force when we give the ego control of our
decisions.

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to forget to consider God's Will in every
decision, but there is a way to remember. The reminder is your own misery!
Whenever you're miserable, it's a sure sign that you have made an ego-based
decision. This is the clue. Look for these clues in your life. Then ask to know
God's Will in every situation, so that you can lift yourself up out of the muck
and move yourself in a positive direction.

This article is excerpted from 10 Radiant Ideas, ©2001, by Karen Anne Bentley.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Big Heart Books.
http://www.big-heart.com

About the Author:
Karen Anne Bentley is author of the Awaken Your Passion book series. Big Heart
Books is dedicated to increasing awareness of A Course In Miracles one of the
most important and profound spiritual works of our time. The Course teaches a
way of living based on love of self and others, inner peace, and guidance from
within.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Always The Same Lesson?
Chérie Carter-Scott, Ph.D.

Lessons will be repeated to you in various forms until you have learned
them. When you have learned them, you can then go on to the next lesson.

Have you ever noticed that lessons tend to repeat themselves? Does it seem
as if you married or dated the same person several times in different bodies
with different names? Have you run into the same type of boss over and over
again? Do you find yourself having the same problem with many different
coworkers?

Several years ago, Bill Murray starred in a movie called Groundhog Day, in
which he woke up in the same day over and over until he learned all the
lessons he needed to in that one day. The same events kept repeating
themselves until he finally "got" what it was he was supposed to do in each
one. Does this strike a funny but familiar chord with you?

Lessons will be repeated until learned. When I taught high school, I always
told my students, "If you don't deal well with authority figures at home,
then you will have an opportunity to deal with them out in the world. You
will continually draw into your life people who need to enforce authority,
and you will struggle with them until you learn the lesson of obedience."
Teenagers often perceive their parents as overly strict. At the age of
fourteen, one of my former students went away to boarding school. Much to
her surprise, she found teachers and staff with the same rules that her
mother had laid down at home and that I had at school. She finally
understood.

In couples' counseling it is often noted that people who divorce and remarry
nearly always marry the same type of person they just left. Similarly, a
friend of mine named Cassidy who was a compulsive perfectionist had a knack
for attracting inappropriate men. It was no coincidence that Cassidy, to
whom mismatched socks were a horror and a torn shirt a federal offense,
repeatedly drew men into her life who dressed like slobs. She was a stickler
for manners, yet her most recent boyfriend held his spoon like Fred
Flintstone wields a drumstick. Only recently did Cassidy begin to
acknowledge that perhaps these men were appearing in her life as teachers
and opportunities to work out her perfectionist issue.

You will continually attract the same lesson into your life. You will also
draw to you teachers to teach you that lesson until you get it right. The
only way you can free yourself of difficult patterns and issues you tend to
repeat, is by shifting your perspective so that you can recognize the
patterns and learn the lessons that they offer. You may try to avoid the
situations, but they will eventually catch up with you.

To face these challenges means you need to accept the fact that something
within you keeps drawing you to the same kind of person or issue, painful
though that situation or relationship may be. In the words of Carl Jung,
"There is no coming to consciousness without pain." And come to
consciousness you must if you are ever to stop repeating the same lessons
and be able to move on to new ones.

The challenge of Rule Four is to identify and release the patterns that you
are repeating. As any good facilitator or therapist will tell you, this is
no easy task, since it means you have to change, and change is not always
easy. Staying just as you are may not help you advance spiritually, but it
certainly is comfortable in its familiarity. You grooved your patterns a
long time ago as a way of protecting yourself. Moving into unfamiliar new
behavior can be uncomfortable not to mention at times frightening.

Rising to the challenge of identifying and releasing your patterns forces
you to admit that the way you have been doing things isn't working. The good
news is that by identifying and releasing the pattern, you actually learn
how to change.

In my seminars, I teach that there are six basic steps to executing any
change in your life. They are:

awareness -- becoming conscious of the pattern or issue
acknowledgment -- admitting that you need to release the pattern
choice -- actively selecting to release the pattern
strategy -- creating a realistic plan
commitment -- taking action, aided by external accountability
celebration -- rewarding yourself for succeeding

No lasting change can be made, nor any pattern released permanently, without
going through each one of these steps. In order to facilitate your process
of change, you will need to learn the lessons of awareness, willingness,
causality, and patience. Once you master these, you will most likely find
the challenge of identifying and releasing your patterns far less
intimidating.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Cookie Thief
A woman was waiting at an airport one night,
With several long hours before her flight.
She hunted for a book in the airport shop,
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see,
That the man beside her, as bold as could be,
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between,
Which she tried to ignore, to avoid a scene.

She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock,
As the gutsy "cookie thief" diminished her stock.
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,
Thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I'd blacken his eye!"

With each cookie she took, he took one too.
When only one was left, she wondered what he'd do.
With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh,
He took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other.
She snatched it from him and thought, "Oh brother,
This guy has some nerve, and he's also rude,
Why, he didn't even show any gratitude!"

She had never known when she has been so galled,
And sighed with relief when her flight was called.
She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate,
Refusing to look back at the "thieving ingrate."

She boarded the plane and sank in her seat,
Then sought her book, which was almost complete.
As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise:
There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes!

"If mine are here," she moaned with despair,
"Then the others were his and he tried to share!"
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief!

By Valerie Cox from A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You Are a Marvel

Each second we live is a new and
unique moment of the universe, a
moment that will never be again...
And what do we teach our children?
We teach them that two and two
make four, and that Paris is the capital of France.
When will we also teach them what they are?
We should say to each of them:
Do you know what you are? You are a
marvel. You are unique. In all the years
that have passed, there has never been
another child like you. Your legs, your arms,
your clever fingers, the way you move.
You may become a Shakespeare, a
Michaelangelo, a Beethoven. You have
the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a
marvel. And when you grow up, can you
then harm another who is, like you, a marvel?
You must work - we must all work - to make
the world worthy of its children.

-- Pablo Casals
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"God Hear My Thoughts"

Am I going? Why and Where?
Will someone tell me when I get there?
I'm so confused, in a state of depression.
I'm just not willing for it to become regression.
So many things to do all at once.
In this world I feel like a dunce.
One minute I'm cheerful, the next I'm blue.
Sometimes I think I know and I haven't a clue.
I just want to sit and cry.
I couldn't begin to tell you why.
My life is so filled to the brim.
I feel like I'm losing my connection with HIM.
He's given me so much, I mustn't forget.
Without HIM on my sobriety I wouldn't bet.
I'm sorry to stray so far away from the fold.
Please guide me back to be of YOUR creative mold.

Michelle C. 1/08/01 107 days
toocute_19082@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you dig a grave for others,
you might fall into it yourself.
Irish Proverb
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Regardless of what has happened or whether we understand,
we can open ourselves to God's protection and grace.
- John Morton
(From: The Blessings Already Are)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Life, at its best, is a flowing, changing process
in which nothing is fixed.
I find I am at my best when
I can let the flow of my experience carry me,
in a direction which appears to be forward,
toward a goal of which I am but dimly aware.
In thus floating with the complex stream of my experiencing
and in trying to understand its ever-changing complexity,
it should be evident that there are no fixed points.
When I am thus able to be in the process,
it is clear that there can be no closed system of beliefs,
no unchanging set of principles that I hold.
Life is guide by a changing of and interpretation of my experience.
It is always in process of becoming."
Carl Rogers
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart.
Who looks outside, dreams.
Who looks inside, awakens.
Carl Jung
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
My name is Scott and I am tri-addicted,
I am addicted to everything that I try.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I had no problem admitting that I am an addict,
but I need the help of God and others
to accept this, one day at a time.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When you start being good to yourself,
You start feeling good about yourself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Once you become a pickle,
You can never be a cucumber again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
by sending an Email message to:
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this letter cannot be considered spam as long as the following words
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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,
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Even if your country is listed
please email me, and let me know where you are from.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1542

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:39 pm
Subject: 1/31/05 "A Ride Into Hell" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Area Service
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/classics/areaservice.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is February, PLEASE share on the 2nd step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
open-mindedness and hope....
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 31
I will take the time I need for me today to be quiet
and listen to my Higher Power
as I gently make new discoveries and gain new wisdom.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A Ride Into Hell

Jump in the saddle tighten the strap
Pump it up, give it a pat
Don't be the buyer
Of this hurtful desire
Take a hint from me
You don't wanna be
Ridin' a white horse
Flippin' mix
Livin' on a junky fix

Written By
Becci Penry
Beckoning1@...

I am a recovering Junky
This was my life while I was in hell.
NA killed the horse so I could dismount the beast.
Goddess broke the strap I had once tightened around my life.
I am now free from flippin' mix livin on a junky fix, Just for Today.
Thank You All For my Recovery
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Grant Me The Serenity
<http://www.open-mind.org/>

Sponsor Sponsee Step Worksheets
<http://www.recoverynukkad.com/litstepwrkg.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 31                                       Trust

"Just for today I will have faith in someone in NA who believes in
me and wants to help me in my recovery." Basic Text p. 90

Learning to trust is a risky proposition. Our past experience as using
addicts has taught us that our companions could not be trusted. Most of
all, we couldn't trust ourselves.

Now that we're in recovery, trust is essential. We need something to
hang onto, believe in, and give us hope in our recovery. For some of us,
the first thing we can trust is the words of other members sharing in
meetings; we feel the truth in their words.

Finding someone we can trust makes it easier to ask for help. And as we
grow to trust in their recovery, we learn to trust our own.

Just for today: I will decide to trust someone. I will act on that trust.

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:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is February, PLEASE share on the 2nd step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
open-mindedness and hope....
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

By going back in our own drinking histories, we could show that years
before we realized it we were out of control, that our drinking even then
was no mere habit, that it was indeed the
beginning of a fatal progression.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 23

When I was still drinking, I couldn't respond to any of life's situations
the way other, more healthy, people could. The smallest incident triggered
a state of mind that believed I had to have a drink to numb my
feelings. But the numbing did not improve the situation, so I sought
further escape in the bottle. Today I must be aware of my alcoholism. I
cannot afford to believe that I have gained control of my drinking -- or
again I will think I have gained control of my life. Such a feeling of
control is fatal to my recovery.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 31st

A.A. Thought for the Day

Drinking cuts you off from God. No matter how you
were brought up, no matter what your religion is, no
matter if you say you believe in God, nevertheless
you build up a wall between you and God by your
drinking. You know you're not living the way God
wants you to. As a result, you have that terrible
remorse. When you come into A.A., you begin to get
right with other people and with God. A sober life
is a happy life, because by giving up drinking, we've
gotten rid of our loneliness and remorse. Do I have
real fellowship with other people and with God?

Meditation for the Day

I believe that all sacrifice and all suffering are of
value to me. When I am in pain, I am being tested.
Can I trust God, no matter how low I feel? Can I say,
"Thy will be done," no matter how much I am defeated?
If I can, my faith is real and practical. It works in bad
times as well as in good times. The Divine Will is
working in a way that is beyond my finite mind to
understand, but I can still trust in it.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may take my suffering in my stride. I pray
that I may accept pain and defeat as part of God's plan
for my spiritual growth.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Value Your Passion

For too long, we have wrongly judged our passion-our
passion for living, our vitality and zest for places,
people, things, and ideas.
I shouldn't have what I want. I shouldn't say what I like.
I shouldn't get too excited.
What helps us come to life?
What takes us out of the motions and into our emotions?
What connects us to the energy of life,
the energy of love, the energy of the
life force that permeates us all?

All your growth, all your work, has not been to lead you away
from your passions, to turn you into robot.
It has been to bring you back to life,
to put you in touch with the vital energy of the universe,
an energy that permeates all that is.
An energy that permeates you.

Honor your passion by honoring your emotions.
Feeling your emotions releases passion in you.
Once you know and can recognize that,
you'll know which direction to go.

Expressing passion and gratitude will guide
your life. Say it again and again. Say it until
you believe it. Say it until you live it.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"On Finding Joy" Q&A with Alan Cohen
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part9.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
My sky

By Brother Anthony (Tony Budell)

The eagle was hurt, crying out in pain and anguish because someone had
invaded his sky and attacked him. Now hurt and bleeding, he wanted his
revenge. How could other birds invade his sky? He was the king of all
the birds, the most powerful creature of the skies and yet here he was,
torn, bleeding and tormented by this invasion of his space, this
unprovoked assault upon his sky.

As the eagle perched upon a tall tree, using his powerful beak to tend his
wounds and preen his feathers, a soft voice called unto him, "Powerful
eagle, king of all the skies, what has befallen you?" He lifted his weary
head and saw an owl perched on a branch nearby, "I was attacked by
smaller birds when I was not looking, they came out of nowhere and
before I could gather my wits and my strength, it was too late. They
pecked at me unmercifully, leaving me cut and bleeding, but as soon as I
recover from my wounds, I will wreak my revenge on those smaller birds.
I will destroy their nests, their offspring and their environments. As
king of all the birds, I cannot be made to look weak or vulnerable, so
my vengeance is a necessity if I am to regain my credibility with my
fellow eagles".

The owl pondered this for a while and then asked , "Would you kill all
the Starlings, all the crows, all the sparrows, all the species of birds
that you feel were responsible, even if they were totally innocent of the
actual attack upon you?" The eagle replied, "Yes, I will kill them all, for in
that way, I am sure to kill those actually responsible." The owl again
pondered the answer and then asked, "Why do you think the smaller birds
attacked you." The eagle replied, "Because I am the most powerful
creature of the skies and with me out of the way, they would have my sky
for themselves." Again the owl pondered the answer and said, "The
smaller birds attacked you, not because they wanted your sky, but
because they were frightened of your strength. You soar higher than all
the birds, your home is high in the mountains and you are aloof to all the
birds below you and because of this, the other birds fear you. You patrol
the skies, looking down with contempt upon lesser birds than yourself.
Have you ever thought of descending from the lofty heights and talking
with them? Listening to their problems? Encouraging them, teaching them,
helping them. Showing them that although you are mighty and powerful,
you are also kindly and benevolent, that in your power and strength lays
gentleness and compassion.

The lesser birds know that you are powerful. They know that you are
mighty. They know that you are the king of all the skies. You do not have
to tell them this and you certainly do not have to demonstrate this. It is
only when you allow others to see your gentler side, your compassionate
side, your caring side, that your true greatness will be known to all the
birds."

The eagle listened as he continued to tend his wounds, replying at length,
"You just do not understand, Owl. I am the symbol of an entire nation of
humans. My outstretched wings are the embodiment of that nations
power and strength. Are you saying that I should show my weaker side,
my vulnerable side, surely you are not asking me to show that I'm soft?"

The owl laughed softly, "Mighty eagle, king of all birds, showing compassion
and caring does not make you soft, it makes you stronger. Do you not see
the simple truth in this? I agree that those that hurt you so badly should
be punished, but to punish all the birds would achieve nothing. In fact it
would alienate all birds of all species unto you. The rest of the bird
kingdom knows you are powerful so therefore you have nothing to prove to
them. All birds know that you can soar higher than all other birds so you
do not have to demonstrate this fact. All birds know that you are king of
the skies so therefore you do not have to keep telling them this. It is
only when they see the side of you that you keep hidden for fear of being
seen as soft, as you call it, that they will see you true greatness. Come
down from the high mountain for a while and spend time with other birds,
less powerful than you. Let them hear your wisdom and feel your
compassion.

Let them see you caring for other birds, guiding them, feeding them,
teaching them and then your true greatness will become known throughout
the kingdom of the skies. You say that your outstretched wings of power
represent a nation of humans, but would it not be better that other
nations of humans saw your outstretched wings, not wings of power, but
wings encompassing all nations in love and compassion, for their lays your
true strength and your true greatness.

Bless you.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I am my own work of art.

At this moment, I reflect upon the meaning of my life. I harbor within a
vision of my most perfect self, a dream of what I could become. Today I
will pursue this vision and this way, I will give meaning to my life.

Like an artist painting a picture, I will pause, step back from the canvas
and consider what needs to be done. This will be a day of reflection. As I
hope to make my life a work of art, so these moments of contemplation help
me to turn back to the canvas of life to paint a portrait of my most perfect
self.

This day and every day hereafter, I will hold before my eyes the vision of
what I am becoming.

Rokelle Lerner
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It Seems To Me That

Off times The
Events Of The World
Become Too Much
And We Need To Hold
One And Another.

It Is Then We Reach Out
In Faith � Knowing
There Is A Strength
To Be Shared.

This Strength Is Known
As LOVE.
And God Is LOVE

written by ~ bono
bono100@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
THE POWER OF AFFIRMATIONS
by Peter Shepherd

Affirmations always work. Yes, whatever you positively think or visualize,
you will focus on and, therefore, it will manifest.

  For example: "I don't want to be poor."
  Assumption: "I am poor."
  Focus: "Poverty"
  Result: Thinking about poverty, and
  ........... being in the identity of a poor person.
  ............The affirmation worked, but not in the
  ........... way you intended.

So we have learned it is better to phrase in the present, not future. Don't
use "want" and similar words. Perhaps this makes a better affirmation: "I am
rich"? But if you are rich, then this does not work because if you are rich
then, of course, you've already attained being rich. If you aren't rich, it
is a lie. Therefore, it doesn't work. There's got to be a better way... How
about: "Suppose I am rich"? Suppose you have everything that being rich
means to you. Imagine that this is happening. See yourself in that
situation. Then slip into that image of yourself and see and hear and feel
what it is to experience being rich.

It works now, doesn't it? It is true, it does not imply or state an
undesirable state and it is in the present. At least in your imagination you
are rich - you have felt what it is like to be in that wealthy identity and
that is a resource you can apply. You've changed your frame of mind and your
view of the world has altered for the better. When you have a positive
vision that is real to you and genuinely something that you want and
identify with, then creative energies naturally flow toward that vision.
This is powerful stuff!

A counter-intention is something which we thought, in the past, was a means
to keep us safe, or otherwise make our lives better. It might even be a
simple negative thought, which we decided at a time of stress, and keep
thinking unconsciously. Such counter-intentions could be ideas that our
parents or our culture bombarded us with as a child and then these became
habitual and out of our awareness. When you are affirming a positive
intention it is therefore very helpful to recognize the counter-intentions
or hidden barriers that you are creating at the same time. What is connected
with your affirmation that you are opposing, or disagreeing with,
suppressing or trying to forget?

It is important that you perceive the positive intention (affirmation) as an
outflowing creation that meets barriers (hidden counter-intentions), rather
than perceiving your affirmation as resisting or fighting an incoming
opposing force. When these barriers are seen in a clear light, you can then
just let them go, or if necessary, adjust your affirmation so there is no
longer this inner conflict.

The right brain, which determines our feelings and hence motivation/action
(that the Universe then mirrors through the power of Spirit), interprets our
thoughts in terms of the underlying (subconscious) true feelings and,
therefore, doesn't discriminate between conscious acceptance or resistance.
It doesn't listen to a "not" or "never", that is a true observation, but
more significantly, it interprets based on actual beliefs (at the level of
feelings) that are stimulated by the concept of what is being consciously
thought - it picks up on what most closely corresponds to the subconscious
belief/feeling.

"I will not overeat" is an affirmation based on the feeling that you really
DO want to eat a lot; so that's how it's interpreted - you really have
acceptance of eating even though your conscious mind (left brain) is
resisting that. The feeling of wanting to eat is actually stimulated by the
affirmation, so you are likely to eat more. "I will eat what I want" would
be more empowering, as it doesn't conflict with the inner belief and gives
you the power of choice.

So the key issue is whether your affirmation is in alignment or conflicting
with your deeply-held belief. That's the real reason why affirmations don't
necessarily help, but may indeed increase inner conflict and serve to
suppress the inner belief rather than resolve it. When you have uncovered
the inner belief and genuinely discovered that it is FALSE - i.e., not
rational ... not helpful ... not true ... not your own - then using an
affirmation can help to keep in place the revised belief.

About the Author:
Peter Shepherd is a Transformational Psychologist, supervisor of The Insight
Project, and author of the book, "Transforming the Mind".
http://www.trans4mind.com/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Appreciation is a powerful tool to shift perspective.
Finding something to appreciate during a difficult situation
quickly moves the perspective to the big picture from the little picture.
From Chaos to Coherence, Doc Childre and Bruce Cryer
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher."
Oprah Winfrey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Let God be your teacher.
Let the Tao flower in you.
You don't need to control things anymore.
When you are willing to be helpful, life flows through you.
You become the channel,
the means by which love without conditions can reach into the world."
Paul Ferrini
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fear grows out of the things we think; it lives in our minds.
Compassion grows out of the things we are, and lives in our hearts.
Barbara Garrison
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In the process of surrender,
I find acceptance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Don't quit,
surrender.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you think that drugs and alcohol are the problem,
look in the mirror.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The time that I have been in recovery,
Is making me more aware of who I am.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you only knew who you were,
You would never use again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
by sending an Email message to:
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 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:
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
and write unsubsribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe
<http://health.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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1541

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:12 am
Subject: 1/30/05 "Enough " ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Service
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/classics/service.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 30
Today I give myself permission to take the quiet time I need
to meditate and to improve my conscious contact with God.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Enough

My blessings overwhelm me
Why am I afraid of stepping out
further onto the fruitful branch?
Am I not content with what I have?
Is it not enough?
When I was small I was never enough
I never had enough
or was good enough
Those dissatisfactions came
from outside disapprovals
Now I am big and I surely have enough
It's time to step out far onto the limb
to change, metamorphose the words...
For now, the "not enough" is not
about my dissatisfactions
It's about natural evolution
of growth stages that follow each other
one level impatient to become the next
Changes that need expression
in my own personal world
It's the next step and the next
along the journey of becoming who I already am
When I was small I was good enough ~
it's just that no one ever told me
I was being who I needed to be at the time
And I am 'enough' for today
as I embrace the realization
that who I am is changing
~for there is always a new me waiting~
around the next dream
to be fulfilled in the next day
along my journey
I go on further into who I am to be
and that is what
I have to be:
where I already am

Love
Stella
© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie Johnson
Stella's monthly SoulZine features inspiration from articles,
meditations, affirmations, floral and herbal healers. Join here:
http://she.soulopen.com
Looking for alternative healing? Nutritional and Herbal help:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/herbalmenopause
Looking for Support in your Healing and Recovery? Come see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/healingfromprocrastination
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Extreme N.A. Personalities , Personalities before Principles
<http://www.michigan-na.com/NA%20Personalities.htm>

N.A. Humor
<http://www.michigan-na.com/NA%20Humor.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 30               Giving It away

"We must give freely and gratefully that which has been freely and
gratefully given to us." Basic Text p. 47

In recovery, we receive many gifts. Perhaps one of the greatest of
these gifts is the spiritual awakening that begins when we stop using,
growing stronger each day we apply the steps in our lives. The new spark
of life within is a direct result of our new relationship with a Higher
Power, a relationship initiated and developed by living the Twelve Steps.
Slowly, as we pursue our program, the radiance of recovery dispels the
darkness of our disease.

One of the ways we express our gratitude for the gifts of recovery is
to help others find what we've found. We can do this in any number of
ways: by sharing in meetings, making Twelfth Step calls, accepting a
commitment to sponsorship, or volunteering for H & I or phone line duty.
The spiritual life given to us in recovery asks for expression, for "we can
only keep what we have by giving it away."

Just for today: The gift of recovery grows when I share it. I will find
someone with whom to share it.

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:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

"The trouble with us alcoholics was this: We demanded that the world give
us happiness and peace of mind in just the particular order we wanted to
get it -- by the alcohol route. And we weren't successful. But when we
take time to find out some of the spiritual laws, and familiarize ourselves
with them, and put them into practice, then we do get happiness and peace
of mind . . . There seem to be some rules that we have to follow, but
happiness and peace of mind are always here, open and free to anyone."
DR. BOB AND THE GOOD OLDTIMERS, p. 308

The simplicity of the A.A. program teaches me that happiness isn't
something I can "demand." It comes upon me quietly, while I serve
others. In offering my hand to the newcomer or to someone who has
relapsed, I find that my own sobriety has been recharged with indescribable
gratitude and happiness.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 30th

A.A. Thought for the Day

A drinking life isn't a happy life. Drinking cuts you
off from other people and from God. One of the
worst things about drinking is the loneliness. And
one of the best things about A.A. is the fellowship.
Drinking cuts you off from other people, at least
from the people who really matter to you, your
family, your coworkers, and your real friends. No
matter how much you love them, you build up a wall
between you and them by your drinking. You're cut
off from any real companionship with them. As a
result, you're terribly lonely. Have I gotten rid of
my loneliness?

Meditation for the Day

I will sometimes go aside into a quiet place of
retreat with God. In that place, I will find
restoration and healing and power. I will plan
quiet times now and then, times when I will
commune with God and arise rested and
refreshed to carry on the work that God has
given me to do. I know that God will never give
me a load greater than I can bear. It is in serenity
and peace that all true success lies.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may strengthen my inner life, so
that I may find serenity. I pray that my soul may
be restored in quietness and peace.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Discover The Power Of Loving Yourself

Sometimes it's hard to trust life with all its sudden twist,
turns, and storms. When something unexpected or painful
happens, when we become blocked or frustrated, when life
takes a different course than we hoped it would, it's easy
to stop trusting the flow of our lives. It didn't ask for this.
It's not fair. I don't want this, we think. This road isn't
leading anywhere, at least no where I want to go. Often,
when we feel life has turned on us, we respond by turning on
ourselves. But turning on ourselves doesn't help. In fact, it
can compound the situation. It can prevent us from healing and
acting on the very guidance that will lead us through, get us
through, and take us to the next place. It can prevent us from
hearing our heart.

Keep loving yourself, and taking care of yourself, no matter what ~
through the storms, the twist, the turns, and the blocks. Take a
moment, breathe deep, restore yourself to that sacred place of
self-love and self-responsibility. Feel all your feelings. Them let
them go. Love yourself until you can hear your heart and what it
tells you to do. Love yourself until you find the courage to act on
that guidance.

Loving yourself is a powerful tool, a powerful force for change. It
can reconnect you to creativity, to universal love, to the best possible
flow of events within your life. It can and will reconnect you to life's
magic.

There is a trustworthy road through whatever life brings.
Loving yourself will help you find it.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"On Inner Guidance" Q&A with Alan Cohen
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part8.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Becoming An Agent of Change
by Janeanne Narrin

Every life has at its core a dream that quietly and unobtrusively asks to be
fulfilled. Each of us dreams such a dream. It is an important part of the
original blessing of being in this world. Purpose is another word for this
dream. If you wish to realize your purpose in life you best start by
relaxing. Relaxation allows for an open, unbounded, creative space. In this
openness you can celebrate, that is, apply yourself, exercise your talents
within the healthy boundaries of your chosen field or profession, get what
you want, and not give it away, but share it wisely. Relaxing, opening and
celebrating - three simple steps to individual well-being.

Woven into the formula for individual well-being is a need for supporting
the global community bringing our human endeavors into alignment with a
partnership model of reality. This means that everybody wins. Although based
on self-interest, everyone's actions contribute to the highest good of all
concerned. In their prayers our Native American brothers and sisters refer
to this extended sense of community as "all of our relations". All of our
relations of our global community comprise our fellow humans, the animals,
plants, minerals: the rocks, mountains and seas, the deserts, swamps and
wetlands, the great plains and wild forests.

How can we effectively support them? We could introduce ever more new and
tighter legislation - adopt stringent rules and regulations. We have seen
how this plan works. And about its effectiveness there can be no illusions.
Laws created by man are manipulative and subject to manipulation. Rules can
be bent and regulations have loopholes. Furthermore, rules and regulations
imply that we are ignorant of universal or natural law. By their very
existence they infer that we do not inherently know, feel or sense what is
right, but rather, because of our ignorance, must submit to some outside
authority. Poised between ourselves and the world, laws, rules and
regulations may even widen the gulf of separation between ourselves and
nature.

The benefit of "all of our relations" really cannot be decreed from the
outside. Founded on interconnectedness, it unfolds through understanding,
and through assimilating and growing into universal law. It amounts to a
deep healing partnership process-an empathic resonance, between nature and
humankind.

If we wish to support and restructure our global community in genuinely new
and liberating ways, we cannot do so just by the decree of manmade law.
Instead, we have to start closer to home, with ourselves, our personal
integrity, our own energy. In other words, we have to become ourselves,
whole and healthy individuals. We have to think for ourselves, wean
ourselves away from undue outside influence, take good care of ourselves
emotionally and physically, and follow our purpose in life - and we have to
be open and intuitively grasp the particular strands of universal law that
apply in a given situation.

In the energetic model of reality there is no separation. Focusing upon our
own wholehearted well-being, letting it flow through our lives and out to
others, will eventually help manifest a wholesome and healthy global
community. Not only do we have bodies and minds, but we also partake in and
embody the very energies that create the universe - and this in our
perception - moment by moment anew. This energy is our most precious
resource and can be directly accessed.

Years ago, the "100th monkey" theory was widely popular and often quoted. It
went like this: if, one by one, a hundred monkeys on a distant island learn
how to use sticks for picking bananas the knowledge of picking bananas with
sticks all of a sudden becomes an integral part of monkey consciousness. All
monkeys everywhere all around the world will then be privy to this knowledge
and be able to use sticks to that end.

The principle of a vanguard few preparing a shift in consciousness applies
to humankind as well and has inspired many changes in past history. Anyone
can be such an agent of change, but the more dedicated you are to what you
are doing the more impact you will have as an agent of change.

About The Author
Janeanne Narrin, MA, CSW, Reiki Master/Teacher and artist , is a management
consultant with a corporate practice which focuses on issues of Right
Livelihood. This article is excerpted from the introduction of her book "One
Degree Beyond - A Reiki Journey into Energy Medicine". Excerpted with
permission from the publishers: Little White Buffalo Publishing Cottage,
Seattle, WA. www.onedegreebeyond.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fourth Step Prayer

Dear God,
It is I who has made my life a mess.
I have done it, but I cannot undo it.
My mistakes are mine & I will begin a
searching & fearless moral inventory.
I will write down my wrongs,
but I will also include that which is good.
I pray for the strength to complete the task.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until
they arrive.     ~ Anats Nin

We are surrounded by women and men who are necessary for our
development. That's a startling revelation perhaps. We don't even like
everybody in our life! How can we need them? But we do. Our Higher
Power clearly understands our purpose and our needs, and ushers into
our lives those people who will help us grow and change and con-
tribute. It sounds mysterious initially, but when we get accustomed to
the idea, we are relieved. Each person will teach us something we need
to know about life and about ourselves.

Our individual character is growing, changing, maturing. Our
understanding of others and our experiences deepens with each
unfolding event. The world is ever-changing. By design, not
coincidence, we will befriend those people who need us, just as we
need them.

I am where I need to be. My friends and associates need me as I need
them. We are moving and growing in concert

From the book, A Woman's Spirit by Karen Casey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Good bye old cork tree

The gardeners from my home town hall ripped down my favorite old tree.
It was a huge and large cork tree. This elderly tree was majestic.
It was necessary for four men to embrace his stem.
I used hide me in its top, or used to embrace since I was a kid.
People say that tree was too old and was very sick.
I didn't noticed what was going on with my public garden, favorite tree.
There are things going on that really matters to me and I don't notice.
I'll promise myself to pay more attention to life.
Good bye old cork tree

Carlos, from Lousada, north Portugal
carvalheiras99@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just as a sunbeam can't separate itself from the sun
and a wave can't separate itself from the ocean;
we can't separate ourselves from one another.
We are all part of a vast sea of love one indivisible divine mind.
Marianne Williamson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We attract into our lives that which
we focus upon with the strongest intent.
Unfortunately, most of us do not monitor our thoughts,
and therefore have no idea of
what we are thinking about most of the time."
Iyanla Vanzant
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We are spirits with clothes on!"
Amber Jayanti, author of The Quabbalah
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There's no thrill in easy sailing when the skies are clear and blue,
there's no joy in merely doing things which anyone can do.
But there is some satisfaction that is mighty sweet to take,
when you reach a destination that you thought you'd never make.
Spirella
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Every time you're in a hurry to finish and go to the next thing,
you're in a state of competition,
and negativity is going to result from it.
Every time you're in a state of gratitude and have clarity of vision
and are making the leap of faith into it by walking toward it,
you're producing the positive energy around you.
Then people will look at you, and you'll wonder why they're staring.
It's because they are seeing a demonstration of
that invisible substance being made visible.
John Roger
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The gift is in the giving.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What do you have ,
if you have nothing to give?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Get a sponsor,
Use a sponsor,
Be a sponsor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This light bulb is shining,
but the power is coming from another source.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
by sending an Email message to:
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 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:
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
and write unsubsribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe
<http://health.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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1540

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:19 pm
Subject: 1/29/05 "That Invisible Line" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

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Sharing
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/classics/sharing.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 29
Today I will treat myself to quiet time.
Today I will be gentle with myself
as I let myself do nothing but be who I am.
Today I will value what I think.
Written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
That Invisible Line

So many cross that invisible line
Feeling good and feeling fine
Party hearty we all have said
That invisible line is in your head
We spend our time
Chasing that elusive buzz
Thinking back to what was
Then comes the day when
It takes more
More, score and more
We find ourselves living for more
Then we want just one more hit
We are strung out
Find it is impossible to quit
Strange how we
Are the last to know
Until we find out
It's impossible to let go
We step all over
The hearts we love
Trying to raise our spirits above
It makes no difference what we use
We wake up and find
We have lost the choice to choose
We come to face the fact
We are about to lose
When you play with fire
You'll get burned
Out goes the values
You once learned
All around us we see
Our friends die
We have even lost
The ability to cry
As we stand and realize
We can only deny
Then it's over
We crash and burn
We then get grateful
That we did learn
That we made it to recovery
With God and our sponsor
We will see
The other side of
That invisible line

Daniel M Corkery
12/2/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
More Cartoons
<http://www.recoveryjonescartoons.com/more_cartoons!.htm>

Git R Done
<http://www.michigan-na.com/Git%20R%20Done.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 29                         The First Step-an action step

"Do we understand that we have no real control over drugs?"
Basic Text p. 18

At first, many of us may have thought the First Step required no action-
we just surrender and go on to Step Two. But Step One does require
action!

The action we take in the First Step will be evident in the way we live,
even from our first day clean. If we truly believe that we are powerless
over our addiction, we will not choose to be around drugs. To continue to
live with or associate with practicing addicts may indicate a reservation
in our program. An absolute belief that the First Step applies to us will
insure that we clear our homes of all drugs and paraphernalia.

As time goes on, we'll not only continue with the basics but add new
actions to our First Step repertoire. We'll learn to feel our feelings
rather than trying to control them. We'll stop trying to be our own and
only guides on our recovery journey; self-sponsorship will cease. We'll
begin looking to a Power greater than ourselves more and more for
spiritual satisfaction rather than trying to fill that void with something
else.

Surrender is only the beginning. Once we surrender, we need to learn
how to live in the peace we have found.

Just for today: I will take all the action necessary to practice the
First Step. I truly believe it applies to me.

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:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

Faith has to work twenty-four hours a day in and through us, or we perish.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 16

The essence of my spirituality, and my sobriety, rests on a round-the-clock
faith in a Higher Power. I need to remember and rely on the God of my
understanding as I pursue all of my daily activities. How comforting for
me is the concept that God works in and through people. As I pause in my
day, do I recall specific concrete examples of God's presence? Am I amazed
and uplifted by the number of times this power is evident? I am
overwhelmed with gratitude for my God's presence in my life of
recovery. Without this omnipotent force in my every activity, I would
again fall into the depths of my disease -- and death.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 29th

A.A. Thought for the Day

What a load wasting money puts on your shoulders!
They say that members of A.A. have paid the
highest initiation fee of any club members in the
world, because we've wasted so much money on
liquor. We'll never be able to figure out how much
it was. We not only wasted our own money, but also
the money we should have spent on our families.
When you come into A.A., that terrible load of wasted
money falls off your shoulders. We alcoholics were
getting round shouldered from carrying all those loads
that drinking put on our shoulders. But when we come
into A.A., we get a wonderful feeling of release and
freedom. Can I throw back my shoulders and look the
whole world in the face again?

Meditation for the Day

I believe that the future is in the hands of God. He
knows better than I what the future holds for me.
I am not at the mercy of fate or buffeted about by
life. I am being led in a very definite way, as I try to
rebuild my life. I am the builder, but God is the
architect. It is mine to build as best I can, under
His guidance.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may depend on God, since He has planned
my life. I pray that I may live my life as I believe God
wants me to live it.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Let Go of the Blocks

I wandered into the bookstore in a small Southern California town,
browsed for a while, then began chatting with the clerk.
"Times are different now," I said. "Changing fast.
Turning into something so new so different
many of us can't imagine."

"Yes," she replied quietly and prophetically.
"Things are going to be easier.
Unless there's something you're still hanging on to."

Is there something you're still hanging on to?
A remnant from the past that's blocking you from stepping into the future?
From stepping into today?

Look into your heart. The answer is there.
Perhaps it's a behavior, a person, a belief.
Is there an issue from the past that's blocking your ability to love yourself,
to connect with God, life, others?
Ask yourself if there's something you're hanging on to
that has outworn its purpose.
Old chains can tie us to the past, to the past pain, to a path,
we've already trodden, a place we've already been.

Now is the time to let go.
Gently, quietly, let go.
Allow yourself a few looks back and as many tears as needed.
Where you've been has been important.
It has helped shape who you are.
But have faith that where you're going
is important and wonderful, too.

Gently let go. Be free to step
into your future of joy.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I Had It All the Time, Alan Cohen
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part1.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part2.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part3.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part4.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part5.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/alacoh/part6.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Awakening On Your Path
by Alan Cohen

We are told in Genesis that "a deep sleep fell over Adam" - but nowhere does
it say in the Bible that he woke up! In essence, all the events that
followed Adam's falling asleep are a part of his dream.

Metaphysically, Adam represents all of us. We, too, have entered into a deep
sleep. As individuals, nations, and a planet, we have forgotten where we
have come from, who we are, and where we are going. An honest look at the
troubles we have created for ourselves reveals that we have painfully lost
sight of the visions that once painted our future. What began as a happy
dream seems to have tail spun into a nightmare. Struggling in the murky
shadows spun by the bony fingers of fear, it appears as if there is no
escape from the labyrinth of the problems we perceive. The heaviness of our
sleep has drawn dark curtains over the memory of our golden origin.

But nightmares always end with awakening. While the dream may seem
overwhelming when you are in it, it becomes as nothing the moment you open
your eyes. Sometimes the awakening is gentle, light, and easy. Often it is
startling and feels jarring. But if we are having a painful dream, one in
which we see ourselves as powerless, small, or unlovable, is it not worth
the shake-up in order to wake up?

The Citadel of Fear
Every sojourner of spirit must face the time when the walls that protected
his old world begin to crack. Sooner or later the chisels of life's trials
pick away at our armor. And this dismantling is wonderful, for there is no
greater tragedy than hiding behind something that we are not, living a life
that is less than we are. The universe is continuously working to remind us
of our identity and our purpose. If we are living a life that is untrue to
our soul's calling, our inner guide will not let us rest until we step back
onto our true course.

The time comes when we can no longer find refuge in our defenses. We
discover, often with awe, that it is precisely our defenses that have kept
us in darkness! We tire of straining to protect ourselves, and we feel
stifled and restricted by the walls we have built between our hearts and
others. Our defenses are not worth the love we lose in hiding. We cannot
afford to maintain a citadel of fear at the cost of peace. In our efforts to
keep pain away from our heart, we have also denied entry to joy. The moment
arrives when we must break free and make a stand for who we are. That moment
is now. The time has come to cast aside our cloak of smallness and don the
robe which honors our true magnitude. We must claim the strength to live in
the dignity befitting our identity.

When I first set onto my path of awakening, I felt as if my whole world was
falling apart. Many of the things to which I had devoted my time, attention,
and energy suddenly became meaningless. It can be very startling and
unnerving to discover that the values for which you lived no longer seem
real. I did not find the same satisfaction or communication with the friends
I was used to spending time with. I wondered why I was doing the kind of
work I was in. The social pursuits which had formerly brought me pleasure no
longer held gifts for me. I felt that most of the goals that I had strived
for were no longer worthy of my continued attention. My entire sense of
purpose had shifted. I had a brief taste of something more and better, but I
did not know how to make it a lasting element of my life. I felt lost
sometimes even as if I was going crazy. It was a dark night of the soul.

If you are passing through such a night, or have ever done so, take comfort
in knowing that such a void is a very important, helpful, and necessary part
of the journey. When planting a garden, the earth must be turned over,
tilled, and smoothed out before new seeds can grow; otherwise the old weeds
will overtake the seedlings. In the same way, before a new and shining
building can be erected, the old, dilapidated, and useless structures
standing on the lot must be cleared away. We must make space for something
new and better to enter our lives. While it may seem that we are out of
control or subject to forces greater than ourselves, it is important to
remember that there is a wisdom in the events that we attract to us. All is
for learning, growing, and healing. God is very present, and we are not
alone.

Such a time calls for faith, the knowing that everything somehow works out
for the best. It is not your world that is shattering, but your illusions.
God's world can never be shattered, for God's world is founded in love, the
only indestructible energy in the entire universe. If you feel
disillusioned, then take heart; dis-illusion means the end of an illusion.
Disillusionment is the best thing that could happen to anyone. It means that
something false has been undone, and the truth behind it is available to be
discovered. The truth is always healing. Only illusions are painful.
Therefore be glad, even proud, that you have had the courage to learn a
lesson that would break your illusions and replace them with greater
strength and wisdom.

Our pains and tribulations are the chipping of the cement off the Golden
Buddha. The armor falls away to reveal the gold. A worthless image is
crumbling, and the treasure is coming forth. It is the end of the cover-up
and the beginning of the radiance. In such a birth, there is great cause for
joy.

Peace Must Come
Once you have begun to awaken, you can never really go to sleep again. Oh we
can doze a wink or two here or there, but once the climber has caught sight
of the mountaintop, nothing can stop her from reaching the summit. We have
come too far to turn back now. We have played out many of our fantasies and
idle wishes. We have been teased, tantalized, titillated, and seduced by the
cheap perfume of shallow dreams, and somehow the aroma just doesn't turn our
heads like it once did. Now we want peace more than idols.

To dare to be yourself means to live in the spirit of power rather than
weakness; to proceed from peace instead of clamoring to maintain defenses;
to want the reality of love more than the nightmare of fear. And we do.

The time has come for us to be released from the burden of living for dreams
other than our own. Armoring is for protection, not expansion. The Golden
Buddha must stand in the sunlight. We are living in the age on earth when
men and women are stepping forth to claim freedom. There is a great wave of
awakening that cannot be denied, suppressed, or reversed. Those who align
with the expansion are empowered and uplifted by a Force much larger than
themselves. And those who resist or oppose it are gripped in only deeper
struggle. We must choose between love and fear, and learn the truth of the
one and the uselessness of the other.

Peace must come to those who ask for it. Strength must be given to those who
claim it. And love must bring healing to all who open their arms to receive
it. The time of awakening is at hand.

This article was excerpted from "Dare To Be Yourself" by Alan Cohen

About The Author
Alan Cohen is a well-known lecturer, author of several books including:
"Healing of the Planet Earth," "Rising In Love" and "The Peace That You
Seek." Alan helps others to become more whole and loving. Excerpted with
permission from "Dare To Be Yourself," by Alan Cohen, ©1991 Alan Cohen
Publications. To learn more about Alan and find out about his seminar
schedule, visit the Hay House website at http://www.hayhouse.com or call
1-800-462-3013. To write to Alan Cohen directly or receive more detailed
information about his Mastery Training, write to 455-A Kukuna Road, Haiku,
Hawaii 96708, call 800-568-3079, or visit his website www.alancohen.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Learn To Write In The Sand

Two friends were walking through the desert.
In a specific point of the journey, they had an
argument, and Friend One slapped Friend Two
in the face. Friend Two was hurt, but -- without
saying anything -- wrote in the sand:

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis,
where they decided to relax in the cool water.
Friend Two started drowning, and Friend One
pulled him from the water and saved him. When
he recovered from the fright, Friend Two wrote
on a stone:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.

Friend One asked Friend Two, "Why, after I hurt
you, did you write in the sand, and now you write on
a stone?" Friend Two, smiling, replied, "When a
friend hurts us, we should write it down in the sand,
where the winds of forgiveness can erase it; when
something great happens, we should engrave it in the
stone of the memory of the heart, where no wind can
erase it."

Learn to write in the sand.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
" Illusions "

As I sit and think of life on earth,
and how it looks to me.
I have this vision of what it is,
but is it really what I see?

We view ourselves in certain ways,
with all of our imperfections.
We hope the person of our dreams,
will be the recipient of those affections.

The little world in which I live,
has appeared to be quite deranged.
I've lived a life in Satan's hell,
but God's love can still be arranged.

We spend our time improving,
how we think and act in life.
We hope that other's can see us,
through the clouds and fog of strife.

Everything we see is an illusion,
and in the eyes of the beholder.
We can only pray for improving sight,
their warmth, their love, and a shoulder.

When I try to view the future,
the picture gets ever so blurry.
If I am to believe that illusions come true,
I have to have faith, and not worry.

Whatever God has in store for me,
will be just fine if I walk by his side.
I'm enjoying this spiritual illusion,
and accept life and no longer hide.

Dedicated to everyone who has a vision in life.
God bless all of us. - Kenny B.
kennyb20@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Third Step Prayer

God,
I offer myself to Thee
To build with me & to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness
to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy love & Thy way of life.
May I do Thy will always!

Alternate Prayer

Take my will & my life,
Guide me in my recovery,
Show me how to live
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Loving Present
by Tara Singh

0ne moment of the present is worth your whole lifetime. The present is
complete; it has no limitations. It is holy. It is blissful. In the present,
whatever you do would be of love. You could multiply the fish and the bread.
Our true Self is timeless. You see, time only comes when I invent a past and
a future. That is my invention. When I am in the past projecting images of
the future, I am dreaming. In reality there is only the present. You say,
"I'm helpless, I can't be in the present. I wish I could." And I say, "No.
Come to determination. Miraculous things happen in the present, when you do
not compromise."

Eat And Be Merry
As a young man in India, I went through a period when I would make myself
get up very early to sit quietly. If I fell asleep, I would not eat that
day. It was just my own nonsense; I thought it would please God. So I did
not eat for several days. I was walking on the road, when a truck stopped.
The people asked if I wanted a ride; they saw me as an unworldly person.
"Well," I said to myself, "God is kind. I better get to civilization to get
a meal; I am starved." Suddenly, the truck broke down, in the middle of
nowhere, and they began to fix it. Hours pass by -- I am so thirsty and
hungry. I see some berries growing in the planted fields, so I go toward
them. Then my brain tells me, "That is stealing." Then it says, "You are
hungry; leave some coins. When they come to harvest, they will find them."
Finally, I said, "No matter what, I am not going to steal and I am not going
to listen to this stupid brain of mine." I really came to determination. If
I am hungry, I am hungry.

When you are in the present, there is so much energy that thought can not
touch it. In the present, your mind is totally innocent; you are not
tormented by 'yes' or 'no' anymore. I came to that moment of innocence. As I
stood there in that freshness, someone came and gave me a handful of those
berries. By the time I looked up to say 'thank you', though I could see a
good distance, no one was there. I cried tears of joy. The glory of the
present! In the present there is love. I can speak from this direct
experience: all needs are met. Once your brain is silenced, you have the
power of the word.

This awareness would bring me to the present effortlessly. You do not have
to stop thought; you do not have to energize thought. You just let it be.
Awareness has the vitality to silence the mind. A silent mind is timeless;
it is in the present. Awareness is resting in God (A Course In Miracles,
109)

You are Blessed
Then you are God-like, your gladness and your gratefulness would bless your
neighbor and your friend. You have your peace to share. And your life
becomes simple. Whatever you do not need, you give to somebody else, In this
giving, you find love in you. It is a transformation; instead of wanting,
now you have something to give. When you become aware of someone in need,
you respond. And there is quietness in what you do. I rest in God. This
thought will bring you to the rest and quiet, peace and stillness and the
safety and the happiness you seek. This is True Knowledge. It changes your
state. There is no learning in it. It is like taking a bite of food; it
nourishes you instantly.

In this silent moment, you would see the holiness of your own light. Make
contact with your own kindness. It will liberate you from past and future.
Then you will extend your gratefulness. And in blessing others, you will be
blessed. The present is before time was, and will be when time is no more.
Look lovingly upon the present, for it holds the only things that are
forever true. ACIM, Text, Page 234.

About The Author:
Tara Singh is the spiritual teacher and founder of the Foundation For Life
Action. The above was excerpted with permission from their monthly
newsletter. Tara Singh can be reached at: Foundation For Life Action, P.O.
Box 48932, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What we must realize is that we cannot see everything.
We do not know everything.
More important, we must understand
that it is impossible for us to control anything.
The process of life is a spiritual one, governed by invisible,
intangible spiritual laws and principles."
Iyanla Vanzant
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"As you push our your thoughts and revel in the silence,
you will feel the energy of the loving presence flowing through you.
Give yourself an holy instant
to make a silent affirmation that you are with God."
Wayne Dyer
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What we give multiplies and circulates back to us
through the dynamic law of giving and receiving.
So, not only the time, talent, dollars and love that we give,
but also the resentment, the smallness, the bitterness, will do the same.
Whatever we give circulates back to us and it multiplies in our experience.
As you sow, so shall you reap.
Today, really think about what you are giving to the world and to yourself.
Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You are a rich and creative spiritual being.
You can never be less than this.
You may frustrate your potential.
You may identify with that which is less than what you can be.
But within you now and always is the unborn possibility
of a limitless experience of inner stability and outer treasure,
and yours is the privilege of giving birth to it.
And you will, if you can believe.
Eric Butterworth, Spiritual Economics
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Powerless but not helpless.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Move a muscle change a thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Recovery is not a race,
but I can't afford to coast.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It is not where we were that counts,
it is where we are going.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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 ,
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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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1539

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:28 pm
Subject: 1/28/05 "The 12 Steps We Arrived With" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 28
As I take the time to let my stress go today
I will be filled with love and peace and joy.
I will be aware of these feelings
through my day and share them with others.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The 12 Steps We Arrived With

1. We admitted we were powerless over nothing -
    that we could manage our lives perfectly and
    those of anyone who would allow us.

2. We came to believe that there was no power
    greater than ourselves and the rest of the world
    was insane.

3. We made a decision to have our loved ones turn
    their wills and their lives over to our care even though
    they couldn't understand us at all.

4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory
    of everyone we knew.

5. We admitted to the whole world the exact nature
    of everyone else's wrongs.

6. We were entirely ready to make others give us the
    respect we deserved.

7. We demanded others do our will because we were
    always enlightened.

8. We made a list of all persons who had harmed us and
    became willing to go to any lengths to get even with them all.

9. We got direct revenge on such people wherever
    possible, except when to do so would cost us our lives
    or at the very least a jail sentence.

10. Continued to take inventory of others and when they
    were wrong promptly and repeatedly told them about it.

11. Sought through complaining and medication to improve
    our relations with others, as we would not understand
    them at all, asking only that they do things our way.

12. Having had a complete physical, emotional and spiritual
    breakdown as a result of these steps, we tried to blame
    others and to get sympathy and pity in all our affairs.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Recovery Cartoons Book #4 I am an Addict
<http://www.recoveryjonescartoons.com/book_4.htm>

Dynamics of Prayer
<http://www.michigan-na.com/Prayer%20&%20Masterbation.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
E.G.N.A. (Earth Group N.A.) is looking for NA Members
who are willing to share their story at our Speaker meeting
held on Sunday's at 8 PM EST.....
It takes time and commitment to type out your story in an online meeting...
You just never know who gets helped more, our members or yourself....
If you are interested, please contact Diane K. at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Earth Group N.A. ROCKS ! ! !*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 28                          An every-day addict

"We can never fully recover, no matter how long we stay clean."
Basic Text p. 80

After getting a little time in the program, some of us begin to think we
have been cured. We've learned everything NA has to teach us; we've
grown bored with the meetings; and our sponsor keeps droning the same
old refrain: "The steps-the steps-the steps!" We decide it is time to get
on with our lives, cut way back on meetings, and try to make up for the
years we have lost to active addiction. We do this, however, at the peril
of our recovery.

Those of us who have relapsed after such an episode often try to go to as
many meetings as we can-some of us go to a meeting every day for several
years. It may take that long for us to understand that we will always be
addicts. We may feel well some days and sick on other days, but we are
addicts every day. At any time, we are subject to delusion, denial,
rationalization, justification, insanity-all the hallmarks of the typical
addict's way of thinking. If we want to continue living and enjoying life
without the use of drugs, we must practice an active program of
recovery each day.

Just for today: I am an addict every day, but today I have the choice
to be a recovering addict. I will make that choice by practicing my
program.

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:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful and ask for
the right thought or action.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 87

Today I humbly ask my Higher Power for the grace to find the space between
my impulse and my action; to let flow a cooling breeze when I would respond
with heat; to interrupt fierceness with gentle peace; to accept the moment
which allows judgment to become discernment; to defer to silence when my
tongue would rush to attack or defend.

I promise to watch for every opportunity to turn toward my Higher Power for
guidance. I know where this power is: it resides within me, as clear as a
mountain brook, hidden in the hills -- it is the unsuspected Inner Resource.
I thank my Higher Power for this world of light and truth I see when I
allow it to direct my vision. I trust it today and hope it trusts me to
make all effort to find the right thought or action today.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ January 28th

A.A. Thought for the Day

What a load hangovers put on your shoulders!
What terrible physical punishment we've all
been through. The pounding headaches and
jumpy nerves, the shakes and the jitters, the
hot and cold sweats! When you come into A.A.
and stop drinking, that terrible load of
hangovers falls off your shoulders. What a
load remorse puts on your shoulders! That
terrible mental punishment we've all been through.
Ashamed of the things you've said and done.
Afraid to face people because of what they
might think of you. Afraid of the consequences
of what you did when you were drunk. What an
awful beating the mind takes! When you come into
A.A., that terrible load of remorse falls off your
shoulders. Have I gotten rid of these loads of
hangovers and remorse?

Meditation for the Day

When you seek to follow the way of the spirit,
it frequently means a complete reversal of the
way of the world that you had previously followed.
But it is a reversal that leads to happiness and
peace. Do the aims and ambitions that a person
usually strives for bring peace? Do the world's
awards bring heart rest and happiness? Or do
they turn to ashes in the mouth?

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may not be weary, disillusioned, or
disappointed. I pray that I may not put my trust
in the ways of the world, but in the way of the spirit.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Push A Different Button

If you keep pushing the same button, you will get the same results.
If you don't like the same results, maybe you could try pushing a
different button

"I try and try and I try. Nothing seems to change.
I don't know why he can't try to please me a little more;
I've done so much for him."
"The people at work just don't appreciate my efforts after
all that I've done."

If you find yourself reacting to the same situations with the same
responses over and over again, waiting for a change, stop!
If you've been pushing the same button again and again,
maybe the only result you're going to get is the one that's
been taking place.

Look at your relationships.
Is there a situation that has been moving steadily downhill
despite your best efforts to push the right button?
Do you find yourself responding to the same situations in the same
way over and over, never satisfied with the results?
Are you trying the same thing over and over, waiting for something
outside of yourself to change instead of doing something
differently yourself?
Maybe it's time to stop pushing the button,
walk away, and do something else.

God, give me the clarity to see the situation in my life honestly
and to act with wisdom and responsibility in the associations
that I have.

Melody Beattie ©
From - "More Language of Letting Go"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Even the Stars Look Lonesome, Maya Angelou
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/mayang/part4.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/mayang/part5.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/mayang/part6.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/mayang/part7.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Blissful Innocence
by Alan Cohen

A few years ago I attended a screening of made-for-TV video clips of
paranormal and supernatural phenomena. One of the more humorous segments
depicted "The Magnetic Family" of the Philippines - a family that, for some
unknown reason, has their bodies magnetized to such a high degree that metal
objects hold fast to their skin. The audience gasped and laughed to view
paper clips, metal forks, and even a steam iron stuck to the bodies of this
family, sheerly by magnetic force.

After the presentation the organizer introduced me to the group, and for a
joke I called myself "the Magnetic Man of Maui". The audience laughed, and
the gathering soon dispersed.

As I was standing on the porch of the house where the screening had been
held, a seven-year-old girl came up to me and tugged on my sleeve. I looked
down to recognize her as one of several children at the viewing. Then,
without a word, the child took a quarter from her hand and pressed it to my
bare forearm. At first I thought the girl was trying to give me the quarter,
but then, when the quarter fell to the ground, she frowned, looked up, and
exclaimed, "I thought you said you were magnetic!"

A moment of laughter soon deepened to a profound realization: An innocent
mind is open to all possibilities. Jesus taught "if you want to enter the
Kingdom of Heaven, you must become like a little child."

We have heard that "ignorance is bliss," and we usually judge and criticize
ignorant people. Yet there is a form of ignorance that serves us well, and
that is ignorance of limiting beliefs. A Calvin and Hobbes cartoon declared,
"It's not denial. I'm just selective about the reality I accept." Every
reality is available to you - including ones far more wondrous than the one
you now live in - and you can easily step into a bigger universe if you but
drop your beliefs of what you can't do. If you think you know it all, and
what you have learned is "the only truth", you cut yourself off from all the
truth grander than the one you currently know.

When I wrote The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore in 1981, I was blissfully
ignorant about writing and the book industry. I wrote for the sheer delight
of expressing myself creatively, and I published the book myself. Within a
few months the book became popular, and before long I was reprinting in
volumes of 10,000 and traveling around the world to present seminars.

Then one day I walked into a bookstore where my book was being sold, and I
was appalled at the huge number of books on similar subject matter - they
took up nearly a whole wall! Suddenly it occurred to me that if I had walked
into the store and saw all the excellent and successful work already
presented in my field, I probably would never had set pen to paper. But I
was ignorant - and that made all the difference.

Later as I got to know the publishing industry, I learned all the rules;
what kinds of books sell, covers that attract attention, agents who can
influence publishers, formulas to appeal to various kind of audiences, etc.
etc. etc. In retrospect, I sure am glad I didn't know the rules, because
most of the rules lead to the disappointing conclusion that only a small
percentage of writers will succeed. Some of the other people who did not
know the rules were Dale Carnegie, Norman Vincent Peale, and James Redfield.
Is there a message here?

Back in 1951, running a four-minute mile was considered physiologically
impossible, Then Roger Bannister ran the mile in 3:58, and within six months
forty other contenders beat the unbeatable limit. A few years ago in
Australia, a 61-year-old farmer named Cliff Young entered a grueling 400
kilometer race wearing coveralls and galoshes. As the younger well-trained
athletes who competed with him laughed, Cliff went on to win the race in
record time - a full day and a half before competition forty years his
junior How did Cliff do the impossible? Nobody told him he was supposed to
sleep.

The word impossible begins with an imp. Get the imp out of your vision, and
you will return to your original innocence. God created the world in
perfection, and if we do not see perfection it is only because we are
choosing to use a vision that is smaller than God's. A friend told me, "I
used to think I was a perfectionist because everywhere I looked I saw flaws.
Now I realize that I was actually an imperfectionist. If I was really a
perfectionist, I would see only perfection."

Swami Satchidananda teaches, "We started out fine. Then we got de-fined. Now
we need to get re-fined." Perhaps children are the happiest people on the
planet because they have not learned what they cannot do. They have not been
taught to fear and judge and hate, and they have no concept that they must
justify their existence by hard work. Lord, please keep me ignorant, so I
may remember my innocence and see the world as You created it.

About The Author
Alan Cohen is the author of 15 popular inspirational books, including the
award-winning A Deep Breath of Life. For information about Alan's seminars
or to request a free catalog of Alan's books and tapes, call 1-800-462-3013
or visit Alan's web site at www.alancohen.com. Enrich your abundance by
joining Alan for the innovative online Year of Living Prosperously. Contact
Alan's office at P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708, (800) 568-3079 or email:
admin@....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Golden Years
    My best friend, Cocoa, and I live in a senior-citizen
apartment complex in a lovely small town. Cocoa is a ten-
year-old poodle and I am a sixty-nine-year-old lady, so you
can see we both qualify as senior citizens.

Years ago, I promised myself that when I retired I
would get a chocolate poodle to share my golden years. From
the very first, Cocoa has always been exceptionally well-
behaved. I never have to tell him anything more than once.
He was housebroken in three days and has never done anything
naughty. He is extremely neat - when taking toys from his
box to play, he always puts them back when he is finished.
I have been accused of being obsessively neat, and sometimes
I wonder if he mimics me or if he was born that way, too.

He is a wonderful companion. When I throw a ball for
him, he picks it up in his mouth and throws it back to me.
We sometimes play a game I played as a child - but never
with a dog. He puts his paw on my hand, I cover it with my
other hand, he puts his paw on top, and I slide my hand out
from underneath the pile and lay it on top, and so on. He
does many amusing things that make me laugh, and when that
happens, he is so delighted he just keeps it up. I enjoy
his company immensely.

But almost two years ago, Cocoa did something that
defies comprehension.    Was it a miracle or a coincidence?
It is certainly a mystery.

One afternoon, Cocoa started acting strangely. I was
sitting on the floor playing with him, when he started
pawing and sniffing at the right side of my chest. He had
never done anything like this ever before, and I told him,
"No."    With Cocoa, one "no" is usually sufficient, but not
that day. He stopped briefly, then suddenly ran toward me
from the other side of the room, throwing his entire weight
- eighteen pounds - at the right side of my chest. He
crashed into me and I yelped in pain.    It hurt more than I
thought it should have.

Soon after this, I felt a lump. I went to my doctors,
and after X-rays, tests and lab work were done, they told me
I had cancer.

When cancer starts, for an unknown reason, a wall of
calcium builds. Then the lump or cancer attaches itself to
this wall. When Cocoa jumped on me, the force of the impact
broke the lump away from the calcium wall. This made it
possible for me to notice the lump. Before that, I couldn't
see it or feel it, so there was no way for me to know it was
there.

I had a complete mastectomy and the cancer has not
spread to any other part of my body. The doctors told me if
the cancer had gone undetected even six more months, it
would have been too late.

Was Cocoa aware of just what he was doing? I'll never
really know. What I do know is that I'm glad I made a
promise to spend my golden years with this wonderful
chocolate brown poodle - for Cocoa not only shares his life
with me, he has made sure that I will be around to share my
life with him!

By Yvonne A. Martell from Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul
Copyright 1998 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marty
Becker and Carol Kline
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Second Step Prayer
God,
I know in my heart that only you can restore me to sanity.
I humbly ask that you remove all twisted thought &
addictive behavior from me this day.
Heal my spirit & restore in me a clear mind.
Alternate Prayer
I pray for an open mind so I may come to
believe in a Power greater than myself.
I pray for humility & the continued
opportunity to increase my faith.
I don’t want to be crazy any more.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Patient And Loving

Be patient and loving
To those you see
You may be the link
That helps them break free
After all we are truly the same today
In here no one is on top
We don't work that way
Always be ready to offer a helping hand
Be patient and loving
Listen and try to understand
You may be the only big book
The so many people see
Always remember
Why we are free
We are free to help others get in
On our knees is how most begin
Be patient and loving to everyone
For truly here our work is never done
King alcohol is a very mighty foe
Once he grabs you
It's hard to let go
This is surely a program of action
Watching others recover
Brings about satisfaction
Be patient and loving to all
This will help you to avoid a fall

Daniel M Corkery
5/31/2002
DMCDREAMER1@aol.com
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
No More

There can be no more.

The seeming pain of this white demon's absence-
Doesn't hold a candle to it's presence.
The Demon demands my adoration;
Then strips me of my hopes, dreams, and desires:
They are my homage to the white god.
This demon spews forth destruction,
From his throne within my body.
I am become the pedestal-
Upon which this demon preaches it's hollow sermon

There can be no more.

Children cannot conceive of death-
Until the view the result;
This demon does not live outside of death,
So lets me die alive every day.
The demon strokes my ego with its breath-
And rots my self-worth.
A master of sculpting obsession-
This demon comes wrapped in my wishes,
With a nicely tied barbwire bow.

There will be no more.

Rewards can be earned though obedience,
The demon can fill any void or quench any thirst;
Though it rarely mentions that the menu is me.
This demon once a stranger-
Has dragged me away from the world,
Replaced my family, god, and my friends.
I have sacrificed myself without reserve-
Material items are worthless and can be replaced;
Fighting with myself and wanting to lose,
Erasing the past and killing the future is much harder to correct.

There will be no more.

Climbing up cliffs to get to paradise-
After living in a hell that is self-made;
Bring on the mountains,
At least with this challenge a winner is possible.
No pain of my own shall I fell a his departure-
Time is required to separate myself from the demon;
This creature likes it's home and won't go without a fight.
One on one the demon will kill me-
So I have asked Faith and Hope to stand in my corner.

I have stopped bowing to the demon-
There will be no more submission.
This is the end of it's reign..

Sid the Sidster
s_chichester@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Many of us grew up in dysfunctional families,
because modern society is a dysfunctional place.
But the spiritual journey, the path of recovery and personal growth,
is a detoxification process in which we bring up
and out the negative beliefs we have carried with us
from the past and that now poison the present.
Marianne Williamson, A Woman's Worth
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Receiving the Grace of God's love
has nothing whatsoever to do with the conditions of our life.
It has everything to do with the condition of our heart.
Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Help your brother's boat across,
and your own will reach the shore.
Hindu proverb
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We are learning how to abandon outmoded
standards so we may participate in manifesting
God's love onto the planet. By doing this, we will
generate the necessary energy and responses from
the Light to wherever people are crying out.
John Morton
(From: The Blessings Already Are)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
God will move a mountain
but you have to bring the shovel.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
With God I can,
without me he won't.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Faith without works is dead.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
FAITH = Fantastic Adventures In Trusting Him
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
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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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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."
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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
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Even if your country is listed
please email me, and let me know where you are from.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1538

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Thu Jan 27, 2005 12:52 pm
Subject: 1/27/05 "Search Deep Within" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Hospitals and Institutions
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/classics/h&i.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 27
As I stop today and take the time to be still,
I become in touch with my Higher Power.
I feel myself filling with love and with peace
as I relax and let go of the stress in my day.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Search Deep Within

That feeling of loneliness, the ache to be loved
drives me to places I never dreamed of.
The only true power to deal with this pain,
I find on my knees once again.

There are things God has given me, that I do instead
of running to sex, food, drugs or self pity ...
I walk on the beach, write, clean up my house.
Do something for someone who truly needs help.
I tell myself daily, "there is a way out".
I don't have to give in, give up or pout.

Search deep within for your God-given gifts.
Use them to be your best self.
This loneliness is just a symptom of needing peace.
That only comes,
from a power greater than yourself.

Raven 1/14/03
ravenstrongheart@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Recovery Cartoons I am an Alcoholic 2
<http://www.recoveryjonescartoons.com/book_3.htm>

What ISNT The N.A. Program
<http://www.michigan-na.com/What%20Isn't%20the%20NA%20Program.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EGNA (Earth Group N.A.) is looking for NA Members
who are willing to share their story at our Speaker meeting
held on Sunday's at 8 PM EST.....
It takes time and commitment to type out your story in an online meeting...
You just never know who gets helped more, our members or yourself....
If you are interested, please contact Diane K. at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Earth Group N.A. ROCKS ! ! !*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 27                              Learning how to live again

"We learn new ways to live. We are no longer limited to our old ideas."
Basic Text p. 54

We may or may not have been taught right from wrong and other basics
of life as children. No matter, by the time we found recovery, most of us
had only the vaguest idea of how to live. Our isolation from the rest of
society had caused us to ignore basic human responsibilities and develop
bizarre survival skills to cope with the world we lived in.

Some of us didn't know how to tell the truth; others were so frank we
wounded everyone we talked to. Some of us couldn't cope with the
simplest of personal problems, while others attempted solving the
problems of the whole world. Some of us never got angry, even when
receiving unfair treatment; others busily lodged complaints against
everyone and everything.

Whatever our problems, no matter how extreme, we all have a chance in
Narcotics Anonymous to learn how to live anew. Perhaps we need to learn
kindness and how to care about others. Perhaps we need to accept
personal responsibilities. Or maybe we need to overcome fear and take
some risks. We can be certain of one thing: Each day, simply by living life,
we'll learn something new.

Just for today: I know more about how to live than I did yesterday,
but not as much as I'll know tomorrow. Today, I'll learn something
new.

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:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

The member talks to the newcomer not in a spirit of power but in a spirit
of humility and weakness.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE p. 279

As the days pass in A.A., I ask God to guide my thoughts and the words that
I speak. In this labor of continuous participation in the Fellowship, I
have numerous opportunities to speak. So I frequently ask God to help me
watch over my thoughts and my words, that they may be the true and proper
reflections of our program; to focus my aspirations once again to seek His
guidance; to help me be truly kind and loving, helpful and healing, yet
always filled with humility, and free from any trace of arrogance.

Today I may very well have to deal with disagreeable attitudes or
utterances -- the typical stock-in-trade attitude of the still-suffering
alcoholic. If this should happen, I will take a moment to center myself in
God, so that I will be able to respond from a perspective of composure,
strength and sensibility.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 27th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Alcoholics carry an awful load around with them.
What a load lying puts on your shoulders! Drinking
makes liars out of all of us alcoholics. In order to
get the liquor we want, we have to lie all the time.
We have to lie about where we've been and what
we've been doing. When you are lying you are only
half alive, because of the fear of being found out.
When you come into A.A., and get honest with
yourself and with other people, that terrible load
of lying falls off your shoulders. Have I gotten rid
of that load of lying?

Meditation for the Day

I believe that in the spiritual world, as in the material
world, there is no empty space. As fears and worries
and resentments depart out of my life, the things of
the spirit come in to take their places. Calm comes
after a storm. As soon as I am rid of fears and hates
and selfishness, God's love and peace and calm can
come in.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may rid myself of all fears and resentments,
so that peace and serenity may take their place. I pray
that I may sweep my life clean of evil, so that good may
come in.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
   Its difficult to be around people who are trying to be perfect--
perfectly healthy, perfectly polite, perfectly poised, perfectly
controlled.

Remember that being human means being imperfect, being flawed. Let
yourself be. Let others be. Slouch in your chair. Eat with the wrong fork.
Laugh out loud. Stand up and reveal who you are and know that your good
enough.

Stop worrying that people will find out who you really are. Instead,
hope that they do. Help them by openly sharing yourself and being not
who you think you should be, but who you really are.

Freedom is just a small step away--a step into self--love and
acceptance. When you take it, others will follow. And they'll
be grateful you lead the way.

© by "Journey to the Heart
Daily Meditations On The Path To Freeing Your Soul"
By Melody Beattie
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now , Maya Angelou
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/mayang/part1.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/mayang/part2.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/mayang/part3.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Beware the Burden of a Busy Mind

by Richard Carlson
best-selling author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Think about your home, for a moment. Most of us would probably agree that
there's an ideal amount of stuff -- furniture, knicknacks, decorations, art,
towels, clothes, pots and pans -- when everything fits nicely. At some
point, however, when you cross a certain line, the result is clutter.
There's a point of diminishing return. While some clutter might not be so
bad, and we certainly all have our own tolerance levels, it's still fair to
say that at some point it begins to interfere with the sense of order,
beauty, and organization in our homes. It becomes too crowded and more
difficult to find things. You end up misplacing your keys, wallet, and other
important stuff because everything is such a mess. It becomes harder and
harder to find places to put things, and it's much more difficult to keep
the house clean. It's simply too full.

This is a great metaphor for the way we treat our minds as well.

There is a huge tendency, in many of us, to have way too much going on
inside our minds, at the same time. It's too crowded in there. After all,
consider what we have happening within our individual heads at any given
moment.

There are all the plans about our future. What are we going to do with our
life? What's going to happen later today, next week, next month, and next
year? How will we get all of our work done, get the kids to soccer practice,
and pick up the dry cleaning, all before five? "Whoops, I forgot to call
Bill," we think to ourselves; and, "I've got so much going on at work."
Meanwhile, we're planning our son's birthday party and trying to remember
where we put our receipts as tax time approaches! At the same time we're
thinking, "How will I survive when I retire and get older? How will it all
come together?"

In our minds, this can get very complicated and involved. Our thinking is
relentless. Hundreds of thoughts and decisions about various things are all
vying for our attention. There is conflict among our thoughts. "I want to
buy the stereo, but I'm trying to save money." Then there are all those
thoughts regarding what others think about us.

There's also memory -- all the things that have happened to us in the past.
There are the recent memories such as the argument we had an hour ago, as
well as the long-term memories such as what happened to us when we were
kids. Then there are our hour-to-hour schedules, our daily to-do list. Even
if we have sophisticated electronic planners, we've got most of it in our
heads as well. We're constantly altering this list as well as evaluating how
we're doing. We add things, check off others, and make adjustments. Then
there's good old-fashioned worry. What could happen to us -- what could go
wrong? How can we prepare for the worst? Throw in a few resentments, goals,
and fantasies, and pretty soon it's just too much.

The tricky part about detecting a busy mind on an ongoing basis and having
the desire to get rid of it (or at least limit it) is that, first of all, it
seems totally "normal." You've probably always had a busy mind but never
considered it to be problematic. Plus, almost everyone else suffers from the

same problem. Our minds are like sophisticated computers on information
overload. Eventually our wires get crossed, which creates some sort of crash
or malfunction! Most of us become so accustomed to it, however, that we
don't give it a second thought.

Secondly, having a busy mind is not only socially acceptable but in many
ways, it's also admired. We look up to people who "have a lot on their
plates" and "many balls in the air." We might even be proud of the fact that
we, ourselves, have so much on our minds at any given moment, and that
somehow we can keep it all together. There's no doubt about it. It's tough
to get rid of something that we admire.

Finally, a busy mind seems so necessary. How could we possibly function in
our "busy" world with our "busy" lives if our thinking minds weren't going
full steam ahead, every waking moment?

An overactive mind can be very deceptive. When something is bothering you it
might, on the surface, seem obvious that the source of the problem -- the
culprit, so to speak -- is whatever your attention is on at that moment.
Suppose, for example, you have a fight with your spouse. She says something
that bothers you, and you fly into a rage. Instantly, you react. You get
caught up in the drama and even more agitated. Mentally you're arguing and
rehearsing your responses. You're convinced she's to blame. You're right --
and she's wrong.

The question is, "Would you have been so easily bothered and reactive had
your mind been clear and calm?" It's hard to know for sure, but it's
certainly worth considering. As it was, your mind was probably spinning in a
dozen different directions. You were tense and on edge before she made the
comment that upset you. You felt pressure, and your head was full of
concerns totally unrelated to your relationship with your spouse. Looking
back, it's easy to see that practically anything could have set you off.

Think about the pressure of living like this -- your mind always full,
constantly calculating. You've got it all, right there, on the surface. It's
one thought after another, after another -- all day long. Like a mental game
of Ping-Pong, your thoughts are flying back and forth. You are anything but
centered.

There are numerous benefits to having less on your mind at any given moment.
The first has to do with the way you'll feel. As the sheer volume of data,
information, planning, worries, figuring out, and wondering is reduced, even
slightly, you will feel as though you've just stepped out of a dark cave and
into the sunlight. You'll feel a sense of spaciousness, lightness, and
freedom. To me, it's the mental equivalent of having a cluttered desk --
with papers and folders stacked to the ceiling -- suddenly cleaned up and
organized. You'll feel a sudden sense of clarity, as if you can see light at
the end of the tunnel; the forest through the trees.

You'll also become less tense and reactive. Because your mind will be
quieter, you won't feel the impulse to "jump" at everything that goes wrong
or is unexpected, or overanalyze every thought regarding the slightest hitch
in your plans or expectations. You'll be able to pick and choose which
thoughts to give significance to, which ones to honor with your attention,
and which ones to attach less significance to, or to simply drop or dismiss.

One of my favorite metaphors on the subject of a busy mind is to think of an
elevator that has reached its capacity of sixteen persons or 2,500 pounds.
As long as the rule is honored and the number of people doesn't exceed the
capacity, the elevator operates safely at a high level of efficiency.
Although it's crowded in the elevator, it's not packed, and the passengers
remain relatively comfortable. The riders continue to cooperate with one
another, moving out of one another's way when necessary.

If you were to cram an additional twenty people into the elevator, however,
all hell would break loose. The passengers would become irritated and edgy,
and the elevator would no longer be safe. Riders would get in one another's
way, and the sheer volume of passengers would endanger the very process of
traveling up and down the elevator. There would be claustrophobia, anger,
confusion, and chaos.

Our mind is similar to that elevator. There is an optimal level of mental
activity whereby we remain relatively relaxed and operate at high
efficiency. Life doesn't get to us too much, even when things go wrong or
when the stakes are high. I know that when my own mind is free and clear, I
can keep my perspective pretty well. I can receive what could otherwise be
seen as "irritating news" and take it in stride. When my expectations aren't
met, I'm usually able to deal with it. What's more, when "bigger," more
significant things come up, I'm usually able to think clearly and
responsively in the moment.

When our "thought capacity" is on overload, however, the results can be, and
often are, disastrous. Little things start to bother us. There is too much
to keep track of, and we become frustrated and confused. On the surface,
such small stuff might not seem that important, but cumulatively over time,
it makes an enormous difference, especially when the stakes are high.
Imagine the clarity and wisdom that are needed when we are dealing with
really big stuff. A friend, for example, is hurting and needs help. If you
have "a thousand things on your mind," how helpful are you going to be?

Suppose your bills are getting out of control and you're overextended
financially. What you need most, of course, is crystal clear thinking. That
way, you can make the needed adjustments and come up with an intelligent
plan. What if, instead, your mind is filled with worries and overall
busyness? You could easily panic and even exacerbate the problem with poor
decision making.

I think of a busy mind as the early stage of nervousness, irritation, and
stress. It's the breeding ground for overreactions and poor decisions. When
looked at in this way, it's seen as being undesirable, which makes it easier
to be motivated to turn down the volume and velocity of our thinking, to rid
yourself of the grips of a busy mind. The key to calming down and quieting a
busy mind is to trust that, if you do, everything will be okay. If you empty
your mind, you won't be turning it off. It will still be working. In fact,
it will be smarter and work better and more efficiently. A wise,
intelligent, and orderly thought process will take over, and the appropriate
thoughts will emerge when needed. As Joe Bailey and I discussed in our book,
Slowing Down to the Speed of Life, it's comforting to remind yourself that
when it comes to your thinking, "less is often more."

You've probably had the experience of having an idea or solution come to
you, as if from out of the blue. Out of nowhere, you have an insight; the
perfect thought pops into your head at exactly the right time.

What I'm suggesting is that instead of these insights occurring randomly --
once in a while, by surprise -- we can learn to make them more of a way of
life. Each of us has the capacity to learn to relate to life from a calmer,
wiser perspective. Instead of being scattered and feeling rushed, we can
operate from wisdom and feel peace. Trusting in our own innate intelligence
instigates this process.

The implications of trusting in this process are invaluable. It suggests
that we don't have to try so hard, every moment of every day. We can let go
of the need to keep everything at the forefront of our minds at all times.
Instead, we can learn to trust that if we relax, the appropriate thoughts
and ideas will come to us at the right time. This doesn't mean we don't pay
careful attention to our schedules, keep a day planner, or think things
through. It has nothing to do with losing our "edge." In fact, any edge we
have is greatly enhanced. All we're really doing is learning to let go of
and release many of the thoughts that are weighing us down; the extra ones
that we don't need at any given moment. It's like letting go of a tight fist
or taking off a heavy backpack.

The way to begin is to pay calm attention to the level and volume of
activity going on in your mind at any given moment. Simply pay attention.
Don't judge what you observe, or be hard on yourself. As you spend time
observing your own thinking, you will find yourself becoming more "present."
You'll feel the peace that comes from training your attention to be where
you want to be at any given time.

I titled this strategy "Beware the Burden of a Busy Mind" because being
aware of the burden is half the battle. Beyond that, all that's necessary is
to gently drop the thoughts that aren't needed at any given time. That's it:
just notice them, and let them go.

Know that your thoughts will still be there, and that they will reemerge if
and when they are needed. For example, in the conversation I just mentioned,
I had confidence that if I dropped my "busy ness," meaning my unnecessary
thoughts, and could simply focus on my current conversation, then when it
was finished my memory would provide me with what I needed to do next. And
that's exactly what happened.

A moment-to-moment busy mind is a huge burden. If you can limit this burden
even slightly, you'll be amazed at this new source of creativity, as fresh
ideas and insights become more common. As you trust in a quieter, less
distracted mind, you'll also be amazed at how much calmer you can feel and
how much more perspective you can develop. Then, when big stuff happens,
you'll be ready. You'll be able to see exactly what is happening with
heightened perspective, without the burden of dozens of smaller issues
dominating your attention.

Over time, this awareness can become second nature, even normal for you. As
you empty your mind in this manner on an ongoing basis, you'll create
much-needed mental space that is the source of peace, insight, relaxation,
wisdom, and happiness. As you create space between your thoughts, you'll
find it easier to notice when there's too much on your mind.

I'm convinced that an overactive, busy mind is a true burden that interferes
with our natural wisdom, common sense, and happiness. I hope that as you
become familiar with the peace and joy that come from having less on your
mind, you too will agree.

This article is excerpted from What About the Big Stuff?, ©2002, by Richard
Carlson, Ph.D. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Hyperion.
www.hyperionbooks.com

About the Author:
RICHARD CARLSON is the best-selling author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff,
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work; Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens;
and Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Men, among other titles. He lectures
around the country and internationally, and lives with his wife and children
in Northern California.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Carpenter

   An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-
contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a
more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.

He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could
build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but
in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted
to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate
way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect
the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your
house," he said, "my gift to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a
shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have
done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less
than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to
live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much
differently. But we cannot go back.

You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or
erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said. Your
attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in
tomorrow.
Build wisely!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This Moment

THIS MOMENT I may never see tomorrow, there's no written guarantee,
And things that happened yesterday belong to history,
I can not predict the future, I can not change the past,
I have just the present moments, I must treat it as my last,
I must use this moment wisely for it soon will pass away,
and be lost forever as part of yesterday,
I must exercise compassion, help the fallen to their feet,
Be a friend unto the friendless, make an empty life complete,
The unkind things I do today may never be undone,
And friendships that I fail to win may nevermore be won,
I may not have another chance on bended knees to pray,
and I thank God with a humble heart for giving me this Day.

Author Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hope is really a form of blessing.
To bless is to increase, to allow something to unfold in its fullness.
To hope is to create a sacred space, a space of possibility,
in which the goodness of the Universe can express itself.
The stance we adopt in that sacred space is one of
readiness, openness and non-attachment to a particular outcome.
Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., Fire In The Soul
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
T. S. Eliot
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It's the crushed grape that yields the wine.
Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"When we look back,
we realize that the things which came to us
when we put ourselves in God's hands
were better than anything we could have planned."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, Working With Others pg. 100
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"If the only tool you have is a hammer,
               you tend to see every problem as a nail."
Abraham Maslow
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Appreciation is a powerful tool to shift perspective. Finding something to
appreciate during a difficult situation quickly moves the perspective to
the big picture from the little picture.
From Chaos to Coherence, Doc Childre and Bruce Cryer
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Recovery is beyond my wildest dreams.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I am happy, joyous and free.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Recovery is a continual process
of things that I never expected to happen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Free at last, Free at last
Thank God Almighty, I am Free at last.
Martin Luther King Jr.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
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Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
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"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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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."
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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 ,
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Even if your country is listed
please email me, and let me know where you are from.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1537

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Wed Jan 26, 2005 4:00 pm
Subject: 1/26/05 "Twelve Steps Away" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Sponsorship
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/classics/sponsor.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 26
Nothing can stop me from growing today
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twelve Steps Away

My life was in shambles
Addiction ran rampant in my mind
Fear consumed my every action
and faith was impossible to find.

Hope was nonexistent
Despair was my domain
Chaos was my lifestyle
My motivation was pain.

My bottom was high
My pain was extreme
Insanity was my captor
And happiness was a distant dream.

Then I stumbled upon life
One that promised peace and serenity
I learned that happiness is obtainable
when I develop honesty and humility.

My soul has a vision
And God has shown me the way.
Today I can find harmony in life;
It's only twelve steps away.

Kimberley H.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Recovery Cartoons Book 2 I am an Alcoholic
<http://www.recoveryjonescartoons.com/book_2.htm>

The Resentment Next Door
<http://www.aagrapevine.org/currentGV/jan05/article_ResentNextDoor.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EGNA (Earth Group N.A.) is looking for NA Members
who are willing to share their story at our Speaker meeting
held on Sunday's at 8 PM EST.....
It takes time and commitment to type out your story in an online meeting...
You just never know who gets helped more, our members or yourself....
If you are interested, please contact Diane K. at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Earth Group N.A. ROCKS ! ! !*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 26                                   Self-centeredness

"The spiritual part of our disease is our total self-centeredness."
Basic Text p. 20

   What is self-centeredness? It is our belief that the world revolves
around us. Our wishes, our demands are the only ones worth consideration.
Our self-centered minds believe they are capable of getting everything
they want if only they would be left to their own devices. Self-
centeredness assumes total self-sufficiency.

We say that self-centeredness is the spiritual part of our disease
because the self-centered mind cannot conceive of anything greater or
more important than itself. But there is a spiritual solution to our
spiritual malady: the Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous. The steps
lead us away from self-centeredness and toward God centeredness.

We strip away our delusion of self-sufficiency by admitting our own
powerlessness and seeking the aid of a Power greater than ourselves. We
acknowledge the bankruptcy of our self-righteousness by admitting we've
been wrong, making amends, and seeking knowledge of what's right from
the God our understanding. And we deflate our overwhelming sense of
self-importance by seeking to serve others, not only ourselves.

The self-centeredness afflicting our spirit can be treated with a
spiritual solution: the Twelve Steps.

Just for today: My guidance and my strength comes from a Higher
Power, not from my own self. I will practice the Twelve Steps to
become more God-centered and less self-centered.

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:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

Why all this insistence that every A.A. must hit bottom first? The answer
is that few people will sincerely try to practice the A.A. program unless
they have hit bottom. For practicing A.A.'s remaining eleven Steps means
the adoption of attitudes and actions that almost no alcoholic who is still
drinking can dream of taking.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 24

Hitting bottom opened my mind and I became willing to try something
different. What I tried was A.A. My new life in the Fellowship was a
little like learning how to ride a bike for the first time: A.A. became my
training wheels and my supporting hand. It's not that I wanted the help so
much at the time; I simply did not want to hurt like that again. My desire
to avoid hitting bottom again was more powerful than my desire to
drink. In the beginning that was what kept me sober. But after a while I
found myself working the Steps to the best of my ability. I soon realized
that my attitudes and actions were changing --if ever so slightly. One Day
at a Time, I became comfortable with myself, and others, and my hurting
started to heal. Thank God for the training wheels and supporting hand
that I choose to call Alcoholics Anonymous.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 26th

A.A. Thought for the Day

As we became alcoholics, the bad effects of
drinking came more and more to outweigh the
good effects. But the strange part of it is that,
no matter what drinking did to us, loss of our
health, our jobs, our money, and our homes, we
still stuck to it and depended on it. Our
dependence on drinking became an obsession.
In A.A., we find a new outlook on life. We learn
how to change from alcoholic thinking to sober
thinking. And we find out that we can no longer
depend on drinking for anything. We depend on
a Higher Power instead. Have I entirely given up
that dependence on drinking?

Meditation for the Day

I will try to keep my life calm and unruffled. This
is my great task, to find peace and acquire serenity.
I must not harbor disturbing thoughts. No matter
what fears, worries, and resentments I may have,
I must try to think of constructive things, until
calmness comes. Only when I am calm can I act as
a channel for God's spirit.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may build up instead of tearing down.
I pray that I may be constructive and not destructive.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Push A Different Button

If you keep pushing the same button,
you will get the same results.
If you don't like the same results,
maybe you could try pushing a different button.

"I try and I try and I try.
Nothing seems to change.
I don't know why he can't try to please me a little more;
I've done so much for him."
"The people at work just don't appreciate
my efforts after all that I've done."

If you find yourself reacting to the same situations
with the same responses over and over again,
waiting for a change, stop!
If you've been pushing the same button again and again,
maybe the only result you're going to get is
the one that's been taking place.

Look at your relationships.
Is there a situation that has been moving steadily downhill
despite your best efforts to push the right button?
Do you find yourself responding to the same situation
in the same way over and over, never satisfied with the results?
Are you trying the same thing over and over,
waiting for something outside of yourself to change
instead of doing something differently yourself?
Maybe it's time to stop pushing the button,
walk away, and do something else.

God, give me the clarity to see the situation in my life honestly and
to act with wisdom and responsibility in the associations that I have.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
<>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Getting Along With Difficult People
by Delia Sellers

What is the secret to dealing with difficult people? Emmet Fox said many
times that we live in a mental world. We say we live in the one Mind, and if
that is so, then our feelings must be known to others who are in the one
Mind. It's true that when we build up a feeling of resentment or anger
against another person, they really don't have to ask us, "Are you angry
with me?" They usually do ask, even when they think they already know the
answer. We communicate our anger by body language, facial expressions, and
by the short and snappy statements we make to them instead of conversing in
a normal manner.

There was a time in my life when if someone asked, "Are you angry with me?"
I replied, "No-o-o-o." They knew it wasn't true, I knew it wasn't true, and
the matter stayed unresolved. Because I didn't like taking issue with a
difficult situation involving a difficult person, we both missed an
opportunity to grow together through the experience. Our reluctance to deal
with difficult people, and/or difficult situations, results in our staying
stuck. What we resist we get to keep! That's how it works. Companies
dissolve because management forgets to communicate with the hourly paid
workers. Couples separate because they lack communication skills, or the
willingness to work their way through a painful crisis. Why not take a deep
breath and get the situation resolved right now?

Do you remember the story of St. Francis and the leper? St. Francis loathed
the leper. He couldn't bear to see him around, even though he felt guilty
about feeling that way. However, one day, a great feeling of compassion
swept over him. He put his arms around the leper, blessed him, and expressed
his love for him. According to the story, the leper was healed and St.
Francis healed of his loathing for the leper.

Sometimes we find it as hard to bless and forgive someone as it must have
been for St. Francis. But he put his arms around that body covered with
sores and both were healed. The same thing happens to us when we put love to
work in healing a relationship crisis. Everyone gets healed.

When we are dealing with difficult people it's hard to look at them, the
loathsome ones, and say in our minds all the good things we are supposed to
say. We are advised to forgive when it's so much easier to bear a grudge. If
we forgave, we would have to give up the feeling of being a victim. We would
have to give up our favorite stories. It would be hard to do. We've worked
on them a long time, perfecting them, getting the sequence of events in the
right order, omitting nothing.

Sometimes when listening to psychologists counseling people on the radio, I
am amused, because the caller is determined to tell their story, all of it,
each minute detail of every little moment when they felt wronged, hurt, and
victimized. I can hear the psychologist sigh, trying to break into the tale
of woe, but the person on the telephone just keeps going until the therapist
yells, "STOP!" She wants to get to the heart of the matter. The caller has
made her point, over and over, but she is engrossed in her own personal soap
opera. Although the listener called to get advice, she won't stop talking
and listen. One of the radio psychologists even uses sound effects to
interrupt this barrage of self pity pouring out of the telephone. It's tough
trying to get through to someone who is determined to be unavailable!

What can we do about a difficult people? We can't change them. Can we talk
to them? "But they have been hateful to me. Why can't I change them?"
"Because, my dear, the only person you can change is yourself." "Can we talk
to them?" "Yes, we can." However, we must not blame them, or become angered
by their resistance. Each one of us deals with our own reality. We cannot
force another person to communicate with us if they are determined not to do
so. We cannot reach another person if they are determined to remain
unreachable. It just means they want to stay in their playpen for now. They
have a right to do that if they want to.

Many of us have been in situations where we had to deal with difficult
people every day. We wished we had a genie in a bottle who would help us
escape, or make them disappear!

What can we do about the difficult people in our lives? We can pray and ask
for guidance. We can work out a plan of action and maintain a calm attitude;
or wallow in our self pity and sink deeper and deeper into it. Just as the
song says, "I never promised you a rose garden," -- well, life isn't all
roses, in fact, when we have problem people or situations in our lives, life
can seem really awful.

When we are faced with a situation that we would like to run away from we
tend to make poor decisions. When we are faced with a difficult person or
problem, it is important that the decisions we make and actions we take must
not be out of panic and anger, but out of quietness and an inward look for
divine guidance.

We tend to become consumed by our problems. We dwell on the ugliness of the
person who is giving us so much trouble, and lose sight of the fact that
every problem person provides us with an opportunity to practice what we
preach. There is a solution to every difficult situation. We forget that
this too shall pass.

We cannot keep running from the people who are like a scratchy label on a
new garment, and we can be sure that the universe will always provide us
with more and more of their clones, until we learn to solve the problem of
getting along with difficult people.

So, if this is a life pattern for us, we can ask ourselves why we keep
attracting this type of person, or this kind of situation into our
experience. At one time that kind of statement used to drive me crazy. When
I heard it I would say to myself, "I don't want awful people in my life; I
don't like being in difficult situations. It's absolutely untrue that I
attracted them!" Later I learned that when I saw them as an opportunity for
self-understanding, my attitude toward them changed. They either became my
friends or went out of my life. The situations became less frequent, or much
improved. The others really hadn't changed that much. I had simply changed
my place in consciousness. I didn't have to take a ship to Australia, or
move to Alaska. All I had to do was to change my attitude.

We can be a victim or we can take courage from the knowledge that God is
right in the center of the situation, and work on the solution. When we use
universal principles in solving a problem, it is solved in the most
wonderful way. Divine Mind, God, has this loving way which allows us to grow
through everyday situations, and to experience joy when we finally
understand that it was all a cosmic puzzle for us to solve.

Do you have a problem person or persons in your life? Give thanks for them
and the valuable lessons they have to teach you. Give thanks for them and
the lessons learned. The Universe will say, "Well done, now, here's another
one for you handle. Let's see what you learn from this one."

This article is excerpted from Getting It Right This Time, ©1998, by Dr.
Delia Sellers. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Delfans
Publishing, Prescott, Arizona, USA.

About the Author:
Dr. Delia Sellers is a public speaker, broadcaster and newspaper columnist.
After several careers, Delia worked with Dr. Jack Addington and his wife,
Cornelia, founders of the Abundant Living Foundation, and publishers of the
monthly magazine ABUNDANT LIVING. Visit her website at
http://www.abundant.atfreeweb.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fear

Do You Open Your Gifts?

Fear is the wrapping paper
around the gifts from God.

You must go through it and
Discard it to see what is inside.

When fear comes uninvited,
It is always an offering.
Do you flee...or can you cast aside
The covering and unwrap your gift?

Robert B. James
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
THORNS AND ROSES
   A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully.
One day, as he examined it, he saw that the bud would
soon blossom, but noticed thorns upon the stem. He
thought........How can any beautiful flower come from a
plant burdened with so many sharp thorns? Saddened by
this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before
it was ready to bloom, it died.

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose.
The God-like qualities planted in us at birth growing amid the
thorns of our faults.

Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the
defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly
come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and
eventually it dies. We never realize our potential. Some
people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else
must show it to them. One of the greatest gifts a person
can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns and find
the rose within others. This is characteristic of love...
to look at a person and know their true faults. Accepting
that person into your life, while recognizing the nobility
in their soul. Help them to realize that they can overcome
their faults.

If we show them the rose, they will conquer their thorns.
Only then will they blossom many times over.
"Love is a heavenly drop spilling from the chalice of life to
moderate its bitterness."
"Where the heart is willing it will find a thousand ways, but
where it is unwilling it will find a thousand excuses."

Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Playing with Life

Today I step lightly in the world
I enter with tender expectation
a playful anticipation
of what I may encounter there

Loosing the anxiety cloak
Letting go of fears
Embracing faith
I wish to see some colours of inspiration
all the words of healing inherent
in things magical to my soul

I have been hard and tight with
the doors of my imagination
Keeping Play and Joy at a distant
and untouchable space
outside my universe

Today I enter a place
of many verses
where Freedom to be is
the only condition of entry
I let windows and doors
fly open
and I am away ~
Will you join me?
or will you stay?

Love
Stella
© 2002 Stella Raymonde Savoie Johnson
Stella's monthly SoulZine features inspiration from articles,
meditations, affirmations, floral and herbal healers. Join here:
http://she.soulopen.com
Looking for alternative healing? Nutritional and Herbal help:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/herbalmenopause
Looking for Support in your Healing and Recovery? Come see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/healingfromprocrastination
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO ,,,,,,,

I love you enough to ......
allow you to find the God of your understanding,
however, wherever, and if ever you choose.
I love you enough to ......
allow you to make what I perceive
to be foolish mistakes.
I love you enough to ......
never possess you and never let you possess me.
I love you enough to ......
allow you to maintain your dignity
and never let you take away mind.
I love you enough to ......
allow you to seek help in your own way,
wherever and whenever you choose.
I love you enough to .......
never apologize nor cover up for you.
I love you enough to .......
be your best friend or never see you again.
I love you enough to ........
miss you but not be destroyed when
we are out of touch.
I love you enough to ......
drop all my expectations of you.
I love you enough to .......
become so serene
and at peace that I don't "need" you.
I love you enough to ......
let go of jealousy and anger.
I love you enough to ......
allow you to have your secret space
and to have my own.
I love you enough to .........
listen to you with an open heart when I can.
I love you enough to ........
never tolerate your unacceptable behavior and
forgive your unacceptable behavior when and if I am ready.
I love you enough to ......
allow you to grow faster or slower
than I do without resentment.
I love you enough to ......
allow you to take magnificent care of yourself,
your spirit and those things that are yours.
I love you enough to .......
allow you to become the beautiful person that you are.
I LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO LET YOU GO!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We know that life is always in process,
and always on its way to greater good.
We just can't see that.
During those times, we rely on our spiritual radar to navigate for us.
We trust that there's a happy ending.
By our faith, through our trust, we invoke its proof."
Marianne Williamson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"No one is less worthy than you,
even if that person's behavior toward you
is unwarranted and objectionable.
His fear makes him act toward you in a belligerent way.
Your fear makes you think of him
and act toward him in an
equally belligerent way.
Fear in one person tends to invoke fear in another.
That is the equation of mutual trespass."
Paul Ferrini
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The One we are waiting for and
the One we have been looking for is already here,
and has been here for a long time.
You are the spiritual being you've been searching to find.
John-Roger
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It's like God is saying, 'I place before you a day.
Create with it what you will out of your mind.
It is my gift to you.'
Alan Cohen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Those who fail to remember are doomed to repeat.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The ultimate form of insanity is to use.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It's a hell of a thing to be insane
and not know it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The joy is in the journey,
The destination is always changing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1536

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:46 am
Subject: 1/25/05 "Pieces" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Unmanageable
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/unmanageable.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

"The Light of God surrounds me.
The Love of God enfolds me.
The power of God protects me.
The presence of God watches over me.
Wherever I am, God is.
And all is well."

-- Unity Prayer of Protection

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 25
As I go about my day I trust
all my decisions to my positive inner guide.
Nothing from the past will block me or hold me back.
Today is mine to use for growth and recovery.
I love myself today.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Pieces

I'm broken into pieces,
Shards are scattered all around;
So many missing pieces
That are nowhere to be found.

Yet I still find I'm looking
For those pieces everywhere,
Looking deep inside myself
But I'm finding nothing there.

I see the empty places
That abound inside my heart,
The places scarred and broken
That are tearing me apart.

I feel so tired and lonely,
I'm starting to feel the rage.
Add the broken promises
To another empty page.

The unspoken promises
Granted every child at birth,
Of being loved and cherished,
That promise was broken first.

There may have been true caring
Before the abuse began
But how can there be real love
When sex was my dad's demand?

Pound by pound weight was added,
Food being comforting then.
Ridding my mouth of the taste
Of his ejaculation.

Keeping the family secret
So well that I lost my way;
My heart broken in pieces
Still in pieces now today.

All the anger towards myself
Is not where anger should be.
I didn't have sex with dad,
It's he that had sex with me!

And as I grasp the memories,
Pieces begin to be found,
Reasons behind my actions
Are no longer without sound.

For as I see the reasons
I know I'll begin to heal.
Surrounding myself with love
I hope I can some day feel.

© 1997 by Wendy Apgar
wendy@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Recovery Cartoons Book 1 Powerless and Umanageable
<http://www.recoveryjonescartoons.com/book_1.htm>

The Most Beautiful Woman
<http://www.storybin.com/sponsor/sponsor103.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EGNA (Earth Group N.A.) is looking for NA Members
who are willing to share their story at our Speaker meeting
held on Sunday's at 8 PM EST.....
It takes time and commitment to type out your story in an online meeting...
You just never know who gets helped more, our members or yourself....
If you are interested, please contact Diane K. at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Earth Group N.A. ROCKS ! ! !*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 25                              An added gift

"We see it happening among us every day This miraculous turnabout
is evidence of a spiritual awakening." Basic Text p. 49

We watch them walk in to their first meeting defeated, their spirits
broken. Their suffering is obvious, and their desire for help even more
apparent. They collect a welcome chip and go back to their seats, shaken
by the effort.

We see them again, and they seem a little more comfortable. They've
found a sponsor and are attending meetings every night. They still won't
meet our glance, but they nod their heads in recognition as we share. We
notice a spark of hope in their eyes, and they smile uncertainly when we
encourage them to keep coming back.

A few months later, they are standing straight. They've learned how to
make eye contact. They're working the steps with their sponsor and are
healing as a result. We listen to them sharing at meetings. We stack
chairs with them afterward.

A few years later, they are speaking at a convention workshop, They've
got a wonderful, humorous personality. They smile when they see us, they
hug us, and they tell us they could never have done it without us. And they
understand when we say, "nor could we, without you."

Just for today: I will find joy in witnessing the recovery of another.

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:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

With few exceptions our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected
inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a
Power greater than themselves.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 569-70

From my first days in A.A., as I struggled for sobriety, I found hope in
these words from our founders. I often pondered the phrase: "they have
tapped an unsuspected inner resource." How, I asked myself, can I find the
Power within myself, since I am so powerless? In time, as the founders
promised, it came to me: I have always had the choice between goodness and
evil, between unselfishness and selfishness, between serenity and
fear. That Power greater than myself is an original gift that I did not
recognize until I achieved daily sobriety through living A.A.'s Twelve Steps.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 25th

A.A. Thought for the Day

We used to depend on drinking for a lot of things.
We depended on drinking to help us enjoy things.
It gave us a "kick." It broke down our shyness
and helped us to have a "good time." We depended
on drinking to help us when we felt low physically.
If we had a toothache or just a hangover, we felt
better after a few drinks. We depended on
drinking to help us when we felt low mentally. If
we'd had a tough day at work or if we'd had a fight
with our loved one, or if things just seemed against
us, we felt better under the influence of alcohol.
For us alcoholics, it got so that we depended on
drinking for almost everything.
Have I gotten over that dependence on drinking?

Meditation for the Day

I believe that complete surrender of my life to
God is the foundation of serenity. God has
prepared for us many mansions. I do not look
upon that promise as referring only to the
afterlife. I do not look upon this life as something
to be struggled through, in order to get the
rewards of the next life. I believe that the
Kingdom of God is within us and we can enjoy
"eternal life' here and now.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may try to do God's will. I pray that
such understanding, insight, and vision shall be mine
as shall make my life eternal, here and now.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Embrace the Unknown

How boring it would be if we knew
everything that was going to happen.
Yet we are always trying to peek around the corner
and see ahead.

If we know everything that was going to happen,
we wouldn't need to experience it.
There would be nothing to learn, explore, or gain.
We'd stay in our heads instead of our hearts.
So often, it's the surprises of the moments and hours,
the unexpected twists and turns that give meaning
to our journey and make our lessons come alive.

Knowledge and wisdom you need.
Not too much to spoil the surprise.
Not too much to neutralize the lesson.

Just enough guidance to let
you know you are never alone.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Creating Love, John Bradshaw
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/johbra/part1.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/johbra/part2.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/johbra/part3.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Faithkeepers"

In the Native American tradition, one member of the tribe assumes the role
of "Faithkeeper." This person's role is to remain at peace, centered in
spiritual vision, no matter what events befall the tribe. Even if everyone
else in the tribe slips into pain, fear, or dissention, the Faithkeeper is
the one person the tribe can rely on as a lifeline to the Presence. This is
our role now.

In the face of the strange and shocking events that have recently occurred,
it would be almost humanly impossible not to be moved and challenged. Who
could look upon such inhumanity and not be shaken? Yet there is a place
within all of us that is always connected to our higher being. That is the
place to go to now. Your greatest contribution is your clarity, sense of
purpose, and vision. If you go into fear or terror, the terrorists have won.
They have succeeded in terrorizing you. Is that the role you would play?
Would you not rather overcome hatred with love? Doubt with trust? Sorrow
with comfort?

"Fear knocked at the door.
Faith answered.
No one was there."

The question is not, "Have you moved off your center?" The question is,
"How quickly can you regain it?" For many years we have been studying the
principles of spiritual truth. Now is the time to put them into practice.
When things are going well, it is easy to find God. When things seem
chaotic, it is harder. The strength we build by claiming divine order when
it is utterly unapparent is paramount. Spiritual mastery is gained in times
just such as these.

No single event has connected so many people throughout the entire planet
with a sense of caring and support. People from all over the world are
reaching out to share resources, blood, skill, money, and heart. There is a
miracle in here somewhere.

Let us not use this event as a way to stay disconnected from higher power.
Hold firm to your sense of wholeness and that of everyone you consider. When
you are upset you are ineffective to see a right course of action. When you
are hooked up, you are very powerful. Mahatma Gandhi noted, "The pure love
of one person can offset the hatred of thousands." The pure love of one
person can offset the anxiety of thousands. Let us each be that one person.

There are two elements to this event: What happened, and what we do with it.
What was done has been done. What will be is still in our hands. We can make
of it what we choose. We can use it as a justification to lash out or we can
build a new consciousness that has no home for terror. Let us begin by
quitting terrifying ourselves with scary thoughts. Love disarms.

We bless and send love and intentions for well-being to those most affected.
Words soothe little, but respect for your power edifies you. When one of my
parents passed away, a friend left a simple message on my answering machine
that helped me immensely: "I feel your strength." We stand in deep honor of
the leaders and people of New York, who are demonstrating immense courage
and cooperation. New Yorkers are compellingly resilient, and they will
prevail. Thank you for an awesome model of dignity and grace under fire.

Perhaps it is no accident that world attention is being focused on the World
Trade Center. Perhaps the message is that it is time to trade our old world
for one more connected to our center.

We will come out on the other side of this. We will pick up the pieces and
move on. And we will be closer to home for it.

Blessings,
Alan Cohen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A Bill of Assertive Rights

You have the right to judge your own behavior, thoughts and emotions, and to
take the responsibility for their initiation and consequences upon
yourself.

You have the right to offer no reasons or excuses for justifying your
behavior.

You have the right to judge if you are responsible for finding solutions to
other people's problems.

You have the right to change your mind.

You have the right to make mistakes -- and be responsible for them.

You have the right to say, "I don't know."

You have the right to be independent of the goodwill of others before
coping with them.

You have the right to be illogical in making decisions.

You have the right to say, "I don't understand."

You have the right to say, "I don't care."

You have the right to say NO, without feeling guilty.

-- Manuel J. Smith, Ph.D., ' When I Say No, I Feel Guilty'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rejoice In Today

This is a day we shall rejoice
Today we can now hear
The call of the inner voice
Gradually I start my day
On my knees I like to pray
Out of gratitude you can hear me say
This is a day that God has made
For these are the days
I would never trade
Today we have a choice
Will we let other hear our voice
As we turn to give it away
We can surely rejoice in today
Now we have a new direction
We worked the steps to correction
We have a new program to follow
No longer shall we wallow
In old self pity or shame
We have now changed
We now have goals
At which to aim
We can now rejoice
We can work together
We now all have a new choice
Easy does it but do take action today
Always be happy rejoice in this way
After we reach our goal we turn
To the new man offer a hand
Because we understand
We now have a choice
So in today rejoice

Daniel M Corkery
5/11/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future,
be totally unlike your past.
Your history is not your destiny.
Alan Cohen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hearing is a Gift
Listening is an Art
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"And could you keep your heart
in wonder at the daily miracles of your life,
your pain would not seem less
wondrous than your joy."
Kahlil Gibran.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Let yourself be silently drawn
by the strange pull of what you really love.
It will not lead you astray.
Rumi
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The seasons do not push one another;
neither do clouds race the wind across the sky.
All things happen in their own good time.
Dan Millman
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What we give multiplies and circulates back to us
through the dynamic law of giving and receiving.
So, not only the time, talent, dollars, and love that we give,
but also the resentment, the smallness, the bitterness, will do the same.
Whatever we give circulates back to us and it multiplies in our experience.
"As you sow, so shall you reap."
Today, really think about what you are giving to the world -
and to yourself.
Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
People are mirrors
It's what you don't like in someone else
that you don't like about yourself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I have never had just one
of ANYTHING.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I assumed that who is was
was what I did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Even when I abstained,
I didn't fit in.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
by sending an Email message to:
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 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
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To unsubscribe to to this list send an Email message to:
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or go to the website and unsubscribe
<http://health.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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1535

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Mon Jan 24, 2005 2:03 pm
Subject: 1/24/05 "The Thousand Pound Phone" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Affirmation
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/affirmation.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 24
Today I will accept all of me just as I am.
I will put aside all judgments and
I will rejoice at the miracle of my uniqueness.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Thousand Pound Phone

In dark isolation, feeling alone
Staring at my, thousand pound phone
Scanning the numbers, my support list
Frozen in fear, I somehow resist
Light as a feather, when lusting for dope
So hard to lift, when needing some hope
Head's in control, feel the disease
Desperate, I pray, "Take my will please"
Sponsor imparts, a portion of love
Passed on to him, from Someone above
Loneliness be gone, you're not my wife
Telephone thanks, you saved my life
When face to face, with my disease
I find some strength, down on my knees
Thanks be to God, I'm never alone
As together WE lift, the thousand pound phone

Poem by Kevin Kensick
recoveryjones@...
22/03/03
http://www.recoveryjonescartoons.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 ~ YOUnMEnHP@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Earthgroup N.A.
<http://www.egna.org/>
These are some GREAT N.A. Meetings that I have been attending.
The trusted servants here have been doing a GREAT job
at helping to "Carry the Message"

NA TERMINOLOGY IN CYBERSPACE
<http://www.recoverynukkad.com/HaHaHaageek.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EGNA (Earth Group N.A.) is looking for NA Members
who are willing to share their story at our Speaker meeting
held on Sunday's at 8 PM EST.....
It takes time and commitment to type out your story in an online meeting...
You just never know who gets helped more, our members or yourself....
If you are interested, please contact Diane K. at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Earth Group N.A. ROCKS ! ! !*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 24                      From isolation to connection

"Our disease isolated us... Hostile, resentful, self-centered, and
self-seeking, we cut ourselves off from the outside world."
Basic Text p. 3-4

Addiction is an isolating disease, closing us off from society, family,
and self. We hid. We lied. We scorned the lives we saw others living,
surely beyond our grasp. Worst of all, we told ourselves there was
nothing wrong with us, even though we knew we were desperately ill.
Our connection with the world, and with reality itself, was severed.
Our lives lost meaning, and we withdrew further and further from
reality.

The NA program is designed especially for people like us. It helps
reconnect us to the life we were meant to live, drawing us out of our
isolation. We stop lying to ourselves about our condition; we admit our
powerlessness and the unmanageability of our lives. We develop faith
that our lives can improve, that recovery is possible, and that happiness
is not permanently beyond our grasp. We get honest; we stop hiding; we
"show up and tell the truth;' no matter what. And as we do, we establish
the ties that connect our individual lives to the larger life around us.

We addicts need not live lives of isolation. The Twelve Steps can
restore our connection to life and living-if we work them.

Just for today: I am a part of the life around me. I will practice my
program to strengthen my connection to my world.

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:
I am new and I have read the 12 steps,
When I have shared on them in a meeting,
Why do people tell me to get a sponsor?
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NO REGRETS

We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83

Once I became sober, I began to see how wasteful my life had been and I
experienced overwhelming guilt and feelings of regret. The program's
Fourth and Fifth Steps assisted me enormously in healing those troubling
regrets. I learned that my self-centeredness and dishonesty stemmed
largely from my drinking and that I drank because I was an alcoholic. Now
I see how even my most distasteful past experiences can turn to gold
because, as a sober alcoholic, I can share them to help my fellow
alcoholics, particularly newcomers. Sober for several years in A.A., I no
longer regret the past; I am simply grateful to be conscious of God's love
and of the help I can give to others in the Fellowship.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 24th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Alcoholics who are living in a blind alley refuse to be
really honest with themselves or with other people.
They're running away from life and won't face things
as they are. They won't give up their resentments.
They're too sensitive and too easily hurt. They
refuse to try to be unselfish. They still want
everything for themselves. And no matter how many
disastrous experiences they have had with drinking,
they still do it over and over again. There's only one
way to get out of that blind alley way of living and
that's to change your thinking. Have I changed my
thinking?

Meditation for the Day

I know that the vision and power that I receive from
God are limitless, as far as spiritual things are
concerned. But in temporal and material things, I must
submit to limitations. I know that I cannot see the
road ahead. I must go just one step at a time, because
God does not grant me a longer view. I am in uncharted
waters, limited by my temporal and spatial life, but
unlimited in my spiritual life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that, in spite of my material limitations, I may
follow God's way. I pray that I may learn that trying to
do His will is perfect freedom.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Let Life Reveal Itself to You

You don't have to strain so, trying to get your revelations.
The guidance, the inspiration, the awareness
you need will come to you.

The way we're living now--from the heart--is much easier
than the way we lived before.
Sometimes it is so natural we might not understand what's happening.
We may even be uncomfortable at first with how easy it is.
We find ourselves straining to lift a heavy bowling ball,
when what we have to pick up is only a Ping-Pong ball.
Then we wonder why it feels so light.
We may question whether there's something
wrong because it feels so different.
Just because your life feels lighter doesn't mean
you're doing something wrong.

Your next step, the answer to the question you've been mulling about--
the direction for the next stage of growth,
where you will live next, what you need to do next about work,
money, or that problem you've been struggling with--will come.
If you're fussing and straining, you may not hear it.
Don't worry about getting all your answers
or your agenda for the years ahead.
That is not how this process works.
In order to participate in this more magical way of life,
trust that all you need to know will be revealed to you when it is time.

Relax. You're on a journey of discovery.
Let life reveal itself to you.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
John Bradshaw, Homecoming, Part 1
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/johbra/part4.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/johbra/part5.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/johbra/part6.shtml>
<http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/johbra/part7.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Free To Be Me
by Marie T. Russell

What a liberating thought - I am free to be me! Think about it... for years
you have been molded and pushed to behave in certain 'acceptable' ways. You
have been asked to adhere to tradition, to behave according to certain
accepted rules of behavior, and to dress according to the norm. To act like
the Jones. To make sure you didn't "paint outside the lines".

You have done as you were told, fearing punishment or worse, afraid of not
being love. You have accepted beliefs that others held without question. You
agreed with what others said about you -- you were smart, stupid, pretty,
ugly, etc. You have believed that what others thought was true of you had to
be so - that others knew best -- that they were smarter or wiser and somehow
knew what was good for you.

Yet, if you look within, you know that some of those accepted beliefs are
not necessarily your truths. They are the truths of those around you. For
example as a child, you may have been told that you were too noisy, or too
playful. Now obviously, if you were behaving in that fashion this was how
you wanted to be -- that was the real you wanting to express itself. When we
were told that we were 'too' this or 'too' that, we felt that our behavior
must be incorrect and adapted ourselves to what was expected of us... and
thus lost our spontaneity and joy in the process.

Whose rules are we following now? The ones imposed by our parents? And whose
rules were they following? Their parents? It goes back for many millennium
and has nothing to do with us. Need there be rules at all? If we all were
true to our "inner self" or our "higher self", rules would be unnecessary.
We all have an ingrained sense of right and wrong, of what is loving and
what is not, of what is "right" and what is not. It is time to return to
trusting ourselves -- to trusting that small inner voice, that sense of true
joy and spontaneity. We need to free up our true selves by releasing them
from the chains and rules of conduct that were imposed on us. We are
trustworthy! We can follow our inner wisdom and it will always support us
and guide us.

I am free to be me! This thought, when affirmed regularly, brings freedom.
Now the first thing you may notice as you tell yourself that you are free to
be you are certain fears, doubts, and guilt coming up. I remember thinking
that the 'me' that was inside was not a 'good' one - that I was selfish,
unworthy, unlovable, etc. etc. When you look inside yourself, you may
discover some similar beliefs - that if you are truly 'yourself' you will be
unacceptable to your boss, friends, mate, co-workers, etc. Yet that is
simply a figment of your imagination, of your fears or of someone else's
fears.

The 'you' inside is that same innocent, spontaneous child that you were -
the one who was amazed at the beauty of a dandelion flower, or that could
find immense joy in splashing around in a mud puddle - that playful being
who enjoyed the present and did not concern itself about "proper" and
acceptable societal norms (i.e. dirty clothes, weeds on the lawn, 'proper'
attire and behavior, etc.). That spontaneous, natural, and joyful person
still resides inside of you. All you need to do is give it permission to
'come out and play'.

We can now step forth from behind our masks and take the risk to be real...
to express our joys, our fears, our insecurities, our love, our hopes, and
our dreams. I am free to be me! I can allow myself to be spontaneous. I can
let myself be real and feel my feelings, express the truth as I see it in
the present moment, and let my love for life radiate from my being,
expressed in my thoughts, words, and actions.

Trust yourself. You are an innocent, joyful being. Within you are the seeds
of joy, happiness, and success. Affirm: "I am free to be me! I am free to
express myself in whatever ways seem loving and true to my inner being. I am
free to be me and to create the world I want around me. I have the right to
express my inner divinity and to live a life of love, joy, and creativity."

Trust your instincts. Trust that small inner voice that guides you to the
right, loving action. That small inner voice is who you really are. That
terrible person you have imagined yourself to be is a machination of your
imagination, fears, and self-doubts. Yes, you have made mistakes... haven't
we all? Yes, you had instances where you were unjust, petty, and did not
express loving or peaceful thoughts. Those are nothing more than experiences
that you went through -- errors in judgment. Your true inner self is still
an innocent, loving being -- an angel in physical form. That is who you are.
You can reclaim it now! You are free to be who you really are! A divine
child of this Universe...

About The Author:
Marie T. Russell is the publisher of InnerSelf Magazine (first published in
1985 originally as Mighty Natural Magazine) and The Natural Yellow Pages
(1987-2002). She produced a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner
Power, from 1991-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal
growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and
reconnecting with our inner source of joy and creativity. Marie can be
reached at marie@... with personal comments and feedback, or to be
placed on a mailing list to be advised when her book becomes available.
http://innerself.com/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully, and before it
blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud that would soon blossom
and also the thorns. And he thought, "How can any beautiful flower
come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?" Saddened by
this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before it was ready to
bloom, it died.

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The
God-like qualities planted in us at birth grow amid the thorns of our
faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the
defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from
us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We
never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must
show it to them. One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be
able to reach past the thorns and find the rose within others. This is the
characteristic of love, to look at a person, and knowing his faults,
recognize the nobility in his soul, and help him realize that he can
overcome his faults. If we show him the rose, he will conquer the
thorns. Then will he blossom, blooming forth thirty, sixty, a
hundred-fold as it is given to him.

Our duty in this world is to help others by showing them their roses and
not their thorns. Only then can we achieve the love we should feel for
each other; only then can we bloom in our own garden.

-- Author Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Forgiveness

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into
conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by
side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a
hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small
misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it
exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man
with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work" he said.
"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the
creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother.
Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the
river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done
this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber
curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence -- an 8-foot fence -- so
I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails
and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the
carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his
job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.

There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge -- a bridge stretching
from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and
all -- and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand
outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and
done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the
middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist
his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of
other projects for you," said the older brother.

"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges
to build."

-Author Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just ask them

May your dreams lead you
to where you need to go
Listen to your heart
for it is the child
of your tomorrows
Listen to your passion
for it is the fire
of your todays
Listen to your soul
for it is the grandparent
of your yesterdays
They will whisper to you
in your dream times
as they always have
They will teach you
when you're listening
rather than thinking
They will always be there
just beyond your consciousness
and at the edge of forever
You must learn to reach out
and caress their wisdom
and trust and believe in it
For surely they are the very best part
of who you were
and who you are
and who you may become
They linger patiently within
your inner most being
and sing songs of what might be
Waiting for you to awaken
from the slumber of reality
and realize your true potentialities
You have lessons you must learn
and they are the source
of your enlightenment
So reach out to them
and welcome them
into your heart and soul
Leave your body and worldly concerns
behind you for a time
and drift with the stars
Ask them to lead you
to the path you have come here to take
and have forgotten
They are your guides
and the source
of your inspiration
And you may command them
to take you out of yourself
so that you might see who you are

dennis j hopkins
mrseven@...
<http://dennisjhopkins.com/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile
the moment a single man contemplates it,
bearing within him the image of a cathedral.
Antoine De Saint-Exupery
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You cannot do a kindness too soon
because you never know how soon it will be too late.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
   To reach the port of Heaven we must sail
sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it.
But we must sail, and not drift nor lie at anchor.
Oliver Wendell Holmes
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Awareness, Acceptance, Action
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It's none of your business
what other people think about you.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Acceptance takes time,
It's a process not an event.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Disease = Dis Ease
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
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Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
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"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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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."
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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
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Even if your country is listed
please email me, and let me know where you are from.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
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<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1534

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:31 pm
Subject: 1/23/05 "The Process" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Sorry so late, 18 inches of snow and just got access to internet

Honesty
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/honesty2.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 23
I let God guide me in my recovery today,
knowing that all decisions
that come from good and love will bring me joy.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Process

I walk down the street.
There is a hole.
I don't see it.
I fall in.
It isn't my fault.
It takes a very long time to get out.
I walk down the same street.
There is still a deep hole.
I pretend not to see it.
I fall in.
I pretend it's still not my fault.
It takes a long time to get out.
I walk down the same street.
There is still the same deep hole.
I see it.
I fall in anyway.
It's a habit.
I get out quicker this time.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole.
I see it.
I walk around it.
I don't fall in.
I walk down a different street.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Recovery Jones cartoons
<http://www.recoveryjonescartoons.com/more_cartoons!.htm>

Early N.A. Literature
<http://mwbr.net/narchive/carena/recovery/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EGNA (Earth Group N.A.) is looking for NA Members
who are willing to share their story at our Speaker meeting
held on Sunday's at 8 PM EST.....
It takes time and commitment to type out your story in an online meeting...
You just never know who gets helped more, our members or yourself....
If you are interested, please contact Diane K. at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Earth Group N.A. ROCKS ! ! !*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 23                                  Serenity check

"Lack of daily maintenance can show up in many ways." Basic Text p. 91

Ever had a perfect stranger remark about how great the weather was,
only to reply "It stinks"? When this happens, we are probably suffering
from a lack of daily maintenance in our program.

In recovery, life can get pretty hectic. Maybe those added
responsibilities at work have got you hopping. Maybe you haven't been
to a meeting for awhile. Perhaps you've been too busy to meditate, or
haven't been eating regularly or sleeping well. Whatever the reason, your
serenity is slipping.

When this happens, it is crucial that we take action. We can't afford to
let one "bad day;' complete with a bad attitude, slip into two days, four
days, or a week. Our recovery depends on our daily maintenance program.
No matter what is happening in our lives, we can't afford to neglect the
principles that have saved our lives.

There are many ways to recover our serenity. We can go to a meeting,
phone our sponsor, meet another recovering addict for lunch, or try to
carry the message to a newcomer. We can pray. We can take a moment to
ask ourselves what simple things we haven't been doing. When our
attitudes head downhill, we can avert a crash with simple solutions.

Just for today: I will examine the maintenance of my daily program of
recovery.

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:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT

We are not cured of alcoholism. "all we really have is a daily reprieve
contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85

The most common alcoholic fantasy seems to be: "If I just don't drink,
everything will be all right." Once the fog cleared for me, I saw -- for
the first time -- the mess my life had become. I had family, work,
financial and legal problems; I was hung up on old religious ideas; there
were sides of my character to which I was inclined to stay blind because
they easily could have convinced me that I was hopeless and pushed me
toward escape again. The Big Book guided me in resolving all of my
problems. But it didn't happen overnight -- and certainly not
automatically -- with no effort on my part. I need always to recognize
God's mercy and blessings that shine through any problem I have to face.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 23rd

A.A. Thought for the Day

Alcoholics are people whose drinking got them into
a "blind alley." They haven't been able to learn
anything from their drinking experiences. They are
always making the same mistakes and suffering the
same consequences over and over again. They
refuse to admit they're alcoholic. They still think
they can handle the stuff. They won't swallow their
pride and admit that they're different from ordinary
drinkers. They won't face the fact that they must
spend the rest of their lives without liquor. They
can't visualize life without ever taking a drink. Am
I out of this blind alley?

Meditation for the Day

I believe that God has all power. It is His to give and
His to withhold. But lie will not withhold it from the
person who dwells near Him, because then it passes
insensibly from God to that person. It is breathed in
by the person who lives in God's presence. I will learn
to live in God's presence and then I will have those
things which I desire of Him: strength, power, and joy.
God's power is available to all who need it and are
willing to accept it.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may get myself out of the way, so that
God's power may flow in. I pray that I may surrender
myself to that power.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Go With What You Know

The commercial on the radio sang to me as I drove
across the Southern California desert:
"Don't just go with the flow.
Go with what you know.""

Sometimes answers come from outside us.
The universe is abundant in its supply of guidance for us.
It can't wait to share its signals, teachings,
lessons, and words of wisdom.
It is eager to give us guidance if we just
watch, wait, and listen.
Sometimes the guidance comes from people we know,
other times from people we barely know.
But even when this help comes from those we are closest to
and love most, the answer must resonate
with that place deep inside us.
It must resonate with our core.
It must ring true for us.

Listen to those around you.
Listen to the guidance of the universe
and all the voices it uses to speak to you.
But always trust yourself.
Trust your inner voice.
Trust what you know, because ultimately your path
will bring you back to that place.
No matter what you do, if it's not right for you,
you will need to return to your center,
your place of peace, and figure out the action that is right.

It's good to go with the flow. But it's better to
go with what you know-what you know to be
true for you. Trusting yourself is the ultimate
lesson. Its where all the guidance leads.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Namaste Cafe
<http://www.namastecafe.com/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I Think, Therefore I Am
by Marie T. Russell

In the 17th century, the French philosopher René Descartes came up with the
"explanation for it all": "I think, therefore I am". I remember this
statement being the source of debates in philosophy classes. It was the
existential "which came first" story. the chicken or the egg.

Years later, I feel that his statement really is a fill-in-the-blanks
statement. "I think _________, therefore I am _____________." In other
words, "I think I am angry, therefore I am angry." "I think I am tired,
therefore I am tired." "I think I am busy, therefore I am busy."

Now before your mind starts objecting to these statements, let's take a
closer look. Maybe an example from my life might help explain. This morning
as I got up, I thought about all the things I have to do today, and realized
it's going to be a very busy day. So my thought was something like "I have
too much to do today." I then thought about my garden and how I like to take
a stroll through the garden in the morning and check out the new growth, and
see who needs watering. My next thought, of course, since the previous
thought had been about being too busy, was that I had no time to take a walk
in the garden this morning since I had "too much to do".

So let's go back to Descartes and fill in the blanks. I think I am too busy,
therefore I am too busy. So the usual conclusion to this thought is I'm too
busy to go into the garden this morning. thus I don't go. [I think I am too
busy to go into the garden, therefore I am too busy to go into the garden.]
(However, I've been working on this programming for a while, so I overrode
it, and went into the garden anyway... and it was a lovely peaceful time for
me before starting my "busy" day.)

Another example? Ok. Someone says something to me that I consider insulting
or hurtful. Let's go back to our fill in the blanks. I think I am insulted,
therefore I am insulted. Now, I do have another alternative in how I "fill
in the blanks". I think I am amused, therefore I am amused. Whichever
thought I choose is the one that carries over into the "I AM".

If I choose to think someone has insulted me, then I am insulted. If I
choose to think I am afraid, then I am afraid. If I choose to think I am
impatient, then I am impatient. On the other side, if I choose to think I am
at peace, then I am at peace (or at least headed in that direction).

I suggest you try this. Next time you find yourself feeling upset with
someone (I think I am upset, therefore I am upset), replace that thought
with, "I think I am at peace, therefore I am at peace". Of course, this is
not a magic pill that instantly will change your reality (it might in some
cases, but in others it may take a while). What it will do is change your
perception of the situation. All of a sudden, it places you on the outside
of your attitudes, "looking at them" rather than "being them". You, as the
observer, can stand back and see "you" the "action figure" (or the actor if
you will) choosing to play the role of "I am upset", "I am angry", "I am at
peace", "I am too busy", "I am hurt", etc.

Once you start saying "I think I am at peace, therefore I am at peace"
something shifts. It lets you see that there is another option. You are not
cemented into your reactions -- they are a choice, even though we've often
overlooked the fact that we had a choice. Saying I am at peace, (even if we
don't feel it in the moment) helps shift our attitude from upset and anger,
to a focus on choosing inner peace.

When you hear someone saying negative comments about you, your automatic
programmed response may be "I am upset" (I think I am upset, therefore I am
upset). However, in that moment, or in the moments following it, you can
change that to "I think I am able to let that go, therefore I am able to let
that go."

First the thought, then the action. It's always been that way. Everything
starts with a thought. Even conception starts with a thought. You first
think about doing something and then do it (or decide not to do it). All
inventions started with a thought. Thomas Edison didn't invent the light
bulb without first having a thought (or many thoughts) about it.

The thoughts always precede the actions. Thus the importance of "managing"
our thoughts and not let them run rampant. They are not the "directors" of
our show. They are simply the precursors to action. So if you don't like the
direction your life is taking, or your day, or a particular interaction,
take a look at your thoughts. Maybe you're thinking "this situation stinks".
Take that thought back to our "fill-in-the-blanks". I think this situation
stinks, therefore this situation stinks.

The problem is that once you think a situation is hopeless, then you give up
on it and do nothing. after all if it's hopeless, there is nothing you can
do. Right? Wrong! It is only your belief, your thought, that says it is
hopeless. There is always hope. As long as there is life, there is hope.
Even in situations as tragic as the Middle East, while there is still life,
there is still hope.

We have to change our thoughts about the possibilities, about the process,
about our options, about the solutions. We have to think outside of the box
of our habitual programmed thinking. If your thought is "this is hopeless",
or there are no solutions to this, then think again. I think there is no
solution, needs to be replaced with I think there is a solution. At least
then we are open to there being a solution and the possibility of finding
it.

Anytime we are thinking ourselves into a dead-end, like I'm too busy, I have
no time, I have no solution to this, etc. etc, its time to change our
thinking. If I think I'm too busy, then I remain too busy to take time for
anything other than the "busy-ness". If I think I have no answer to the
problems that plague me, then I do not open the door for solutions to come
in.

A great example of this is when you say you can't remember something. Try
this next time: Instead of saying: "I can't remember" [I think I am not able
to remember, therefore I am not able to remember.], say "I am remembering".
[I think I am remembering, therefore I am remembering.] What this does is,
for one, tell your subconscious mind to keep looking for that answer, and
two, keeps the door open to the answer coming through. If you keep saying I
can't remember, well guess what, your subconscious goes, "ok, can't
remember", and it goes off to lunch and stops trying to remember. End of
story. On the other hand, if you say "I am remembering" it will stay "on
duty" until it finds the memory you're asking for.

In the same way if you're searching for the solutions to a problem, if you
say to yourself "I don't know what to do", [I think I am unable to find an
answer, therefore I am unable to find an answer] there again you've closed
the door to the answer coming through. Saying "I am able to find the answer"
opens the gate wide for the answers to come to you.

We can replace those dead-end thoughts and statements with some that leave
the door open for solutions. "I think I am able to discover the answer,
therefore I am able to discover the answer." "I think I am capable of
finding a solution, therefore I am capable of finding a solution."

Now some of you might be saying this is simplistic. Well, yes it is, and
that's the beauty of it. We humans seem to have a tendency to complicate
things, when things really are simple. First a thought, then an action.
First a belief, then a consequence of that belief. A thought, then a result
to that thought (action or inaction). I think _________, therefore I am
__________.

We have disempowered ourselves by thinking "small thoughts" or dead-end
thoughts. thoughts fueled by low self-esteem, images of unattainable goals
(to be like the "slimmer-than-life" model on TV), and thoughts rampant with
self-criticism (or criticism of others). Thoughts that are self-defeating.
[I think I am a failure, therefore.. I think I am not smart enough,
therefore. I think I am unattractive, therefore.I think I can't do this,
therefore...] The belief or thought we have sets the tone for our actions,
for the life we create.

If there's one thing that can change our lives, it's to change the nature of
our thoughts, of our beliefs. We are not powerless. We are powerful beyond
measure. "I think I am ______________, therefore I am ____________".
It's up to us to fill in the blanks with the reality we desire, not the one we
don't. We can change our reality. We can make a difference in our lives and
in the lives of the people around us and in the world.

We can be like the little engine that could: "I think I can, I think I can".
therefore we can. It's really up to us. no one can change our life except
us. That's great because it means we don't have to wait for anyone else to
change or to do anything. We have the power in our own hands to change our
life, our reality, our world. "I think I can, I think I can." and then take
the next step and go for it.

Recommended book on this topic:
"You'll See It When You Believe It"
                              by Wayne Dyer.

About The Author
Marie T. Russell is the publisher of InnerSelf Magazine (originally
published as Mighty Natural Magazine) and The Natural Yellow Pages. She
produced a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from 1991-1995
which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and
well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our
inner source of joy and creativity. Marie can be reached at
marie@... with personal comments and feedback, or to be placed on
a mailing list to be advised when her book becomes available.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I Want To

I want to run
But do not know where
I want to love
But no ones here
I want to give
But no one will receive
I want to be honest
But can only deceive
I want to stop
But can't right now
I want answers
To the question how
I want to be honest
But have to steal
I want to experience life
Yet nothing is real
I want to stop getting high
And putting drugs in
Try as I may
I can not break from this sin
I want to have things my way
Now God has control today
I wanted sobriety
When I came to your door
I finally got it
Now I want more
Now in recovery
Is where I live
Now in my heart
I want to give and give
The more I give away
You see
The more God
Blesses me

12/12/2001 ©
Daniel M Corkery
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Searching

As a young child, one memory is clear.
I was searching for something, year after year.
What I was looking for, I wasn't quite sure.
There was a void in my life, I needed something more.

I never felt whole, I never felt quite right,
Like I was in a tunnel, looking for the light.
These feelings have been with me all of the while,
But I've always hidden behind a painted on smile.

But now I find I need look no more.
I believe I have found what I've been searching for.
The funny thing is, its been there all along.
I see it in the sun, friends, family, a song.

I see it from a mountain top, or walking on a beach.
But it had always seemed just out of my reach.
I was searching so hard, its almost a crime.
Because all of the while, I was wasting my time.

I have found this thing inside of me.
Because what I was searching for is serenity.
So now when I smile, the action's quite real.
I'm getting in touch with myself, learning to feel.

I know that I still have a long, long way to go,
And that's fine, so long as I continue to grow.

By Kathy
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"A great manager has a knack for making ballplayers think
they are better than they think they are.
He forces you to have a good opinion of yourself.
He lets you know he believes in you.
He makes you get more out of yourself.
And once you learn how good you really are,
you never settle for playing anything less than your very best."
Reggie Jackson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them."
Lady Bird Johnson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
One message that keeps us separate from the love that can free us
goes like this: If I've been hurt, I never want to hurt like that again.
I'm going to build a wall and never really trust.
Never let go again. I'm going to build that wall of isolation.
In "You've got a Friend," James Taylor sings:
"People can be so cold. They'll hurt you and desert you,
and take your soul if you let them..."
We feel that way at times,
but closing your heart doesn't build what we want to experience.
We require something greater.
Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Allowing an unimportant mistake to pass
without comment is a wonderful social grace.
Judith Martin
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
One meets his destiny often in the road he takes to avoid it.
French Proverb
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I cam for the cake,
And
I came to believe.....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Do you know anyone who is a "wet blanket,"
someone who dampens your brightest ideas by saying,
"That will never work"?
Take a sopping wet blanket,
place it in the linen closet atop dry bedding,
and soon you've got two wet blankets.
We can absorb the energy of negativity
if we lack a protective layer.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, "All the water in the world
can't drown you if it doesn't get in you."
We build that protective layer
by building our relationship with God.
The truth of who we are, and the greatness
we are meant to experience, is bigger than anyone
or any circumstance that would try to hold us back.
Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If there is light in the soul,
there will be beauty in the person.

If there is beauty in the person,
there will be harmony in the house.

If there is harmony in the house,
there will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation,
there will be Peace in the world.

(Chinese Proverb)
The Women's Spiritual Network
<http://www.lightsong.com/wsn>
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
by sending an Email message to:
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 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
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or go to the website and unsubscribe
<http://health.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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1533

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Sat Jan 22, 2005 4:25 pm
Subject: 1/22/05 "The Bridge" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Honesty
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/honesty.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 22
I deserve to have wonderful things to happen in my life today.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Bridge

An old man going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening cold and grey,
To a chasm vast and deep and wide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim,
The sullen stream had no fear for him:
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old Man", said a fellow pilgrim near,
"You are wasting your time building here,
Your journey will end with the ending day,
You never again will pass this way;
You've crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build this bridge at evening tide?"

The builder lifted his old grey head; "
Good friend, in the path I have come," he said "
There followed after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!"

W. A. Dromgoole
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Self Injury you're not the only one
<http://www.palace.net/%7Ellama/psych/injury.html>

12 Steps Twelve Promises
<http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/6794/twelvestepspro.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EGNA (Earth Group N.A.) is looking for NA Members
who are willing to share their story at our Speaker meeting
held on Sunday's at 8 PM EST.....
It takes time and commitment to type out your story in an online meeting...
You just never know who gets helped more, our members or yourself....
If you are interested, please contact Diane K. at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Earth Group N.A. ROCKS ! ! !*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 22                           The school of recovery

"This is a program for learning." Basic Text p. 16

Learning in recovery is hard work. The things we most need to know are
often the hardest to learn. We study recovery to prepare ourselves for
the experiences life will give us. As we listen to others share in meetings,
we take mental notes we can refer to later. To be prepared, we study our
notes and literature between "lessons." Just as students have the
opportunity to apply their knowledge during tests, so do we have the
opportunity to apply our recovery during times of crisis.

As always, we have a choice in how we will approach life's challenges. We
can dread and avoid them as threats to our serenity or we can gratefully
accept them as opportunities for growth. By confirming the principles
we've learned in recovery, life's challenges give us increased strength.
Without such challenges, however, we could forget what we've learned
and begin to stagnate. These are the opportunities that prod us to new
spiritual awakenings.

We will find that there is often a period of rest after each crisis,
giving us time to get accustomed to our new skills. Once we've reflected
on our experience, we are called on to share our knowledge with someone
who is studying what we've just learned. In the school of recovery, all of
us are teachers as well as students.

Just for today: I will be a student of recovery. I will welcome
challenges, confident in what I've learned and eager to share it with
others.

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:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

     Our very first problem is to accept our present circumstances as
they are, ourselves as we are, and the people about us as they are. This
is to adopt a realistic humility without which no genuine advance can even
begin. Again and again, we shall need to return to that unflattering point
of departure. This is an exercise in acceptance that we can profitably
practice every day of our lives.

     Provided we strenuously avoid turning these realistic surveys of
the facts of life into unrealistic alibis for apathy or defeatism, they can
be the sure foundation upon which increased emotional health and therefore
spiritual progress can be built.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 44

     When I am having a difficult time accepting people, places or
events, I turn to this passage and it relieves me of many an underlying
fear regarding others, or situations life presents me. The thought allows
me to be human and not perfect, and to regain my peace of mind.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 22nd

A.A. Thought for the Day

In the beginning, you want to get sober, but you're
helpless, so you turn to a Power greater than
yourself and by trusting in that Power, you get the
strength to stop drinking. From then on, you want
to keep sober, and that's a matter of reeducating
your mind. After a while, you get so that you really
enjoy simple, healthy, normal living. You really get
a kick out of life without the artificial stimulus of
alcohol. All you have to do is to look around at the
members of any A.A. group and you will see how
their outlook has changed. Is my outlook on life
changing?

Meditation for the Day

I will never forget to say thank you to God, even on
the grayest days. My attitude will be one of
humility and gratitude. Saying thank you to God is
a daily practice that is absolutely necessary. If a
day is not one of thankfulness, the practice has to
be repeated until it becomes so. Gratitude is a
necessity for those who seek to live a better life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that gratitude will bring humility. I pray
that humility will bring me to live a better, life.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
   It is easy to be negative about past mistakes and
unhappiness. But it is much more healing to look at
ourselves and our past in the light of experience,
acceptance, and growth. Our past is a series of lessons that
advance us to higher levels of living and loving.

The relationships we entered, stayed in, or ended taught us
necessary lessons. Some of us have emerged from the most
painful circumstances with strong insights about who we
are and what we want.

Our mistakes? Necessary. Our frustrations, failures, and
sometimes stumbling attempts at growth and progress?
Necessary too.

Each step of the way, we learned. We went through exactly
the experiences we needed to, to become who we are today.
Each step of the way, we progressed.
Is our past a mistake? No. The only mistake we can make is
mistaking that for the truth?

Today, God, help me let go of negative thoughts I may be
harboring about my past circumstances or relationships. I
can accept, with gratitude, all that has brought me to today.

Today's meditation comes from the book
The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie © 1990
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Power & Vulnerability in Relationships, by Susie and Otto Collins
<http://www.innerself.com/Relationships/power_and_vulnerability.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Held Back By Your Past?
by Louise L. Hay

Many people come to me and say they cannot enjoy today because of something
that happened in the past.

Because they did not do something or do it in a certain way in the past,
they cannot live a full life today...

Because they no longer have something they had in the past, they cannot
enjoy today...

Because they were hurt in the past, they will not accept love now...

Because something unpleasant happened when they did something once, they are
sure it will happen again today...

Because they once did something that they are sorry for, they are sure they
are bad people forever...

Because once someone did something to them, it is now all the other person's
fault that their life is not where they want it to be...

Because they became angry over a situation in the past, they will hold on to
that self-righteousness...

Because of some very old experience where they were treated badly, they will
never forgive and forget...

Because I did not get invited to the high school prom, I cannot enjoy life
today.

Because I did poorly at my first audition, I will be terrified of auditions
forever.

Because I am no longer married, I cannot live a full life today.

Because I was hurt by a remark once, I will never trust anyone again.

Because I stole something once, I must punish myself forever.

Because I was poor as a child, I will never get anywhere.

What we often refuse to realize is that holding on to the past, no matter
what it was or how awful it was, is ONLY HURTING US. They really don't care.
Usually, they are not even aware. We are only hurting ourselves by refusing
to live in this moment to the fullest.

The past is over and done and cannot be changed. This is the only moment we
can experience. Even when we lament about the past, we are experiencing our
memory of it in this moment, and losing the real experience of this moment
in the process.

Exercise: Releasing

Let us now clean up the past in our minds. Release the emotional attachment
to it. Allow the memories to be just memories.

If you think back to what you used to wear in the third grade, usually there
is no emotional attachment. It's just a memory.

It can be the same for all of the past events in our lives. As we let go, we
become free to use all of our mental power to enjoy this moment and to
create a great future.

List all the things you are willing to let go of. How willing are you to do
this? Notice your reactions. What will you have to do to let these things
go? How willing are you to do so? What is your resistance level?

Forgiveness

Next step, forgiveness. Forgiveness of ourselves and of others releases us
from the past. The Course in Miracles says over and over that forgiveness is
the answer to almost everything. I know that when we are stuck, it usually
means there is some more forgiving to be done. When we do not flow freely
with life in the present moment, it usually means we are holding on to a
past moment. It can be regret, sadness, hurt, fear, or guilt, blame, anger,
resentment, and sometimes even the desire for revenge. Each one of these
states comes from a space of unforgiveness, a refusal to let go and come
into the present moment.

Love is always the answer to healing of any sort. And the pathway to love is
forgiveness. Forgiveness dissolves resentment. There are several ways in
which I approach this.

Exercise: Dissolving Resentment

There is an old Emmet Fox exercise for dissolving resentment that always
works. He recommends that you sit quietly, close your eyes, and allow your
mind and body to relax. Then, imagine yourself sitting in a darkened
theater, and in front of you is a small stage. On that stage, place the
person you resent the most. It could be someone in the past or present,
living or dead. When you see this person clearly, visualize good things
happening to this person, things that would be meaningful to her. See her
smiling and happy.

Hold this image for a few minutes, then let it fade away. I like to add
another step. As this person leaves the stage, put yourself up there. See
good things happening to you. See yourself smiling and happy. Be aware that
the abundance of the Universe is available to all of us.

The above exercise dissolves the dark clouds of resentment most of us carry.
For some, it will be very difficult to do. Each time you do it, you may get
a different person. Do it once a day for a month, and notice how much
lighter you feel.

Exercise: Revenge

Those on the spiritual pathway know the importance of forgiveness. For some
of us, there is a step that is necessary before we can totally forgive.
Sometimes the little kid in us needs to have revenge before it is free to
forgive. For that, this exercise is very helpful.

Close your eyes, sit quietly and peacefully. Think of the people who are
hardest to forgive. What would you really like to do to them? What do they
need to do to get your forgiveness? Imagine that happening now. Get into the
details. How long do you want them to suffer or do penance?

When you feel complete, condense time and let it be over forever. Usually at
this point you feel lighter, and it is easier to think about forgiveness. To
indulge in this every day would not be good for you. To do it once as a
closing exercise can be freeing.

Exercise: Forgiveness

Now we are ready to forgive. Do this exercise with a partner if you can, or
do it out loud if you are alone.

Again, sit quietly with your eyes closed and say, "The person I need to
forgive is ___________ and I forgive you for ___________."

Do this over and over. You will have many things to forgive some for and
only one or two to forgive others for. If you have a partner, let him say to
you, "Thank you, I set you free now." If you do not, then imagine the person
you are forgiving saying it to you. Do this for at least five or ten
minutes. Search your heart for the injustices you still carry. Then let them
go.

When you have cleared as much as you can for now, turn your attention to
yourself. Say out loud to yourself, "I forgive myself for ___________." Do
this for another five minutes or so. These are powerful exercises and good
to do at least once a week to clear out any remaining rubbish. Some
experiences are easy to let go and some we have to chip away at, until
suddenly one day they let go and dissolve.

Exercise: Visualization

Another good exercise. Have someone read this one to you if you can, or put
it on tape and listen to it.

Begin to visualize yourself as a little child of five or six. Look deeply
into this little child's eyes. See the longing that is there and realize
that there is only one thing this little child wants from you, and that is
love. So reach out your arms and embrace this child. Hold it with love and
tenderness. Tell it how much you love it, how much you care. Admire
everything about this child and say that it's okay to make mistakes while
learning. Promise that you will always be there no matter what.

Now let this little child get very small, until it is just the size to fit
into your heart. Put it there so whenever you look down, you can see this
little face looking up at you, and you can give it lots of love.

Now visualize your mother as a little girl of four or five, frightened and
looking for love and not knowing where to find it. Reach out your arms and
hold this little girl and let her know how much you love her, how much you
care. Let her know she can rely on you to always be there, no matter what.
When she quiets down and begins to feel safe, let her get very small, just
the size to fit into your heart. Put her there with your own little child.
Let them give each other lots of love.

Now imagine your father as a little boy of three or four, frightened,
crying, and looking for love. See the tears rolling down his little face
when he doesn't know where to turn. You have become good at comforting
frightened little children, so reach out your arms and hold his trembling
little body. Comfort him. Croon to him. Let him feel how much you love him.
Let him feel that you will always be there for him.

When his tears are dry, and you feel the love and peace in his little body,
let him get very small, just the size to fit into your heart. Put him there
so those three little children can give each other lots of love and you can
love them all.

There is so much love in your heart that you could heal the entire planet.
But just for now let us use this love to heal you. Feel a warmth beginning
to glow in your heart center, a softness, a gentleness. Let this feeling
begin to change the way you think and talk about yourself.

In the infinity of life where I am, all is perfect, whole, and complete.
Change is the natural law of my life. I welcome change. I am willing to
change. I choose to change my thinking. I choose to change the words I use.
I move from the old to the new with ease and with joy. It is easier for me
to forgive than I thought. Forgiving makes me feel free and light. It is
with joy that I learn to love myself more and more. The more resentment I
release, the more love I have to express. Changing my thoughts makes me feel
good. I am learning to choose to make today a pleasure to experience. All is
well in my world.

About The Author
Excerpted with permission from You Can Heal Your Life, ©1999 by Louise L.
Hay, metaphysical teacher and bestselling author of over 20 books including
"Heal Your Body" and "Empowering Women". Her works have been translated into
25 different languages in 33 countries. Published by Hay House, P.O. Box
5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018. 800-654-5126. Visit their website at
www.hayhouse.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Trouble Tree
     The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just
finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour
of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused
to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stoney silence. On arriving,
he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door,
he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with
both hands. After opening the door, he underwent an amazing
transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles, and he hugged
his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward, he walked me to my car. We passed the tree, and my
curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him
do earlier. "Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help
having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don't belong
in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the
tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning, I pick them up
again."

"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick
them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night
before."
(Author unknown.)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
THIS MOMENT
I may never see tomorrow, there's no written guarantee,
And things that happened yesterday belong to history,
I can not predict the future, I can not change the past,
I have just the present moments, I must treat it as my last,

I must use this moment wisely for it soon will pass away,
and be lost forever as part of yesterday,
I must exercise compassion, help the fallen to their feet,
Be a friend unto the friendless, make an empty life complete,

The unkind things I do today may never be undone,
And friendships that I fail to win may nevermore be won,
I may not have another chance on bended knees to pray,
and I thank God with a humble heart for giving me this Day.

Author Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I stand and I stare

I stand and I stare, I see you doing the same
I wish I could speak, but all I know is your name
You seem to be someone that I’d like to know
But there’s something that scares me so I turn and go.

I come by the next day and you’re still standing there
And I can’t help but think there’s so much we could share
I wish you’d open up, even if just for me
Maybe then I could help you to set yourself free.

You’re always right there, I don’t know if you’re real
But I just want to know, what you think, how you feel
It seems I can almost see hurt in your eyes
And I wish there were someway I could get inside

We just stand and we stare, neither one of us speak
Now and then you might smile as though closeness you seek
I hope someday to know you, but for now I’ll just walk
But I’ll hold to this thought, I wish mirrors could talk.

Lamont O.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We constantly ask how and why, but we won't stop
and listen long enough to hear the answer.
The answer sits inside of us.
In fact it has been sitting there so long that
we don't recognize it because it has become familiar.

Alignment helps us to find all the forgotten answers.
When you are aligned with Spirit,
you are left, not with information, but with clarity.

John-Roger
(From: Spiritual Warrior, The Art of Spiritual Living)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
All you have shall some day be given;
Therefore give now,
that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors
Kahlil Gibran
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Once you exercise fear and make it your practice,
once you try resentment and make it your habit,
once you employ aggression and make it routine,
those actions will dominate your destiny.
No matter how painfully you've been wronged,
stand in love in the midst of a huge temptation
to be vengeful, prideful or hold back.
The real nature of love is that the person you think has betrayed you
the most is actually an agent of the divine
offering you the opportunity for grace.
Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Pain is the root of knowledge."
Simone Weil
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall,
claims it's a forgery.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The mighty oak tree
was once a little nut that held its ground.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Experience is not what happens to you;
It's what you do with what happens to you.
Aldous Huxley
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To forgive is to set the prisoner free,
and then discover the prisoner was you.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I forgive for me,
It has nothing to do with the other person.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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."
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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,
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Even if your country is listed
please email me, and let me know where you are from.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1532

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Fri Jan 21, 2005 11:06 am
Subject: 1/21/05 "Living the Life" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Will anybody be attending the N.A. Convention in Santa Fe, New Mexico March 18, 19, 20, 2005 ?

Process
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/process.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 21
As I continue to grow on my spiritual path to recovery,
I bask in the miracles of transformation and healing
that are taking place in my life today.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Living the Life"

This is "the life"
If you don't say nope,
You dedicate your life
to doing dope!...

Whether you snort, slam
or smoke the glass dick,
you've sold your soul,
to something sick...

You won't notice but
your life will change,
You'll become something scary
then something strange...

People offer you food
thinking of your condition,
They see you tore up
from malnutrition...

Once again you pass
the food on the table,
You do another blast
for now you are able...

You then spin around town
thinking you are cool,
fuck what they think
you're nobody's fool...

But one by one
people leave you alone,
They're starting to see
the monster you've grown...

First it's your friends
then your kids then your wife,
You're finally convinced you don't
need them trashing your life...

Then one day you realize
and finally see,
That they're all a part
of a conspiracy...

You shake the thought
and do another blast,
Thinking and wondering
how long this can last...

What once was days
is now time of no length,
Your habit rolls on
growing in strength...

What once was kicks
is now too real,
You now get a brainstorm
and think you should deal...

Now the shit just took
a nasty turn,
You've jumped in the fire
and you're starting to burn...

At first you're taken, shaken
and treated like a lame,
but before too long
you become hip to the game...

First thing you realize
and this is a must,
You are the only one in the world
you can really trust...

Now all your time
is spent making rounds,
First it's quarters, grams
then ounces then pounds...

And now you're onto
the last chapter of the book,
You've decided "hey"
I'll become the "cook"...

You know in your heart
it's going to be trouble,
Sitting in your lab
watching your bubble...

You're now a target for
the cops, FEDS and the DEA,
Knowing all this
you continue to play...

Things in this life
are so fucking intense,
You are thinking "what happened"?
it doesn't make sense!

Then one night when
you're minding your store,
and 16 punk cops come
crashing through your door...

They slam you down
put their feet in your chest,
They say "hello stupid"
you're "under arrest"...

You know it's all over
when you get into court,
To find there are 15 informants
on your police report...

While you walk the yard
you've got time to reflect,
How has your life
become so fucked up and wrecked?...

Then it suddenly flashes
like a neon sign,
"hey there brother"
"want another line?"

Soberly you realize
in your world of strife,
The price is so heavy for
"living the life"

BOB M.
1996
Sum1AwSome@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She's in Recovery
<http://www.shesinrecovery.com/>

Sober Sight Seeing Cruises
<http://www.mvwindwalker.com/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EGNA (Earth Group N.A.) is looking for NA Members
who are willing to share their story at our Speaker meeting
held on Sunday's at 8 PM EST.....
It takes time and commitment to type out your story in an online meeting...
You just never know who gets helped more, our members or yourself....
If you are interested, please contact Diane K. at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Earth Group N.A. ROCKS ! ! !*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 21                          Unity and uniformity

"Unity is a must in Narcotics Anonymous." Basic Text p. 60

Unity is not uniformity. Unity springs from the fact that we have unity of
purpose-to recover, and to help others stay clean. Even so, we often find
that while we strive to fulfill the same purpose, our means and methods
may be radically different.

We can't impose our ideas of unity on others or confuse unity with
uniformity. In fact, a big attraction of the NA program is the absence of
uniformity. Unity springs from our common purpose, not from standards
imposed on the group by a few well-meaning members. A group that has
the unity which springs from the loving hearts of its members allows
each addict to carry the message in his or her own unique way.

In our dealings with each other in NA, we sometimes disagree rather
vocally. We must remember that the details of how we get things done
isn't always important, so long as we keep our focus on the group's
primary purpose. We can watch members who vehemently disagree over
trivial things pull together when a newcomer reaches out for help.
Someone was there for us when we got to the rooms of NA. Now it is our
turn to be there for others. We need unity to help show the newcomer
that this way of life works.

Just for today: I will strive to be a part of unity. I know that unity
does not equal uniformity.

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:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
THE 100% STEP

Only Step One, where we made the 100 percent admission we were
powerless over alcohol, can be practiced with absolute perfection.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 68

Long before I was able to obtain sobriety in A.A., I knew without a doubt
that alcohol was killing me, yet even with this knowledge, I was unable to
stop drinking. So, when faced with Step One, I found it easy to admit
that I lacked the power to not drink. But was my life unmanageable?
Never! Five months after coming into A.A., I was drinking again and
wondered why.

Later on, back in A.A. and smarting from my wounds, I learned that Step
One is the only Step that can be taken 100%. And that the only way to
take it 100% is to take 100% of the Step. That was many twenty-four
hours ago and I haven't had to take Step One again.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 21st

A.A. Thought for the Day

To grasp the A.A. program, we have to think things
out. Saint Paul said: "They are transformed by the
renewing of their minds." We have to learn to think
straight. We have to change from alcoholic thinking
to sober thinking. We must build up a new way of
looking at things. Before we came into A.A., we
wanted an artificial life of excitement and everything
that goes with drinking. That kind of a life looked
normal to us then. But as we look back now, that life
looks the exact opposite of normal. In fact, it looks
most abnormal. We must reeducate our minds. Am I
changing from an abnormal thinker to a normal thinker?

Meditation for the Day

I will take the most crowded day without fear. I
believe that God is with me and controlling all. I will
let confidence be the motif running through all the
crowded day. I will not get worried, because I know
that God is my helper. Underneath are the everlasting
arms. I will rest in them, even though the day is full
of things crowding in upon me.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be calm and let nothing upset me.
I pray that I may not let material things control me
and choke out spiritual things.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Trust Your Heart

For so long, you relied on your head.
Now it's time to make the shift -- the great
leap into your heart.
Are you beginning to see how your head gets in the way?
How it creates so much noise?
The chatter, the limited vision, the fear?
Are you beginning to see how what you've
relied on--your intellect, your assessments,
and sometimes your logic--has complicated your life?
It isn't the head that sees clearly, nor does the head
always see with love.
Often, it sees with eyes of fear. The heart sees clearly.
It balances the mind and emotions.
It takes what's real and processes it into truth,
then into action.
It takes into account all that needs to be done,
then draws a map, an itinerary,
for how to accomplish that.
Yes, you say, but my head does that too.
And then I don't need to feel...
Your heart can do it better because
it maps the way in love.

Learn to listen to your inner voice. Listen
to your heart. It's your connection to God,
to people, to the universe, and to yourself.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
HOW THE BIG BOOK WAS PUT TOGETHER
<http://www.barefootsworld.net/aabook1954.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
THEY'RE SINGING YOUR SONG

When a woman in a certain African tribe knows she is pregnant, she goes out
into the wilderness with a few friends and together they pray and meditate
until they hear the song of the child. They recognize that every soul has
its own vibration that expresses its unique flavor and purpose. When the
women attune to the song, they sing it out loud. Then they return to the
tribe and teach it to everyone else.

When the child is born, the community gathers and sings the child's song to
him or her. Later, when the child enters education, the village gathers and
chants the child's song. When the child passes through the initiation to
adulthood, the people again come together and sing. At the time of
marriage, the person hears his or her song.

Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and
friends gather at the person's bed, just as they did at their birth, and
they sing the person to the next life.

In the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers
sing to the child. If at any time during his or her life, the person
commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the
center of the village and the people in the community form a circle around
them. Then they sing their song to them.

The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not
punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity. When you recognize
your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt
another.

A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have
forgotten it. Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made
or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you
feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you
feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.

You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at
crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in
tune with yourself and when you are not. When you feel good, what you are
doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn't. In the end,
we shall all recognize our song and sing it well. You may feel a little
warbly at the moment, but so have all the great singers. Just keep singing
and you'll find your way home.

Alan Cohen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
THE PATH OF LOVE

On the path of love,
through the oceans of fear,
the sounds of joy
are all I can hear -

Along the pathway
that shows me the way
through the darkness of night
and into the day.

I clearly feel this
pathway of love
and connect it to earth
from dimensions above.

Can I be sure
I'm on the right track,
the one of abundance,
beyond any lack?

Thoughts of restriction
and feelings of fear
I release from my core
for the pathway to clear.

I'm ready to travel
in body and mind
to the place where I know
my Soul I will find.

Fear may surround
the path that I take,
but Light leads the way
as a new life I make.

-- Author Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
HOUSE BUILDING
by Judy Shepps Battle

I wake up this morning
filled with heart words:

"Build your own house
Deep in your own heart
Believe in each brick
Bless each mortar
Create faith foundation
Invite guidance from Highest Power
Bathe daily in sacred energy
Focus love and determination
       on building your own
       business           social
       emotional         spiritual
       body                  mind
                      life."

I listen
Trying to vision
Not
being in other's dramas
bolstering their energies
solving their problems
addressing their dilemmas
instead of my own needs.
Not
putting myself on perpetual back burner
thinking, with infant logic that
       if they were well
       if they were fixed
           they'd be grateful
           they'd see me
           they'd want me.

Awareness seeps in
       My infant strategy failed
       (how could it succeed?)
        I never fixed anyone
       (fixing is an "inside job")
        People left still wounded
       (healing is a lifetime task)
       That it is a choice
       to abandon myself.

No more!
I will not give my self away
        neglect my own being
        offer unasked for healing outward
        build other people's structures
        feel other people's pain
        keep unlocked boundaries
        beg for crumbs when starving
        love anyone more than my self
        take anyone as my Highest Power

Rather

I will heal in the sunrise of my becoming
        share my journey freely
        trade fear for spirit
        build my own house
        deep in my own heart
        and invite those I want
        to the housewarming.

Judy Shepps Battle
copyright 2003:
WriteAction@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He Talks With Me
by Del Kyger

God truly loves to talk. The rarity is not finding someone that God would
communicate with, but rather in finding a person who cares enough to listen
and is bold enough to share their experiences with others.

Since childhood, Mildred "Billie" Steves has felt the loving presence of
God. As early as high school, Billie began receiving solutions to complex
math and geometry problems in her dreams and in visions.

So when Billie began to receive communications from God following her
morning meditations, she was quite at ease and did not see these events as
out of the ordinary, In fact, she thought that everyone received God's words
as she did.

"It all began one morning when I felt compelled to kneel at the side of my
bed. With paper and pen in hand, I wrote down my words of communication with
The Father. And then the response began to flow, filling me with
bewilderment, gratitude, and peace.

"From that day on, I knew I was not alone in this life. God was at my side
all the time... guiding, directing, answering my prayers, and meeting my
needs. I began to make these communications a daily practice. Whatever was
in my heart or needed illumination was the focal point for that day's
communication."

Fifty years have passed since Billie first began to receive God's daily
communications and it is only now, after all this time, that Billie has been
willing to share these remarkable writings with the world.

" 'This Diary of Answered Prayers' was so sacred, precious, and personal
that I kept them hidden, even from my husband. Then one day, Richard,
discovered my notebook behind a kitchen cabinet and asked if he could read
it. I reluctantly gave him permission. To my amazement he became very
excited and encouraged me to "come out of the closet" and share God's words
with the world. I consented although I felt like I was baring my soul to
everyone who read these very private words.

"It was soon revealed to me that these writings were no more mine than the
multiplication tables are mine. These words were meant to be shared with all
who are seeking peace and Truth. I have no idea why God chose me to receive
His messages, but I am eternally grateful for this honor."

Billie approached several publishers in the mid 1970's but they all declined
to publish her writings. She patiently, and lovingly, continued to receive
God's daily communications for another twenty years before she again
received the urging to share them with the world.

"Having to wait all this time before sharing my writings proved to me that
God always answers our prayers. Perhaps not on our timetable, or in the form
we desire, but God always answers our prayers. We always receive what we ask
for."

Many see Billie's ability to communicate with God as a special gift;
however, Billie sees it differently.

"I am convinced that all of us have the ability to communicate with God. I
have learned that some of the keys to effective communication with God are
to be relaxed (peaceful), to breathe deeply, and feel our oneness with The
Father.

"The answers to our prayers come to us in many different ways. They may come
through inspired dictation, as they do with me, through our intuition,
"coincidental happenings", a comment from a friend, or through dreams or
visions. Regardless of how we receive our answers, the key to effective
communication with God is to remain open and honor the urgings and messages
we are sent."

When reading Mildred's book, "He Talks With Me," the reader gets the feeling
of having their own, personal chat with God. One can't help but be aware of
how simple God makes the solutions to our problems. In fact, all our
problems seem to have a similar solution.

"The underlying message in God's words all these years is for us to take
responsibility for the world we have created. I have learned that if I am
not happy with the way things are going in my life, then I have the ability
and the responsibility to change my life. God has taught me that all we need
do is keep love in our hearts and express our desire to change.

"All that remains is to get out of the way and let God do the rest. It
works! I speak from personal experience. All we have to do is turn our
challenges and problems over to God knowing that they will be solved in a
manner that results in the highest good for all concerned."

I think Billie's comment best describes how God's messages affected her
life.

"God's answers to my prayers have helped me to realize that we must believe
we are worthy of His gifts, and that we are always safely cradled in His
arms as He carries us through and around all the obstacles. Perhaps one of
the most important lessons I learned is to love myself with the same
devotion and passion with which I love God. I also have learned to live in
the NOW, and not in the past or in the future. I am content to "just be" and
allow God to do the rest."

About The Author:
Mildred "Billie" Steves has been receiving these extraordinary
communications from God for over 50 years and has written numerous articles
and short stories for Unity Magazine. Billie and her 93 year young husband,
Richard, are in excellent health and have recently moved to Fort Myers,
Florida to be closer to their children. Her book "He Talks With Me" is
available at local bookstores. Order from your favorite bookstore or
directly from Dream Street by calling 800-795-1513. Or send $13.95 (Arizona
addresses add 7% sales tax) plus $2.00 shipping and handling for the first
book and $.50 for each additional book.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Treat those who are good with goodness,
and also treat those who are not good with goodness.
Thus goodness is attained.

Be honest to those who are honest,
and be also honest to those who are not honest.
Thus honesty is attained.

Lao-Tzu
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"The tree in which the sap is stagnant remains fruitless."
Hosea Ballou
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains,
at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers,
at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars,
and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.
St. Augustine
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Love is an acorn until we do love,
and then it becomes a mighty oak.
Do love.
Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You can't expect to hit the jackpot
if you don't put a few nickels in the machine.
Flip Wilson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
God wants spiritual fruit,
not religious nuts.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Some folks wear their halos much too tight.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sorrow looks back,
worry looks around,
and faith looks up.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Words are windows to the heart.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1531

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:07 pm
Subject: 1/20/05 "AN ADDICT'S CRY" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Will anybody be attending the N.A. Convention in Santa Fe, New Mexico March 18, 19, 20, 2005 ?

Change
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/change2.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 20
I choose to live in the light of my truth today.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN ADDICT'S CRY

I'm sick and tired of being lonely and depressed.
Waking up each day in the same old mess.
I'm tired of feeling like a loser and the scum of the earth,
When I know that's not what God had planned for me at birth.
I'm tired of lie after lie, when all I want to do is die.
I'm tired of scheming and scamming the ones I love,
Especially in front of God above.
I'm tired, so tired but still I push on,
When will it end�when my life is gone?
Help me Lord please hear my cries.
Don't let it be too late, don't let me die.
Day after day living in despair and feeling like no one really cares.
Give me one more chance to make things right,
And give me the strength to hold on tight.

i_hav_faith2003@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cybriety, Where Recovery Lives
<http://www.cybriety.org/>

!2 Step Fellowships
<http://www.alchemyproject.net/Links/12steps.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EGNA (Earth Group N.A.) is looking for NA Members
who are willing to share their story at our Speaker meeting
held on Sunday's at 8 PM EST.....
It takes time and commitment to type out your story in an online meeting...
You just never know who gets helped more, our members or yourself....
If you are interested, please contact Diane K. at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Earth Group N.A. ROCKS ! ! !*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today

January 20                                   One promise, many gifts

"Narcotics Anonymous offers only one promise, and that is freedom
from active addiction..." Basic Text, p. 102

Imagine how it might be if we had arrived at the doors of Narcotics
Anonymous, desperate, wanting to stop using drugs, only to be met by a
sales pitch: "If you just work the steps and don't use drugs, you'll get
married, live in the suburbs, have 2.6 children, and start wearing
polyester. You will become a responsible, productive member of society
and be fit company for kings and presidents. You will be rich and have a
dynamic career Most of us, greeted with such a heavy-handed spiel,
would have shrieked and bolted for the door.

Instead of high-pressure nonsense and frightening predictions, we are
greeted with a promise of hope: freedom from active addiction. We feel
a blessed relief come over us when we hear that we never have to use
drugs again. We aren't going to be forced to become anything!

Of course, after some time in recovery, good things start happening in
our lives. We are given gifts-spiritual gifts, material gifts, gifts that
we've always dreamed of but never dared hope we'd get. These,
however, are truly gifts-they are not promised to us just because we
become NA members. All we are promised is freedom from addiction-and
it's more than enough!

Just for today: I have been promised freedom from active addiction.
The gifts I receive are the benefits of recovery.

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:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we
were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we
are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 30

I came to Alcoholics Anonymous because I was no longer able to control my
drinking. It was either my wife's complaining about my drinking, or maybe
the sheriff forced me to go to A.A. meetings, or perhaps I knew, deep down
inside, that I couldn't drink like others, but I was unwilling to admit it
because the alternative terrified me. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship
of men and women united against a common, fatal disease. Each one of our
lives is linked to every other, much like the survivors on a life raft at
sea. If we all work together, we can get safely to shore.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 20th

A.A. Thought for the Day

In A.A. we're all through with lying, hangovers,
remorse, and wasting money. When we were
drinking, we were only half alive. Now that we're
trying to live decent, honest, unselfish lives,
we're really alive. Life has a new meaning for us,
so that we can really enjoy it. We feel that we're
some use in the world. We're on the right side
of the fence, instead of on the wrong side. We
can look the world in the face instead of hiding in
alleys. We come into A.A. to get sober and if we
stay long enough, we learn a new way of living. Am
I convinced that no matter how much fun I got out
of drinking, that life never was as good as the life
I can build in A.A.?

Meditation for the Day

I want to be at one with the Divine Spirit of the
universe. I will set my deepest affections on
things spiritual, not on things material. As we think,
so we are. So I will think of and desire that which
will help, not hinder, my spiritual growth. I will try
to be at one with God. No human aspiration can reach
higher than this.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may think love, and love will surround
me. I pray that I may think health, and health will
come to me.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Map Your Own Journey

Go on your journey.
Don't judge their journey,
and don't let them judge yours.

All persons are free to have the experiences their souls lead them to.
Many of us started our journey by having
the experiences others thought we should.
Some of us tried to dictate the lessons
and adventures of others, too.
This caused pain and confusion for all.
Learning those lessons, the lessons of setting each other free,
became an important part of our journey.
But now we're on to a new part.

Pack your bags. Get out your map.
Don't worry about where you'll go
and what you'll see.
Go where your heart leads.
Your soul knows the way.
It will speak quietly through the voice of your heart,
your wisdom, your intuition.
Listen to the voice, the quiet voice within,
that assures you you're safe.
You will meet and learn from everyone
you need to along the way.
Don't limit your own experiences.
Don't limit the experiences of those you love,
or those you meet along the way.

Start today to follow your heart.
Map out your own journey. Have
the adventure of a lifetime.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Are You Rebelling??? , by Marie T. Russell
<http://www.innerself.com/Reflections/are_you_rebelling.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
THE VALUE OF FEELINGS

By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

The wife complains of her husband, "He never shares his feelings."
She finds their marriage "empty and cold." Her husband tells me he
"just doesn't understand what she wants." He also tells me that as an
engineer and "manager," he was told not only to suppress his feelings,
but to make sure they didn't "get in the way of his work." For him,
feelings were useless at best, and a hindrance to job performance at
worst. Therefore, he learned to suppress them and neglected to learn
how to express them even to his wife.

This man is not alone! Millions of people find it enormously
difficult to allow their own feelings to occur, let alone to express
them in ways that enrich their relationships. They have grown up with
many misconceptions about human emotions...what they are like and what
life-purpose they serve.

People have difficulty knowing and expressing their feelings for a
variety of reasons: they grew up in families where their parents were
overly critical of emotional expression; parents held unrealistically
high expectations of their children; they never identified the words
to describe their own emotional experiences; they rarely set an
example of sharing their own feelings with the children; or the
children rarely observed their parents expressing emotions to others.
Sometimes emotional expression is not tolerated, or is ridiculed, or
even punished by parents.

Children, when growing up in that kind of situation, do not feel
free to express their own natural impulses and feelings. Parental
approval is so essential to all children that they will always
suppress their naturally-occurring emotions, especially if they are in
conflict with perceived parental expectations. As adults, many of us
continue to make that very same choice. We don't even allow ourselves
to feel our emotions, let alone comfortably express them.

Another reason for emotional suppression is the perceived strong
need for emotional control coupled with a fear of losing control of
our emotions. If we fear "losing control" or "feeling like a baby,"
we will practice "keeping our emotions inside," hidden even from our
own awareness. If we develop the habit of emotional suppression, we
lose the many psychological benefits of emotional expression. We also
remain unaware of many of our own needs.

In an attempt to clear up some of the childhood misconceptions about
feelings, I offer you the following information.

Feelings are normal bodily reactions mediated both by a part of your
brain (the limbic system), and the involuntary, autonomic nervous
system in your body. Feelings are total bodily reactions.

Feelings do not "attack you" from outside. They are caused and
influenced by your thoughts and perceptions. They arise in response
to the way you perceive or interpret external events. Many emotional
responses are to your own inner thoughts such as self--talk, imagery
and memories. Any particular type of emotion you happen to experience
will depend on your view of external events and what you tell yourself
about (give meaning to) them.

Feelings can be simple, like fear, anger, hunger, sex, sadness,
excitement, or complex, for example, disappointment, frustration,
melancholy, lonely or embarrassment. Feelings occur in combination or
singularly.

Feelings are what give you energy. When you are aware of your
feelings and can express them, you will feel more energetic. If you
suppress them, you may feel lethargic, numb, tired, or depressed.

Feelings are never "right" or "wrong." They merely are! Fear, joy,
guilt, or anger are not valid or invalid in and of themselves. They
just happen. The judgments or perceptions you have about your
feelings may be accurate or inaccurate...right or wrong.

Feelings are our bodies signaling us that we need something we are
not getting at the moment. They are the "stuff" of which close,
intimate relationships are made. They are the nourishment of the
psyche, mind and heart. They enrich and add passion to our experience
of being alive. Suppress them and you miss out. Identify and express
them and you become a lot happier and more fulfilled.

Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D. has 30+ years experience as a Life Coach and
Licensed Psychologist. He is available for coaching in any area
presented in "Practical Psychology." As your Coach, his only agenda
is to assist you in creating the lifestyle you genuinely desire. The
initial coaching session is free. Contact him: (970) 568-0173 or
E-mail: DrLloyd@... or LJTDAT@....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this
world. There will most likely be no tickertape parades for us, no
monuments created in our honor. But that does not lessen our possible
impact, for there are scores of people waiting for someone just like us
to come along; people who will appreciate our compassion, our
encouragement, who will need our unique talents. Someone who will live a
happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to
give. Too often we underestimate 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. It's
overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are to make
our love felt.

Leo Buscaglia
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So Many Come So Few Stay

So many come and so few stay
My heart holds a burden
What more can I say
I'll carry the message
Not the addict or drunk
For without new comers
I would be sunk
I know this is the way
It has to be
So many die
So some can be free
Not everyone that comes
Through our doors
Will find freedom
So many come
and
So few stay
Why that is I can not say
I try my best
To carry the message
I try to reach them
To do it for today
So many come and so few stay
I plant a seed
or
I may water it
But it is Gods job
To bring them to the point
That they want to quit
So many come and so few stay
When I think I'm big
I soon realize
I'm low
I have to trust God
To help me to grow
In this program
There are no big shots
One shot and we are all shot
So many come and so few stay
Today I must stay humble
And
Realize
I've only got today
So
Many
Come
And
So
Few
Stay

Daniel M Corkery
12/9/00
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Self-Acceptence
The Problem's Name

Just admitting that I'm an addict
is an easy thing to do,
but accepting that I'm powerless
is a concept that's quite new.
I'd always believed I remained in control
of, at least most things around me,
but the chaotic insanity had grown so much,
that even I could see...
That I was not.
Also, I'd blamed the rest of the world
for all of the wrongs that turned up in my life;
everything that I had lost: money, jobs,
friends, my wife.
But its not the world, the dope, or even the booze
that have to take the blame,
it's this giant problem I've found I have--
John is that problem's name.

johnh
johnh94@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"The greatest discovery of my generation is
that human beings can alter their lives by
altering their attitudes of mind."
William James
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Today, help me God, to let go of my resistance to change.
Help me to be open to the process.
Help me believe that the place I will be dropped off
will be better than the place I was picked up.
Help me to surrender, trust and accept…
even if I don't understand.
Melody Beattie
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Find the seed at the bottom of your heart and bring forth a flower.
Shigenori Kameoka
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"The greatest enemies of us alcoholics are
resentment, jealousy, envy, frustration, and fear."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, To Employers, pg. 145
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We are people who normally would not mix.
But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness,
and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 17
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The best way to get even is to forget.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
by sending an Email message to:
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 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
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To unsubscribe to to this list send an Email message to:
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or go to the website and unsubscribe
<http://health.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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1530

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:28 am
Subject: 1/19/05 "Starting Anew" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Will anybody be attending the N.A. Convention in Santa Fe, New Mexico March 18, 19, 20, 2005 ?

The weekly meeting topic is:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 19
My Higher Power guides me
in making all healthy and positive decisions today.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Starting Anew

Wake up, My Dear Friend.
Please open your eyes.
That bad dream is over;
Like the sun, you will rise.

Life's terrors are only dreams,
Don't you know?
And last just as long
As a white flake of snow.

It's our fears,
My Dear Friend,
That are killing the soul.

Give them names;
Make them tame,
And they'll do as they're told.

They're not really deadly
In the bright, cleansing light.
Buried deep, their dark medley,
Will cause fatal fright.

So turn on the sunshine
With the love in your heart.
The snowflakes will melt
And the healing will start.

You have the power;
On God you may call.
For from his high tower,
He hears one and all.

The roses are blooming.
The birds sing to you.
Your life is not over;
It's starting anew!

By I.A. Krate
ifox@...
April 22, 1999
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Comics of the week
<http://www.recoveryjonescartoons.com/comicsoftheweek.htm>

Cybriety Medallions (Sobriety Medallions)
<http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/history/a/aa122597.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
EGNA (Earth Group N.A.) is looking for NA Members
who are willing to share their story at our Speaker meeting
held on Sunday's at 8 PM EST.....
It takes time and commitment to type out your story in an online meeting...
You just never know who gets helped more, our members or yourself....
If you are interested, please contact Diane K. at: chat@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Earth Group N.A. ROCKS ! ! !*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 19                        Making mountains into molehills

"When we stop living in the here and now, our problems become
magnified unreasonably."      Basic Text, p. 96

Some of us seem to make mountains out of molehills with our problems.
Even those of us who've found some measure of serenity have probably
blown a problem far out of proportion at some time in our recovery-and
if we haven't done so yet, we probably will before long!

When we find ourselves obsessed with a complication in our lives, we will
do well to sharply remind ourselves of all that is going right. Perhaps
we're afraid we won't be able to pay our bills for the month. Instead of
sitting at the calculator, adding our financial liabilities over and over,
we can take stock of our efforts to reduce expenses. Following this
mini-inventory, we continue with the task at hand and remind ourselves
that as long as we are doing the footwork, a loving Higher Power will care
for our lives.

Mountain-sized problems happen sometimes, but we don't need to create
them. Trust in a loving God of our understanding will put most of our
problems in their proper perspective. We no longer need to create chaos
to feel excited about our lives. Our recovery gives us countless real-life
opportunities for excitement and drama.

Just for today: I will take a realistic look at my problems and see
that most of them are minor. I will leave them that way and enjoy
my recovery.

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:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

It is truly awful to admit that, glass in hand, we have warped our minds
into such an obsession for destructive drinking that only an act of
Providence can remove it from us.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 21

My act of Providence, (a manifestation of divine care and direction), came
as I experienced the total bankruptcy of active alcoholism -- everything
meaningful in my life was gone. I telephoned Alcoholics Anonymous and,
from that instant, my life has never been the same. When I reflect on that
very special moment, I know that God was working in my life long before I
was able to acknowledge and accept spiritual concepts. The glass was put
down through this one act of Providence and my journey into sobriety
began. My life continues to unfold with divine care and direction. Step
One, in which I admitted I was powerless over alcohol, that my life had
become unmanageable, takes on more meaning for me-one day at a time-in the
life-saving, life Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 19th

A.A. Thought for the Day

On the foundation of sobriety, we can build a life
of honesty, unselfishness, faith in God, and love
of our fellow human beings. We'll never fully
reach these goals, but the adventure of building
that kind of a life is so much better than the
merry-go-round of our old drinking life that
there's no comparison. We come into A.A. to get
sober, but if we stay long enough we learn a new
way of living. We become honest with ourselves
and with other people. We learn to think more
about others and less about ourselves. And we
learn to rely on the constant help of a Higher
Power. Am I living the way of honesty,
unselfishness, and faith?

Meditation for the Day

I believe that God had already seen my heart's
needs before I cried to Him, before I was
conscious of those needs myself. I believe that
God was already preparing the answer. God does
not have to be petitioned with sighs and tears and
much speaking before he reluctantly looses the
desired help. He has already anticipated my every
want and need. I will try to see this, as His plans
unfold in my life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may understand my real wants and
needs. I pray that my understanding of those needs
and wants may help to bring the answer to them.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Heal Yourself

Infuse healing energy into yourself, into your being.
For too long, we've been attracted to things that drain us,
exhausting our body, depleting our soul.
That time has passed.

The world is a spa, a nature retreat,
a wealth of healing resources.
Pour Epsom salts and essential oils into your bath.
Sit quietly by a tree or in a garden.
Walk around the b lock in your neighborhood.
Spend an afternoon in a nearby park
or a day at the lake or beach.
Throw stones into the river while you sit on the bank
contemplating the eternal stream of life.
Allow beautiful music to quietly imbue the stillness
with healing instead of the pounding of your mind.
Light a fire and awaken that darkened hearth to glowing flames and soothing warmth.

Rise from your bed early in the morning.
Open the curtains.
Watch the sunrise.
Feel the sunrise.
Let it infuse you with its message.
Let it energize you, invigorate you, fill you with life.
At day's end return to the window. Or step outside.
Watch the sun set.
Absorb its changing colors spreading out beyond the horizon.
Feel how it changes the earth and all it touches.

Pet a puppy, stroke a piece of velvet, listen to a symphony.
If you can't slow down enough to absorb the energy the first time,
do it a second and a third.
Absorb revitalizing energy until you can hear your voice,
hear your heart tell you what would feel good,
what would bring peace, what would bring stillness and joy.
Before long, doing what brings healing and
joy will become a natural as it used to be to do what drains,
tires, depletes, and exhausts.

It isn't enough to draw near to the light. Absorb
it into you. Let it charge you and change you
with its energy and its power. Healing is all
around you. Wherever you are, whatever your
resources, healing, energy, and joy are there.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Look Within & See , by Marie T. Russell
<http://www.innerself.com/Reflections/look_within.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Inner Life
by Jasmin Lee Cori

If you want to be rich
stop chasing after the things of the world.
Go inside.
What you will find will stop you dead
and you will want no more.

This is the essence of most, if not all, spiritual teachings. The real
riches lie in the kingdom within, yet many people live their whole lives not
knowing how to find them. Their energies are absorbed in the outer world,
keeping up with the demands of a busy life. The only inner life they know is
really the inside lining of the outer life, for it consists almost entirely
of their emotional and mental involvement with the world around them.

There is another inner life. We may enter it through this surface layer, but
it goes far, far beyond that. It is concerned, not so much with the ups and
downs of our personal lives, but with our deeper relationships with life and
spirit. It is concerned with an inner nature that is the ground of
everything.

Although culture at large does not support this inner life, there is growing
interest in it. The marketplace is booming with books, classes, and
workshops, all appealing to this hunger for a more genuine, free, actualized
life. While there is much that we can learn from these sources, we must
remember that real freedom is not something that anyone can sell us. We
cannot purchase enlightenment, any more than our ancestors could purchase
salvation. We need to learn how to re-source our inner life by once more
making our way to the source of it.

It is a long journey with many paths, some straight and narrow, others
circular and inclusive. If you want the straight and narrow path, I suggest
you find a spiritual teacher and make this your life. For most of us, that
won't work. We take what may look like (and be) a longer route, but the
changes we make are broad and sweeping. We're not necessarily in a hurry.
The goal is not just to get enlightened, but to self-actualize as well.

TWO JOURNEYS
In a sense, there are two journeys: one to find ourselves and one to lose
ourselves. Of course it is not that simple. At different levels, the truth
looks different. That is why the teachings of sages like Ramana Maharshi at
times sound contradictory. Many of Ramana's teachings are a record of his
responses to questions asked by various seekers. His answers were tailored
to the individual needs and consciousness of the questioner. Just as the
view from the mountain looks different from different vantage points, so too
the view of reality varies according to our level of consciousness.

This is why the relationship between these two journeys is so difficult to
describe. Some would say that they are really one journey, and they would be
correct. Others claiming the same thing would not be correct because they
would mean something quite different by it. Because I think there is more
harm right now in equating the two processes than in differentiating them, I
am emphasizing the distinction.

Many of today's popular books on spiritual growth deal more with finding
yourself and expanding that self than with the ruthless task of losing
yourself. Self-actualization, which can be defined as fulfilling all of
one's unique human potential, becomes confused with Self-Realization,
defined as knowing your true identity as the more universal Self.

Actually, I don't like using the word "self" in this context because it is
so intricately wed in most of our minds with the sense of individual
identity. When we are talking about the transpersonal ground of being that
is our true nature, we might better describe it as the "suchness," the
"beingness," the "isness" that constitutes everything. It is a far cry from
the individual self, which, because of our identification with it, keeps us
from knowing this larger Self. To keep this distinction clear, I always
capitalize the word "self" when referring to this deeper, broader
experience.

The journey to find ourselves (the first journey) is the process of
individuation. When we realize what this really involves, we see that it is
a journey very few people complete. Few break free from the conditioning of
the past to fully and completely express their unique being. So it is
fitting that much of our collective attention, as well as the fields of
psychology and personal growth, are concerned with shepherding people
through this process.

Much of what I say about contemplative life can be applied to this first
journey. Making space to be with yourself, examining the issue of identity,
becoming more open and present, learning to tolerate stillness and to let go
of control -- all of these are useful to the process of becoming a more
authentic person.

They are also useful in the process of losing ourselves (the second
journey). By becoming more open and more present, for example, we come into
deeper contact with the larger Being, which allows us to recognize that we
are not the identity we carry around inside our heads. This helps us let go
of that identity and know that we are not truly separate from the larger
unity, which is exactly what the second journey is about. In a similar
fashion, learning to tolerate stillness not only helps us face ourselves
more squarely (the first journey), but takes us beyond the activity of the
ego. Without that activity, the ego falls away (the second journey). So the
same process serves both ends, depending on how deeply we pursue it.

It may be said that both journeys culminate in knowing who we really are,
yet they do not point to the same thing. In the first journey, what we
discover is the authentic person, without mask or self-limitation. In the
second journey, we learn that any such identity is still only a part of the
picture. It is still the outer skin. In the second journey, we discover that
we are something much more eternal and mysterious, something that can change
into almost any form and still be true to itself. It is hard for our minds
to grasp an identity that is independent of the particulars in this way. It
helps if we can let go of our minds a little bit and try to feel from our
bodies and our hearts.

The first journey is familiar to us. In many ways, it is a self-improvement
project. We can use our usual motivations and strategies to get behind it.
The second journey, in contrast, is a radical departure. We must let go of
almost everything we know, every familiar way of being. It represents a
complete metamorphosis. There is a paradox here: as radical as this second
journey is, it can lead to an outer life that looks totally ordinary.

In many Buddhist teachings, we hear the idea that after enlightenment, all
that is left is chopping wood and carrying water. We don't disappear into
the ethers, but return to the chores of daily life more embodied. We come
into our bodies and sensations in a way that allows us to really experience
them. The commentary -- the story we impose on life -- is gone, and what is
left is simply what is.

To some people, this seems to imply that the experience of pure sensation is
the totality of spiritual life. This is not how I experience it. When I am
in deeper states, I sometimes feel a fine presence that pervades everything.
I am in contact with vast dimensions inside of me -- or which I enter by
going inside. Sometimes, it is hard to tell what is inside and what is
outside, or which world is more real, although I see that the outer world is
but an expression of this invisible reality. When chopping wood and carrying
water, I can be present to the wood and the water, to my hands and my feet,
and I can also be present to the formless essence that makes the universe
sing.

THE ROUTE HOME
The two journeys contain many roads. The journey to find ourselves includes
personal growth work, psychotherapy, education, relationships, parenting,
career, interests, spiritual community, and much more. Often, it follows the
shape of our lives. The first journey is broad and inclusive.

The second journey is not. It whittles us down rather than builds us up. We
lose structure rather than gain it. In the second journey, it doesn't really
matter what you do for a living, how fulfilling your relationships are, or
what temple you pray in. It doesn't matter what you wear. (In the first
journey, there can be a lot of experimentation with personal style and
appearance.) The second journey strips us of all that. In some sense, we are
stripped of our individuality -- or what we have taken to be our
individuality. We give up many of the outer distinctions, not because they
are bad and should be extinguished, but because they are not our true being.
This is not to suggest that our true being is some homogeneous mush in which
everyone is the same. There is a uniqueness that the mind cannot anticipate
and that can only be known when we come upon it in our inner travels.

What is this reducing diet? What can whittle us away like this? Hard
spiritual work. This doesn't necessarily mean twelve hours on a meditation
cushion with a Zen master whacking you on the back. It doesn't require a
guru who throws your ego onto the ground and humiliates you. It doesn't
necessarily come with years of selfless service. Any of these may be part of
your path, but there are gentler ways as well.

What I am describing in this book is an entrance ramp to a contemplative
lifestyle that can fit into the modern world, that honors individual
differences, and that is true to the natural intelligence that is operating
through the universe and in each person who knows how to get out of the way
and listen. Contemplation is about listening. It is not about ordering God
around, not about creating rituals to manifest our desires, not about secret
formulas for spiritual transformation. Contemplation is the yin of spiritual
life. It is the receptive side of things.

Thus it is not about controlling, but about giving up control; not about
knowing, but about entering the way of unknowing; not about getting more,
but about giving up everything that stands between you and the no-thing-ness
of your true nature. The mystical way of expressing this is to say that the
contemplative life is about giving yourself to the Beloved, about
surrendering everything between you and God.

Such terms are stark and demanding, and I don't want to scare people. When
you feel mystical passion, you want to give everything; before this, you may
just want a quieter life, to recognize the spiritual in the commonplace, to
find solace in silence. It is enough.

FRUITS OF CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE
Contemplative life is not a starvation diet. A bounty of fruits lines the
path all along the way. One of the first of these fruits is the sense of
spaciousness that comes when we stop filling all of our time. Because we are
not racing about, we have a sense of more leisure. We slow down and smell
the flowers.

As we break free of our conditioning and listen to our own rhythms, we enjoy
a sense of harmony and flow. We feel more balanced because we are not run by
the requirements of outer life alone, but have also begun to cultivate an
inner life. We come back to ourselves. What a relief! We step out of the
haze of our thoughts and come into the moment. In a word, we become
"present."

>From this sense of presence, along with a growing sense of connection, comes
the feeling of more meaning and, at the same time, less need to articulate
what that meaning is. We are not living for something that is down the road.
The meaning is right here, in the moment.

Unresolved feelings may rise to the surface as we sit and face ourselves,
but we know that this is the road to peace. We are no longer running away.
We are here, facing the good and the bad, learning to hold it all.

These are juicy fruits, rewards enough for our changes. But they are not
all. As we deepen into the second journey, we find an even more abundant
harvest. Most of these fruits come as we release the small self. It is like
stepping out of a tin suit, free at last to be and move without constraint.
A whole new dimension of being opens up inside of us. We come home, our
hearts overflowing with gratitude. The fruits of our own essential nature
are more wondrous and delectable than we could have hoped -- the sweetness
of our own nature and the sweetness of divine nature, one luscious ecstasy.

Am I exaggerating? Not at all. The language may seem flowery, but the riches
are far greater than even the most superlative descriptors. I don't mean to
imply that contemplative life is all some kind of honeyed bliss. There are
deserts to cross, times of great aridity and discouragement, times when we
are terrified. But the fruits most certainly are there, and the fruits are
real. They liberate in us a love that transforms us, giving us new eyes
through which we view the world. Here is a poem about this experience.

New Eyes

Running through the village
embracing everyone she meets,
she laughs in ecstasy.
People call her mad.

"New eyes!" she cries.
"I have been given new eyes!"

And it is true.
For the scales which had previously blinded her
are gone now, erased
revealing such utter glory
that her mind took flight,
leaving only a rapturous heart
in an old, weathered body
racing through the streets
on fire with love.

Jasmin Cori,
Freefall to the beloved:
mystical poetry for God's lovers
(Boulder, CO: Golden Reed, 1996), p. 111.

This article is excerpted from The Tao of Contemplation by Jasmin Lee Cori,
©2000. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Samuel Weiser Inc.
www.weiserbooks.com

About The Author
Jasmin Lee Cori is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice who uses a
transpersonal approach to help people live from a deeper place. After ten
years of teaching psychology and personal growth classes in a number of
colleges and professional programs, she now turns her attention to spiritual
work and writing. She has written The Tao of Contemplation, Freefall to the
beloved: mystical poetry for God's lovers and the forthcoming Trust Walk: A
Journey of Awakening. You may reach her at jasminlee@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A Time for Healing

Pain
Roadblocks to joy
Roadpaths in the brain
Grooves of learning, bad impressions
Of harsh dark meanings
Defensive reactions
That won't let you go
That prevent your happiness
That taint and paint the present with
A past picture
Best forgotten
Images that never
go
away

Learn the path the road takes
Deep in your brain
Where memories remain
Be in it as it awakens the pain
Let tears fall, it's the rain
Of a pent-up, held-back storm
It was not your fault
You did not deserve the bad things
That happened to you
It was a horror no human
Should ever have to face, to taste
Yet
It is there, undeniable, unalterable
Etched in memory in flashback
A fact of present-day existence
A fact of the past running away with your life

It doesn't have to run your life
Forever
For every belief, conditioning, experience
There are paradigms attached
For every healing, unspoiling, revealing
There are journeys to match
Let time, choices, a bag of tools
begin the healing
Build new pathways
Adopt new impressions
Because today is the time
Of Healing
Of the beginning

Love
Stella
© Stella Raymonde Savoie Johnson
Stella's monthly SoulZine features inspiration from articles,
meditations, affirmations, floral and herbal healers. Join here:
http://she.soulopen.com
Looking for alternative healing? Nutritional and Herbal help:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/herbalmenopause
Looking for Support in your Healing and Recovery? Come see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/healingfromprocrastination
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Newcomers’ Dilemma

“Keep coming back!”

Feeling real uncomfortable and confused,
Ashamed, sad and lonely but I still want to use.
Got to do something, don’t think this is it,
Got to have a little high, everything I can’t quit.
Don’t feel so great with a few days clean,
Making meetings, taking steps, what’s it all mean?
All that goody two shoe stuff I heard,
They’ve been changed from junkies to bona fide nerds.
Do I really need a meeting at least once a day?
No, can’t do that, don’t like them anyway.
“Keep coming back!” something they love to say,
And that “Don’t leave before the miracle” or “Get another day.”
They’re all grinning but I know they get high,
Claim they don’t, but I know that’s a lie.
Smiling and laughing like they’re having fun,
Talking about all the sick and crazy things they’ve done.
Talking that talk about looking inside,
Then telling all their business, where’s their pride?
Might have put the hard stuff away,
But I know Mr. Cool over there had a joint today.
I know I’m sick and tired of the life I’m living,
But how am I going to take the suggestions they’re giving?
Like don’t worry about anyone, keep the focus on you,
Don’t they know I’ve got children, what are they suppose to do?
Imagine! No relationships in the first year,
That’s none of their business, that’s not why I’m here.
As if I didn’t know they say, “First things first”,
Every suggestion I hear, just seems to get worst.
Made a ninety and ninety, they were here all the time,
Guess their addiction was worst than mine.
Happy clean and sober? There’s just no way,
But I’m a little too confused not to stay.
So, gonna stay for a while to learn the right way,
You know, smoke like a lady, not every day.
Gonna stay for a while to learn the trick to how they do,
Cause every time I did, I always blew.
Got three days and never been clean before,
Doubt if I’ll be able to get much more.
But gonna stay for while just in case they’re right,
Cause I went to three meetings and I’ve been clean for three nights.

M. Lynn Blue
copyrighted 1998
mlccblue@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Our Greatest Wealth

We are born with two eyes in front
because we must not always look behind,
but see what lies ahead beyond ourselves.

We are born to have two ears-one left,
one right so we can hear both sides,
collect both the compliments and criticisms,
to see which are right.

We are born with a brain concealed in a skull
then no matter how poor we are, we are still rich,
for no one can steal what our brain contains,
packing in more jewels and rings than you can think.

We are born with two eyes, two ears, but one mouth
for the mouth is a sharp weapon, it can hurt, flirt, and kill.
Remember our motto: talk less, listen and see more.

We are born with only one heart,
deep in our ribs it reminds us
to appreciate and give love from deep within.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see.
I sought my God, but my God eluded me.
I sought my brother and I found all three.
Source Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
God does not compromise.
Ernest Holmes, "Science of Mind"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
  Speaking without thinking
is shooting without aiming.
French Proverb
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Love does not consist in gazing at each other but
in looking outward together in the same direction."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"It doesn't hurt to cry."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"If you think life's lessons are hard, try addiction."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What are you doing suffering someone else's pain?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Thank you God for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
and for all you have left me."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
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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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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 ,
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Even if your country is listed
please email me, and let me know where you are from.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
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Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1529

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:21 am
Subject: 1/18/05 "The Maze" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Will anybody be attending the N.A. Convention in Santa Fe, New Mexico March 18, 19, 20, 2005 ?

Change
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/change.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 18
My Higher Power guides me today.
I can move forward with the faith and trust
that I am lovingly being led along the way,
a step at a time, a day at a time.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Maze

Here I sit almost crazed, thinking life such a maze.
Wondering and thinking almost speaking aloud.
Sometimes even getting completely profound.
Wondering and thinking about which way to turn,
When all I truly want out of life is to love, be loved and to learn.

In a drug induced stupor I penned that short verse.
At that point in my life, living felt like more like a curse
The maze I referred to, my labyrinth of destruction
At each turn encountering some oblivious obstruction

Waking each morning in an overwhelming haze
Thinking I alone could make my way through the maze
Yet, never once considering where it was I was going
Or, the harvest I would reap from the seeds I was sowing

I ran wild through the pathways trying to escape from the pain
All the while engulfed by an unfathomable shame
I overdosed on the weekends, ran from the law
Lied about where I went, what I did, who I saw

And brick by brick I erected my walls
With each and every dose, an attempt to block it all
It didn't matter in what form the substance came
Only that it helped to ease than unquenchable pain

In the end seems nothing was real
Hell, I didn't even know how to feel
Love confused me, but how well I knew fear
Anger seethed in cold hard tears

Joy elusive, happiness lost
Living equaled disappointment, all hope was tossed
I hated myself, so I held my mask high
I hid from everyone and wanted to die

And, there was God, sitting amidst the stars
keeping track through the years
Just another source of pain, shame and fear
In my heart I knew he couldn't wait to see me fall
Wasn't this game, after all.

Yes!

Just for today, I know that it was he who brought me to my knees
With the help of my children and their heartfelt pleas.
I never imagined myself beyond those doors
Of course, I never considered myself an addict before

I was, I am, and, I will always be.
Yet today rather than reach for drugs, I strive for recovery.
Today, all my prayers have been answered,
though maybe not as I planned.
Still, I'm a little more comfortable being the person,
the addict that I am

Today, I'm not alone. I have true friends indeed
Who reach out to others in times of need
Giving of themselves with no thought of reward
God sure placed some miracles beyond those doors

Peace, love and light
Cheri
LACleanNCrazy@...
http://hometown.aol.com/lacleanncrazy/myhomepage/index.html
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
God's Mate Selection (A MUST READ)
<http://www.storybin.com/wisdom/wisdom120.shtml>

A Rebellious Bird
<http://www.storybin.com/sponsor/sponsor128.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 18                             The simple inventory

"Continuing to take a personal inventory means that we form a habit
of looking at ourselves, our actions, our attitudes, and our
relationships on a regular basis."   Basic Text, p. 41

The daily inventory is a tool we can use to simplify our lives. The most
complicated part of taking a regular inventory is deciding how to start.
Should we write it out? What should we examine? In how much detail?
And how do we know when we've finished? In no time, we've turned a
simple exercise into a major project. Here's one simple approach to the
daily inventory. We set aside a few minutes at the close of each day to
sit quietly and check out our feelings. Is there a knot, big or small, in our
gut? Do we feel uncomfortable about the day we've just finished? What
happened? What was our part in the affair? Do we owe any amends? If
we could do it over again, what would we do differently?

We also want to monitor the positive aspects of our lives in our daily
inventory. What has given us satisfaction today? Were we productive?
Responsible? Kind? Loving? Did we give unselfishly of ourselves? Did we
fully experience the love and beauty the day offered us? What did we
do today that we would want to do again?

Our daily inventory doesn't have to be complicated to be effective. It
is a very simple tool we can use to keep in daily touch with ourselves.

Just for today: I want to keep in touch with the way I feel in living
this life I've been given. At the end of this day, I will take a brief,
simple inventory.

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:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the
power of choice in drink. Our so called willpower becomes practically
nonexistent.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 24

My powerlessness over alcohol does not cease when I quit drinking. In
sobriety I still have no choice – I can't drink.

The choice I do have is to pick up and use the "kit of spiritual tools"
(Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 25). When I do that, my Higher Power relieves
me of my lack of choice -- and keeps me sober one more day. If I could
choose not to pick up a drink today, where then would be my need for A.A.
or a Higher Power?

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 18th

A.A. Thought for the Day

The new life can't be built in a day. We have to
take the program slowly, a little at a time. Our
subconscious minds have to be reeducated. We
have to learn to think differently. We have to
get used to sober thinking instead of alcoholic
thinking. Anyone who tries it knows that the old
alcoholic thinking is apt to come back on us when
we least expect it. Building a new life is a slow
process, but it can be done if we really follow the
A.A. program. Am I building a new life on the
foundation of sobriety?

Meditation for the Day

I will pray daily for faith, for it is God's gift.
On faith alone depends the answer to my prayers.
God gives it to me in response to my prayers,
because it is a necessary weapon for me to
possess for the overcoming of all adverse
conditions and the accomplishment of all good
in my life. Therefore, I will work at strengthening
my faith.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may so think and live as to feed
my faith in God. I pray that my faith may grow
because with faith God's power becomes available
to me.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What Does Service Mean to You?

For a long time, service meant drudgery,
something grim and tiresome to me.
Having to say yes all the time,
even when I wanted to say no.
Doing a lot of things I didn't want to do because someone asked me to.
Doing an act of service even if I wasn't asked.
Solving any problem, filling any need I saw any time, anywhere.

But much of the time, what I did didn't help others or me.
Usually I felt angry, resentful, tired, and unappreciated.
After years of living this way, I started avoiding people
so I could avoid the responsibility of having to solve their problems.
I shied away from people.
I shied away from service.

Before I was able to return to service,
I needed to change my definition of it.
Service isn't something we do; it's a way of life.
Service is what our lives are when we're loving ourselves.

Now, to me service means that we take our place
in the universe naturally and easily.
We listen to our hearts, trusting the guidance about what we want to do,
what feels right for us.
We listen to our hearts, trusting the guidance about what we want to do,
what feels right for us.
We listen when our hearts say no, too.

We love ourselves. We do what we're led to.
We do what we enjoy and have a passion for doing. That's service.
We enjoy life.
We open our hearts to the people around us.
We laugh openly, we cry openly, we let ourselves be who we are.
That's service.
When a task or job arises that it's our job to do,
one that feels right and appropriate for us, we do it -- in joy and love.
That's service.
We allow ourselves to be in the present moment,
realizing the value of work and of giving.
Then we take it one step further.
We allow ourselves to have fun and enjoy
what we're doing while we're doing it.
That's service.

If a task seems too grim to bear,
if we can't find the reserves or resolve to accomplish it,
if no way to do it opens up, we quietly say no.
We have failed.
We have to listening to our hearts.
We have succeeded at true service.

We give ourselves, our resources, our love.
We give of our time and our smiles and our joy
in those places and with those people that feel right to us.
We don't worry about what we're going to get back while we're giving.
We focus on the giving,
because we're doing something we want to do.

If service has become drudgery, redefine it until it becomes joy.
True service won't make you back away from people and life.
It will bring you closer to God, to yourself.
True service helps you become a part of the magical dance of universal love.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Golden Rule, by Marie T. Russell
<http://www.innerself.com/Reflections/golden_rule.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Being The Saint Next Door
by Alan Cohen

I met a musician named Jack who grew up in Harlem and played jazz at
local night clubs in the 1950's. "I jammed with my friends a lot," he told
me. "One of them was Charley Parker." Jack laughed and added, "Just
think -- I hung out with one of the jazz greats of all time. I had no idea
the guy playing right next to me would one day become a legend."

Jack got me thinking. Every great person, from Galileo to St. Francis to
Martin Luther King Jr., grew up as a normal person and did normal things
with normal people. Probably none of their buddies expected that these
souls would one day change the course of life on the planet and retool the
destiny of humanity.

What if someone close to you, maybe your best friend, turned out to be a
hero to millions? "Oh, that couldn't happen to anyone I know," you might
answer hastily. But perhaps the friends of young Louis Pasteur might have
spoken equally hastily.

The seeds of greatness can sprout anywhere, through anyone --
sometimes in the least likely situation. I know a hypnotherapist who was
approached by a man seeking hypnotherapy for his seventeen-year-old
son who was having trouble with his golf game. Feeling this would not be
a valuable use of her time, she turned the man down. "I'm sorry, Mr.
Woods," she told him, "I won't be able to see your son..."

Years ago I played in a band with a fellow named Ernie, who was a regular
kind of guy. I lost contact with Ernie for a number of years, and then one
night he showed up at a friend's house. When I asked Ernie what he had
been doing lately, he offered this astounding account:
"A few years ago I went to see a friend in South America, and one evening
a neighbor came to visit. She told me she had a headache, and I asked her
if she wanted me to pray for her. I did, and she felt better. That night
she came back with her daughter, who was suffering from menstrual pain.
I offered the girl prayer, and she experienced relief. The next night the
woman was back, this time followed by all of her relatives! Hoping I could
be of service, I prayed for them. The next day half the town was lined up
for healing. After I came home I received a call from a town
representative who told me that the people would pay my air fare back if
I returned. So I did, and now I go back regularly; they fly me from town
to town in a helicopter."

Upon hearing this story, my first thought was, "Ernie? Last year a bass
player, this year a saint?" I had a hard time reconciling the two pictures,
but then I realized I had a choice: I could negate the good that he was
doing, or I could rejoice in the blessings. It felt a lot better to be
excited about his success than to be cynical about it.

Now here's the kicker: the saint next door could be you. What is a saint,
but someone who lets the light of his or her spirit shine purely and
creatively? If you're not quite ready to go for sainthood, then perhaps
you would simply settle for greatness. Or success. Perhaps that book
you've been playing with in your mind; that song, or that painting, or that
labor-saving device, is not some random thought, but a divinely-inspired
vision. Perhaps every great invention or seminar started with just one
little seed thought, and the difference between living a life of struggle
or fabulous success and service, is simply that some people believed in
their idea, and others didn't.

In 1985 I was invited to participate in a citizen diplomacy trip to the
Soviet Union, and the organizer asked me if I knew anyone else who
would be appropriate to attend. I immediately thought of my friend Patch
Adams and sponsored him. On the trip Patch met actor Mike Farrell
(of M*A*S*H) fame, and the two became friends. Fourteen years later
Hollywood produced a major motion picture of Patch's life, and it was
produced by: Mike Farrell. Little did I know, as I invited Patch to be on
the trip, that I was participating in a link-up that would affect millions of
people, as well as raise considerable funds for Patch's free hospital
(Gesundheit Institute) in West Virginia.

It is said that anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple, but only
God can count the number of apples in a seed. Actually, there are an
infinite number of apples in a seed; how many actually come forth is a
result only of cultivation. At this moment there are infinite number of
ideas and talents within you, ideas that can change your life as well as
that of millions -- who knows, maybe the whole planet. The saint next
door may very well be you.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TODAY'S POSITIVE THOUGHT:

You have two basic choices in life; love or fear.
Choose love.

TODAY'S POSITIVE AFFIRMATION:

I AM love and I express love in every thought,
word, and deed.

TODAY'S POSITIVE VISUALIZATION:

As I close my eyes, I allow myself to sense a
spring of love bubbling up from my center. I
imagine this love flowing throughout my body,
mind, and emotions, healing and transforming
every part of my life. In my mind's eye I see
the love within me connecting to the love that
is flowing throughout the world. I affirm that
in this love there is nothing to fear. I trust
that this Universal Source of love will protect
and care for me at all times. I imagine myself
going throughout my day sending and receiving
love everywhere I go. In this love, I become a
magnet for all the good things I deserve in life.
I combine these images and thoughts with a feeling
of joy and let them go.

Copyright © 2002 Institute For Creative Living
All rights reserved.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Heart Healing Meditation
by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.

Here is a powerful healing meditation to help you lose your fears about love
and to cleanse your heart chakra. You may want to tape-record this
meditation with soft background music, so you can easily listen to it once
or twice a day.

1. With your eyes closed, and in a comfortable position, take two or three
very deep, cleansing breaths.

2. Visualize a beautiful cloud of emerald green light surrounding you. As
you breathe in, you take this healing energy into your lungs, your cells,
and your heart. Concentrate on your heart a moment, as you allow the
emerald-green light to cleanse away any negativity that may have caused you
to feel pain.

3. With a deep breath, be willing to allow the light to carry away any fears
you may have about love. Be willing to release the fear of feeling love. You
need do nothing else except breathe and hold the intention to heal yourself
of the fear of love. Just be willing to be healed, and God and the angels
will do everything else. Take another deep breath, as you become willing to
release the fear of being loved, including the fear that if you are loved,
you could be manipulated, tricked, used, abandoned, rejected, persecuted, or
hurt. With another deep breath, allow all of these fears from any lifetime
to be lifted and carried away.

4. Now, allow the light to cleanse you of any fears you may have about
giving love. With a deep breath, be willing to release the fear that if you
give love, you could be controlled, abused, deceived, betrayed, maimed, or
hurt in any way. Allow all of these fears to be lifted completely, and feel
your heart expanding to its natural loving state.

5. Allow yourself to release any old unforgiveness you may be harboring
toward those who seem to have hurt you in a love relationship. Become
willing to release unforgiveness toward your mother ... toward your father
... toward other parental figures ... toward your siblings ... toward your
childhood friends ... toward your adolescent friends ... toward your first
love ... toward those whom you dated and loved ... toward anyone you lived
with or married.... Allow all of your hurts and disappointments associated
with love to be cleansed and fully carried away. You don't want the hurt,
you don't need it, and with another deep breath, it is lifted to the light
where it is transmuted and purified. Only the lessons remain, and the pure
essence of love contained within each relationship, since that is the only
thing that was ever eternal and real within each of your relationships.

6. Now, with another deep breath, allow the light to cleanse you completely.
Be willing to release any unforgiveness you may hold toward yourself
connected to love. Be willing to forgive yourself for betraying yourself,
for ignoring your intuition, or for not looking out for your highest
interests. Give yourself a hug, either in your mind or with your arms.
Reassure your inner self that you will never again engage in self-betrayal.

7. You now commit to following your intuition and discernment, so you could
never be or stay in any relationship that would hurt you. Fully release the
unforgiveness for any mistakes that you think you may have made in any
relationship, including your relationship with yourself. And with another
very deep cleansing breath, feel yourself healed, whole, and ready to enjoy
the love that is the truth about who you really are.

As we lose the fear of love, we become more aware of the rich range of
feelings that are part of our human experience.

This article is excerpted from Divine Guidance, ©1998, by Doreen Virtue,
Ph.D.. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Renaissance Books.
http://www.renaissancebks.com

About the Author

Doreen Virtue is a spiritual psychologist who holds Ph.D., M.A., and B.A.
degrees in Counseling Psychology and is the author of twenty-two books about
mind-body-spirit issues including Angel Therapy and Divine Guidance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When The Meeting Is Over

When the meeting is over
The drunks are all gone
Recovery is with us
It lingers on
Some come for recovery
Others come
Because they are told
Recovery is a story
That will never grow old
When the meeting is over
We go to face our day
So many are blessed
With a new way
While others cling to
Their addictions and strife
Many of us live this new life
This story of recovery
Is only for a day
You can't keep it for tomorrow
You must give it away
Become honest
Open
Willing
You'll see
These are the steps to recovery
When the meeting is over
The hour has passed by
Can you be found
Clinging to the question why
It's so important that
We gather and share
It is also important
To show the new comer we care
Share our experience
Strength and hope
Teach by example
Show how we cope
When the meeting is over
Do we walk in gratitude
Showing others in our life
A new attitude
When you share from your heart
Not your head
You will rarely regret
The things you've said
When the meeting is over
Are you satisfied
Can you say
You've done your best
Not to deny
Get up get active
Give it away
For God grants
Alcoholics
Only
Today

Daniel M Corkery
11/25/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Today was a good day, a day just like any other day.
Today was a sober day, just like the days before today.
Today I prayed, for help along the way.
Just for today.
Grateful to be sober today,

Lisa D.
Li6Dy@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you do not change direction,
you may end up where you are heading.
Lao Tse
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Every action of our lives touches on some chord
that will vibrate in eternity.
Edwin Hubbel Chapin
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Flatter me, and I may not believe you.
Criticize me, and I may not like you.
Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.
Encourage me, and I may not forget you.
William Arthur
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give
Kahlil Gibran
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Meeting makers make it."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Conditions are never just right.�
People who delay action until all factors
are favorable do nothing."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Pain is inevitable,
Misery is optional."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"My drug of choice was,
'Whatcha got?'"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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 ,
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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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1528

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:14 pm
Subject: 1/17/05 "A Prayer For The World" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Will anybody be attending the N.A. Convention in Santa Fe, New Mexico March 18, 19, 20, 2005 ?

Higher Power
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/higherpower.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 17
Today I am not afraid of the silence.
I find peace in this silence and
I am able to listen to God's will for me.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A Prayer For The World

Let the rain come and wash away
the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds
held and nurtured over generations.
Let the rain wash away the memory
of the hurt, the neglect.
Then let the sun come out and
fill the sky with rainbows.
Let the warmth of the sun heal us
wherever we are broken.
Let it burn away the fog so that
we can see each other clearly.
So that we can see beyond labels,
beyond accents, gender or skin color.
Let the warmth and brightness
of the sun melt our selfishness
so that we can share the joys and
feel the sorrows of our neighbors.
Let the earth, nourished by rain,
bring forth flowers
to surround us with beauty.
And let the mountains teach our hearts
to reach upward to heaven.
Amen.

-- Rabbi Harold Kushner author of
"When Bad Things Happen to Good People."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Recovery Links
<http://www.ipass.net/a1idpirat/tAA.html>

LACleanNCrazy Cheri's Home Page
<http://www.hometown.aol.com/lacleanncrazy/myhomepage/poetry.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 17                                      Forgiveness

"As we realize our need to be forgiven, we tend to be more forgiving.
At least we know that we are no longer intentionally making life
miserable for people."   Basic Text, p. 38

In our addiction we often treated others badly, sometimes deliberately
finding ways to make their lives miserable. in our recovery, we may still
have a tendency to pass judgment on others' actions because we think we
know how that person should behave. But as we progress in our recovery
we often find that, to accept ourselves, we must accept those around us.
It may be difficult to watch as someone's insanity manifests itself. But
if we detach ourselves from the problem, we can start living in the
solution. And if we feel affected by another's actions, we can extend the
principle of forgiveness.

Just for today: I will strive to forgive rather than be forgiven. I will
try to act in such a way that I feel worthy of self-love.

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:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our
Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed
miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we
could never do by ourselves.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 25

This truly is a fact in my life today, and a real miracle. I always
believed in God, but could never put that belief meaningfully into my
life. Today, because of Alcoholics Anonymous, I now trust and rely on God,
as I understand Him; I am sober today because of that! Learning to trust
and rely on God was something I could never have done alone. I now believe
in miracles because I am one!

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 17th

A.A. Thought for the Day

It doesn't do much good to come to meetings only
once in a while and sit around, hoping to get
something out of the program. That's all right at
first, but it won't help us very long. Sooner or
later we have to get into action by coming to
meetings regularly, by giving a personal witness
of our experience with alcohol, and by trying to
help other alcoholics. Building a new life takes all
the energy that we used to spend on drinking. Am
I spending at least as much time and effort on the
new life that I'm trying to build in A.A.?

Meditation for the Day

With God's help, I will build a protective screen
around myself which will keep out all evil thoughts.
I will fashion it out of my attitude toward God and
my attitude toward other people. When one
worrying or impatient thought enters my mind, I will
put it out at once. I know that love and trust are the
solvents for the worry and frets of life. I will use them
to form a protective screen around me.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that frets and impatience and worry may not
corrode my protective screen against all evil thoughts.
I pray that I may banish all these from my life.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Embrace Your Destiny

Her words were simple but profound
"Fall in love with your destiny."
How often we search outside of ourselves for some elusive moment,
for an experience like someone else is having,
for emotion we'd like to feel but aren't, at least not right now.
How often we long to be somewhere other than where we are,
or someone other than who we are.
How easy it can be to complain about and regret our past,
thinking it's somehow wrong.

The answer is to fall in love --
fall in love with our won life.
Our destiny isn't some far-off moment or
something that happens to someone else.
Our destiny is taking place right now.
It's been happening all along.

Destiny is that mysterious force or energy that magically
intertwines with choice, free will, and fate.
Let all those elements weave together
and create your life.
But know you can help to create it too,
by falling in love with your own life.
Love all the places you have gone
and all the places you will go.
Love the lessons you have learned
and the way you have learned them.

Most of all, love where you are right now.
Because that's where your destiny lies.

Melody Beattie
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Can’t Compete with Love, by Alan Cohen
<http://www.innerself.com/Creating_Realities/cant_compete_with_love.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Crossing The Threshold of Change
by Eve Bruce M.D.

Through years in medical practice, I had come to realize that by the time my
patients pick up the phone to make an appointment with me as a plastic
surgeon -- or to call any healer, for that matter -- two very important
steps have occurred first. First, they have decided that something is awry
in their life, something is not as they want it to be; and second, they have
decided to do something about it. They want change and they are asking for
it. They are at a gateway, a magical place. Only they hold the key to the
gate. But we as healers should understand this as an opportunity to help
them ease the key into the door and to assist their passage through the
gateway. I began to fully appreciate what a beautiful and rich opportunity
this magical time of transformation is for both patient and healer -- an
opportunity to change with conscious intent and to be conscious of our true
dreams.

After creating an external change with cosmetic surgery, I have often
watched my patients change internally in many ways. I have seen them develop
new stances, new ways of holding their bodies, new ways of walking and
talking, new ways of relating to the world. New relationships, new jobs, new
passions -- they were moving into and realizing their dreams.

Of course there are also patients who don't go through the gateway to a new
way of being. They come in asking for an external change, but after the
surgery changes the way they look, they are disappointed to find that their
life doesn't change. They don't change.

I have found that the wish for life change is usually subconscious in our
culture. At their first interview with me, most people speak very literally
about changing their bodies surgically, detaching the physical change from
any effect on their inner selves -- on their emotional, mental, or spiritual
bodies. But this detachment is an illusion -- we cannot separate our
physical bodies from our thoughts, our emotions, or our spirituality.

The plastic surgery patients who do not walk through the gate continue to be
unhappy. What happens when their lives do not change in the manner in which
they desired, consciously or subconsciously? They come back for more surgery
or seek other doctors or other disciplines of healing. For a while I thought
this plight was specific to plastic surgery, but as time went on I found
that it is common in all healing traditions. Whether it is internal
medicine, psychotherapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, Reiki, shamanism, or any
other kind of healing, some patients gracefully flow into change while
others defy change with a resistance so strong that nothing can move them.

And yet they had come asking for change. They wanted change. But they didn't
want to change themselves. The old adage "You can't have change without
change" is true. If you want to find the way to change your life, you have
to change your ways.

If we take the position that there is a connection between our spirituality
and our physicality, what is the meaning of disease? I have seen numerous
cases, in both allopathic and "alternative" medicine, of "cures" being
followed by a relapse of the same disease or the development of another
disease -- cancers being cured only to be followed by a different cancer; a
shapeshift into a younger, thinner, more beautiful body followed by aging or
weight gain; chronic pain relief followed by another chronic disease.

These experiences seem to indicate that without addressing the whole person,
permanent "cures" cannot succeed. Could it be that there isn't, as we have
long assumed, a separation between our physical, emotional, mental, and
spiritual bodies? Could it be that we can adjust the alignment between these
bodies, remove blockages, and enhance energy flow? Could it be that in order
to effect a long-term shapeshift patients need not only to ask for healing
and to clarify what healing means for them, but also to truly want it?

Listening to Spiritual Messages
If each of us is a miraculous healing machine, might a lack of balance, a
disease, really be a gift? A message? It may be an opportunity to redirect
our lives and our dreams or an opportunity simply to take a rest. I began to
see that we need to listen to these messages. If we simply remove a disease
with treatment but don't listen to the inherent message, another message may
be presented to us, one that is perhaps more severe and more difficult to
ignore. When a deformity cannot be repaired, the disease cannot be cured, or
when we die -- can the disease itself hold a purpose? Can even death be a
healing?

One of my workshop participants, Fran, distinctly heard her name being
called while journeying. "It was too freaky!" she complained. "But Fran," I
responded, "I have heard you ask for a sign from God many times, for a
message. This may be the message you have been asking for, and it has
reached you clearly and audibly. If this is your response, how long do you
think you'll have to wait to get another?"

In shamanic communities, most messages are considered to come in forms far
more subtle than spoken voices. As we begin to ask and listen, we can "hear"
more and more personal, communal, and global messages. Messages come to us
through life's synchronicities, through climate change, even through
disease. How many people have had a heart attack only to say that it was a
"wake-up call" for them, that they were able to see their lives and their
choices more clearly after that? When I hear people saying that they are now
able to live life more fully, not taking their lives and relationships for
granted any more, I wonder if there might have been more subtle messages,
more subtle "wake-up calls," in the years preceding the heart attack,
that -- if they had been heard -- would have resulted in the person's
turning sooner to a truly healthy life, a life lived more fully, a life
lived with more conscious dreams and choices.

In shamanic cultures, the question "why" is always asked when someone
becomes ill, or when there is an accident, a change in the climate, or
social unrest. I recall the story of an American woman walking in a market
place in Bali who fell, twisting her ankle. A passerby stopped to help her.
"Why did you fall?" he asked. The woman replied, "I don't know, perhaps I
missed my footing." The man took her to a nearby healer. As the healer
prepared a paste to rub on her swelling ankle, he asked her, "Why did you
fall?" "Well, I don't really know," she said. "Perhaps it was these new
shoes; I am not used to them." The next day the swelling was a little
better, but not completely. When the taxi driver taking her to visit a
nearby village noticed her ankle, she told him that she had fallen in the
marketplace. "Why did you fall?" he asked. "I don't know. Perhaps the rocks
were laid unevenly on the path, perhaps it was the jostling of the crowd ...
why is everyone asking me why I fell?" she questioned, a little puzzled and
annoyed.

"It is the most important question," replied the taxi driver. "I can take
you to a great healer in my village, but he also will ask you why you fell.
Until you are able to hear the message, you will be unable to heal
completely. Perhaps your ankle will eventually get better, but another
message will come in one form or another."

In our culture we seem to have many answers. When asked why we had an
accident or a disease, or in the face of global climate change, we give many
answers -- faulty tools, faulty user, genetics, biochemical and anatomic
mishaps, pollution, the shrinking ozone layer. Yet these are answers to the
question how, not why. "Why" questions lead to a message. What is the
message? What is spirit telling us through the language of our physical
existence? How can we connect more fully to our physical existence and begin
to hear God?

The answers are within ourselves. We need only to ask, open up to the
answers, and pay attention.

This article is excerpted from Shaman M.D., ©2002, by Eve Bruce, M.D.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Destiny Books, a division of
Inner Traditions Intl. www.innertraditions.com

About the Author:
Eve Bruce, M.D., has a plastic surgery practice in Maryland. She also
performs shamanic healings, gives workshops on shamanic techniques at Esalen
and the Omega Institute, and leads shamanic study tours for the Dream Change
Coalition to places as far flung as Ecuador, Tibet, and South Africa.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"This Is The True Joy In Life"

Being used for a
purpose recognized by yourself as a
mighty one; being a force of nature
instead of a feverish little clod of
ailments and grievances, complaining
that the world will not devote itself to
making you happy. I am of the opinion
that my life belongs to the whole
community and as long as I live, it is
my privilege to do for it whatever I can.
I want to be thoroughly used up when I
die - for the harder I work the more I
live. I rejoice in life for its own sake.
Life is no brief candle to me. It is a
sort of splendid torch which I have got
to hold up for the moment and I want
to make it burn as brightly as possible
before handing it on to future generations."

-- George Bernard Shaw's
Introduction to Man and Superman
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Who Am I

Who am I to judge my fellow man
Just because he does not fit
What I understand
Who am I to say he has no idea
Who am I to say
What he will fear
Who am I to say he has no pride
Who am I to say where he will abide
I am not a judge of anyone
What some fear others call fun
Who am I to say he is wrong
Just because he dances
To the sound
Of a different song
Who am I to say
What is in fashion
Who am I not to show
Love and compassion
For those who suffer
And those who shall die
Who am I to say he does lie
Have I come so far that I have forgot
What it is to feel pain and what is not
Who am I to judge who will be free
Am I blind I can no longer see
God is the maker of us all
He is the savior of those who fall
Who am I
To sit so high
That I forgot I was once
The one who was going to die

Daniel M Corkery
6/10/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Attraction not Promotion

During my active addiction I had reached that point or
bottom as is commonly known, where I was empty, I had
been empty for a long time and not had a clue as to
why I was carrying around so much hatred inside which
eventually turned into that emptiness.

Alienating family and friends was easy once I got the
hang of it, of course the disease helped with that,
the more I got high the less felt and it definitely,
as I can see now was feelings I used behind from the beginning.

I practice these spiritual principles of NA to the
best of my ability, that's all that was asked of me in
the beginning I figured it was the least I could do,
however in applying this repetition, because this is a
repetitious program, I've never felt so free in my
whole life, with the exception of the birth of my son.

I however, also live the slogan, Let Go & Let God, you
see I've also found a new found freedom in walking by
faith and not by sight. It keeps me green in the
awareness and acceptance of the wolves in sheep clothing.

When I come out of a meeting I'm elated with the
presence of my Higher Power and yet I'm looked upon by
other members as though I've done something wrong, as
though my being is not presentable. This is the same
type of attitude I used behind, but not here, not now.

Because we all are not practicing recovery. You see,
my idea of attraction rather than promotion IS NOT
going into a meeting and doing a few turns in the
floor so everyone can get a good look at my outfit,
NO. My idea of attraction rather than promotion in
this exceptional program called NA is the glow you see
on a recovering addicts face when he/she speaks about
the blessings freely given in this program and that's
if your working it. The smile on another recovering
addicts face when she/he talks about and begin to cry
tears of joy because they now have relationships with
their loved ones. This for me is the attraction, this
is what keeps me coming, THE LOVE, not just for
another addict but for another HUMAN BEING.

written by ~ Cassia Sierra
universalove2001@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Healing

She grabbed
that moment
in time,
far away,
it seemed
yet
so near.
She pulled
it back
and held
it close
to her
heart...

But, then,
she remembered
our mind
creates memories
when our
hearts
can't deal
nor face
the present
because of the
hurt...

She looked
to the
Future
and hoped
for
wonderful things.
Wishful
thinking
because
still
her heart
couldn't heal
with the
Present...

She thought
for a long
time.
Read for awhile
wrote of
her concerns.
And then
turned
and faced
the pain
of the
Past...

She told him
of her ideas.
He encouraged her.
She got out her
watercolors
and painted
a bright,
colorful landscape
of a house
by the water
sunshine, flowers
laughter, friends
animals, children,
work and love
to tend to...

She turned
around again.
Faced pain
of the Past.
She said,
"goodbye"
and stepped
into her
picture
of the Present..

He waved goodbye.
Now, pain of the Present
shook his head
chuckling softly,
not meanly,
mind you.
For he liked her
a lot.
But, he knew
he would
be back
from time
to time.
But, the
next meetings
would be brief
yet sweet...

For she now
understood.
That, in order
to deal with
the pain
of the Past.
She would
have to
pull him close
for a
few moments
comfort him
and then
let go...

Pain
of the Past
walked for awhile.
He no longer
feared
for her heart
because Wisdom
of the Present
would come
and provide
sustenance
to her soul.
She would be okay
Future assured them.

Christine, 1992, Revised 2000
cfmteacher@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"There are two ways of spreading light;
to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."
Edith Wharton
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Our greatest strength lies not in how much we differ from each other
but in how much - how very much - we are the same."
Eknath Easwaran
The Compassionate Universe
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Often the true path of love begins only
when romance has begun to taper off,
for love is the capacity to see light
when darkness has begun to eclipse it."
Marianne Williamson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Rejection is God's protection"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Winners do what they have to do.�
Losers do what they want to do."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Whatever you put before your recovery,
you will surely lose."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"If nothing changes,
nothing changes."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Attitudes are contagious.�
Is yours worth catching?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
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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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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 ,
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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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1527

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Sun Jan 16, 2005 2:17 pm
Subject: 1/16/05 "Fake It To Make It" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Coffee
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/coffee.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 16
Today I take the time to be with me
and find peace and love and truth.
It is mine if I just stop.
It is mine if I just think the thoughts I want to feel.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fake It To Make It
~ Virjinja ~

There is an old adage supporting the law of increase.
"Fake it to make it" is all about release...
of self from lower ways of thinking,
from thoughts of lack so limiting.
Try thinking your way into the best...
and pull up consciousness to meet the rest
of all the potentiality of what you're hoping for.
There's no better way to get there, than to feel it at your core.
So fake it to make it, be it joy or peace or love,
and your prosperity will increase, like manna from above.
Believe it and you'll see it carried further along...
living it delivers it ~ with gratitude for even more.
(Copyright ©� 2004 ~ Virginia Santoro ~ All Rights Reserved)

Please visit the Morning Musings webpage,
and be so kind to sign the guestbook before you leave...:)
�<http://hometown.aol.com/morningmusings/myhomepage/profile.html>
http://hometown.aol.com/morningmusings/myhomepage/profile.html

Morning Musings...
is a nondenominational, daily inspirational newsletter,
delivered to its subscribers Monday thru Friday,
and a single Weekender edition.
It is born of the meditations and experiences of the author.
Its purpose is to honor God in all expressions, and to
offer healing, compassion, peace and love to the reader.
Your comments appreciated and warmly received...:)
To Subscribe, Unsubscribe or Send Email, write to:
MorningMusings@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Earth Group NA Online Sponsors
<http://www.egna.org/sponsor.cfm>

Earth Group NA Online Daily Meetings
<http://www.egna.org/cfchat/index.cfm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 16                   Make that call!

"We feared that if we ever revealed ourselves as we were, we would
surely be rejected.... [But] our fellow members do understand us."
Basic Text, p. 31

We need our fellow NA members-their experience, their friendship,
their laughter, their guidance, and much, much more. Yet many of us
hesitate to call our sponsor or visit our NA friends. We don't want to
impose on them. We think about phoning someone, but we don't feel
worthy of their time. We fear that if they ever got to know us-really
know us-they'd surely reject us.

We forget that our fellow NA members are just like us. There's
nothing we've done, no place we've been, no feeling we've felt that other
recovering addicts won't be able to identify with. The more we let
others get to know us, the more we'll hear, "You're in the right place.
You're among friends. You belong. Welcome!"

We also forget that, just as we need others, they need us. We're not
the only ones who want to feel like we belong, who want to experience
the warmth of friendship, who want someone to share with. If we isolate
ourselves from our fellow members, we deprive them of something they
need, something only we can give them: our time, our company, our true
selves.

In Narcotics Anonymous, recovering addicts care for one another. What
waits at the other end of the telephone is not rejection, but the love,
warmth, and identification of the NA Fellowship. Make that call!

Just for today: In NA, I am among friends. I will reach out to others,
giving and receiving in fellowship.

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:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

Is sobriety all that we can expect of a spiritual awakening? No, sobriety
is only a bare beginning.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 8

Practicing the A.A. program is like building a house. First I had to pour
a big, thick concrete slab on which to erect the house; that, to me, was
the equivalent of stopping drinking. But it's pretty uncomfortable living
on a concrete slab, unprotected and exposed to the heat, cold, wind and
rain. So I built a room on the slab by starting to practice the
program. The first room was rickety because I wasn't used to the
work. But as time passed, as I practiced the program, I learned to build
better rooms. The more I practiced, and the more I built, the more
comfortable, and happy, was the home I now have to live in.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 16th

A.A. Thought for the Day

The A.A. program is more a way of building a new
life than just a way of getting over drinking, because
in A.A. we don't just stop drinking. We did that
plenty of times in the old days when we "went on
the wagon." And, of course, we always started to
drink again, because we were only waiting for the
time when we could fall off. Once we've gotten sober
through the A.A. program, we start going uphill. In
our drinking days, we were going downhill, getting
worse and worse. We either go down or up. Am I
going uphill, getting better and better?

Meditation for the Day

I will try to obey God's will day in and day out, in the
wilderness plains as well as on the mountain tops of
experience. It is in the daily strivings that
perseverance counts. I believe that God is Lord of
little things, the Divine Controller of little happenings.
I will persevere in this new way of life. I know that
nothing in the day is too small to be part of God's scheme.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that the little stones that I put into the mosaic
of my life may make a worthwhile pattern. I pray that
I may persevere and so find harmony and beauty.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bring Your Healing Gifts to Others

Let your healing gifts to the world spring naturally from who you really are.

You want to be a healer.
You want to be a force for good in this world.
Many of us believe deeply in healing, service and love.
But until you know what heals and helps you,what truth is for you,
you won't know what heals and helps others.
True service, healing that touches the hearts and souls of men and women,
doesn't happen when we ignore who we are.
It doesn't happen when we try to be who we think we should be
or when we pretend, out of fear, that we're someone we're not.
The ability to bring healing to others can only come when we genuinely
accept and love ourselves, past and present, and are vulnerable enough
to be honest about what heals and helps us.
When we love and accept ourselves, we will love and accept others.
And only from that place of acceptance can true healing spring.

Love, yourself. Accept yourself.
Be honest about what heals and helps you.
Then you'll bring your healing gifts to others.
Your life will be a gift to the world.

Melody Beattie
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Bridge of Empathy
<http://www.innerself.com/Relationships/bridge_of_empathy.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Take Your Power Back
by Alan Cohen

Before baseball star Mickey Mantle died, he faced and came to terms with his
lifelong alcoholism. As he was withering of liver disease, Mickey held a
press conference at the Betty Ford treatment center. A reporter asked him,
"How would you like people to remember Mickey Mantle?" Pale and gaunt, still
sporting his famous Yankee cap, he replied, "I would like them to think that
I finally made something of myself." I was shocked. One of the most loved
and celebrated sports heroes of all time -- my hero -- did not respect
himself until he took back the power he had given to his addiction.

A few months later, Mickey Mantle died. Soon afterward I saw a touching
newspaper cartoon showing Mickey meeting God, depicted as a person. The two
were ambling down a long road in heaven, with God's arm around Mickey's
shoulder. Mickey turned to God and wistfully remarked, "I can't believe all
the errors I made." God turned to Mickey and answered, "But you gave them a
ninth inning they'll never forget."

We have all given our power away to something -- many things -- and our
lives have sucked for it. We have bestowed undue power to lovers, money,
bosses, addictive substances, fame, dream homes, religious dogma, parents,
children, doctors, lawyers, agents, therapists, psychics, teachers, the
police, politicians, sports heroes, movie stars, gorgeous men and women,
business moguls, the news, and occult sciences. The list goes on; you can
add more of your own.

You give your power away when you make someone or something outside of you
more important than what is inside of you.

If you do not value who and what you are, you will seek to borrow worth from
the outer world. You will look for validation from people whom you believe
know or have more than you. But since everything you need is inside you and
no one can know more about your path and purpose than you do, any power you
ascribe to external authorities must eventually explode in your face and
leave you feeling worse than when you started. The question is not, "Have
you given your power away?" The question is, "How can you get it back?"

If any aspect of your life sucks, getting it unsucked is an inside job. You
do not need to import power, for you were born with it; you just need to
plug the holes in your bucket through which it is leaking. The quest is
about peeling away the lies and illusions you have been told -- and went on
to tell yourself -- that have kept you living smaller than you deserve. When
you do, you will be amazed to realize how much you have settled for. Then
you will have little patience for halfhearted living and reclaim your right
to live from choice rather than default.

Any experience that leaves you feeling empty, less-than, or needy, does so
for only one reason: You entered into it feeling empty, less-than, or needy.
The illusion is that relationships will take away the pain that keeps you
feeling small; the reality is that relationships magnify the pain that keeps
you feeling small. And yet there is a gift in the process: you remember that
the source of your strength is inside you.

On an episode of the television show Northern Exposure, a young woman named
Shelly receives a chain letter promising that if she passes the letter on to
a friend within three days, good luck will come to her. She mails her letter
at the local grocery store/post office and immediately Shelly begins to
receive money, meet men, and enjoy all kinds of success she has been seeking
for a long time. She is ecstatic -- the letter really worked! A week later
Shelly returns to the post office, where the clerk holds up her unmailed
letter and informs her, "I've been waiting for you to come back; your letter
needed more postage." Stunned, Shelly realizes the chain letter did not
create her run of luck -- she did. She concludes, "I guess I'm in charge of
my own life after all." So are we all. Your life is not what the stars,
numbers, genetics, environment, politics, or economic conditions make it; it
is what you make it.

Perhaps the final lines of Woody Allen's classic movie Annie Hall sum up how
we stay trapped in painful situations -- and how we can escape them. A man
says to a psychiatrist, "My wife thinks she's a chicken and she's driving me
crazy!" The psychiatrist asks him, "So why don't you leave her?" The man
answers, "I can't -- I need the eggs."

You don't need the eggs anymore. They are rotten, taste horrible, and don't
nourish you. When you elevate others at your expense, nobody wins. When you
source your life from inside out, everyone wins. As you strike gold in your
own self, you will quit giving the people in your world a carbon copy of the
terror that runs their lives, and give them a ninth inning -- or a first, or
a fifth -- they'll never forget.

This article is a sneak preview from Alan Cohen's new book, Why Your Life
Sucks and What You Can Do About It, to be released this June by Jodere
Group, Inc.

About The Author
Alan Cohen is the author of 15 popular inspirational books, including the
award-winning A Deep Breath of Life. For information about Alan's seminars
or to request a free catalog of Alan's books and tapes, call 1-800-462-3013
or visit Alan's web site at www.alancohen.com. Enrich your abundance by
joining Alan for the innovative online Year of Living Prosperously. Contact
Alan's office at P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708, (800) 568-3079 or email:
admin@....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
WHERE THERE ARE NO RUTS...
   Ever come to a line in the sand? You know... where you simply
must choose: one way or the other? Such are the crossroads
of life. The question, of course... which way to go? After
all, the consequences of such decisions unfold major chapters
of your existence. Right choices - everything comes together.
Wrong choices - disastrous results. But how to know?

Such moments are not what you might call, "fun." In fact, they
can be miserable experiences, involving ripping change. Yet,
a choice must be made, lest you go mad from enduring another
instant of things as they are. As M. Scott Peck put it in The
Road Less Traveled and Beyond, "The truth is that our finest
moments, more often than not, occur precisely when we are uncomfortable,
when we're not feeling happy or fulfilled, when
we're struggling and searching."
What to do?

If you are at a crossroads, chances are you're faced with a
couple of options. One is easy. The other is, well... hard.
One is 'comfortable;' the other is really 'hanging out there.'
One choice is 'safe'; the other loaded with risk. Which to
choose? Only YOU can decide. The best insight you can
possibly gain comes from inside... from that "still small voice."
All you need do is simply listen... really listen... and then have
the guts to decide. While you're doing so, consider this: Your
rewards in life are in direct proportion to your level of risk.

The world is full of easy choices... and so go the masses... like
so many lemmings, rushing one after the other to the edge of the
sea. Onto whatever lies in waiting for the dull, the listless,
the complacent...those who have given up or given in. A rut leading
on... beyond their horizons. It takes guts to leave the pack behind, to
climb out and do something different... to do the thing you really want
to do... that which you're really meant to do. But you can.
All you need to do is decide.
In his poem, "The Road Not Taken," Robert Frost blessed us with:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
You know, in the road less traveled... there aren't any ruts.

Choosing your own path? Well... it takes courage. It takes resolve.
It invokes tremendous internal accountability. But the reward,
irrespective of whether it shows up in wealth, fame, fortune, or the
distinct lack of all of these, will richly bless you with that for which
all greatly yearn - peace of mind. Through such choices and
such acts you will be transformed.

Do what you will. Do what you ought. Make the tough choice...
and stick with it. Make it because it's the right choice... for you.
You will be met (as Thoreau put it) with a success unexpected in
common hours.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
FREE©

In the midst of all my chaos
I felt so isolated
like everything was spinning,
so damn fast.
Now in moment's calmness
my heart feels elated,
I've found a new beginning
to a life that's going to last.
On the path of self-destruction
feelings were unfriendly,
the only ones I knew
were fear and pain.
Following instructions
is leading me to serenity,
in you I'm born anew
and I can feel love
once again.
We are free.
Flowing in the stream of life again.
Not shackled by all the lies
we clung to way back when.
We are free,
to find the goodness lying in our hearts.
Helping new ones on this path
make a brand new start.
So when we close our meeting
with the prayer of serenity
lets thank God we're not alone
and we are free.

Much love and light to you,
johnh94@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Beauty Of Life

A light frost covered everything
No birds seemed to sing
Watching the sun rise
Over the trees
I was drunk again
I got down
On my knees
Prayed God please
God help me today
Give me strength to
Make it this way
I was chained
To my addiction
I was far from free
When God allowed
This man to see
I went to meetings
From day to day
Worked hard
So I could say
By Gods grace
I am sober today

Daniel M Corkery
2/12/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You'll find when you get right down to the nitty-gritty of life,
no one is going to take care of you but yourself.
You're placed on the planet with everything you need already inside of you.
Everything is already there.
You can't be upset unless you allow it.
You can't be controlled unless you allow it.
You can't go crazy and lose your mind unless you allow it.
You can't be possessed by a disincarnate entity unless you allow it.
This puts you in a very unique position.
You are a creator.
You can create harmony or discord,
happiness or despair,
joy or depression,
productiveness or lack.

John-Roger
(From: Psychic Protection)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Through morning prayers and meditation,
we embark upon the day spiritually prepared.
Without this preparation, we enter the day with yesterday's anxieties -
our own and those of millions of others.
Marianne Williamson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The value of persistent prayer is not that He will hear us,
but we will finally hear Him.
William McGill
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When they think that they know the answers,
people are difficult to guide.
When they know that they don't know,
People can find their own way.
Tao Te Ching, Translated by Stephen Mitchell
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You can't grasp it, but you can't lose it.
It winds its own way.
When you are silent, it speaks.
When you speak, it is dumb.
There are no obstacles.
The great gate of love is wide open.
Yung - Chia Ta - Shi
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Our lives improve only when we take chances
and the first and most difficult chance we can take
is to be honest with ourselves."
Walter Anderson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You can't think your way into right living,
you must live your way into right thinking."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Nervousness is just God trying to shake the truth out of you."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Happiness is not a place you arrive at,
but the way you travel."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Pray daily. �
God is easier to talk to than most people."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Walk the Walk*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
by sending an Email message to:
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 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
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To unsubscribe to to this list send an Email message to:
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or go to the website and unsubscribe
<http://health.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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1526

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Sat Jan 15, 2005 12:38 pm
Subject: 1/15/05 "Twelve Steps Away" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Vigilance
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/vigilance.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 15
I celebrate myself today.
I am alive. I am growing.
I am willing to do all I am able to do
to be the best of who I am.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twelve Steps Away

My life was in shambles
Addiction ran rampant in my mind
Fear consumed my every action
and faith was impossible to find.

Hope was nonexistent
Despair was my domain
Chaos was my lifestyle
My motivation was pain.

My bottom was high
My pain was extreme
Insanity was my captor
And happiness was a distant dream.

Then I stumbled upon life
One that promised peace and serenity
I learned that happiness is obtainable
when I develop honesty and humility.

My soul has a vision
And God has shown me the way.
Today I can find harmony in life;
It's only twelve steps away.

Kimberley H.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cleantime Calculator
<http://www.sasna.org/main/cleantime/cleantime.html>

12 Step Tools
<http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/sobertransitions/tools.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 15                                            Fear

"We grow to feel comfortable with our Higher Power as a source of
strength. As we learn to trust this Power, we begin to overcome our
fear of life."    Basic Text, p. 24

Powerless as we are, living on self-will is a frightening, unmanageable
experience. In recovery, we have turned our will and our lives safely over
to the care of the God of our understanding. When we lapse in our
program, when we lose conscious contact with our Higher Power, we begin
to take control of our own lives again, refusing the care of the God of our
understanding. If we do not make a daily decision to surrender our lives
to the care of our Higher Power, we may become overwhelmed with our
fear of life.

Through working the Twelve Steps, we've found that faith in a Power
greater than ourselves helps relieve our fear. As we draw closer to a
loving God, we become more conscious of our Higher Power. And the more
conscious we are of God's care for us, the less our fears.

When we feel afraid, we ask ourselves, "Is this fear an indication of a
lack of faith in my life? Have I taken control again, only to find my life
still unmanageable?" If we answer yes to these questions, we can
overcome our fear by turning our will and our lives back over to care of
the God of our understanding.

Just for today: I will rely on the care of my Higher Power to relieve
my fear of life.

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:
The ONE THING that I NEED to
work on the most is...
(take a risk and share with us)
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become
unmanageable.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 21

It is no coincidence that the very first Step mentions powerlessness: An
admission of personal powerlessness over alcohol is a cornerstone of the
foundation of recovery. I've learned that I do not have the power and
control I once thought I had. I am powerless over what people think about
me. I am powerless over having just missed the bus. I am powerless over
how other people work (or don't work) the Steps. But I've also learned I
am not powerless over some things. I am not powerless over my
attitudes. I am not powerless over negativity. I am not powerless over
assuming responsibility for my own recovery. I have the power to exert a
positive influence on myself, my loved ones, and the world in which I live.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 15th

A.A. Thought for the Day

The A.A. program is a way of life. It's a way of living
and we have to learn to live the program if we're
going to stay sober. The Twelve Steps in the book
are like guide-posts. They point the direction in which
we have to go. But all members of the group have to
find their own best way to live the program. We don't
all do it exactly alike. Whether by quiet times in the
morning, meetings, working with others, or spreading
the word, we have to learn to live the program. Has
the A.A. way become my regular, natural way of living?

Meditation for the Day

I will relax and not get tense. I will have no fear,
because everything will work out in the end. I will
learn soul-balance and poise in a vacillating, changing
world. I will claim God's power and use it because if
I do not use it, it will be withdrawn. As long as I get
back to God and replenish my strength after each
task, no work can be too much.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may relax and that God's strength will
be given to me. I pray that I may subject my will to
God's will and be free from all tenseness.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Neutralize Conflicts

Unless you want a fight or an argument,
don't give people anything to push against.

Here is a key to harmonizing with people who are upset
or have a point a view different from your own.
Stay so relaxed when you talk to them that you allow
yourself to empathize with how they think and feel.
That doesn't mean that you give
in to people's every whim.
It means, instead, that you are so clear and focused
that you can genuinely let other people
be who they are, too.

It's both naive and egotistical to think that everyone
thinks and feels the same as us.
It's ridiculous to believe that everyone
will agree with our point of view.
One of the true signs of a person who is growing in
consciousness is that he or she recognizes that each
person has individual motives, desires, and feelings.

"Instead of meeting a verbal attack with a verbal
counter-attack you respond first by coming around
to your attacker's point of view, seeing the situation
from his or her viewpoint," wrote George Leonard
in the Way of Aikido.

He was talking about using a concept called
"blending" to deal with verbal confrontations
in our daily lives.
"The response, whether physical or verbal, is quite
disarming, leaving the attacker with no target to focus on.
It's a means by which you can multiply your options
in responding to any kind of attack."

If the person espousing his or her point view is just trying
to get us to react or has no desire for reconciliation,
we can still neutralize the conflict by staying relaxed,
letting the other person be,
and responding by saying, "hmmmm."
It's a polite way of saying whatever, when expressing
your disagreement would only lead to a senseless fight.
At the least, you'll become a great conversationalist,
a respectable art to be acquired.
At best, you'll bring about world peace,
at least in your corner of the world.

God, help me be so clear on who I am that I can
generously afford to let other people be who they
are, too. Help me to set aside my defensive behavior,
and teach me to blend with other people and see
their point of view while not relinquishing my own.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Are You Holding Back?
<http://www.innerself.com/Reflections/holding_back.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
HOW DEEP IS YOUR SELF LOVE?
(c) Jim Malloy

One of the biggest lessons on the spiritual journey is learning to love
unconditionally. However, what is often overlooked, is the importance of
loving yourself along with everything else. After all, aren't you a part of
the whole of Life? There's a wonderful Japanese poem - a haiku - which
cleverly illustrates this. It goes, "On my horse, clip-clopping through the
field. Oho! I'm part of the picture!" As you grow to realize that you are
an integral part of Life's grand picture, it becomes clear that loving
yourself along with everything else is part of the mission.

Some of you may feel uncomfortable with the idea of self love, because it's
often interpreted as being overly self involved. Many religions teach that
total selflessness is the ideal, and that self love is the antithesis of
being selfless. I'm not at all knocking selflessness, but is self love
really opposed to selflessness? And is it the same as being too self
involved? What actually is self love?

Self love is largely a matter of unconditional self acceptance, with a bit
of appreciation and compassion for oneself thrown in. Can you accept
yourself unconditionally... that is, without having to fulfill certain
conditions, or live up to some particular standard? If not, what do you
have to do or be, to fully accept yourself? Do you have to be successful?
Do you have to look a certain way? Do you have to be giving all the time?
Do you have to be constantly productive? The list of conditions we may
attach to self acceptance goes on and on.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONDITIONS FOR SELF LOVE?

If you take a deep and honest look inside yourself, you may find that your
conditions for loving yourself are very similar to the (spoken or unspoken)
conditions that your parents attached to their love and approval. The idea
here, is not to put the blame on your parents. Like most humans, they were
probably doing the best they could within their limited framework. And,
believe it or not, you chose them as a necessary part of your spiritual
curriculum.

However, the common tendency is to adopt these parental conditions as our
own conditions for loving ourselves. As we take on these conditions,
another interesting dynamic often occurs. We tend to project these
conditions for being loved onto Spirit. Somewhere deep in our
consciousness, the belief develops that "God will only love me if I'm
_______________." (Fill in the blank with whatever conditions you
discover.) Of course this belief is absolutely erroneous, because Spirit's
love is absolutely unconditional.

But in our minds - generally our subconscious minds - our parents'
conditions for loving us, Spirit's conditions for loving us, and our own
conditions for loving ourselves, all become intertwined. As a result, we
may go through life constantly striving to meet these conditions, as an
unconscious attempt to earn the love of Spirit, family, and self. And
because the conditions are rarely attained in full, healthy self love
remains elusive.

SELF LOVE SHORTAGE AND ITS EFFECTS

What are the major effects of not loving ourselves?

1. It makes it difficult to truly love others. This is because we tend to
judge them by the same conditions with which we judge ourselves.

2. It makes it difficult for us to accept love from another, because if we
don't fit our conditions for self love, we tend to feel that we are not
lovable.

3. A shortage of self love also tends to pose a major obstacle to creating
the life we hope for. If we believe we are not acceptable to Spirit, we
naturally assume that we don't deserve Life's abundant gifts and the loving
support of the Universe in our undertakings. This deep belief unconsciously
sends a negative message to the Universe - a command to the cosmic computer
- which is essentially saying, "I'm not worthy, so no matter how much I
might ask, or pray, or whine, do not fulfill my hopes and dreams." In this
way, we punish ourselves by sabotaging our own efforts. Spirit never
punishes us, but we can do a remarkably good job of punishing ourselves.

On the other hand, what are the positive effects of loving yourself? If you
have a healthy sense of self love, you will find it much easier to love
others, and much easier to accept the love of others. When you love
yourself, you feel deserving of the good things in life and the powerful
support of the Universe. This naturally opens the door for your hopes and
dreams to be fulfilled more easily, and for your life to proceed with more
green lights than red.

CULTIVATING SELF LOVE

Here are some exercises you can do for developing greater self love.

1. DEEPENING YOUR AWARENESS. That means doing a bit of honest
soul-searching... asking yourself, "Is there a shortage of self love in my
life? And if so, why?... what are the underlying dynamics?" There are a
number of ways to shine a light into the unconscious caverns of your
mind... quiet reflection, talking it out with a trusted friend or
therapist, or writing in a journal are all good approaches. What works best
for you?

2. CONVINCING YOUR CONSCIOUS AND SUBCONSCIOUS MIND THAT SPIRIT IS
UNCONDITIONALLY LOVING. A willingness to re-examine and toss out old
beliefs, and to accept this new belief, is usually sufficient for your
conscious mind. However, your subconscious mind - which stores information
much like a computer - may need a bit of "re-programming." The daily
repetition of a positive affirmation - such as "Spirit is unconditionally
loving" - is one of the most commonly used methods for this. Affirmations
can be written, spoken aloud, or repeated mentally. Self hypnosis is also a
widely used method for re-programming the subconscious mind.

3. MAKING A LIST OF ALL YOUR POSITIVE QUALITIES. Even though you are
cultivating "unconditional" self acceptance, this helps create a shift
toward thinking of yourself in a more positive light.

4. MEDITATING ON SELF LOVE. Here is a simple meditation for learning to
accept and appreciate yourself just as you are.

This meditation is done from the perspective of your "Spiritual Self." Your
Spiritual Self is the quiet, knowing, non-judging observer within you. All
the rest of you... your body, mind, emotions, personal traits, etc., we
will refer to as your "personality." Just for this exercise, think of your
personality as a separate person.

-- Sit comfortably and close your eyes (after you have read these
instructions).

-- Now begin to observe your personality... notice your thoughts, your
emotions, how your body feels, etc.

-- Take some time to get acquainted with your personality. Objectively think
about its various characteristics.

-- Next, imagine that your personality is your child, and that you are its
parent.

-- See this child as a perfect creation of Spirit... still growing into its
highest potential, but perfect at whatever stage it's now at.

-- Accept your child as it is... accept it completely, just as it is.

-- Look at your child with appreciation and compassion. Look fondly and
compassionately at your child, with all of its strengths and positive
traits, as well as it's various weaknesses and follies.

-- Open your heart and embrace this child with complete, unconditional love.

Practicing any or all of the above exercises will help deepen your self
love. Although encountering challenges along the way is an integral part
the spiritual journey, you will find that healthy self love can be a
tremendous aid in smoothing out the rough and rocky stretches of your path.

Author Profile: Jim Malloy is the creator of The World Wide Online
Meditation Center, which is a user-friendly site, created to provide clear,
straight-forward meditation instruction to people anywhere on the planet.
If you are just learning to meditate, you'll find everything necessary to
get started quickly and easily. If you are already practicing meditation,
you may discover new methods to deepen your practice.
http://www.meditationcenter.com/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Slipping Away

When fear comes in
Faith moves out
When life replaces service
We soon start to doubt
When recovery gets pushed
To the side
Real soon we look
For a way out to hide
The pain of living
Becomes
Far too hard to bare
We turn back to our old nature
Then we only claim to care
Out comes the masks
We used to love so dear
Gone is the trust
Replaced by fear
Then we stand at
The door of decision
Do we really have a choice
We close the door to reason
As we raise our voice
Insanely thinking it will not
Be the same
Soon we become players
In our own game
Back further then we were before
Raising our voices
We cry out for more
Our dragons lie waiting
For us to start
By now we pushed
God out of our heart
We will not go back to
Where we left off
It's just like we never stopped
I've seen it in my life
Time and time again
Just look at the tables
Over the years
The winners are the ones
Who expose all their fears
Fill up with faith
Before it's to late
Less you experience
The same fate
So you think your different
Not the same
Soon you go back
To playing the game
If your fortunate enough to return
When you remain teachable
Then you start to learn
Don't feel bad
and
Do come back
We really understand
Just take our hand

Daniel M Corkery
11/22/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fourth Step

Buried Deep inside,
The pain.

Buried deep inside,
The joy.

Buried inside,
The fear.
Buried deep inside,
The faith.
Buried deep inside,
The despair.

Buried deep inside,
The hope.
Buried deep inside,
The confusion.

Buried deep inside,
The serenity.

Buried deep inside,
The hate.

Buried deep inside,
The love.
Buried deep inside of me,
Is the willingness to dig.

M. Lynn Blue 4/93
copyrighted 1998
mlccblue@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"[Experience is] how life catches up with us
and teaches us to love and forgive each other."
Judy Collins
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Evil (ignorance) is like a shadow-
it has no real substance of its own,
it is simply a lack of light.
You cannot cause a shadow to disappear by trying to fight it,
stomp on it, by railing against it,
or any other form of emotional or physical resistance.
In order to cause a shadow to disappear,
you must shine light on it.
Shakti Gawain
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"A good conscience is to the soul what health is to the body;
it preserves constant ease and serenity within us;
and more than countervails all the calamities and
afflictions which can befall us from without."
Joseph Addison (1672-1719)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors;
that which it loves, and also that which it fears;
it reaches the height of its cherished aspirations;
it falls to the level of its unchastened desires.
Every thought-seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind,
and to take root there, produces its own,
blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing
its own furtive of opportunity and circumstance.
Good thoughts bear good fruit; bad thought, bad fruit.
James Allen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"The world ain't gonna kiss my ass
just because I'm sober."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Don't let the limits of your imagination
block you from what God can do for you."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"While I'm in a meeting,
my disease isn't in the parking lot doing push-ups",
It's in the meeting sitting beside me,
Learning new ways of being cunning, baffling and insidious.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"People who don't go to meetings aren't around to hear
about what happens to people who don't go to meetings."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1525

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:06 pm
Subject: 1/14/05 "If Not For You" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Humor
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/humor.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 14
I am clearing out old confusion and doubt
so that I can see the miracle today.

written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If Not For You

I’ve been inspired in recent days,
My disease, once again, has created a haze.
The fire in my soul, reaching peaks of despair,
So I take a few steps, to not go back there.
My God has been with me, and many friends too,
They helped me remember, all I’ve been through.
As I pray and I write, I put it all down,
And little by little, away goes the frown.
I’ve been to hell, and don’t want to go back,
So I do what I do, to get back on track.
So thank you my God, and all my friends, too,
I’d be back in the pit, if not for you.

Linda Lou

1/05/03
lindalou7_23_96@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
MY HIGHER POWER
THE LIGHT BULB ? !
<http://aabbsg.de/oppf/lightbulb.htm>

Digital Recovery
A.A. Speakers Download
<http://www.xa-speakers.org/pafiledb.php?action=category&id=2>

N.A. Speakers Download
<http://www.xa-speakers.org/pafiledb.php?action=category&id=11>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 14                                       A loving God

"Our understanding of a Higher Power is up to us.... The only
suggested guidelines are that this Power be loving, caring, and
greater than ourselves." Basic Text, p. 24

We've been told that we can believe in any kind of Higher Power we
want as long as it is loving and, of course, greater than ourselves. Some
of us, however, have trouble with these requirements. We either
believe in nothing but ourselves, or we believe that anything that could
be called "God" could only be cold-hearted and unreasonable, sending us
bad luck on a whim.

Believing in a loving Power is quite a leap for some of us, for many
reasons. The thought of turning our will and lives over to the care of
something we think might hurt us is sure to fill us with reluctance. If we
come into the program believing that God is judgmental and unforgiving, we
must overcome those beliefs before we can be truly comfortable with the
Third Step.

Our positive experiences in recovery can help us come to believe in a
loving God of our own understanding. We've been given relief from a disease
that has afflicted us for a long time. We've found the guidance and
support we need to develop a new way of life. We've begun to experience a
fullness of spirit where once there was only emptiness. These aspects of
our recovery have their source in a loving God, not a harsh, hateful one.
And the more we experience recovery, the more we'll trust that loving
Higher Power.

Just for today: I will open my mind and my heart to believe that God is
loving, and trust my loving Higher Power to do for me what I cannot do for
myself.

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:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much more
important demonstration of our principles lies before US in our respective
homes, occupations and affairs.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 19

It's usually pretty easy for me to be pleasant to the people in an A.A.
setting. While I'm working to stay sober, I'm celebrating with my fellow
A.A.'s our common release from the hell of drinking. It's often not so
hard to spread glad tidings to my old and new friends in the program. At
home or at work, though, it can be a different story. It is in situations
arising in both of those areas that the little day-to-day frustrations are
most evident, and where it can be tough to smile or reach out with a kind
word or an attentive ear. It's outside of the A.A. rooms that I face the
real test of the effectiveness of my walk through A.A.'s Twelve Steps.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 14th

A.A. Thought for the Day

When we first came into A.A., a sober life seemed
strange. We wondered what life could possibly be
like without ever taking a drink. At first, a sober
life seemed unnatural. But the longer we're in A.A.,
the more natural this way of life seems. And now
we know that the life we're living in A.A., the
sobriety, the fellowship, the faith in God, and the
trying to help each other, is the most natural way we
could possibly live. Do I believe it's the way God
wants me to live?

Meditation for the Day

I will learn to overcome myself, because every blow
to selfishness is used to shape the real, eternal,
un-perishable me. As I overcome myself, I gain that
power which God releases in my soul. And I too will
be victorious. It is not the difficulties of life that
I have to conquer, so much as my own selfishness.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may obey God and walk with Him and l
isten to Him. I pray that I may strive to overcome
my own selfishness.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Discover Common Bonds

"So many people have lost their families,"
the man said to me. "I have.
But I'm beginning to discover that I'm part of a larger family, too.
I'm beginning to see my connections to people all over the world."

We all have people we love deeply and dearly
and dearly, those people we call our family.
We have blood ties, genetic ties, long-term
relationships with the people in our family, too.

We have a kinship with those we've never met,
even if they live in others cultures.
We share many of the same emotional responses to the experiences in
our lives, even though our journey may be taking place on different
parts of the planet.
If we study history we will see our connection
to those who have lived before.
The hardships they experienced, the lessons they had to face,
were similar in many ways to those we face today.
Lessons repeat themselves.
The ones that are true seem to last.
That's why they're called universal truths.

What are you going through in your life right now?
Don't feel you're the only one.
Open your eyes.
Open your heart to your connections with your larger family.
Let them share their stories with you.
Let them share their strengths, hopes, fears, and joys.
Stop looking for what's different and what makes you separate and apart.
Go on an adventure of discovering
your common bonds.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Are Relationships Our Mirrors? , by Shakti Gawain
<http://www.innerself.com/Relationships/mirrors.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Gratitude As Prayer
by Sonia Choquette

One of the most powerful ways to pray is to practice gratitude. Gratitude
affects our consciousness the way windshield wipers affect a windshield in a
blizzard. It clears away confusion and helps us see the world more clearly.

Practicing gratitude as a form of prayer is very easy and is immediately
rewarding. All you need to do is acknowledge and thank the Universe for all
your blessings, whether they are good health, family, friends, or simply
being alive.

I personally keep a gratitude journal. As a family we keep a gratitude
bulletin board in the kitchen on which we post photos of happy experiences
and appreciative acknowledgments for the things we have received. It's
amazing to realize just how much we all have to be grateful for -- once we
begin to notice.

Practicing gratitude instantly lightens the heart and helps us remember how
much we are loved and supported by the Universe. Whenever my children or I
are restless, irritable, anxious, bored, uneasy, or fearful, I suggest we
think of as many things as possible to be grateful for to change the energy.
We list our blessings one at a time, trying to name at least ten things.
Every time we do this our fear subsides and our hearts and intuition open.

Practicing gratitude keeps a child's awareness focused on the abundance,
support, and love that the Universe has for him. It focuses his heart and
awareness on receiving all that is available to him and reminds him to
remain in a state of receptivity and peace.

Prayers as unique as each person
These are only some ways to pray. You may have an entirely different way.
All ways to pray are valid.

a.. Some people chant their prayer.

b.. Some pray on beads or rosaries.

c.. Some say prayers silently.

d.. Others pray in groups.

e.. Some sing their prayers.

f.. Some have an ongoing dialogue with God.

g.. Some meditate on prayer.

Your prayer style is very personal, and all styles are valid. Use whatever
approach and tradition you prefer in asking for divine help, and know that
Divine Spirit, God, is love and that the Universe loves you completely and
unconditionally, as you are, faults and all. Whether praying by yourself or
with your child, realize that the Universe wants to help, would love to
help. But first you must ask.

The great teacher Jesus Christ taught the importance of prayer when he was
questioned about miracles. "Of myself I do nothing," he said. "It is my
Father in Heaven who works through me." Or as the saying goes, "If God is
with you, then who can be against you? After all, there is no power greater
than God."

The most powerful prayers are those prayed with the full awareness of being
a beloved child of God. Prayers prayed with a deep sense that the Universe
wants to help you, guide you, support you, delight you, and love you
unconditionally are the prayers most quickly and satisfactorily answered.
Prayers prayed with others who share this knowledge are yet even more
powerful.

Create a time when you can pray as a family. This can be at dinnertime or
bedtime or after family meeting time. It is also important to encourage your
family to ask each other to pray with and for them whenever they are feeling
upset or concerned or need a little extra help. As Jesus said, "Whenever two
or more are gathered in my name, I will be there also."

This article was excerpted with permission from the book "The Wise Child"
by Sonia Choquette, ©1999, published by Three Rivers Press, a division of
Crown Publishers, NYC, NY 10022.

About The Author:
SONIA CHOQUETTE Ph.D. is the author of The Psychic Pathway and Your Heart's
Desire. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two children. She can be
reached through her website www.soniachoquette.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Healing Poison,
by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming

A long time ago, a girl named Li-Li got married and went
to live with her husband and mother-in-law.� In a very short
time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her
mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different,
and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits.
In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.

Days passed days, and weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her
mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what
made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient
Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and
obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house
was causing the poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper
and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something
about it.

Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who
sold herbs.� She told him the situation and asked if he would
give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once
and for all.

Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, Li-Li, I will
help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey
what I tell you.� Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever
you tell me to do." Mr. Huang went into the back room, and
returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs.� He told
Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your
mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become
suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that
will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare
some pork or chicken and put a little of these herbs in her
serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you
when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly
towards her. Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and
treat her like a queen." � Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr.
Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her
mother-in-law.

Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day,
Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law.
She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding
suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law,
and treated her like her own mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed.
Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found
that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument
in six months with her mother-in-law, who now seemed much kinder
and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began
to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and
relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever
find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like
a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see
what was happening.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again.
She said, "Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from
killing my mother-in-law! She's changed into such a nice woman, and
I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of
the poison I gave her."�� Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li,
there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. All of the
herbs I gave you were simply to improve her health. The only poison
was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all
washed away by the love which you gave to her."

MORAL: Friends, have you ever realized that how you treat others is
exactly how they will treat you? In China it is said: The person who loves
others will also be loved.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I Pray For My Friends
~Marianne Williamson~

"Dear God...
With this prayer, I call to mind my friends.
I ask for Your blessing on them.
May angels fill their nights and bless their days.
May they find joy and peace and harmony.
May I be a source of happiness in their lives.
May our bonds be strong and based on truth.
May they always know that in me, they have support.
May I live a life that lives up to this prayer.
Thank You, God.
Amen."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Soul's Yearnings

Once I needed attachments
Once I knew no contentment
I groped through life
Serving only my senses
the tyrants of my addictions
Relinquishing my soul to nothingness
Not listening, not paying attention
To the reality of my circle and its cycles
Not seeing my own soular ecosystem
For the precious world it was trying to become
To promote my happiness
to make me real-ize Joy
Grace of days
Love for another heart like mine
The Simplicity that is Life
…Soul speaks in these sign languages

The soul knows not the conformity mentality
Property and materialism are all meaningless
These are not desirings
for the soul
Rather, seeking for meaning
Learning the symbols of dreamtime
Growing with ideas and understandings
Give Soul a purpose in life
That echo as a constant pleasure
to the wakeful individual

These things does the soul need:
~ A Place for its acknowledged presence
whether in time, space, or thought
~ Liberty of free expression
~ Awareness of deeper Attention than just surface
living and communication
~ Investment in Intensity: enthusiasm, wonder,
through the eyes of the child you really are
~ Contentment through containment
be it through journaling, inner child work, friendship, correspondence, relationships, or daydreaming; all clothed in loving protection
~ Closure to endings
~ Open to myriad possibilities
~ Delight in simple things
~ The Being in the moment
~ Forgiveness
~ Acceptance

These things does my soul need, and more
The feeding and care of my conscious awareness
For a higher purpose
For a joyful quest

Love
Stella
© Stella Raymonde Savoie Johnson
Stella's monthly SoulZine features inspiration from articles,
meditations, affirmations, floral and herbal healers. Join here:
http://she.soulopen.com
Looking for alternative healing? Nutritional and Herbal help:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/herbalmenopause
Looking for Support in your Healing and Recovery? Come see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/healingfromprocrastination
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The practice of being open requires
that we first notice where it is that we are closed.
Examine the areas of your life and your thinking
that feel constricted, frightened, anxious or angry.
It is in those parts of ourselves where we have the opportunity to shift,
and to move more fully into trust in God's presence and power in our lives.
In those areas of smallness and constriction,
ask God, "What would you have me do here?"
--Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Many of you are hoping to come into a deeper awareness of God.
You have preconceived notions of what the Divine will look like.
But the reality of God cannot be learned through study.
The only way you can know God is through direct experience inside of you.

And when you do find God,
I can guarantee He won't be floating through the air saying, "Whoo, whoo."
God is not phenomenon. God is God.
Spiritual Warriors realize they will never know God in the same way
they understand thoughts or facts,
because God is in the unknowable.
John-Roger
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"The world is round, and the place which may seem like
the end may also be only the beginning."
Ivy Baker Priest
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Our past is neither an accident nor a mistake.
We have been where we needed to be, with the necessary people.
We can embrace our history,
with its pain, its imperfections, its mistakes, even its tragedies.
It is uniquely ours; it was intended just for us.
Today, we are right where we need to be.
Our present circumstances are exactly as they need to be, for now.
Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I know that I do not know.
I know that I am teachable"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Fear knocked on my door.�
Faith opened it and there was nobody there."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"If you refuse to accept anything but the best,
you very often get it."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Be careful what you pray for... you just might get it."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
God Is GOOD ! ! !
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
by sending an Email message to:
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write subscribe in the subject line.

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this letter cannot be considered spam as long as the following words
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1524

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:20 am
Subject: 1/13/05 "The Newcomers Gratitude" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Sponsorship
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/sponsorship.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 13
I celebrate myself today and know that my feelings are okay.
I am me, unique and alive.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Newcomers Gratitude

The wars, when we fight
Cannot be won
But they will not be lost
If His will is done.
Serenity and Acceptance
These are the keys
Humility and Gratitude
Will help set me free.
I am an alcoholic
This I know,
"Easy does it," they say
"Let yourself grow."
"I have not patience,"
I exclaim with a sigh,
"Give it time," says the old-timer
"Neither did I."
"Don't drink, go to meetings
It's what you must do,
Ask God for help
He'll come through for you."
I'm lonely, I'm scared
I'm lost and confused
Over the years
I've been used and abused.
I know that you're lying
You can't feel what you say,
But God! I'd give anything
To feel that way.
"Keep coming back," you say,
"Recovery's in sight
It works," you say.
I retort, "Ya right."
But the light's getting brighter
Some things have changed,
Two months clean and sober,
I'm not quite as deranged.
In these rooms, at these tables,
I see what I'm after.
Acceptance, Love and Hope,
But most of all Laughter.
I'm happier now
A little more free.
I'm so very grateful
You did this for me.
So I'll see you tomorrow,
Same time, same place,
I hope you'll be here
I like seeing your face.
So if you feel like drinking
Your life's out of whack,
Just remember: It Works
And Keep Coming Back.

By Jane C
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The FIRST Grapevine from JUNE 1944
<http://silkworth.net/grapevine/grapevine_reproduction.html>

“Easy Does It”
One of A.A.’s Most Workable and Useful Sayings
<http://silkworth.net/grapevine/easydoesit.html>

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 13                                  Surrender to win

"Help for addicts begins only when we are able to admit complete
defeat." Basic Text, p. 22

Complete defeat-what a concept! That must mean surrender. Surrender -
to give up absolutely. To quit with no reservations. To put up our hands
and quit fighting. Maybe to put up our hand at our first meeting and admit
we're addicts.

How do we know we've taken a First Step that will allow us to live
drug-free? We know because, once we have taken that gigantic step, we
never have to use again-just for today. That's it. It's not easy, but it's
very simple.

We work the First Step. We accept that, yes, we are addicts. "One is
too many, and a thousand never enough." We've proven that to ourselves
enough times. We admit that we cannot handle drugs in any form. We
admit it; we say it out loud, if necessary.

We take the First Step at the beginning of our day. For one day. This
admission frees us, just for today, from the need to live out our
addiction all over again. We've surrendered to this disease. We give up.
We quit. But in quitting, we win. And that's the paradox of the First
Step: We surrender to win, and by surrendering we gain a far greater
power than we ever imagined possible.

Just for today: I admit that I am powerless over my addiction.
I will surrender to win.

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:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

He cannot picture life without alcohol. Some day he will be unable to
imagine life either with alcohol or without it. Then he will know
loneliness such as few do. He will be at the jumping-off place. He will
wish for the end.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 152

Only an alcoholic can understand the exact meaning of a statement like this
one. The double standard that held me captive as an active alcoholic also
filled me with terror and confusion: "If I don't get a drink I'm going to
die," competed with "If I continue drinking it's going to kill me." Both
compulsive thoughts pushed me ever closer to the bottom. That bottom
produced a total acceptance of my alcoholism -- with no reservations
whatsoever -- and one that was absolutely essential for my recovery. It
was a dilemma unlike anything I had ever faced, but as I found out later
on, a necessary one if I was to succeed in this program.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden

A.A. Thought for the Day

When we were drinking, we were living an unnatural
life physically and mentally. We were punishing our
bodies by loading them with alcohol. We didn't eat
enough and we ate the wrong things. We didn't get
enough sleep or the right kind of rest. We were
ruining ourselves physically. We had an alcoholic
obsession and we couldn't imagine life without alcohol.
We kept imagining all kinds of crazy things about
ourselves and about other people. We were ruining
ourselves mentally. Since I came into A.A., am I
getting better physically and mentally?

Meditation for the Day

I believe that my life is being refined like gold in a
crucible. Gold does not stay in the crucible, only
until it is refined. I will never despair or be
despondent. I now have friends who long for me to
conquer. If I should err or fail, it would cause pain
and disappointment to them. I will keep trying to
live a better life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may always call on God's strength, while
the gold of my life is being refined. I pray that I
may see it through, with God's help.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Protect Your Energy

Just as we strive to protect and conserve earth's energy
resources we can strive to protect and conserve our own.
Become more aware of the impact of things, people, and activities
on you and your energy.
What feeds you, charges you?
What drains and depletes you?
As you grow and become more sensitive to how things feel to you,
you'll naturally grow dislike and be uncomfortable with whatever
drains or negatively impacts your energy.
Yes, some difficult, draining situations.
Sometimes we need to let go of people, places, and behaviors
that don't work for us anymore, that drain, exhaust,
and deplete us.
Pay attention to the impact of certain people, places, behaviors,
and events on your energy.
Pay attention to how you feel when you eat certain foods,
drink certain beverages, go certain places.
Learn to listen to your body, your emotions, and your heart.
Be prepared to let go of some things and people along the way.
Be gentle with yourself while you do.
Learn to conserve your energy.
It is precious, valuable resource.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Anger as a Tool for Growth in Relationships
<http://www.innerself.com/Relationships/anger_as_a_tool.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"The following message applies to all souls everywhere. It has been
appropriate in every period of time, from caveman to present. There is no
distinction between male and female. The task is not worldly success, it is
spiritually oriented.

This is a standard that has been held my people in the Outback Nation since
the beginning of time. They have never been farmers, merchants, or herders.
They have always been gatherers, musicians, artists, and poets; they lived
in oneness with the earth, all its creatures, and each other.

This is one of their ritual chants:
Forever Oneness,
Who sings to us in silence,
Who teaches us through each other,
Guide my steps with strength and wisdom.
May I see the lessons as I walk,
Honor the purpose of all things.
Help me touch with respect,
Always speak from behind my eyes.
Let me observe, not judge.
May I cause no harm, and leave
Music and beauty after my visit.
When I return to Forever,
May the circle be closed and
The spiral broader.

You are a spiritual being on earth having a human experience. You elected
to come. It was not an accident nor by chance that you were born of the two
people who are your biological parents. You were aware of who they were, of
circumstances under which you were conceived and the inherent genetic
pattern of both. You said, "Yes!" You are a spiritual being evolving into
enlightenment. Earth is a classroom in which lessons and demonstrations are
available. It is a unique planet with unique life-forms. It is the only
place in the universe where six senses - sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell
and intuition - are used with the field of energy, identified as emotions,
to connect a visible body to the invisible spirit. Every physical thing on
the planet earth comes from the One Divine Source and all are made from
identical fragments of energy. We are one with all creation."

by Marlo Morgan
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Power of Trust
   "In the Indiana Jones movie, The Quest for The Holy Grail, Indy finds
himself at the precipice of a bottomless chasm. On the other side of the
abyss stands the sacred temple in which the cup of Christ awaits him.
Indy has searched the entire world for the Holy Grail, defied all kinds
rats, skeletons and villains, nearly lost his father, and risked death many
times to come to this point.

Now he is so close and yet so far. Standing alone, looking down into this
endless gorge, he remembers the instruction that was foretold to help
him when he reached this point in his journey: Faith. Indy takes a deep
breath and steps out over the chasm. He sees nothing to stand on, but he
decides to follow the advice to *Trust*. As soon as he leans out over the
abyss, a bridge appears and he finds himself fully supported on a solid
mass. The entire chasm, which seemed quite impossible to mortal eyes,
was but a test of Faith. The bridge was there all along, but it could only
be seen by those who stepped onto it. Faith is the vision of things unseen.
Only those who see the invisible can do the impossible. Jesus instructed,
Blessed are those who see and believe, and even more blessed are those
who have not seen and yet believe"

How many bridges have you not crossed because you couldn't see them?
How can you view things differently this time and notice the hidden gold
within every fear or obstacle? Will you give yourself the permission to
leap across the chasm of your fears?, knowing that when you do, you'll
transform not only yourself, but your world as well?

How many missed opportunities for joy and fulfillment are waiting for
you,right now as you read this? Can you see the possibilities of daring to
Dream a bigger Dream for yourself, your family, your community, your
world.

The possibilities are endless! As you become the co-creator of your
world, you'll realize how incredible your power really is. As you share
your Dream with others, you'll liberate them as well!

Dare to Dream my friend, DARE to Dream! and you'll build a bridge to
your Dreams and in ways you haven't imagined!

By Alan Cohen Author of Dare to Be Yourself, and Paul Bauer
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Choose Your Words Well

A certain good woman one day said something that hurt her best
friend of many years. She regretted it immediately, and would have
done anything to have taken the words back. But they were said,
impulsively, in a moment of thoughtlessness, and as close as she
and her friend were, she didn't consider the effects of her words
before hand. What she said hurt the friend so much that this good
woman was herself hurt for the pain she caused.

In her effort to undo what she had done, she went to an older,
wiser woman in the village. Explaining her situation, and asked
for advice. The older woman listened patiently in an effort to
determine just how sincere the younger woman was, how far she was
willing to go to correct the situation. She explained that sometimes,
in order put things back in order, great efforts must be made.

She then asked: "Just what would you be willing to do, to repair
the harm done?"
The answer was heartfelt. "Anything"

Listening to her, the older woman, sensed the younger woman's
distress, and knew she must help her. She also knew she could never
alleviate her pain by living her life for her, but she could teach,
if the younger woman would first listen, and then learn. She knew
the outcome would depend solely on the character of the younger
woman. She said, "There are two things needed to do to make amends.
The first of the two is extremely difficult. Tonight, take your
best feather pillows, and open a small hole in each one. Then,
before the sun rises, you must put a single feather on the doorstep
of each house in town.

When you are through, come back to me. If you've done the first
thing completely, I'll tell you the second."

The young woman hurried home to prepare for her chore, even though
the pillows were very dear to her, very expensive.
All night long she labored alone in the cold. She went from
doorstep to doorstep, taking care not to overlook a single house.
Her fingers were frozen, the wind was so sharp it caused her eyes
to water, but she ran on, through the darkened streets, thankful
there was something she could do to put things back the way they
once were. Finally, as the sky was getting light, she placed the
last feather on the steps of the last house. Just as the sun rose,
she returned to the older woman.
She was exhausted, but relieved that her efforts would be rewarded.
"My pillows are empty. I placed a feather on the doorstep of each
home." Now, said the wise woman, "Go back and refill your pillows.
Then everything will be as it was before."
The young woman was stunned. "You know that's impossible! The wind
blew away each feather as fast as I placed them on the doorsteps!!
You didn't say I had to get them back!! If this is the second
requirement, then things will never be the same."
"That's true", said the older woman. "Never forget. Each of your
words is like a feather in the wind. Once spoken, no amount of
effort, regardless how heartfelt or sincere, can ever return them
to your mouth. Choose your words well, and guard them most of all
in the presence of those you love."

- Author Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
One Day at a Time

One day at a time, I'm living in the now.
Seems like I'd almost forgotten, somehow.
The life that I lived, it brought me no joy.
Just misery and sadness and lives to destroy,
So filled with disease, in my gutter, I lay,
I was too sick to die and too sick to pray,
Through deep pain and sorrow, so filled with despair,
Death was my answer, I just didn't care.
Then one fine day I looked up at the sky.
I wanted to live and I didn't know why.
The One With All Power was with me that day,
And never has left me, I'm happy to say.
My life's getting better with each step I take,
I never look back cause there's too much at stake.
A life like no other, a plan that's divine,
I live for the moment, one day at a time.

Sharlett Hunt
copywrite@2003
Sharlette863@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Spiritual Awakening is the difficult process,
whereby the increasing realization that everything is as wrong
as it can be flips suddenly into the realization that everything is as
right as it can be.
Or better, everything is as it can be.
Alan Watts
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Experience is not what happens to a man.
It is what a man does with what happens to him."
Aldous Huxley
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There is a kind of spirituality that transcends the bounds of religion,
that honors a God who is beyond the particular
path you found to get to that God.
Honoring differences is a spiritual practice that causes us to make
major shifts in our lives but that can give us
some of the greatest joy we will ever experience.
When we learn to respect each other's uniqueness,
we truly understand that in truth, we are all one.
Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Most people are searching for happiness.
They're looking for it.
They're trying to find it in someone or something outside of themselves.
That's a fundamental mistake.
Happiness is something that you are, and it comes from the way you think.
Wayne W Dyer
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Get a sponsor
Use your sponsor
Be a sponsor"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Get a sponsor who makes meetings and uses their sponsor."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Get a sponsor who is louder than you head"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Get a sponsor who is a good listener."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A sponsor and a condom are alike,
Having one isnt good enough.
You have to use one for it to work.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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,
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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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1523

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Wed Jan 12, 2005 3:12 pm
Subject: 1/12/05 "Letting Go" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Denial
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/denial.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 12
Today I am willing to let go of all my fear
so that I can find out what is real in my life.
I will take whatever comes without judgment.
I am ready to release all my resistance and struggle
so that I can find out the good and truth inside me.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Letting Go

I'm letting go
but, that doesn't mean I don't care
It means,
I care enough to let you do things for yourself
I learn from my mistakes
You'll learn from yours
I build confidence when I manage to accomplish something worthwhile
I want you to feel that level of satisfaction, as well
There was a time when i tried to control everything
and, like a house of cards,
everything eventually came tumbling down
Now, I know there is very little I have real control over
Me, myself, and I
I'm happier now not having to figure it all out
Some things are for you to work through
Other things are mine to work with
And, I pray you know that even other things belong to God
Every morning the sun shines, birds sing, flowers bloom
Babies take their first breath, and the waves go in and the waves go out
My life is like that too
He wakes me in the morning to see the day
He whispers to me and brings into view such beauty
He gives me new beginnings and, through it all
my breath goes in, and, my breath goes out
God certainly doesn't need my help
And, I only hinder things when I hold on so tight
to things which belong to you
So, know that I care enough
To let go.

Peace, love and light
Cheri
LACleanNCrazy@...
©1/2003
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alchemy Project presents worldwide recovery links!
<http://www.alchemyproject.net/Links/links.htm>

Life Of An Addict
<http://nickscape.net/recoveryzone/anaddict.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 12                       Spiritual awakenings

"Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps..."
Step Twelve

"How will I know when I have had a spiritual awakening?" For many of us,
a spiritual awakening comes gradually. Perhaps our first spiritual
awareness is as simple as a new appreciation for life. Maybe one day we'll
suddenly discover the sound of birds singing early in the morning. The
simple beauty of a flower may remind us that there is a Power greater
than ourselves at work around us.

Often, our spiritual awakening is something that grows stronger over
time. We can strive for more spiritual awareness simply by living our lives.
We can persist in efforts to improve our conscious contact through prayer
and meditation on a daily basis. We can listen within for the guidance we
need. We can question other addicts about their experiences with
spirituality. We can take time to appreciate the world around us.

Just for today: I will reflect on the spiritual awakenings I have
experienced. I will strive to be God-conscious. I will take time out in
the day to appreciate my Higher Power's handiwork.

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:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first
steps toward liberation and strength. Our admissions of personal
powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and
purposeful lives may be built.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 21

When alcohol influenced every facet of my life, when bottles became the
symbol of all my self-indulgence and permissiveness, 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
-- victory over my selfish self -- indulgence, victory over my stubborn
resistance to life as it was given to me. When I stopped fighting anybody
or anything, I started on the path to sobriety, serenity and peace.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 12

A.A. Thought for the Day

The longer we're in A.A., the more natural this
way of life seems. Our old drinking lives were a
very unnatural way of living. Our present sober
lives are the most natural way we could possibly
live. During the early years of our drinking, our
lives weren't so different from the lives of a lot
of other people. But as we gradually became
problem drinkers, our lives became more and
more unnatural. Do I realize now that the things
I did were far from natural?

Meditation for the Day

I will say thank you to God for everything, even
the seeming trials and worries. I will strive to be
grateful and humble. My whole attitude toward
the Higher Power will be one of gratitude. I will
be glad for the things I have received. I will pass
on what God reveals to me. I believe that more
truths will flow in, as I go along in the new way of life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be grateful for the things I have
received and do not deserve. I pray that this
gratitude will make me truly humble.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Finding Balance
The goal of recovery is balance – that precious middle ground.
Many of us have gone from one extreme to another: years of
taking care of everyone but ourselves, followed by a time of
refusing to focus on anyone's needs but our own.
We may have spent years refusing to identify, feel, and deal
with our feelings, followed by a period of absolute obsession
with every trace of emotional energy that passes through our body.
We may succumb to powerlessness, helplessness, and victimization,
then we swing to the other extreme by aggressively wielding power
over those around us.

We can learn to give to others while taking responsibility for
ourselves. We can learn to take care of our feelings, as well as
our physical, mental, and spiritual needs. We can nurture the quiet
confidence of owning our power as equals in our relationships with
others. The goal of recovery is balance, but sometimes we get there by
going to extremes.

Today, I will be gentle with myself, understanding that sometimes
to reach the middle ground of balance, I need to explore the peaks
and valleys. Sometimes, the only way I can extricate myself from
a valley is to jump high enough to land on a peak, and then slowly
ease myself down.

Today's meditation comes from the book
The Language of Letting Go
by Melody Beattie © 1990
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Always The Same Lesson?
<http://www.innerself.com/Relationships/always_the_same.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Floating Fig Miracle
by Alan Cohen

I arrived at Harbin Hot Springs at two o'clock in the morning, tired and
hungry. Quickly I found my way to the locker room, peeled off my clothes,
and immersed myself in the soothing body-temperature mineral waters.
Ahhhhhhhhh . . . Instantly I could feel my tired muscles, stiff and aching
after a long day's travel, unwinding and absorbing the warmth of the healing
waters. I found a seat on the underwater ledge, leaned my head back against
the rim of the pool, and naked before God, gazed into the endless starry
night. Silently I uttered a prayer of thanks for finding my way to this
healing sanctuary.

But there was still a problem: I was famished. I had not eaten for many
hours and, unable to find a store or restaurant during my late-night drive
through the rural mountain region, I arrived without any provisions. The
onsite restaurant would not be open until the morning, and I began to feel
anxious about not being able to get anything to eat until the next day.

Then I looked around me and realized I was in a place of great beauty and
well-being. An all-night candle issued its mellow glow just above my head,
while a mountain stream chanted a playful lullaby just a few yards from the
pool. Surely God was in this place. Though I was alone, I was not alone
spiritually. Somehow, I reasoned, I would be taken care of; even if I had to
go without food for a while, my heart was full.

Just then my reveries were interrupted by something touching my lip - an
object had floated toward me and bumped into my mouth. I reached to remove
it and discovered it was a fresh fig! Can you imagine my surprise and
delight to find a sweet delicacy finding me in the middle of a hungry night?
In rhythm with the grace of the moment I opened my mouth and received
communion from providence - the tastiest fig I have ever enjoyed.

Then I looked up to find that I was sitting beneath a huge fig tree that
spread its leafy limbs out over my entire section of the pool! Below the
tree were many figs, freshly fallen, floating on the surface of the pool. I
made a short round and collected a handful. Then I went on to enjoy a most
treasured midnight snack.

This most significant experience has become a key metaphor for my life. It
reminded me that wherever I am, God is. I am always taken care of, often in
ways I could not control or plan on. The miracle fig arrived at the very
moment I surrendered my sense of struggle and remembered that all was well.
What better formula for abundant living?

Now I am recognizing that there always figs (metaphorically speaking)
wherever I go. A Course in Miracles asks us to remember, "I am content to be
wherever He wishes, knowing He goes there with me." Perhaps Albert Einstein
said it best: "There are only two ways to live your life: As if nothing is a
miracle, or as if everything is a miracle."

My sense of awe is expanding daily; I am recapturing the wonder of
childhood, which faded from my life when I was told that if I wanted
something good to happen, I had to manipulate to get it. Now I know that
something good is always happening, and all I have to do is discover it.

Recently, I was waiting in the checkout line at the local health food store.
In front of me was a little boy, perhaps a year old, sitting in the seat of
his mother's shopping basket. I caught the child's eyes, and he burst into a
huge smile. Then he began to giggle and wave his hands in ecstasy. This
child was living in pure bliss. At that moment it occurred to me that his
joy was not dependent on anything that was happening around him. Waves of
delight were just rolling up from inside of him. He was thrilled to just be
alive and feel the presence of life in him, through him, as him.

Jewish theologian Abraham Heschel wrote a wonderful book called God in
Search of Man. We do not have to search for God; we just need to show up
right where we are, and God will find us. My fig miracle was not an
exception to the laws of life; it was the fulfillment of them. There are an
infinite number of figs to be enjoyed, and an infinite number of ways they
can reach us. "Wherever I am, God is, and all is well."

About The Author
Alan Cohen is the author of 15 popular inspirational books, including the
award-winning A Deep Breath of Life. For information about Alan's seminars
or to request a free catalog of Alan's books and tapes, call 1-800-462-3013
or visit Alan's web site at www.alancohen.com. Enrich your abundance by
joining Alan for the innovative online Year of Living Prosperously. Contact
Alan's office at P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708, (800) 568-3079 or email:
admin@....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Letting Go~
A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day when
he accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. On the way
down he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall.
He looked down and to his horror saw that the canyon fell
straight down for more than a thousand feet. He couldn't hang
onto the branch forever, and there was no way for him to climb
up the steep wall of the cliff. So Jack began yelling for help,
hoping that someone passing by would hear him and lower a rope
or something. "HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there? HELP!"
He yelled for hours, but no one heard him. He was about to give up
when he heard a voice.
"Jack, Jack. Can you hear me?"
"Yes, yes! I can hear you. I'm down here!"
"I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?"
"Yes, but . . . Who are you, and where are you?"
"I am the Lord, Jack. I'm everywhere."
"The Lord? You mean, GOD?"
"That's Me."
"God, please help me! I promise if You'll get me down from here,
I'll stop sinning.
I'll be a really good person. I'll serve You for the rest of my life."
"Easy on the promises, Jack. Let's just get you down from there;
then we can talk.
Now, here's what I want you to do. Listen carefully."
"I'll do anything, Lord. Just tell me what to do."
"Okay. Let go of the branch."
"What?
"I said, let go of the branch.. Just trust Me. Let go."
There was a long silence. Finally Jack yelled,
"HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE ELSE UP THERE?"
Have you ever felt like Jack? We say that we want to know the
will of God, but when we find out what it is, we can't handle it. It
sounds too scary, too difficult. We decide to look elsewhere. When
He says, "Let go of the things that stand between you and Me, and
trust Me with your life. It sounds pretty scary, but when we let go,
we find freedom and safety in His hands."

*Third Step Prayer*
Take my will and my life
Guide me in my recovery
and Show me how to live.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Everyone Wins

God opened the doors to this place
We have been saved by
Gods mercy and grace
Everyone wins along this way
As long as we do it for just today
God will heal our spirit
He will free our soul
God will heal you too
He will also make you whole
Day by day I witness Gods love
He is inside us all not high above
Try to be humble as you work the steps today
Be willing to change your every way
I am quick to forget and fast to forgive
I love this way I have learned to live
Gratefully we trudge our path today
Passing our program out along the way
We must carry this message of hope
We must teach others the way we cope
Our life was doomed to death or insanity
We had no idea how to break free
Then God proved His love that faithful day
When we surrendered and found this way
Everyone wins
When we decide to stay
We must give it away
To be truly free
Give it time
You will
See

Daniel M Corkery
5/10/2002
PAPACORK@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
One Moment Please
        "So, how do you develop a relationship?" This question
was asked of me when I was doing a Relationship Service
seminar for the YMCA. I have to admit that the question
caught me off guard for a brief second. We had been talking
"theory" all day and this woman wanted some concrete methods
for developing client or, for that matter, any relationship.

  After pausing for a minute to collect my thoughts, I
stated that the only thing I could do was tell her the truth
from my experience. Somewhat shyly, I began to tell her the
story of how my wife and I saved our relationship. My mind
flashed back to a time when Karen and I were at a State Fair
and I won two red velvet hearts as a consolation prize in
one of the midway games. I broke apart the two hearts and
gave one to Karen and kept one for myself.

  We had been married for 10 years and were going through
a bit of a "flat spot" in our relationship. We still loved
each other, but something was missing.

  Karen did not want the "flatness" to continue so one
day she came up with a plan. She took one of the hearts and
hid it in my towel while I was taking a shower. When I went
to grab my towel, the red heart spilled out. As I bent down
to pick it up, I was overcome with a rush of emotion that
made me flash back to the time when I won the red hearts and
the love we felt for each other at that moment.

  I then hid the heart in her sock drawer. She hid it in
my underwear drawer. I hid it in the refrigerator. She
wrapped it in plastic wrap and hid it in the peanut butter.
Hiding the heart became as much fun as finding it. Each time
we hid or found it was a moment to be treasured, like the
first moment we fell in love or the first moment we kissed
or the first moment we looked into our child's eyes. Each is
a cherished and precious moment.

  How do you develop a relationship? One moment at a
time!

By Barry Spilchuk from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry Spilchuk
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When we look inside the great religions of the world,
where the differences melt,
we find that every one of them teaches
us that we're here to learn the lesson of love,
to really learn how to love one another and love God.
And when we wonder how to do that,
all we have to do is look at the content of our lives
where the lesson of love is trying to be made known for us.
That's where God shows up for us, in the everyday of our lives.
That's where we find the holy encounter.
Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
God is on your side. God has a stake in you.
God is not someone to reach for but a Presence to accept.
Instead of dwelling on how difficult things are for you,
turn often to the center of your being and relax in the assurance
that you are God's living enterprise and that your good fortune is secure
because it is God's good pleasure to give it to you.
Eric Butterworth, Spiritual Economics
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Your talent is God's gift to you.
What you do with it is your gift back to God.
Leo Buscaglia
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you can't see a light
at the end of the tunnel...
then run down there
and light the darn thing yourself...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Thank you, God, for the beautiful day I'm going to have
if I can just get rid of my fucking attitude."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We're sick people trying to get better,
not bad people trying to be good."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Change only happens when the pain of holding on
is greater than the fear of letting go."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.�
Small people always do that,
but the really great make you feel that
you, too, can be great."
Mark Twain
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
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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
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1522

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Tue Jan 11, 2005 1:21 pm
Subject: 1/11/05 "No Matter What" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Fixes
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/fixes.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 11
I am listening to the voice
of truth and love today
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
No Matter What

Thank you my friend for showing me,
A place and a person that I don’t want to be.
As I watch your denial, your pain, your despair,
Please know in your heart, I will always be there.
I hope you survive this addiction of yours,
Believe you me, I’ve had my own tours.
The paranoia, the guilt, the shame and the cons,
To this disease, we are nothing but pawns.
Pawns in a ruthless and loveless game,
If we’d only surrender, things wouldn’t be the same.
But there are those who care for one another,
Like the deepness of love, for a sister or brother.
I mean what I say, my very dear friend,
No matter what, I’ll be there till the end.

Linda Lou
1/05/03
lindalou7_23_96@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
12 Step Gems
<http://www.recoverynukkad.com/HaHaHaaspk12gem.html>

12 Rewards of Recovery
<http://www.recoverynukkad.com/HaHaHaaspk12rwds.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 11                                               Faith

"As we develop faith in our daily lives, we find that our Higher Power
supplies us with the strength and guidance that we need."
Basic Text, p. 91

Some of us come into recovery very frightened and insecure. We feel
weak and alone. We are uncertain of our direction and don't know where
to go for answers. We are told that if we find some faith in a Power
greater than ourselves, we will find security and guidance. We want that
feeling of safety and strength. But faith doesn't come overnight. It
takes time and effort to grow.

The seed is planted when we ask our Higher Power for help and then
acknowledge the source of our help when it comes. We nurture the tiny
seed of faith with the sunlight of our prayers each day. Our faith grows,
a reward for living life on its own terms. One day we realize our faith has
become like a huge spreading tree; it doesn't stop the storms of life, but
we know that we are safe in its shelter.

Just for today: I know that faith in my Higher Power will not calm the
storms of life, but it will calm my heart. I will let my faith shelter me
in times of trouble.

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
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Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked
His protection and care with complete abandon.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59

Every day I stand at turning points. My thoughts and actions can propel me
toward growth or turn me down the road to old habits and to
booze. Sometimes turning points are beginnings, as when I decide to start
praising, instead of condemning someone. Or when I begin to ask for help
instead of going it alone. At other times turning points are endings, such
as when I see clearly the need to stop festering resentments or crippling
self-seeking. Many shortcomings tempt me daily; therefore, I also have
daily opportunities to become aware of them. In one form or another, many
of my character defects appear daily: self-condemnation, anger, running
away, being prideful, wanting to get even, or acting out of grandiosity.
Attempting half measures to eliminate these defects merely paralyzes my
efforts to change. It is only when I ask God for help, with complete
abandon, that I become willing -- and able -- to change.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 11th

A.A. Thought for the Day

When we were drinking, most of us never thought
of helping others. We liked to buy drinks for
people, because that made us feel like big shots.
But we only used others for our own pleasure.
To really go out and try to help somebody who
needed help never occurred to us. To us, helping
others looked like a sucker's game. But when we
came into A.A., we began to try to help others.
And we found out that helping others made us happy
and also helped us to stay sober. Have I learned
that there is happiness in helping others?

Meditation for the Day

I will pray only for strength and that God's will be
done. I will use God's unlimited store of strength
for my needs. I will seek God's will for me. I will
strive for consciousness of God's presence, for He
is the light of the world. I have become a pilgrim,
who needs only marching orders and strength and
guidance for this day.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may seek God's guidance day by day.
I pray that I may strive to abide in God's presence.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Detachment

The concept of letting go can be confusing to many of us.
When are we doing too much or trying too
hard to control people and outcomes?
When are we doing too little?
When is what we're doing an appropriate
part of taking care of ourselves?
What responsibility, and what isn't?

These issues can challenge us whether
we've been in recovery ten days or ten years.
Sometimes, we may let go so much that we
neglect responsibility to ourselves to others.
Other times, we may cross the line from taking care
of ourselves to controlling others and outcomes.

There is no rule book.
But we don't have to make ourselves crazy:
we don't have to be so afraid.
We don't have to do recovery perfectly.
If it feels like we need to do
a particular action, we can do it.
If no action feels timely or inspired, don't act on it.

Having and setting healthy limits -
healthy boundaries isn't a tidy process.
We can give ourselves permission to experiment,
to make mistakes, to learn, to grow.

We can talk to people, ask questions,
and questions ourselves.
If there's something we need to do or learn,
it will come apparent.
Lessons don't go away.
If we're not taking care of ourselves enough,
we'll see that.
If we are being too controlling,
we'll grow to understand that too.
Things will work out.
The way will become clear.

Today, I will take actions that appear appropriate.
I will let go of the rest. I will strive for the balance
between self-responsibility, responsibility to others,
and letting go.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A Child's Sense of Self
<http://www.innerself.com/Parenting/childs_self.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dolphins Await
~ Alan Cohen ~

"One night at a Hawaiian retreat, I had a vivid dream of swimming
with dolphins. The next morning, I attended a business meeting that
I found boring and purposeless. Although I sat and tried to be present,
all I could think about was going to the beach. When I recognized I
was useless at the meeting, I politely excused myself and made a
beeline for the beach. Soon after I arrived, a huge pod of dolphins
surfaced in the bay, and I swam out to play with them. For a long time,
I was surrounded by their delightful presence, and I was thrilled to
frolic with them. I was able to look into their eyes, which was like
peering into a warm eternity. Was I every glad I left the meeting!

If your spirit is not present where you are, and you feel intuitively
called elsewhere, you must hearken to your inner voice. I am not
encouraging you to be irresponsible and run away from things you
need to do. I am encouraging you to be responsive to your spirit. It
is not responsible to engage in activities that affront your soul. Honor
your soul by being where you belong.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Because I Am The Only Person
I Will Have A Relationship With All My Life

I Choose:
To love myself the way I am now.
To always acknowledge that I am enough
just the way I am.
To be my own best friend.
To be the person
I would like to spend the rest of my life with.
To always take care of myself so that I can take care of others.
To always grow, develop and share my love and life.

Excerpt From: You Can't Afford The Luxury of a Negative Thought
by John-Roger & Peter McWilliams
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Crossing the Tightrope

"There was a tightrope walker who did incredible aerial feats.
All over Paris, he would do tightrope acts at tremendously scary
heights. Then he had succeeding acts where he would do it
blindfolded. Then he would go across the tightrope blindfolded,
pushing a wheelbarrow.�

An American promoter read about this in the papers, and wrote
a letter to the tightrope walker saying, 'Tightrope, I don't believe
you can do it, but I'm willing to make you an offer. For a very
substantial sum of money, besides all your transportation fees,
I would like to challenge you to do your act over Niagara Falls.'
Now, Tightrope wrote back, 'Sir, although I've never been to
America, nor seen the Falls, I'd love to come.'

After a lot of promotion and setting the whole thing up, many
people came to see the event. Tightrope was to start on the Canadian
side and walk over to the American side. Drums roll, and he comes
across the rope which is suspended over the treacherous part of the
falls ~ blindfolded!!� And he makes it across easily.�

The crowds go wild, and he comes to the promoter and says, 'Well,
Mr. Promoter, now do you believe I can do it?'

�� 'Well of course I do. I mean, I just saw you do it.'
�� 'No,' said Tightrope, 'do you really believe I can do it?'
�� 'Well of course I do, you just did it.'
�� 'No, no, no,' said Tightrope, 'do you believe I can do it?'
��'Yes,' said Mr. Promoter, 'I believe you can do it.'
��'Good,' said Tightrope, 'then you get in the wheel barrow.'

��The word believe, comes from the Greek, meaning 'to live by'. This
is the kind of story that gets you to thinking ~ How often do we say
that we believe God is guiding us and taking care of us, yet refuse to
get in the wheelbarrow?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NOT ME!

"Not me," said the star
as she did her first line.
"No drug can enslave a strong will like mine."
"Not me," claimed the lawyer
(he just took his blue pill),
"I want to relax as I draw up this will."
I won't need it tomorrow,
it's just for today,
I can take it or leave it,
so right now, let's play.

"At least it's not drugs,"
bragged the tall high school jock.
"Just booze ain't so bad,
come on let's get crocked."
"Hey, roll us a joint,"
cried the cheerleader queen.
"I hate all my teachers,
my parents are mean."
I won't need it tomorrow,
it's just for today,
I can take it or leave it,
so right now, let's play.

"I don't do hard liquor, I only drink beer,"
The hard-hat was certain
he'd nothing to fear.
The housewife, "A vodka,
to get through the night,
The kids and the housework
have me quite up-tight."
I won't need it tomorrow,
it's just for today,
I can take it or leave it,
so right now, let's play.

"Not me," they all cried
as they thought in contempt
Of the 'typical addict,' alone and unkempt.
"Not me," of the derelict down in the gutter,
When "I once was like you,"
they heard his soft mutter.

But time has run out
for both lawyer and star,
They know they've hit bottom,
they've fallen so far.
With athlete and housewife,
with hard-hat and queen,
They're facing the horrors
of where they have been.

They've lied and they've cheated,
they've stolen and fought,
Seen their families' eyes when
at last they've been caught.
They've sworn to do better,
then started again,
Torn by a craving that's killed stronger men.

They've sweated and writhed
in the grip of addiction,
A torture they'd thought
to meet only in fiction.
Some have been beaten,
they can't face the pain,
They dig their graves swiftly -
they're using again.

Some hope for the future,
they work and they pray
For a time when a rainbow replaces the gray;
When the thought of their cravings
does not make them cower,
They know they can do it -
with their Higher Power.

But their worst pain of all
is that others still laugh,
"Not me, it won't hook me,
for I'm strong enough."
They know it CAN get you, "Not me" is a lie,
And they beg that you'll hear them -
and choose not to die.

~ by Diana Robinson Ph.D., Personal Development Coach ~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chains
Oh, how these chains do bind me
far more than those ever imposed by others
for I have forged these links I bear
with my own heart, passion, and soul
And, does it really matter
that I had the best of intentions
during every event when I decided
to add more rather than less to my burden
I've worn them so long
that I almost considered them to be natural
and is it not amazing and troubling
what one imposes upon oneself
So, how does one begin
to unravel these numbing constraints
and move truly forward into the light
with a gentler set of self imposed bonds
Could it be as simple as looking
at each segment of one's own creation
and then deciding which ones are worthy
of being a part of who we wish to become
Because after all , if one cannot allow
one's own ideals of oneself to come true
is one deserving of assistance from above
in becoming the best that one can be
So, I have decided to begin the journey
of self discovery and the trusting of my inner voices
which I have denied for far too long
in my quest for immediate gratification
And, I realize there will be some bumps in the night
and some unpleasant realizations
about who I've allowed myself to become
in the here and now
But, if I'm ever to reach my goals
do I not have to begin
with who am I
and where am I going

dennis j hopkins
mrseven@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
From "Good Housekeeping" article, 1954:

"When you stand outside a room where a
group of Narcotics Anonymous is meeting,
the most frequent sound you hear is laughter.
Mellow laughter, which can come only from
people who have looked destruction and catastrophe in the face,
not once but continuously over long years,
and now are free and unafraid.
The laughter, in short, of people who hold God's hand and feel safe."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Today, help me God, to let go of my resistance to change.
Help me to be open to the process.
Help me believe that the place I will be dropped off
will be better than the place I was picked up.
Help me to surrender, trust and accept…
even if I don't understand.
Melody Beattie
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides
and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love.
And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world,
we shall have discovered fire.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You are a child of God.
You are a child of Light.
The Soul that is your true identity
resides naturally in love and joy.

John-Roger
(From: The Way Out Book)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"The reason I'm here...
is because I'm not all there."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Courage is fear in action."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"God will heal your broken heart
if you give Him all the pieces."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Courage is not the absence of fear,
but rather the judgment that
something else is more important than fear."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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"
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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 ,
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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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1521

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Mon Jan 10, 2005 2:16 pm
Subject: 1/10/05 "The Wemmicks" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Skills
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/skills.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 10
Today I am trusting the urge to move ahead...
to grow...to risk new directions.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Wemmicks   (A MUST READ !!!!!!!!!!)

The Wemmicks were small wooden people.

Each of the wooden people was carved by a woodworker named Eli.
His workshop sat on a hill overlooking their village.

Every Wemmick was different. Some had big noses, others had
large eyes. Some were tall and others were short. Some wore
hats, others wore coats. But all were made by the same carver
and all lived in the village.

And all day, every day, the Wemmicks did the same thing:
They gave each other stickers.

Each Wemmick had a box of golden star stickers and a box of
gray dot stickers. Up and down the streets all over the city,
people could be seen sticking stars or dots on one another. The
pretty ones, those with smooth wood and fine paint, always got
stars. But if the wood was rough or the paint chipped, the
Wemmicks gave dots.

The talented ones got stars, too. Some could lift big sticks high
above their heads or jump over tall boxes. Still others knew big
words or could sing very pretty songs. Everyone gave them stars.

Some Wemmicks had stars all over them! Every time they got
a star it made them feel so good that they did something else
and got another star.

Others, though, could do little. They got dots.

Punchinello was one of these. He tried to jump high like the
others, but he always fell. And when he fell, the others would
gather around and give him dots.

Sometimes when he fell, it would scar his wood, so the people
would give him more dots.

He would try to explain why he fell and say something silly, and
the Wemmicks would give him more dots.

After a while he had so many dots that he didn't want to go
outside. He was afraid he would do something dumb such as
forget his hat or step in the water, and then people would give
him another dot. In fact, he had so many gray dots that some
people would come up and give him one without reason.

"He deserves lots of dots," the wooden people would agree with
one another. "He's not a good wooden person."

After a while Punchinello believed them. "I'm not a good
Wemmick," he would say.

The few times he went outside, he hung around other Wemmicks
who had a lot of dots. He felt better around them.

One day he met a Wemmick who was unlike any he'd ever met.
She had no dots or stars. She was just wooden. Her name was Lulia.

It wasn't that people didn't try to give her stickers; it's just
that the stickers didn't stick. Some admired Lulia for having no
dots, so they would run up and give her a star. But it would fall
off. Some would look down on her for having no stars, so they
would give her a dot. But it wouldn't stay either.

`That's the way I want to be,' thought Punchinello. `I don't want
anyone's marks.' So he asked the stickerless Wemmick how she
did it. "It's easy," Lulia replied. "every day I go see Eli."

"Eli?"

"Yes, Eli. The woodcarver. I sit in the workshop with him."

"Why?"

"Why don't you find out for yourself? Go up the hill. He's there."
And with that the Wemmick with no marks turned and skipped
away.

"But he won't want to see me!" Punchinello cried out. Lulia didn't
hear. So Punchinello went home. He sat near a window and watched
the wooden people as they scurried around giving each other stars
and dots. "It's not right," he muttered to himself. And he resolved
to go see Eli.

He walked up the narrow path to the top of the hill and stepped
into the big shop. His wooden eyes widened at the size of
everything. The stool was as tall as he was. He had to stretch on
his tiptoes to see the top of the workbench. A hammer was as long
as his arm. Punchinello swallowed hard. "I'm not staying here!" and
he turned to leave.

Then he heard his name.

"Punchinello?" The voice was deep and strong.

Punchinello stopped.

"Punchinello! How good to see you. Come and let me have a look
at you."

Punchinello turned slowly and looked at the large bearded
craftsman. "You know my name?" the little Wemmick asked.

"Of course I do. I made you."

Eli stooped down and picked him up and set him on the bench.
"Hmm," the maker spoke thoughtfully as he inspected the gray
circles. "Looks like you've been given some bad marks."

"I didn't mean to, Eli. I really tried hard."

"Oh, you don't have to defend yourself to me, child. I don't care
what the other Wemmicks think."

"You don't?"

"No, and you shouldn't either. Who are they to give stars or
dots? They're Wemmicks just like you. What they think doesn't
matter, Punchinello. All that matters is what I think. And I think
you are pretty special."

Punchinello laughed. "Me, special? Why? I can't walk fast. I can't
jump. My paint is peeling. Why do I matter to you?"

Eli looked at Punchinello, put his hands on those small wooden
shoulders, and spoke very slowly. "Because you're mine. That's
why you matter to me."

Punchinello had never had anyone look at him like this...much less
his maker. He didn't know what to say. "Every day I've been hoping
you'd come," Eli explained.

"I came because I met someone who had no marks." "I know. She
told me about you."

"Why don't the stickers stay on her?"

"Because she has decided that what I think is more important than
what they think. The stickers only stick if you let them."

"What?"

"The stickers only stick if they matter to you. The more you trust
my love, the less you care about the stickers."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"You will, but it will take time. You've got a lot of marks. For now,
just come to see me every day and let me remind you how much I
care."

Eli lifted Punchinello off the bench and set him on the ground.

"Remember," Eli said as the Wemmick walked out the door. "You
are special because I made you. And I don't make mistakes."

Punchinello didn't stop, but in his heart he thought, "I think he
really means it."

And when he did, a dot fell to the ground.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I Always Felt Empty
<http://www.anonymousone.com/story90.htm>

How The Program Works
<http://www.storybin.com/sponsor/sponsor104.shtml>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 10                                  Gratitude

"I'm very grateful to have come to believe." IP No. 21, "The Loner"

Belief in a Higher Power can make all the difference when the going
gets tough! When things don't go our way in recovery, our sponsor may
direct us to make a "gratitude list." When we do, we should include our
faith in a Power greater than ourselves on the list. One of the greatest
gifts we receive from the Twelve Steps is our belief in a God of our own
understanding.

The Twelve Steps gently lead us toward a spiritual awakening. Just as
our addiction progressed, so does our spiritual life develop in the course
of working the program of Narcotics Anonymous. The steps are our path
to a relationship with a God of our understanding. This Higher Power
gives us strength when our road gets rough.

Are we grateful for our deepening relationship with a Higher Power? Do
we remember to thank God for each day clean, no matter what has
happened that day? Do we remember that, no matter how deep our
despair or how great our joy, the God of our understanding is with us?

Our recovery is a gift, a gift that we sometimes take for granted. Each
day we stay clean, we can rejoice in our Higher Power's care.

Just for today: I am grateful for my relationship with a Higher Power
that cares for me.

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:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

The idea of "twenty-four-hour living" applies primarily to the emotional
life of the individual.   Emotionally speaking, we must not live in
yesterday, nor in tomorrow.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 284

A New Year: 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes --
a time to consider directions, goals, and actions. I must make some plans
to live a normal life, but also I must live emotionally within a
twenty-four-hour frame, for if I do, I don't have to make New Year's
resolutions! I can make every day a New Year's day! I can decide, "Today
I will do this ... Today I will do that." Each day I can measure my life
by trying to do a little better, by deciding to follow God's will and by
making an effort to put the principles of our A.A. program into action.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 10th

A.A. Thought for the Day

When we were drinking, most of us were full of
pride and selfishness. We believed we could
handle our own affairs, even though we were
making a mess of our lives. We were very
stubborn and didn't like to take advice. We
resented being told what to do. To us, humility
looked like weakness. But when we came into
A.A., we began to be humble. And we found out
that humility gave us the power we needed to
overcome drinking. Have I learned that there
is power in humility?

Meditation for the Day

I will come to God in faith and He will give me
a new way of life. This new way of life will alter
my whole existence, the words I speak, the
influence I have. They will spring from the life
within me. I see how important is the work of a
person who has this new way of life. The words
and the example of such a person can have a wide
influence for good in the world.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may learn the principles of the good
life. I pray that I may meditate upon them and
work at them, because they are eternal.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All
life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the
better. What if they are a little coarse, and you may get
your coat soiled or torn? What if you do fail, and get fairly
rolled in the dirt once or twice? Up again; you shall never be
so afraid of a tumble."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fear can be a big stopper for many of us: fear of fragility,
fear of failure, fear of making a mistake, fear of what others
might think, fear of success. We may second-guess our next
action or word until we talk ourselves out of participating
in life.

"But I failed before!" "I can’t do it good enough!" "Look at
what happened last time!" "What if...?" These statements
may disguise fear. Sometimes the fear is disguising shame.
After I finished the first two chapters of a book I was
writing, I read them and grimaced. "No good," I thought.
"Can’t do it." I was ready to pitch the chapters, and my
writing career, out the window. A writer friend called, and I
told her about my problem. She listened and told me:
"Those chapters are fine. Stop being afraid. Stop criticizing
yourself. And keep on writing."

I followed her advice. The book I almost threw away
became a "New York Times" best-seller.

Relax. Our best is good enough. It may be better than we
think. Even our failures may turn out to be important
learning experiences that lead directly to--and are necessary
for--an upcoming success.

Feel the fear, then let it go. Jump in and do it--whatever it
is. If our instincts and path have led us there, it's where we
need to be.

Today, I will participate in life to the best of my ability.
Regardless of the outcome, that makes me a winner.

Today's meditation comes from the book
The Language of Letting Go
by Melody Beattie © 1990
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Clean Slate, Alan Cohen
<http://www.innerself.com/Creating_Realities/clean_slate.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Affirmation Power
by Louise L. Hay

Affirmations are really anything that we say or think. Our thoughts create
our feelings, beliefs, and experiences. Too often they are negative. we say,
"I don't want this in my life" or "I don't want to be sick anymore" or "I
hate my job". If we want to change or manifest something in our lives, we
must state what we do want. We must affirm that we are willing to see
ourselves or our lives in a different perspective. Thus, we can change our
experiences by first changing our thoughts.

When you first start using an affirmation, it may not seem true for you. If
it were already true, you would not need the affirmation. For example, think
of what happens when you plant a seed. First it germinates, then it sprouts
roots, and then it pokes its first shoot up through the ground. It takes
time to go from a seed to a full-grown plant. And so it is with
affirmations. Be gentle and patient with yourself.

You may also experience some doubt as to whether you are doing the
affirmations correctly or even whether the affirmations are doing any good
at all. This is perfectly normal. You see, the subconscious mind is like a
filing cabinet - all the thoughts, words, and experiences you have had since
birth get filed away like messages. Think of your mind as having a team of
couriers who grab the messages, look at them, and put them in the
appropriate files. Perhaps you have been building up files for years with
messages such as: I'm not good enough," "I'm not smart enough to do that,"
or "Why Bother?" The subconscious gets absolutely buried under these files.

Suddenly, when the couriers begin seeing messages that say, "I'm wonderful
and I love myself", they respond with, "What is this? Where do we file this?
We've never seen this message before."

That's when they call in "Doubt". Doubt picks up the message and says to
you, "Hey, look at this. We have no place to file this one - it must be a
mistake." You can either say to Doubt, "Oh, you re right. 'I'm terrible. I'm
not good. Sorry, I made a mistake", and go back to your old way of thinking.
Or, you can say to Doubt, "Thank you for sharing, but this is the new
message. Set up a new file because there are going to be lots of these
coming through." By doing so, over time you will change your thinking and
create a new reality for yourself. Remember, you are in charge.

Reinforce your new, positive affirmations in any way you can: in your
thoughts, your conversations with yourself and others, and by writing them
down in this journal, which I created to inspire you on your path to
personal growth and healing. You may choose to use the affirmations on each
page as a springboard to write your own. Once you find affirmations that are
right for you, you may want to put them up on your mirror, on your desk, or
on your car dashboard.

Remember: One thought does not mean much, but thoughts that we think over
and over are like drops of water - at first there are just a few, and then
after a while you've created a pool, and then a lake, and then an ocean. If
our thinking is negative, we can drown in a sea of negativity; if its
positive, we can float on the ocean of life.

This article was excerpted from: "A Garden of Thoughts - My Affirmation
Journal" by Louise L. Hay.
Reprinted with permission of Hay House. www.hayhouse.com

About The Author
Louise L. Hay is a metaphysical lecturer and teacher and the best-selling
author of 20 books, including You Can Heal Your Life and Empowering Women.
Her works have been translated into 25 different languages in 33 countries
throughout the world. Since beginning her career as a Science of Mind
minister in 1981, Louise has assisted thousands of people in discovering and
using the full potential of their own creative powers for personal growth
and self-healing. Louise is the owner and founder of Hay House, Inc., a
self-help publishing company that disseminates books, audios, and videos
that contribute to the healing of the planet. This article was excerpted
with permission of Hay House from A Garden of Thoughts by Louise L. Hay.
www.hayhouse.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You're Covered

"Snow drifts cover the windows.
Winter's here for sure.
Snuggled inside you're safe and warm.
Feeling real secure.

Think of your life in these same terms,
No matter where you go.
By the Grace of God you're covered.
Enveloped in His Love."

(Copyright 2000)
~Virginia Santoro~
to subscribe to MorningMusings@... click here
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Service is the rent you pay for room on this earth
-- Shirley Chisholm

None of us could have reached this day entirely on our own. Each
of us can look back at moments in our lives when we've been
helped or encouraged by another person. A family member,
teacher, sponsor, or friend may have offered us mentoring or
unconditional love. The words or example of a stranger, a public
figure, an artist, or a writer may have afforded us inspiration at just
the moment when we needed encouragement.

We can do no less for others as we continue our own journeys. We
do not have to take responsibility for others' lives, nor should we
disregard our own needs. But there are many ways we can make a
difference, each according to our preference. We can offer time
and talent to our community, recovery program, or family of
choice. We can share our experience, strength, and hope with
individuals or groups. We can show up and do some of the work
that's necessary to maintain the institutions that have offered so
much to us. We can keep it by giving it away.

Today, I express my gratitude through service, freely given.

From the book, Glad Day by Joan Larkin copyright 1998
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
My Tribute to Recovery

I open up my eyes and see
The gift of life was given free
No longer drowning in my tears
Released from the darkness of my fears
The choice was always up to me
I hold the key to how I feel
My immense passion for life is real
No longer lost in desperate void
No barren pain of spirit destroyed
Oh, what a lore to reveal
Each day a new page to unfold
Each night new memories to hold
No longer dreading each new sun
No shame from duties left undone
Life is like stories yet to be told
Trials will surely come I know
I'll be just fine if I learn to let go
No longer slamming my head against the wall
No feelings I must control or fall
Hardships will pass and I will grow
So, come walk this way if you might
Lay down your weapons, give up the fight
Serenity awaits you bountiful and free
Become the person you want to be
Don't go alone, together we'll be all right

Anonymous
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The first law of Spirit is acceptance because it is in
the act of acceptance that we come to the harmonic
balance. When we judge someone or something,
we are rejecting the harmonic frequency of that
being or event, and, in the rejection, we are out of balance.

When you enter into a frequency of time and events
that does not correspond with that of someone else,
and when you throw yours against theirs, you are in
disharmony or discord, called wars, fighting,
invectives, and divorce.

John-Roger
(From: Passage Into Spirit)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We love because it's the only true adventure."
Nikki Giovanni
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Take LOVE as an acronym:
LISTEN intently to the people with whom you are traveling your journey.
     Listen deeply; it is a great gift.
OPTIMIZE the time you have with your loved ones.
     The truth is, we do not know our last hour;
     don't postpone giving your love.
VALUE the people in your life, really notice their goodness.
EXPRESS your gratitude, appreciation and praise.
Mary Manin Morrissey
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We understand that by giving we receive.
We grasp that by lighting others' candles,
we do not lose our own light.
The more candles one lights,
the more enlightened the world becomes."
-John Bradshaw
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Awareness, Acceptance, Action
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I can't change something
that I am not aware of.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The only thing that is constant is change.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The sooner I push my wagon,
the quicker I am on my way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If I am still acting out on it,
Than it is not an old behavior.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
by sending an Email message to:
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 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:
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and write unsubsribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe
<http://health.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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org/

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

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

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

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org/

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.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 Official Homepage
http://www.na.org/

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.nar-anon.org

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/

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org/

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

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://www.workaholics-anonymous.org/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/>

For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1520

From: YOUnMEnHP <YOUnMEnHP@...>
Date: Sun Jan 9, 2005 3:24 pm
Subject: 1/9/05 "New Comer" ~12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit

younmenhp

Offline

Send Email

Literature #2
<http://www.recoverycartoons.com/html/fav2003/literature2.html>

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and
spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the first step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
January 9th
I dare to listen to my inner voice with a new trust today.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
PLEASE visit and check out Ruth's new book
LIVING LIGHT AS A FEATHER is arriving at bookstores now!
She even interviewed me for the book :)
If you would like a signed copy you can
order it at <http://www.spirithaven.com/> or email her at
spirithaven@... or call at 508-420-5301.
Check out her 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
New Comer

Sitting
Hoping
Praying
Will it work for me
I had to give time
Her perfect place
So I could see
Do I trust in God today
To meet all my needs
Along the way
I am impatient
I pace the floor
I have a little
I want more
Don't use go to meetings
Seems so simple
Right now
All I can ask is
HOW
My mind races
From thought to thought
When will they come and get me
When will I get caught
Paranoia down on me
I'm kind of blind
Yet I can see
I've been so full of
Anger and rage
I pace about like
A tiger in a cage
There is a black cloud
Hanging over me
Impending doom is
All I see
I've had these secrets
Buried in my mind
Though I seek
I wonder
Will I ever find
Who what
When where
First I'm up
Then I'm down
Racing thoughts
Going around and round
Give time
Time
Is what you say
Keep it simple
Just do it for today
Well okay I'll give it a try
Just for today
I'll stay dry
The days add up
To weeks
The weeks add up
To months
You say I'm better
But I don't see
Yet sure enough
Today I'm free

Daniel M Corkery
11/14/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
<http://www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A Chance to Start Anew
<http://www.geocities.com/loriflower/1/sunshine.html>

Just Pedal
<http://www.geocities.com/loriflower/4/just_pedal.html>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just For Today
January 9 Returning Our Sponsor's Kindness

"Our earliest involvements with others often begin with our sponsor"
Basic Text p. 55

Our sponsor can be an abundant source of recovery information, wisdom,
and loving words. They've done so much for us. From the late night
telephone calls to the hours spent listening to our recovery writing,
they've believed in us and invested their time to prove it. They've
lovingly and firmly shown us how to be honest. Their boundless
compassion in times of turmoil has given us the strength to go on. Their
way of helping has prompted us to seek our answers within ourselves,
and we've become mature, responsible, confident individuals as a result.

Though our sponsor has given so generously and has never demanded
repayment, there are things we can do to show our appreciation. We
treat our sponsor with respect. They are not a trash can designed for us
to dump our garbage in. They have their times of trial, just as we do, and
sometimes need our support. They are human, have feelings, and
appreciate our concern. Maybe they would like to receive a card in the
mail or a phone call expressing our love.

Whatever we do to return our sponsor's kindness will enhance our personal
recovery, not to mention the joy we'll bring to our sponsor.

Just for today: My sponsor has cared for me when I couldn't care for
myself. Today, I will do something nice for my sponsor.

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:
Each month we will share on a step and / or
The spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is January, PLEASE share on the 1st step
Or if you haven’t done the 1st step share on
powerlessness, honesty, acceptance or surrender..
to share please visit
<http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/>
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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 :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meditation of the Day
<http://www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts>

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
<http://www.open-mind.org/Daily/>

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

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

Furthermore, how shall we come to terms with seeming failure or
success? Can we now accept and adjust to either without despair or
pride? Can we accept poverty, sickness, loneliness, and bereavement with
courage and serenity? Can we steadfastly content ourselves with the
humbler, yet sometimes more durable, satisfactions when the brighter, more
glittering achievements are denied us?
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 112

After I found A.A. and stopped drinking, it took a while before I
understood why the First Step contained two parts: my powerlessness over
alcohol, and my life's unmanageability. In the same way, I believed for a
long time that, in order to be in tune with the Twelve Steps, it was enough
for me "to carry this message to alcoholics." That was rushing things. I
was forgetting that there were a total of Twelve Steps and that the Twelfth
Step also had more than one part. Eventually I learned that it was
necessary for me to "practice these principles" in all areas of my
life. In working all the Steps thoroughly, I not only stay sober and help
someone else to achieve sobriety, but also I transform my difficulty with
living into a joy of living.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / January 9th

A.A. Thought for the Day

When we were drinking, most of us had no real
faith in anything. We may have said that we
believed in God, but we didn't act as though we
did. We never honestly asked God to help us
and we never really accepted His help. To us,
faith looked like helplessness. But when we came
into A.A., we began to have faith in God. And we
found out that faith gave us the strength we
needed to overcome drinking. Have I learned
that there is strength in faith?

Meditation for the Day

I will have faith, no matter what may befall me.
I will be patient, even in the midst of troubles.
I will not fear the strain of life, because I believe
that God knows just what I can bear. I will look to
the future with confidence. I know that God will
not ask me to bear anything that could overcome
or destroy me.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may put this day in the hands of God.
I pray for faith, so that nothing will upset me or
weaken my determination to stay sober.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You Decide

This is an old lesson, but it bears repeating
and remembering.
We don't have to let anyone control our lives,
our choices, our joy.

No matter how well we thought we learned
that lesson, it often reappears.
Another person starts to pull our strings.
We get involved, entangled, hooked in.
We hear ourselves singing an old tune --
If only she would, if only he wouldn't, then I would be. . .
We realize that once again we have
given up too much control.
We have deferred our lives to the wishes, whims,
and choices of another.

Yes, if we are living fully, we will have reactions
to those around us.
Our relationships will help shape us teach us things.
And yes, there are times we are so connected to others,
love them so much, that their path does affect ours.
But we don't have to let another person control
our choices, our behaviors, or our lives.

Maybe she will. Maybe he won't.
But what about you?
What do you want?
What course of action feels right for you,
for your life?
Do you want to assign responsibility for whether
you take that course to another? Do you really?

Sometimes, no matter how much you love others,
it's time to let go, time to let them walk their path.
Time to realize that it is your responsibility
to walk your own.
Go in love. Go in peace. Go in gentle power.
You are responsible for your life.
You are responsible for your choices.
It doesn't matter what the other person does.
You are still responsible for you.

Take care of yourself, then take it one step further.
Love, nurture, honor, and respect yourself.
Only you can decide what you're going to do.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
From The Heart. When Love Feels Weird, by Alan Cohen
<http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2002/February/cohen.htm>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eleven Laws to Set You Free
by Guy Finley

If we want to grow inwardly we must find new ways to learn about ourselves.
These higher discoveries call for higher learning. Think of each of the
following eleven laws as individual magic strands of a flying carpet. Make
it your aim to weave them together in your mind. Then watch how these
lessons combine to effortlessly lift you to a higher and happier life level.

The First Law:
Nothing can stop you from starting over.
The greatest power you possess for succeeding in life is your understanding
that life gives you a fresh start any moment you choose to start fresh.
Nothing that stood in your way even a heartbeat before stands there now in
the same way. It's all new, even if you can't as yet see it that way.

You've only to test the truth of this fact about the newness of life to
discover the incredible freedom that waits for you just behind it. And then
nothing can stop you. You'll know the real secret and the perfect power of
starting over.

The Second Law:
Don't be afraid to see when something doesn't work.
Learn to be sensitive and to listen to the inner signals that try and tell
you when something isn't working. You know what they are. Frustration and
resentment to name just a few. The presence of these emotional troubles
aren't trying to tell you that you can't succeed, only that the road you've
insisted upon taking so far doesn't lead where you want. Learning to admit
when something isn't working is the same as teaching yourself what will.

The Third Law:
If it doesn't flow, there's more to know.
Learn to recognize all forms of strain -- whether at work, in your creative
efforts, or in your relationships -- as being unnecessary. The friction you
feel mounting when busy at some labor is never caused by the task at hand,
but by what you don't yet know about it. This means the only real reason for
your strain is that you've got hold of a wrong idea you don't yet see as
wrong. This new insight allows you to release yourself by showing you what
you need to know. Flowing follows your new knowing.

The Fourth Law:
Don't Take the Easy Way
There's no getting away from what you don't know, which is why any time you
feel compelled to go around a problem by taking the easy way, that problem
always comes round again. And isn't that what makes life seem so hard? Learn
to see the "easy way" as a lying thought that keeps you tied up and doing
hard time. Getting something over is not the same as having it completed.
And as this insight grows, so will your understanding that the whole idea of
the "hard way" has always been just a lying thought as well. Now you know:
the complete way is the easy way. So volunteer to make the "hard way" your
way and learn the real easy way.

The Fifth Law
On the other side of the resistance is the flow.
There are often times when it feels as though you can't go any farther in
your work or studies. But you can learn to go beyond any blockage. Make the
following clear to yourself. Those moments -- when it feels as though you're
least able to get beyond yourself -- are not telling you that you've gone as
far as you can go, but only reveal that you've reached as far as you know --
for now. This higher self-knowledge about your true inner position allows
you to see the resistance you're feeling for what it really is: a threshold,
and not a closed door. Walk through it. Nothing can stop you.

On the other side of the resistance is the flow. Learning to go beyond you
is the same as entering into the new.

The Sixth Law:
Watch for the opportunity to learn something new.
Everything is changing all the time. That means life is an endless occasion
for learning something new. But this means more than meets the eye. Just as
you're a part of everything, everything is a part of you. The whole of life
is connected. And your ability to learn is part of the wonder of this
complete, but ever-changing whole. Learning serves as a window, not only
into the complex world you see around you, but through it you may also look
into the you that's busy looking into the world. And when you've learned
there's no end to what you can see about the amazing worlds spinning both
around and within you, you'll also know there's no end to you. So stay
awake. Learn something new every day. You'll love how that makes you feel
about yourself.

The Seventh Law:
Learn to see conclusions as limitations
If you approach the possibilities of learning about your life as being
limitless, which they are, then it follows that any conclusion you reach
about yourself has to be an unseen limitation. Why? Because there's always
more to see. For instance, let yourself see that all conclusions are
illusions when it comes to the security they promise. There may be security
in a prison, but there are also no choices behind its confining walls. Learn
to see all conclusions about yourself as invisible cells. For that's what
they are. The seeming security these conclusions offer are a poor substitute
for the real security of knowing that who you really are is always free to
be something higher.

The Eighth Law:
Have no fear about being afraid
Fear can't learn, which is why you must learn about fear if you ever wish to
be a fearless learner. So, the first thing you must learn is how to get past
your fear of being afraid. Here's how. The next time a fear of some kind
tries to fill one of your moments, try to see the difference between the
fact of your situation and your feelings about it. This it the right use of
your mind. For instance, it's a fact that interest rates change. It's not a
fact you have to get scared when they do. That fear is not a fact of life,
but only becomes one for you as long as you insist that life perform
according to what you think are your best interests. As you learn to see
that these fearful feelings don't belong to you, but only to your wrong
thinking, you cease to be afraid, even of your own fears.

The Ninth Law:
Never accept defeat.
As long as it's possible to learn, you need never feel tied down by any past
defeat in your life. Here's the real fact: nothing can prevent the inwardly
self-educating man or woman from succeeding in life. And here's why: wisdom
always triumphs over adversity. But to win real wisdom calls you to join in
a special kind of struggle. And if this battle had a banner under which to
rally, here's what would be written upon that higher call to arms: "But I
can find out!" Yes, you can learn the facts. You may not understand how you
could have been blind to that evil person's real intentions, but you can
find out. Take these four words that are freedom's battle cry: I can find
out! Use them to defeat what's defeating you.

The Tenth Law:
Learn to let go of painful pretense.
Most people approach their troubles with one of these two non-solutions:
they either pretend their problem isn't a problem, or they pretend they've
solved their troubles with temporary cover-ups. But their pain remains. It
doesn't have to be this way for you. You can learn to let go of painful
pretense. Here's how. When facing an old problem, what you don't want is
another "new way" to deal with it. What you really want is to learn
something new about the true nature of what has a hold on you. To go far,
start near. When faced with any pain, let go of what you think you know. Act
towards your trouble as if you don't know anything about it. This new
solution is the only true one because the truth is you don't know what the
real problem is. Otherwise you wouldn't still have it. Letting go what you
think you know puts you in the right place for learning what you need to
know.

The Eleventh Law:
Persistence always prevails.
If you'll persist with your sincere wish for higher learning, you can't help
but succeed. Persistence always prevails because part of its power is to
hold you in place until either the world lines up with your wish, or you see
that your wish is out of line. But, for whichever way it turns in that
moment, you've won something that only persistence can pay. See the
following: if you get what you think you have to have to be happy and you're
still not satisfied, then you've learned what you don't want. Now you can go
on to higher things. And should you learn you've been wearing yourself out
with useless wishes, then this discovery allows you to turn your energies in
a new direction: self liberation.

This article was excerpted from "Freedom from the Ties that Bind" by Guy
Finley. Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, ©1999. Reprinted with the
author's permission.

About The Author

Guy Finley is the best-selling author of a half dozen books on
self-transformation. His works, which have sold over a million copies and
have been translated into seven languages, are recommended by doctors,
ministers, and industry leaders. For information about Guy Finley's books,
booklets, tapes, and helpful on-going study groups call (541) 476-1200 or to
sign-up to receive key lessons e-mailed to you for free every week, visit
www.guyfinley.com.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Give It Away!

Whatever talents and gifts you have,
No matter how little or great you may
Deem them to be,
Give them away!
Whatever courage you possess to face
You're deepest and darkest fears,
Give it away!
Whatever insights and inspirations
You may receive, no matter how faint,
Give them away!
Whatever Love and compassion you
May feel in your heart, no matter how
Closed and protected it may be,
Give them away!
What we give to our world, we give to
Ourselves. There is no other way to Receive.

©Copyright John McIntosh and Jo Ann "Ananda" Polito
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It Is

It is in silence where all sound is heard.
It is in stillness where all movement is felt.
It is by not looking that everything is seen.
It is in aloneness when we are accompanied by all that is.
It is in simplicity that all the complexities become clear.
It is from no-thing that all things come.
It is by not walking any path that our destination is reached.
It is in Being that we are eternally re-born.
It is in looking at ourselves that the face of God is revealed.
It is through separation that we become whole.
It is in shadow that we become enlightened.

copyright 1996 by Tony Reis Beverly, Massachusetts
http://www.salemctr.com/newage/center21.html
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Want To Go Get One?

It all started out so innocently,
"want to go get one?",
Then one turned to two,
three, four, and many more.
Before I knew it
I didn't know how or why,
or just what I did last night.
My friend called me, and said
"Do you remember
what you did last night?",
and I drew blank.
He said
"I never saw someone drink like you,
most people quit,
when you were just getting in tune!"
Then he said "Did you see your car?"
"It looked like you didn't see the post
at the end of the fence, and scratched
the whole right side of your car."
I tell my friend "My head is aching"
and he said "go get another one"
My cycle begins all over again,
my head spins
and I don't know how or why.
I gathered a lot of defective labels,
from friends, family, and strangers.
I lost all I had ever
treasured, wanted, knew.
I lost me,
and everything
that makes up me.
My life finally crashed,
and I ran out of excuses,
there was no place to turn,
so I went to the rooms
and picked up all the pieces.
They say it's surrender,
but I say
I'm no longer a slave.
It all seems so real now,
"A worker among workers,
A friend among friends
One in a family."

Frank B.
fberesheim@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The waves of life wash over us
Tumbling, cleansing, smoothing the rough edges
Until we are a magnificent, shining stone
Of beauty and perfection.
We are buffeted, tossed, rolled around
Until we break free to rise buoyantly
To the surface, riding the crest of the waves.

A thrilling, exhilarating ride, at last,
Ever free from the rip tides of life,
Free to soar among the stars and taste the
Delights of eternity.

Ronna Herman
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When you recover or discover something that nourishes
your soul and bring joy, care enough about yourself
to make room for it in your life.
Jean Shinoda Bolen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see.
I sought my God, but my God eluded me.
I sought my brother and I found all three.
Source Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I am healthy, prosperous, happy and in love with life
my world is wonderful, awesome, fantastic and joyful.
I want for nothing for I have everything I need and desire.
I walk in the light of God's love and I share the blessings of this love
with everyone and everything my life touches.
It is so and I give thanks"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Remember to remember
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Those who fail to remember
are doomed to repeat.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It's not that we forget,
It's that we don't remember.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
One flick of the Bic,
and I'm right back in the trick,
real quick.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you stay away from the first one,
You don’t have to worry about all of the rest ! ! 1
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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
or YOUnMEnHP@...

"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." Anyone can subscribe to this free daily e-zine
by sending an Email message to:
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 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:
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