Step Two Humor
www.recoverycartoons.com/step02.html

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is September the 9th month, PLEASE share on the 9th step
If you havenąt done the 9th step with your sponsor
Please share on Forgiveness, Selflessness, Humility and Honesty...
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

September 1
Today I know I am worthy of having success in my life.
I am listening what I tell myself with gentleness and love,
putting a stop to any self-talk that
does not make me feel good about myself.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mirror Images....

I may not be the person I once was in my youth,
but who would really want that? Tell the truth.

I know the direction of the path I wish to take,
my brain is willing; my feet, unsure of the journey to make.

I'm told to stop and feel the power of the Highest Power known.
You'll see the things you're desperate to be shown.

Give up your will, release the pain, don't take it back, they say.
The Power that you give it to will take the agony away.

Not wanting the loneliness of feeling all alone.
Needing the unity and feeling right at home.

I'll attend a meeting, that will cure my all.
At least it will help me so as not to fall.

Stay out of the rut, don't get into that pit.
Don't give into blame, Call your own shit!

Use your sponsor to the best of their defense.
Stay on the path you've chosen. Don't climb over that last fence.

I am what I am, and that's good enough for me.
'Cuz looking in the mirror, I'm okay with what I see!

Sandy B

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Give to those in NEED*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

EMERGENCY
Governor Blanco of Louisiana Announces Day of Prayer
www.gov.state.la.us

Click here to view entire release.
"As we face the devastation wrought by Katrina,
  as we search for those in need, as we comfort
those in pain and as we begin the long task of rebuilding,
we turn to God for strength, hope and comfort.

"I have declared August 31, 2005,
a Day of Prayer in the State of Louisiana.

"I am asking that all of Louisiana take some time Wednesday
to pray. Pray for the victims and the rescuers. Please pray
that God give us all the physical and spiritual strength to
work through this crisis and rebuild.

American Red Cross - Donate Now
www.redcross.org/

America's Second Harvest - Donate Now
www.secondharvest.org/

Operation Blessings - Donate Now
www.ob.org/

CNN.com - Want to help? - Aug 30, 2005
www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/30/help.agencies/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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Body and Soul
www.bodyandsoulmag.com

Self Help Magazine
www.selfhelpmagazine.com

Feng Shui Magazine
www.fengshui-magazine.com

The Clergy,  by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/the_clergy.html

  Press, Radio, Television,  by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/press_radio_television.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just For Today
September 1                             Real values

"We become able to make wise and loving decisions based on
principles and ideals that have real value in our lives."
Basic Text p.101

  Addiction gave us a certain set of values, principles we applied in our
lives. "You pushed me" one of those values told us, "so I pushed back,
hard." "It's mine" was another value generated by our disease. "Well,
okay, maybe it wasn't mine to start with, but I liked it, so I made it
mine' Those values were hardly values at all-more like
rationalizations-and they certainly didn't help us make wise and loving
decisions. In fact, they served primarily to dig us deeper and deeper
into the grave we'd already dug for ourselves.

  The Twelve Steps give us a strong dose of real values, the kind that
help us live in harmony with ourselves and those around us. We place our
faith not in ourselves, our families, or our communities, but in a Higher
Power-and in doing so, we grow secure enough to be able to trust our
communities, our families, and even ourselves. We learn to be honest, no
matter what-and we learn to refrain from doing things we might want
to hide. We learn to accept responsibility for our actions. "It's mine" is
replaced with a spirit of selflessness. These are the kind of values that
help us become a responsible, productive part of the life around us.
Rather than digging us deeper into a grave, these values restore us to
the world of the living.

Just for today: I am grateful for the values I've developed. I am
thankful for the ability they give me to make wise, loving decisions
as a responsible, productive member of my community.   pg. 255

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 September the 9th month, PLEASE share on the 9th step
If you havenąt done the 9th step with your sponsor
Please share on Forgiveness, Selflessness, Humility and Honesty...
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/September.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

SERVICE

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help
others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you,
to have a host of friends -- this is an experience you must not miss . . .
Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of
our lives.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 89

It is through service that the greatest rewards are to be found.  But to be
in a position of offering true, useful and effective service to others, I
must first work on myself.  This means that I have to abandon myself to
God, admitting my faults and clearing away the wreckage of my past.  Work
on myself has taught me how to find the necessary peace and serenity to
successfully merge inspiration and experience.  I have learned how to be,
in the truest sense, an open channel of sobriety.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ September 1st

A.A. Thought for the Day

"Be careful not to brand new prospects as alcoholics.  Let them
draw their own conclusion.  But talk to them about the
hopelessness of alcoholism.  Tell them exactly what happened
to you and how you recovered.  Stress the spiritual feature
freely.  If they are agnostics or atheists, make it emphatic
that they do not have to agree with your conception of God.
They can choose any conception they like, provided it makes
sense to them.  The main thing is that they be willing to believe
in a Power greater than themselves and that they live by spiritual
principles."  Do I hold back too much in speaking of the spiritual
principles of the program?

Meditation for the Day

"I will never leave nor forsake thee."  Down through the
centuries, thousands have believed in God's constancy,
untiringness, and unfailing love.  God has love.  Then forever
you are sure of His love.  God has power.  Then forever you
are sure, in every difficulty and temptation, of His strength.
God has patience.  Then always there is One who can never tire.
God has understanding.  Then always you will understand and be
understood.  Unless you want Him to go, God will never leave you.
He is always ready with power.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may feel that God's love will never fail.  I pray that
I may have confidence in His unfailing 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Today's Thought
THURSDAY , SEPTEMBER 01, 2005

You are reading from the book  The Language of Letting Go, Melody Beattie ©

Patience

Sometimes we get what we want right away. At other times,
we wonder if our desires will ever be fulfilled.

We will be fulfilled in the best way possible and as quickly as
possible. But some things take time. Sometimes, we have lessons
to learn first, lessons that prepare us so we can accept the
good we deserve. Things are being worked out in us, and in
others. Blocks in us are being removed. A solid foundation is
being laid.

Be patient, Relax and trust. Let go. Then, let go some more.
Good things are planned for us. We will receive them at the first
available moment. We will have all our heart longs for. Relax and
trust.

Today, I will identify what I want and need; then, I'll be willing to
let go of it. I will devote my energy to living my life today, so I may
master my lessons as quickly as possible. I will trust that what I
want and need is coming to me. I will let go of my need to control
the details.

©1990, Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. No portion of
this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the
written permission of the publisher.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Letters of Wisdom and Affirmation, Louise Hay
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/August/hay.htm

Y Not 2K? , Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1999/04/ynot.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Addicted to Gossip?
by Richard C. Michael, Ph.D.

The world's favorite pastime is not football, soccer, or baseball but
gossip. People love to gossip about one another. The next time you are at
the check out line in your grocery store notice all the papers and magazines
that thrive on gossip. But how and why has the world become so addicted to
gossip? The reason is that those that gossip and who listen to gossip do not
view themselves as being important, but they do view others as being
important.

Gossip begins with someone building someone else up and making them more
important than themselves. The problem with listening to gossip is that you
do not just listen to it with your ears or see it with your eyes, you hear
and see it with your heart, and that eventually wounds the heart. The heart
becomes wounded because you have temporarily filled an empty space within it
with someone other than yourself and your own individual importance.
Therefore, you have filled that space with words and sights that you heard,
read, and saw about others. This leads to a longing to learn more about this
person, much like an addiction.

You want to hear more about that person and the importance that the gossip
is centered around so you can continue to fill more of your heart with your
praise of them. The more you hear and build them up, the less you become,
and the more you identify with them. There has to be a checkpoint for this
and it usually is an event you created that will lead to feelings of
devastation, pain, anger, hatred, and revenge, towards the person you let
into your heart that severely disappointed you. Disappointment, because your
respected idol did not live up to your expectations nor your trust.
Therefore, your praise has turned into disdain.

A good example is the reporters or journalists who theoretically make the
career of actors and athletes by their rave reviews of something they did or
said. The same person who built them up is usually the same person who
eventually tears them down. Why does this happen? Those that hear the gossip
and who write or talk about it, are the same who never filled themselves up
with their own importance. Therefore, someone else filled the heart's empty
space. The heart will not allow this to happen and will remove the gossip
from itself. The reason the heart will remove the gossip is because it is
taking up more space in the heart by the more it hears. The heart removes
the gossip with fire and cleanses itself free from it. This is usually done
in a painful way and leaves a feeling of disappointment and an absence of
trust deep within the heart that causes the heart to ache. You perpetuate
the heart's cleansing by hearing others or you talk about those that you
gossiped about, not in an affirmative but in a degrading way. You discovered
their actions were not perfect.

In this process of removal and cleansing, the heart becomes wounded because
the words of anger do not only produce heat which eventually results in fire
but the words of hatred and bitterness penetrate and cut like a knife within
the heart. After this process, the heart space is once again empty, but the
heart is now feeling a hollow pain and becomes scarred from the experience.

You heal this issue by choosing to fill the heart's empty space with the
truth about you, how important you are. You will no longer identify with
others -- now you will enjoy others because you are enjoying yourself. As
you learn how to enjoy yourself and stop taking life so seriously, others
will learn how to enjoy you. Consequently you will see others as being
important because their importance is a reflection of you and what is in
your world.

The next step is to readjust your place in your world. By readjusting your
place, you will discover that those who stood before you are now beside or
behind you. You will then at that moment begin to see, hear and feel your
importance. There will then be no more room for gossip because your heart
and world will be filled with the truth about you. The pain will then
diminish and the scars will begin to heal.

Once you begin to fill your heart with truth, you will see and feel your
importance and how much of a difference you make in your world. As you do,
one of the benefits will be that you will stop trying to make other people
happy and start creating your own happiness.

This article is excerpted from I Am That I Am, ©1998, by Richard C. Michael,
Ph.D. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, New Earth Press.

About the Author:
Dr. Richard C. Michael has a Ph.D. in nutritional science and has been
practicing holistic medicine for over sixteen years. He is also a writer,
author, teacher, lecturer, poet, and professional speaker. He is founder and
director of Professional Holistic Healthcare in Central Florida. He is the
creator of The Barrier Breakthru Technique. For more information, visit his
website http://www.barrierbreakthru.com or call 407-671-8553.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

To pray for those we love, wishing and affirming
for them their highest and best in every way,
without any expectation or gain for ourselves
~ only for the loved one ~
this is Love in its purest and most divine form.
In the vernacular of Science of Mind,
this beautiful prayer is called a...

Treatment for a Loved One ......

"I will not worry, fret or be unhappy over you.
I will not be anxious concerning you.
I will not be afraid for you.
I will not give up on you.
I will not blame you, criticize or condemn you.
I will remember, first, last and always
that you are life's perfect expression.
I know you have Spirit in you.
I trust Spirit to take care of you,
to be a light to your path,
to provide for all your needs.
***
I think of you as always being
surrounded by a Loving Presence,
as being enfolded in that protecting care,
kept safe and sure in all things.
I have confidence in you.
I stand by you, knowing that you are
growing and finding the help you need.
***
I see the love you desire filling your heart,
and enriching your world.
I now behold the complete healing of you ~
physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
I know all your financial needs are
right now being fully met.
***
I have only good feelings in my heart about you,
for I share with you the freedom to live your life
as you feel guided by the Spirit of God indwelling you.
Your way may not be my way,
but I trust Spirit to show you
the way to your highest good.
*
I believe in you.
*
I love you.
*
And I know that all is well.
*
AND SO IT IS!"

~ author unknown ~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Courage

In the darkest part of me
Is a deep place I fall
My disease lives in there
I hear the addicts call
So lost in thoughts
And a quest for some relief
Wanting to run from the pain to the peace
But I'll sit with these sorrows
And I'll feel the feelings near
Then I'll learn I won't perish
And find my courage here

written by ~ Geri
Recovery Music - Geri's Recovery Music - mp3's Š
<http://www.geri.net>
Recovery music by Geri is music for people in recovery from addictions.
Geri, in her journey of recovery, has written 11 intimate songs
dealing with her personal addiction and recovery issues.
Many have found hope and inspiration to further their healing
in this wonderful collection of songs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Grateful Reflection

Obsession to use, removed as promised
no longer an overriding thought,
Embracing the good, listening to learn
living Principles each day as were taught.

A miracle occured when we walked in the rooms
building on that gift as we learn how to live,
No longer taking, just survivors of pride
grateful to be of service as we now freely give.

Thanking God as provider, where credit is due
perspectives change into Hope's brand new vision,
Humbly recognizing Truth as H.O.W. reveals
yet aware what we know is subject to revision.

Loving this life with heartfelt desire
our true nature blooms, a second chance,
Freedom to be, now knowing we can
no negatives, excuses or can'ts.

Right where we are, we're supposed to be
on a sojourn our fate no longer sealed,
Surviving our feelings, pain, expectations
as each day a little more is revealed.

Blessed to be an active participant in my recovery -
AJ  1/3/97
aj4how@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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 is to be
the only condition of entry
I let windows and doors
fly open
and I am away ~
Will you join me?
or will you stay?

©2002 Stella Raymonde Savoie-Johnson
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gratitude is our most direct line to God and the angels.
If we take the time, no matter how crazy and troubled we
feel, we can find something to be thankful for.  The more
we seek gratitude, the more reason the angels will give
us for gratitude and joy to exist in our lives.
  Terry Lynn Taylor

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Work is love made visible."
Wayne Dyer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only to stand still.
Chinese Proverb

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wise sayings often fall on barren ground,
but a kind word is never thrown away.
Arthur Helps

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

BE a human being not a human doing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If It's To Be, It's Up To Me!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Recovery is a process of becoming.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We came, we came to, we came to believe.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
www,health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

An alcoholic is someone who can be found
impatiently waiting at the airport for his ship to come in.

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 31
Today I respect my body, mind and spirit
and I am taking care of all three.
I am gentle and nurturing, putting my needs first.
Only then can I be well enough to help others with their needs.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Fellowship

Welcome to the fellowship of love
We get our help from God above
We have a program for those who abuse
We are not interested in what you used
Welcome to the fellowship
Let us help you break free
Your never again be alone
When you make this fellowship your home
We keep it simple and easy as we go
We work together because we know
Two are stronger then one
We'll teach you have to have clean fun
After you work the steps you'll soon see
You now have entered recovery

Daniel M Corkery
7/10/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

EMERGENCY
Governor Blanco of Louisiana Announces Day of Prayer
www.gov.state.la.us

Click here to view entire release.
"As we face the devastation wrought by Katrina,
  as we search for those in need, as we comfort
those in pain and as we begin the long task of rebuilding,
we turn to God for strength, hope and comfort.

"I have declared August 31, 2005,
a Day of Prayer in the State of Louisiana.

"I am asking that all of Louisiana take some time Wednesday
to pray. Pray for the victims and the rescuers. Please pray
that God give us all the physical and spiritual strength to
work through this crisis and rebuild.

American Red Cross - Donate Now
www.redcross.org/

America's Second Harvest - Donate Now
www.secondharvest.org/

Operation Blessings - Donate Now
www.ob.org/

CNN.com - Want to help? - Aug 30, 2005
www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/30/help.agencies/index.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Connected*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Choices
www.relationshipweb.com/odat/aug/aug31.htm

Date With Destiny , Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1999/03/date.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for Today
August 31                              Gratitude

"Hopelessness living problems have become joyously changed. Our
disease has been arrested, and now anything is possible."
Basic Text, p. 102

     The NA program has given us more freedom than we ever dreamed
possible. Sometimes, though, in the daily routine, we lose track of how
much we've been given. How, exactly, have our lives changed in
Narcotics Anonymous?

  The bottom line of recovery, of course, is freedom from the
compulsion to use. No longer must we devote all our resources to feeding
our addiction. No longer must we endanger, humiliate, or abuse ourselves
or others just to get the next "fix." Abstinence itself has brought great
freedom to our lives.

  Narcotics Anonymous has given us much more than simple abstinence-
we've been given a whole new life. We've taken our inventory and have
identified the defects of character that bound us for so long, keeping
us from living and enjoying life. We've surrendered those shortcomings,
taken responsibility for them, and sought the direction and power we
need to live differently. Our home group has given us the personal
warmth and support that helps us continue living in recovery. And
topping all this off, we have the love, care, and guidance of the God
we've come to understand in NA.

  In the course of day-to-day recovery we sometimes forget how much
our lives have changed in Narcotics Anonymous. Do we fully appreciate
what our program has given us?

Just for today: Recovery has given me freedom. I will greet the
day with hope, grateful that anything is possible today.

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:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

  LISTENING DEEPLY

How persistently we claim the right to decide all by ourselves just what we
shall think and just how we shall act.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 37

If I accept and act upon the advice of those who have made the program work
for themselves, I have a chance to outgrow the limits of the past.  Some
problems may shrink to nothingness, while others may require patient,
well-thought-out action.  Listening deeply when others share can develop
intuition in handling problems which arise unexpectedly. It is usually best
for me to avoid impetuous action.  Attending a meeting or calling a fellow
A.A. member will usually reduce tension enough to bring relief to a
desperate sufferer like me.  Sharing problems at meetings with other
alcoholics to whom I relate, or privately with my sponsor, can change
aspects of the positions in which I find myself.  Character defects are
identified and I begin to see how they work against me. When I put my faith
in the spiritual power of the program, when I trust others to teach me what
I need to do to have a better life, I find that I can trust myself to do
what is necessary.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES,

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 31st

A.A. Thought for the Day

"Call on new prospects while they are still jittery.  They may
be more receptive when depressed.  See them alone if possible.
Tell them enough about your drinking habits and experiences
to encourage them to speak of themselves.  If they wish to talk,
let them do so.  If they are not communicative, talk about the
troubles liquor has caused you, being careful not to moralize
or lecture.  When they see you know all about the drinking game,
commence to describe yourself as an alcoholic and tell them
how you learned you were sick."  Am I ready to talk about
myself to new prospects?

Meditation for the Day

Try not to give way to criticism, blame, scorn, or judgment of
others when you are trying to help them.  Effectiveness in
helping others depends on controlling yourself.  You may be
swept away by a temporary natural urge to criticize or blame,
unless you keep a tight rein on your emotions.  You should
have a firm foundation of spiritual living which makes you
truly humble, if you are going to really help other people.
Go easy on them and be hard on yourself.  That is the way
you can be used most to uplift a despairing spirit. And seek
no personal recognition for what you are used by God to
accomplish.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may try to avoid judgment and criticism.  I pray
that I may always try to build up others instead of tearing
them down.

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

Today's Thought
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2005

You are reading from the book  The Language of Letting Go. Melody Beattie ©

Denial

I've been recovering many years. I've used denial many times.
It has been a defense, a survival device, a coping behavior, and,
at times, almost my undoing. It has been both a friend and an
enemy.

When I was a child, I used denial to protect my family and
myself. I protected myself from seeing things too painful to
see and feelings too overwhelming to feel. Denial got me safely
through many traumatic situations, when I had no other
resources for survival.

The negative aspect of using denial was that I lost touch with
my feelings and myself. I became able to participate in harmful
situations without even knowing I was hurting. I was able to
tolerate a great deal of pain and abuse without the foggiest
notion it was abnormal.

I learned to participate in my own abuse.

Denial protected me from pain, but it also rendered me blind
to my feelings, my needs, and myself. It was like a thick blanket
that covered and smothered me.

Eventually, I began to recover. I had a glimpse of awareness
about my pain, my feelings, and my behaviors. I began to see
myself, and the world, as we were. There was so much denial
from my past that had the blanket been entirely ripped from
me. I would have died from the shock of exposure. I needed to
embrace insights, remembrances, awareness, and healing gently,
gradually.

Life participated in this process with me. It is a gentle teacher.
As I recovered, I was brought to the incidents and people I
needed in order to remind me of what I was still denying, to
tell me where I required more healing from my past, as I could
handle these insights.

I still use, and break through, denial--as needed. When the
winds of change blow through, upsetting a familiar structure
and preparing me for the new, I pick up my blanket and hide,
for a while. Sometimes, when someone I love has a problem, I
hide under the blanket, momentarily. Memories emerge of things
denied, memories that need to be remembered, felt, and accepted
so I can continue to become healed - strong and healthy.

Sometimes, I feel ashamed about how long it takes me to
struggle through to acceptance of reality. I feel embarrassed
when I find myself again clouded by the fog of denial.

Then something happens, and I see that I am moving forward.
The experience was necessary, connected, not at all a mistake,
but an important part of healing.

It's an exciting process, this journey called recovery, but I
understand I may sometimes use denial to help me get through
the rough spots. I'm also aware that denial is a friend, and an
enemy. I'm on the alert for danger signs: those cloudy,
confused feelings . . . sluggish energy . . . feeling compulsive . . .
running too fast or hard . . . avoiding support mechanisms.

I've gained a healthy respect for our need to use denial as a
blanket to wrap ourselves in when we become too cold. It isn't
my job to run around ripping people's blankets off or shaming
others for using the blanket. Shaming makes them colder,
makes them wrap themselves more tightly in the blanket.
Yanking their blanket away is dangerous. They could die of
exposure, the same way I could have.

I've learned the best thing I can do around people who are
wrapped in this blanket is to make them feel warm and safe.
The warmer and safer they feel, the more able they are to
drop their blanket. I don't have to support or encourage their
denial. I can be direct. If others are in denial about a
particular thing, and their activity is harmful to me, I don't
have to be around them. I can wish them will and take care
of myself. You see, if I stand too long around someone who is
harming me, I will inevitably pick up my blanket again.

I tend to be attracted to warm people. When I'm around warm
people, I don't need to use my blanket.

I've gained respect for creating warm environments, where
blankets are not needed, or at least not needed for long.
I've gained trust in the way people heal from and deal with life.

God, help me be open to and trust the process that is healing me
from all I have denied from my past. Help me strive for
awareness and acceptance, but also help me practice gentleness
and compassion for myself--and others--for those times
I have used denial.

©1990, Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved.
No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner
without the written permission of the publisher.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Get Up and Leave, Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/August/cohen.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Enjoying All That Is
by Marie T. Russell

Life can be stressful. It can and does present challenges. It also brings
pleasures and laughter, as well as sadness and tears. Life is an amalgam of
all of the emotions and experiences available to us. Sometimes these
experiences we accept with joy, others we want to run from and hide, others
just plain bore us or aggravate us "to death".

Interesting expression "bored to death". Or how about someone being a "pain
in the neck"? Or those people that "drive you crazy"? We are so used to
using and hearing these expressions that we may not even realize what we are
really saying. That "pain in the neck" person or job that we keep referring
to then translates into those tight aching shoulders, the recurrent
headache, or that back pain. The person who "drives you crazy" shows up in
the stress and tension in your face and life. Yet, who decides that the
person is a "pain in the neck", or "drives you crazy" or that something is
"boring us to death"? We do.

I remember as a child standing at the window at my home in Northern Canada
during the cold winter days and repeating my "favorite saying" at the time:
"It's boring here." Yet in retrospect, I see that it was only boring because
I chose to stand at the window bemoaning my fate, rather than choose to do
something else. The winter was simply being itself. I was the one who was
choosing to have my life be boring by resisting the winter and not looking
for ways to enjoy it.

In the same way, the person that we have "branded" a pain in the neck, is
only being themselves. Yes, we may disagree with how they think. Yes, they
may be inconsiderate of others. Yes, they may be rude and obnoxious. But, we
have a choice -- we can decide they are a "pain in the neck", or a "poor
unhappy soul". We decide how we will see them. We can decide they are the
fruit (a sour one perhaps) of an unhappy dysfunctional family and thus are
taking all their anger and fears out on the people around them. It doesn't
make their behavior "right", but it makes our attitude become one of
compassion rather than anger and blame.

Our whole life is about choices. We get up in the morning. We choose whether
we will be grumpy, quiet, joyful, energetic, etc. You might say you don't
have a choice, you are tired all the time. Yet, how do we get tired? Perhaps
by staying up late watching TV. Or perhaps we are working two jobs so we can
afford yet another new car, new dress, new TV, new and improved whatever. Or
perhaps we are tired because we are constantly complaining about our life
and the people in it. All the choices we make every moment of the day add up
to the way we are living our lives.

If you come to my house you will see that I am not a very "spic and span"
housekeeper. That is because of my choices -- in the evening and on the
weekends when I am not working, I often choose to relax rather than scrub
floors. That is my choice. Other people, on the other hand, choose to have a
spotless house, a spotless dog, a spotless life, and then complain about
being tired and not having any time for themselves. It is all a choice.

The most important choice we make every day is whether we'll be happy or
disgruntled about the life we live. Whatever we do, we always have that
choice. Even the person working for a minimum wage at some fast food place
has a choice about whether to enjoy her work and treat customers with a
smile and a joyful presentation, or to be grumpy and begrudge every moment
spent at the low paying job. While the low paying job is a fact, the
attitude we choose is variable. We can choose to enjoy the moment -- even
though looking forward to a "better" day and a better job -- and make the
best of what we have at the moment.

Anytime we choose to be bitchy, grumpy, or moody, all we do is make matters
worse -- as I did as a moody and bored child in front of the window. The
more we say our life is terrible, the more we feel it is terrible, the more
we act as if it is terrible, and the more it becomes terrible. The opposite
is also true. The more we act as if we enjoy being alive, the more joy there
comes into and out of our life, and the more we will enjoy being alive.

In our society, we seem to have shifted our focus from enjoying what we
have, to focusing on what we don't have. and wanting more and more and more.
Whether what we want is more "stuff", or more love, or more time, or more
joy, or more beauty, or more health, we still are focusing on what we don't
have. Advertising messages encourage us, or should I say push us, in that
direction. You "need" and must have that new car, that new vacuum cleaner,
that new TV, that new whatever. Whatever it is you have now is passé, out of
date, not as good as the new and improved version. Whatever it is you have
now is not good enough and must be replaced by something else that will
bring you more joy, more sex, more love, more money, more comfort, more
success.

It's always about more. Except that we forget that all this behavior also
brings into our lives more stress, more pressure, more debts, more "stuff"
to take care of, more "stuff" to worry about.

Maybe it's time to stop wanting more of anything and simply start
appreciating what we have. Have you heard the story about the man who
bemoaned the fact he had no shoes until he met the man who had no feet?
Perhaps we need to start looking at how blessed we are with what we have
now. Perhaps we need to realize that we have more than enough, and start
looking around at those who have less than enough. Perhaps we need to
balance the scales and start giving from our opulence rather than wanting
more and more.

Perhaps this Thanksgiving (and every day of our lives) we can focus on
everything that we have, and be grateful and appreciative of what we have.
So many people in the world don't have one tenth of what we have. We live in
3 and 4 bedroom houses. Others live 10 people to a room. We eat three meals
a day and plenty of snacks in between. Others don't have enough to keep
their children from starvation. We have closets full and overflowing with
clothes we don't wear -- others wear rags.

You might say, you have worked hard for all these things. This is true. But,
many of us no longer enjoy our life, because we are so busy keeping up with
our bills. Many of us forget to appreciate the sunshine and the birds
singing because we are so stressed running from job to market to home. Many
of us are so wrapped up in a "successful life" that we forget that personal
success lies in inner peace, love for the people around us, and a feeling of
security in our heart.

Perhaps as we become more "appreciative beings" instead of "wanting more
beings" we will find the peace and happiness that we have been searching
for.

About The Author:
Marie T. Russell is the publisher of InnerSelf Magazine and The Natural
Yellow Pages. She produced a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner
Power, from 1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal
growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and
reconnecting with our own inner source of joy and creativity. 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.
www.innerself.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Rock Climbing

Brenda was a young woman that wanted to learn to go rock climbing.
Although she was scared to death, she went with a group and they faced
this tremendous cliff of rock.

In spite of her fear, she put on the gear and she took a hold of the
rope and started up the face of that rock. Well, she got to a ledge
where she could take a breather.  As she was hanging on there, whoever
was holding the rope up at the top of the cliff made a mistake and
snapped the rope against Brenda's eye and knocked out her contact lens.
You know how tiny contact lenses are and how almost impossible to find.
Well, here she is on a rock ledge, with who knows how many hundreds of
feet behind and hundreds of feet above her.  Of course, she looked and
looked and looked, hoping that she would be able to find that contact
lens.

Here she was, very far from home.  Her sight was now blurry. She was
very upset by the fact that she wouldn't be anywhere near a place where
she could get a new contact lens.  And she prayed that the Lord would
help her to find it. Well, her last hope was that perhaps when she got
to the top of the cliff, one of the girls that was up there on the top
might be able to find her contact lens in the corner of her eye.


When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye.  There was no
contact lens to be found. She sat down with the rest of the party,
waiting for the rest of them to come up the face of the cliff.
She looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that
Bible verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout
the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains.
You know every single stone and leaf that's on those mountains and You
know exactly where my contact lens is."

Finally, the time came when it was time to go down.  They walked down
the trail to the bottom.  As they got there, there was a new party of
rock climbers coming along. As one of them started up the face of the
cliff, she shouted out, "Hey, you guys!  Anybody lose a contact lens?"
Well, that would be startling enough, wouldn't it? She had found the
contact lens!  But you know why she saw it?  An ant was carrying that
contact lens---it was moving slowly across the face of the rock!!!
What does that tell you about the God of the universe?  Is He in charge
of the tiniest things?  Do ants matter to Him?  Of course they do. He
made them.  He designed them.

Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist.  When she told him this
incredible story, he drew a picture of that ant lugging that contact
lens with the words "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this
thing.  I can't eat it and it's awfully heavy.  But if this is what You
want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

If God is in charge of the ants, don't you think He cares about you and
me? I guess Solomon was right.  One could learn a valuable lesson
from that ant -- trust in God.

We could probably all say a little more often, "God, I don't know why
you want me to carry this load.  I see no good in it and it's awfully
heavy. Still, if you want me to, I'll carry it for You.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Someone Cared

I am not an afterthought,
Or a last minute choice.
I am not an "end of the day",
Or a toy with a voice.

I am a vibrant child of God,
With love and hope and strength.
I am a recovering addict.
Willing to go to any length.

So if you see a gift in me,
It's because it's been freely shared.
Just for today I know I'm loved.
I am blessed because someone cared.

written by ~ Meg M.
meg4how@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

No longer my Enemy

I am no longer my greatest and worst enemy
for I have learned to live with myself
I listen to my body, my soul, my spirit, my mind,
my dreams
my yearnings and leanings, my knowings and
feelings
my needs and wants
my art and my heart

I listen to wisdom from Spirit
Manifested in higher powers than I
I gather ways and means and actions
that flow with purpose and meanings
I gather multiple directions
for my creative endeavours

I no longer hurt myself intentionally
self-sabotage in every unconscious choice
self-injury in every addiction
self-destruction in every relationship

I have learned that I know
what it is that I need without
having to need it from someone else
to be at the mercy of their good will
or good intentions
or when they have the time for me

My time is mine
my life and mind are mine
I am my own best friend and thus
I can now extend
my heart and hand
to all whom life deems good
to have around me
Regardless of the outcome
I am well in my soul
for now
I have made my worst enemy
my friend

©2002 Stella Raymonde Savoie-Johnson

With Love & Blessings
Stella
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Never worry whether you know the correct way to pray,
seek guidance or ask for help.
When the request for peace comes from the heart,
a way to have peace is always provided."
   Hugh Prather
The little book of Letting Go

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Love...is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no
record of wrongs. It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes,
always perseveres. Love never fails."
Corinthians

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"But learn primarily to give of yourself ~
of your heart, of your understanding.
Strive each day to express a little
more of that love, that positive-mindedness,
that cheerfulness, that undaunted
courage which are of God's presence
in our souls.  Each and every one of
us has that Divine Spark within."
Sri Daya Mata

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What is not love is fear.
Anger is one of fear's most potent faces.
And it does exactly what fear wants it to do.
It keeps us from receiving love at exactly
the moment when we need it most.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock,
the stream always wins-not through strength,
but through perseverance.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

An alcoholic will steal your wallet.
An addict will steal your wallet
and help you look for it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anger: If I don't "pause when agitated",
I might use my "paws when agitated"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anger is but a mask for fear.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Those who anger you, conquer you.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*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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or go to the website and unsubscribe
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

When I was drinking I used to try to feel good
by buying things I didnąt need
with money I didnąt have
to impress people I didnąt like

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Aug 30
It feels so good to be alive and be a part of this universe.
No matter where I am in my life today,
to matter what it is that I am doing,
I know that I am growing richer
and richer with love and with life.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Addiction

I have taken over you,
Growing slowly throughout the years.
I gave you visions of ecstasy
While I fed upon your fears;
I made you feel inadequate,
I crept into your soul;
I was growing, ever stronger
As your heart was growing cold.
I let you see only hopelessness,
the hurting pain and strife.
I pushed until your will collapsed
so I could own your very life.

Now, I am feeling some resistance,
I can feel your spirit grow.
I sense somewhere in the distance
You are searching for your soul.
My life is slowly ebbing,
Into darkness I must go;
But as I lie here sleeping
I will never cease to grow.
For I am always in you,
I will never truly end.
So you must keep a constant vigil
Or I will own you once again.

I will lie here always
Creating voices in your mind.
So you must keep a constant vigil
For I am always keeping mine.

Anonymous

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

10 Secrets for Sucess and Inner Peace
www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=79

Finding the Key to Serenity
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/TheKeyToSerenity.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for Today
August 30                               Doing good, feeling good

"We examine our actions, reactions, and motives. We often find
that we've been doing better than we've been feeling."
Basic Text, p. 42

     The way we treat others often reveals our own state of being. When
we are at peace, we're most likely to treat others with respect and
compassion. However, when we're feeling off center, we're likely to
respond to others with intolerance and impatience. When we take
regular inventory, we'll probably notice a pattern: we treat others badly
when we feel bad about ourselves.

  What might not be revealed in an inventory, however, is the other side
of the coin: when we treat others well, we feel good about ourselves.
When we add this positive truth to the negative facts we find about
ourselves in our inventory, we begin to behave differently.

  When we feel badly, we can pause to pray for guidance and strength.
Then, we make a decision to treat those around us with kindness,
gentleness, and the same concern we'd like to be shown. A decision to be
kind may nurture and sustain the happiness and peace of mind we all wish
for. And the joy we inspire may lift the spirits of those around us, in
turn fostering our own spiritual well-being.

Just for today: I will remember that if I change my actions, my
thoughts will follow.

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:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

SEEDS OF FAITH

Faith, to be sure, is necessary, but faith alone can avail nothing.  We can
have faith, yet keep God out of our lives.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 34

  As a child I constantly questioned the existence of God. To a  "scientific
thinker" like me, no answer could withstand a thorough dissection, until a
very patient woman finally said to me, "You must have faith." With that
simple statement, the seeds of my recovery were sown!
  Today, as I practice my recovery -- cutting back the weeds of alcoholism --
slowly I am letting those early seeds of faith grow and bloom.  Each day of
recovery, of ardent gardening, brings the Higher Power of my understanding
more fully into my life.  My God has always been with me through faith, but
it is my responsibility to have the willingness to accept His presence.
I ask God to grant me the willingness to do His will.
Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 30th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.  Commencing to drink
after a period of sobriety, we are in a short time as bad as ever.
If we have admitted we are alcoholics, we must have no
reservations of any kind, nor any lurking notion that some
day we will be immune to alcohol.  What sort of thinking
dominates an alcoholic who repeats time after time the
desperate experiment of the first drink?  Parallel with
sound reasoning, there inevitably runs some insanely trivial
excuse for taking the first drink.  There is little thought of
what the terrific consequences may be."  Have I given up all
excuses for taking a drink?

Meditation for the Day

"Where two or three are banded together, I will be there
in the midst of them."  When God finds two or three people
in union, who only want His will to be done, who want only to
serve Him, He has a plan that can be revealed to them.  The
grace of God can come to people who are together in one
place with one accord.  A union like this is miracle-working.
God is able to use such people.  Only good can come through
such consecrated people, brought together in unified groups
for a single purpose and of a single mind.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may be part of a unified group.  I pray that I
may contribute my share to its consecrated purpose.

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

  Today's Thought
  TUESDAY , AUGUST 30, 2005

You are reading from the book  The Language of Letting Go. Melody Beattie ©

Accepting Our Best

We don't have to do it any better than we can - ever.

Do our best for the moment, and then let it go. If we have
to redo it, we can do our best in another moment, later.

We can never do more or better than we are able to do at the
moment. We punish ourselves and make ourselves feel crazy by
expecting more than our reasonable best for now.

Striving for excellence is a positive quality.

Striving for perfection is self-defeating.

Did someone tell us or expect us to do or give or be more?
Did someone always withhold approval?

There comes a time when we feel we have done our best.
When that time comes, let it go.

There are days when our best is less than we hoped for.
Let those times go too. Start over tomorrow. Work things
through, until our best becomes better.

Empowering and complimenting ourselves will not make us lazy.
It will nurture us and enable us to give, do, and be our best.

Today, I will do my best, and then let it go. God, help me stop
criticizing myself so I can start appreciating how far I've come.

©1990, Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. No portion of
this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the
written permission of the publisher.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Discovering the Deep Peace and Love Within Our Hearts
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/August/feature2.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TRANSFORMING THE FEAR OF FAILURE

By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

We are born with a love of success.  Infants derive pleasure from
intending to move their heads, and successfully doing so.  Later, they
delight in reaching out and moving the objects they see.  They enjoy
having an impact on themselves and their environment.  Successful
power and control of our bodies feels good.  If it did not, the human
species never would have survived.  For we usually stop that which we
experience as painful.

Somewhere along the line of development, most of us learned to
confuse the love of success with the fear of failure.  Our natural
love of success excites us and we often call on it to "dare to be
great," or "Go for it!," "Live with passion and enthusiasm," and "Just
do it."

Fear of failure, on the other hand, paralyzes us.  Children hate to
fail.  That first "F"on a test; that first disapproval or criticism;
that first punishment for failing at a task; these are the sources of
pain.  Children fear failure because they cannot distinguish between
what they do and who they are.  So when they fail or make a mistake in
action, they believe themselves to be failures.  Kids feel like
failures a lot, especially when they compare themselves to the adults
or older children around them.

As we grew up, we experienced many small, inevitable failures.  No
one usually succeeds at a task the first time they attempt it.  But
each time we were teased or criticized or punished for our mistakes,
we tensed our muscles.  That tension doesn't feel good.  When children
don't feel good, they always conclude: "There is something wrong with
me." Thus, the seeds of perceived inadequacy are sown.  And the cycle
begins: the more we fear failing, the less we risk trying.  The less
we try, the more we are criticized.  The more we are teased, the more
pain we feel.  More pain breeds paralysis and feelings of inadequacy.
Believing we are inadequate...a failure, the greater our fear.

Former Olympic gymnastic champion, Dan Millman, once wrote: "One of
the most important lessons we can teach our Basic Self is that when we
fail, the sky does not fall.  By going through failure, we can show
our subconscious the hidden rewards of persistence through the tough
times.  In the gymnasium I used to fail fifty times a day.  Whenever I
decided to accomplish a new routine, I knew the process: I would fail
until I succeeded.  Failures can become the stepping--stones between
us and our goals."

We fail many times before we finally reach our chosen goals.
"Overnight successes" usually take about ten years and hundreds of
failures.  Sales people are often taught to accept the first five
refusals (sales failures) as being the five steps closer to
successfully making the sale.

If we begin and persist, we succeed.  "You must do the thing you
think you cannot do" wrote Eleanor Roosevelt.  We can learn and refine
our functioning from each mistake.  Mistakes and failures need to be
associated with eventual success rather than permanent or personal
failure.

We need to separate who we are from what we do.  What we do, our
performance, can be full of mistakes.  Does that mean who we are is a
mistake?  Perhaps only to the child within us who did not have the
benefit of rationality when s/he concluded that their activity was the
same as themselves, and when their action was teased, punished or
disapproved of, it was them as people who were "not good enough."

We learn through lessons.  Our past mistakes can serve as a
university for success, because they teach us what not to do next
time.  That is half of learning.  The other half is persisting at what
we wish to succeed in.  We can learn through mistakes, but
intelligence means not repeating the same mistake over and over.

We need to transform our fear of failure, into acceptance and
learning.  Not only can we learn from our own mistakes, but also from
the mistakes of others.  Let's teach our children (both the one inside
and the ones outside ourselves) that mistakes are inevitable, that
they are not fearsome, rather they are the necessary events to help us
learn how to be successfully alive and involved in the world.


About the Author:
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bringing the Unconscious into Consciousness
Meditation by Orin and DaBen

  I allow myself to relax
  and go within.
  I release thoughts of my
  outer world for now.

  I breathe in relaxation.
  I adjust my body
  until it feels comfortable.
  I let my thoughts grow
  quiet and serene.

  I allow the muscles
  around my eyes and jaw to relax.
  My breathing is growing
  deeper and calmer.
  I am growing more and more relaxed.

  As I relax I am able
  to access my inner self --
  my thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.

  I think of something
  I want to create.

  I now bring more awareness to
  my thoughts and feelings
  about this area.

  I am aware of any thoughts I have
  that tell me I cannot create
  what I want in this area of my life.

  When I discover negative thoughts,
  I surround them with love.
  I replace them with positive thoughts
  of why I CAN create what I want.
  I visualize what I want
  consistently and steadily.

  I think of one thought that
  tells me I cannot have what I want
  in this area of my life.
  I now turn this thought into a
  positive thought of why I CAN
  have what I want.

  I now open to receive
  ideas and answers into my mind
  of how to create
  what I want
  that is for my higher good.

  I have within me
  all the wisdom,
  knowledge,
  and answers
  to bring this vision into my reality.
  I trust my inner wisdom
  and wise inner self.

  My wise self brings
  into my consciousness
  the knowledge of how
  to create my vision.

  My wise self shows me
  what steps to take
  to create this vision as my reality.

  I bring my unconscious thoughts
  into consciousness.
  I can create the reality I want.

About The Authors:
This meditation was "given" by Orin and DaBen, both timeless beings of love
and light, channeled by by Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer. For a free
subscription to their newsletter which includes messages from Orin and
DaBen, write to: LuminEssence, P.O. Box 1310, Medford, OR 97501. Phone:
541-770-6700. Visit their website at www.orindaben.com This meditation is
reprinted from their website with permission.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Each Time

     Each time you share at a meeting ...
Your child becomes 1 step closer to being open

     Each time you answer the phone at 3AM...
your child is 1 step closer to putting others first

     Each time you do a quick 10th step and make immediate amends..
   your child is 1 step closer to realizing that you are human

     Each time you give back the extra money the store gave you
   your child is 1 step closer to cash register honesty

     Each time you hug and touch your significant other..
your child is 1 step closer to being able to love

     Each time you admit you are wrong and take a 4th step...
   your child is 1 step closer to being able to look in the
   mirror of your face and say" I want to be like you Dad"

      Each time you make a 12th step call..your child is 1 step
   closer to realizing that you can't keep what you have if you
   don't give it away

      Each time you talk to a sponsee..your child is 1 step closer
   to seeing the theraputic value of one addict helping another

      Each time your child sees you reading recovery..
he is 1 step closer to seeing the value of a contact with a HP

   The list goes on and on..So come on Parents..

      Let's show them H.O.W to live in recovery

   POKIEPAT@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Search

Where was I going with this?
I knew he was on drugs.
Why the room search?
Again . . .

What was I going to accomplish?
No matter what or how many drugs I found
And destroyed . . .
There would always be more
And more . . .
And more . . .

Hysterically, I would always start the rummage,
In a frenzy of sorts,
Crying, cussing, and yelling.
Would I find Pills?
Search out that the same old PDR,
Compare size, color and shape?
What would this one do?
What would that one do his already
Scrawny body?
    Or would I find . . .
Marijuana?
Crystal Meth?
Hashish?
Cocaine?
LSD?

Or just some toxic spray paint
That he used for a cheap
Psychedelic high?
A brain rotting substance,
That made him violent and paranoid.

Ahhhhh yes, silver paint
Was the best!
Used with a clear plastic trash bag,
Around the mouth,
As he inhaled the venomous substance.

Or, if he was desperate, some white or red wine
From my stash!

This time some marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia,
Some different colored pills in a baggie.
I flushed the pills and
The marijuana down the toilet,
I frantically, tore apart the
Paraphernalia into little pieces
Cutting my finger on a broken piece
Of the pipe
"Damn him!"  I cried out . . .
"Damn him!"

I took all the broken pieces and threw them into the
Trash receptacles in the alley
Distributing them into different containers,
Until all the pieces were gone.
As if that was going to solve anything!
By tomorrow, there would be more.

I then went upstairs to our beach town apartment
And just cried.

While I was watching a movie with
My three-year-old daughter
He had very quietly come home, I did not hear
Him, he could become invisible, and it
frightened me.

I didn't see him, I didn't hear him.
I took my daughter into my
Bedroom for the night,
Where I could lock my door.

And
There
On
My
Pillow
Was
The
Glass Pipe!

He had found it, put it
Back together and
Just laid it on my pillow
As if to say . . .
"Mom, you can't do anything about this!"

As I
Glanced
Upward
A six-inch
fishing knife
was
sticking
In
The
Wall
Above
My
Bed!
I was horrified!


Written by Kater August 7, 2000
Katerpilar00@...
This experience was from 1982,
in April 2003, my son Now has sixteen years clean and sober!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What You Know

Thereąs a certain level of consciousness
that intrudes upon the awareness
on occasion
and lets us in on our own little secrets
that weąd like to hide from ourselves

Things that we know łau fond˛
at the bottom, deep down
Itąs a knowing of things
as they really are
in their honest, purest form

But more often than not
for whatever survivalist reason
we choose not to listen to this knowing
Weąd rather justify, excuse, rationalise
and ignore what our intuition/gut feeling
is trying to tell us
what our body/senses/cells
are trying to bring to our attention

Perhaps the job we hold is not as fulfilling
as we think it is
Perhaps thereąs a yearning to
go see some countryside
Perhaps we are hurting deep inside
from unsolved, unresolved pain
Perhaps the choking feeling
deep in our throat means
something important needs saying
Or is it a book that cries out to be written?
An apology that needs to be spoken?
Some conflict craves to be righted?

The perhapses of our knowing wonąt go awayŠ
Bringing them to full awareness
will clear out the blockage of emotions
will allow the flow of our life
the gentle truthfulness it deserves

Itąs ok to know
what you know

Love
Stella

© 2002 Stella Raymonde Savoie-Johnson
From Daydreams© 2001
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A real friend is one who walks in
when the rest of the world walks out.
Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart
and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.
Author Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."
George Eliot

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The one who creates the mess should untangle it.
Chinese Proverb

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I feel surrounded by love

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can make things happen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I feel great potential for myself

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am a resourceful 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."
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.

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this letter cannot be considered spam as long as the following words
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or go to the website and unsubscribe
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

Doing things the way I thought they should be done,
  is what got me here.

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 29
Everywhere I turn I find positive and loving people.
My heart is full of peace and love.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thank You Mom

Thank you mom for caring
and standing by my side
for always being ready
to dry the tears I cried

Thanks for somehow knowing
when to understand
and when, instead I needed
Your firm and guiding hand

You've always given all of us
the space we need to find
the things we most believe in
deep inside our minds

When I was at my weakest
and began to fall apart
You whispered in my ear
"Look inside your heart"

When I was faced with hardship
and didn't want to face it
You whispered to my heart
"Be strong my dear, Embrace it"

When I saw lifes heartaches
through angry bitter eyes
You let me look through yours
where I saw hope of brighter skies

When I felt life had betrayed me
and my friends all had to go
you told me to forgive them
and use the time to grow

So now on Christmas morning
with no gift to show I care
I write this "Ode to Mother"
Saying thanks for being there.

---Leslie

I wrote this for my mother while I was in jail and before I went to
treatment. I had been abstinent about 3 months and had read a lot of
the material but had not yet been to a meeting or met a sponsor.

I got sober and had two wonderful years with my mother before she
died. In fact, she joined al-anon and worked her own program those
last two years. She died in the club house of my home group in
Oklahoma. We had attended a women's meeting together and then stayed
for the NA meeting after. That was where she went into respiratory
distress and passed away. I was surrounded by people from the
program. My sponsor was there. The last words I heard my mom say was
how grateful she was to the God of her own understanding for giving
her back her daughter and for giving her back herself as well. This
program has given me a lot of gifts, this was just one of them.
Thanks
Leslie
jollyl2000@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Favorite Recovery Links
www.recoverygreetings.com/links.html

Slogans
www.recoverygreetings.com/slogans.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for Today
August 29                                 Don't look back

The steps offer "a big change from a life dominated by guilt and
remorse. Our futures are changed because we don't have to avoid
those who we have harmed. As a result ... we receive a new
freedom that can end isolation." Basic Text, p. 38

     Many of us come to Narcotics Anonymous full of regrets about our
past. Our steps help us begin to resolve those regrets. We examine
our lives, admit our wrongs, make amends for them, and sincerely try
to change our behavior. In doing so, we find a joyous sense of freedom.

  No longer must we deny or regret our past. Once we've made our
amends, what's done is truly over and gone. From that point on, where
we come from ceases to be the most important thing about us. It's
where we are going that counts.

  In NA, we begin to look forward. True, we live and stay clean just for
today. But we find that we can begin to set goals, dream dreams, and
look ahead to the joys a life in recovery has to offer. Looking forward
keeps us centered in where we are going, not remorseful or regretful
about our past. After all, it is hard to move forward if we are looking
back.

Just for today: The steps have freed me from regrets over my past.
Today, I look forward to my new life in 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:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

DRIVEN

Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and
self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS,  p. 62

My selfishness was the driving force behind my drinking.  I drank to
celebrate success and I drank to drown my sorrows.  Humility is the
answer.  I learn to turn my will and my life over to the care of God.  My
sponsor tells me that service keeps me sober.  Today I ask myself:  Have I
sought knowledge of  God's will for me?  Have I done service for my A.A.
group?

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 29th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"We cannot get along without prayer and meditation.  On
awakening, let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead.
We consider our plans for the day.  Before we begin, we ask
God to direct our thinking.  Our thought lives will be placed
on a much higher plane when we start the day with prayer
and meditation.  We conclude this period of meditation with
a prayer that we will be shown through the day what our
next step is to be.  The basis of all our prayers is:  Thy will
be done in me and through me today."  Am I sincere in my
desire to do God's will today?

Meditation for the Day

Breathe in the inspiration of goodness and truth.  It is the
spirit of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love.  It is readily
available if we are willing to accept it wholeheartedly.  God
has given us two things---His spirit and the power of choice---
to accept or not, as we will.  We have the gift of free will.
When we choose the path of selfishness and geed and pride,
we are refusing to accept God's spirit.  When we choose the
path of love and service, we accept God's spirit and it flows
into us and makes all things new.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may choose the right way.  I pray that I may try
to follow it to the end.

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

  Today's Thought
  MONDAY , AUGUST 29, 2005

You are reading from the book  The Language of Letting Go.

Owning Our Energy

Learn to keep your energy inside.
--From Women, Sex, and Addiction
  Charlotte Davis Kasl, Ph.D.

For many reasons, we may have mastered the art of giving away our energy.
We may have learned it when we were young because the feelings we had
were too overwhelming to feel, and we did not know how to process them.

Much of our obsessing, our intense focus on others, is done to facilitate
this "out of body" experience we call codependency.

We obsess, we babble, we become anxious. We try to control, care take,
and fuss over others. Our energy spills out of us on to whomever.

Our energy is our energy. Our feelings, thoughts, issues, love, sexuality;
our mental, physical, spiritual, sexual, creative, and emotional energy is
ours.

We can learn to have healthy boundaries - healthy parameters - around our
energy and ourselves. We can learn to keep our energy within ourselves and
deal with our issues.

If we are trying to escape from our body, if our energy is spilling out of
us
in unhealthy ways, we can ask ourselves what is going on, what is hurting
us,
what we are avoiding, what we need to face, what we need to deal with.

Then, we can do that. We can come back home to live - in ourselves.

Today, I will keep my energy in my body. I will stay focused and within
my boundaries. God, help me let go of my need to escape myself. Help me
face my issues so I am comfortable living in my body.

Melody Beattie ©
©1990, Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. No portion of this
publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of the publisher.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bitter Fruit
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/August/opinion.htm

Moments Matter
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1999/02/moments.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here & Now: The Perfect Teacher
by Pema Chödrön

     We can meet our match with a poodle
     or with a raging guard dog,
     but the interesting question is - what happens next?

Generally speaking, we regard discomfort in any form as bad news. But for
practitioners or spiritual warriors - people who have a certain hunger to
know what is true - feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation,
resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are
actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we're holding
back. They teach us to perk up and lean in, when we feel we'd rather
collapse and back away. They're like messengers that show us, with
terrifying clarity, exactly where we're stuck. This very moment is the
perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it's with us wherever we are.

Those events and people in our lives who trigger our unresolved issues could
be regarded as good news. We don't have to go hunting for anything. We don't
need to try to create situations in which we reach our limit. They occur all
by themselves, with clockwork regularity.

Each day, we're given many opportunities to open up or shut down. The most
precious opportunity presents itself when we come to the place where we
think we can't handle whatever is happening. It's too much. It's gone too
far. We feel bad about ourselves. There's no way we can manipulate the
situation to make ourselves come out looking good. No matter how hard we
try, it just won't work. Basically, life has just nailed us.

It's as if you just looked at yourself in the mirror, and you saw a gorilla.
The mirror's there; it's showing "you", and what you see looks bad. You try
to angle the mirror so you will look a little better, but no matter what you
do, you still look like a gorilla. That's being nailed by life, the place
where you have no choice except to embrace what's happening or push it away.

Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate
them. We run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape - all addictions
stem from this moment when we meet our edge and we just can't stand it. We
feel we have to soften it, pad it with something, and we become addicted to
whatever it is that seems to ease the pain. In fact, the rampant materialism
that we see in the world stems from this moment. There are so many ways that
have been dreamt up to entertain us away from the moment, soften its hard
edge, deaden it, so we don't have to feel the full impact of the pain that
arises when we cannot manipulate the situation to make us come out looking
fine.

Meditation is an invitation to notice when we reach our limit, and to not
get carried away by hope and fear. Through meditation, we're able to see
clearly what's going on with our thoughts and emotions, and we can also let
them go. What's encouraging about meditation is that even if we shut down,
we can no longer shut down in ignorance. We see very clearly that we're
closing off. That in itself begins to illuminate the darkness of ignorance.
We're able to see how we run and hide, and keep ourselves busy, so that we
never have to let our hearts be penetrated. And we're also able to see how
we could open and relax.

Basically, disappointment, embarrassment, and all these places where we just
cannot feel good, are a sort of death. We've just lost our ground
completely; we are unable to hold it together and feel that we're on top of
things. Rather than realizing that it takes death for there to be birth, we
just fight against the fear of death.

Reaching our limit is not some kind of punishment. It's actually a sign of
health that, when we meet the place where we are about to die, we feel fear
and trembling. A further sign of health is that we don't become undone by
fear and trembling, but we take it as a message that it's time to stop
struggling and look directly at what's threatening us. Things like
disappointment and anxiety are messengers telling us that we're about to go
into unknown territory.

Our bedroom closet can be unknown territory for some of us. For others, it's
going into outer space. What evokes hope and fear for me is different from
what brings it up for you. My aunt reaches her limit when I move a lamp in
her living room. My friend completely loses it when she has to move to a new
apartment. My neighbor is afraid of heights. It doesn't really matter what
causes us to reach our limit. The point is that sooner or later it happens
to all of us.

The first time I met Trungpa Rinpoche was with a class of fourth graders who
asked him a lot of questions about growing up in Tibet and about escaping
from the Chinese Communists into India. One boy asked him if he was ever
afraid. Rinpoche answered that his teacher had encouraged him to go to
places like graveyards that scared him and to experiment with approaching
things he didn't like. Then he told a story about traveling with his
attendants to a monastery he'd never seen before. As they neared the gates,
he saw a large guard dog with huge teeth and red eyes. It was growling
ferociously and struggling to get free from the chain that held it. The dog
seemed desperate to attack them. As Rinpoche got closer, he could see its
bluish tongue and spittle spraying from its mouth. They walked past the dog,
keeping their distance, and entered the gate. Suddenly the chain broke and
the dog rushed at them. The attendants screamed and froze in terror.
Rinpoche turned and ran as fast as he could - straight at the dog. The dog
was so surprised that he put his tail between his legs and ran away.

We can meet our match with a poodle or with a raging guard dog, but the
interesting question is - what happens next?

The spiritual journey involves going beyond hope and fear, stepping into
unknown territory, continually moving forward. The most important aspect of
being on the spiritual path may be to just keep moving. Usually, when we
reach our limit, we feel exactly like Rinpoche's attendants and freeze in
terror. Our bodies freeze and so do our minds.

How do we work with our minds when we meet our match? Rather than indulge or
reject our experience, we can somehow let the energy of the emotion, the
quality of what we're feeling, pierce us to the heart. This is easier said
than done, but it's a noble way to live. It's definitely the path of
compassion - the path of cultivating human bravery and kindheartedness.

In the teachings of Buddhism, we hear about egolessness. It sounds difficult
to grasp: what are they talking about, anyway? When the teachings are about
neurosis, however, we feel right at home. That's something we really
understand. But egolessness? When we reach our limit, if we aspire to know
that place fully - which is to say that we aspire to neither indulge nor
repress - a hardness in us will dissolve. We will be softened by the sheer
force of whatever energy arises - the energy of anger, the energy of
disappointment, the energy of fear. When it's not solidified in one
direction or another, that very energy pierces us to the heart, and it opens
us. This is the discovery of egolessness. It's when all our usual schemes
fall apart. Reaching our limit is like finding a doorway to sanity and the
unconditional goodness of humanity, rather than meeting an obstacle or a
punishment.

The safest and most nurturing place to begin working this way is during
formal meditation. On the cushion, we begin to get the hang of not indulging
or repressing, and of what it feels like to let the energy just be there.
That is why it's so good to meditate every single day and continue to make
friends with our hopes and fears again and again. This sows the seeds that
enable us to be more awake in the midst of everyday chaos. It's a gradual
awakening, and it's cumulative, but that's actually what happens. We don't
sit in meditation to become good meditators. We sit in meditation so that
we'll be more awake in our lives.

The first thing that happens in meditation is that we start to see what's
happening. Even though we still run away, and we still indulge, we see what
we're doing clearly. One would think that our seeing it clearly would
immediately make it just disappear, but it doesn't. So for quite a long
time, we just see it clearly. To the degree that we're willing to see our
indulging and our repressing clearly, they begin to wear themselves out.
Wearing out is not exactly the same as going away. Instead, a wider, more
generous, more enlightened perspective arises.

How we stay in the middle, between indulging and repressing, is by
acknowledging whatever arises without judgment, letting the thoughts simply
dissolve, and then going back to the openness of this very moment. That's
what we're actually doing in meditation. Up come all these thoughts, but
rather than squelch them or obsess with them, we acknowledge them and let
them go. Then we come back to just being here. As Sogyal Rinpoche puts it,
we simply "bring our mind back home".

After a while, that's how we relate with hope and fear in our daily lives.
Out of nowhere, we stop struggling and relax. We stop talking to ourselves
and come back to the freshness of the present moment.

This is something that evolves gradually, patiently, over time. How long
does this process take? I would say it takes the rest of our lives.
Basically, we're continually opening further, learning more, connecting
further with the depths of human suffering and human wisdom, coming to know
both those elements thoroughly and completely, and becoming more loving and
compassionate people. And the teachings continue. There's always more to
learn. We're not just complacent old fogies who've given up and aren't
challenged by anything anymore. At the most surprising times, we still meet
those ferocious dogs.

We might think, as we become more open, that it's going to take bigger
catastrophes for us to reach our limit. The interesting thing is that, as we
open more and more, it's the big ones that immediately wake us up and the
little things that catch us off guard. However, no matter what the size,
color, or shape is, the point is still to lean toward the discomfort of life
and see it clearly rather than to protect ourselves from it.

In practicing meditation, we're not trying to live up to some kind of
ideal - quite the opposite. We're just being with our experience, whatever
it is. If our experience is that sometimes we have some kind of perspective,
and sometimes we have none, then that's our experience. If sometimes we can
approach what scares us, and sometimes we absolutely can't, then that's our
experience. "This very moment is the perfect teacher, and it's always with
us" is really a most profound instruction. Just seeing what's going on -
that's the teaching right there. We can be with what's happening and not
dissociate. Awakeness is found in our pleasure and our pain, our confusion
and our wisdom, available in each moment of our weird, unfathomable,
ordinary everyday lives.

About The Author :
Pema Chödrön is an American Buddhist nun and one of the foremost students of
Chögyam Trungpa, the renowned meditation master. She is the resident teacher
at Gampo Abbey, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the first Tibetan monastery in
North America established for Westerners. She is also the author of "The
Wisdom of No Escape" and "Start Where You Are". This article was excerpted
with permission from her book "When Things Fall Apart", ©1997. Reprinted by
arrangement with Shambhala Publications, In., Boston. www.shambhala.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When No Words Seem Appropriate

    I won't say, "I know how you feel" - because I don't.
I've lost parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends,
but I've never lost a child.  So how can I say I know how
you feel?

    I won't say, "You'll get over it" - because you won't.
Life will have to go on.  The washing, cooking, cleaning,
the common routine.  These chores will take your mind off
your loved one, but the hurt will still be there.

    I won't say, "Your other children will be a comfort to
you" - because they may not be.  Many mothers I've talked to
say that after they have lost a child, they easily lose
their temper with their remaining children.  Some even feel
resentful that they're alive and healthy when the other
child is not.

    I won't say, "Never mind, you're young enough to have
another baby" - because that won't help.  A new baby cannot
replace the one that you've lost.  A new baby will fill your
hours, keep you busy, give you sleepless nights.  But it
will not replace the one you've lost.

    You may hear all these platitudes from your friends and
relatives.  They think they are helping.  They don't know
what else to say.  You will find out who your true friends
are at this time   Many will avoid you because they can't
face you.  Others will talk about the weather, the holidays
and the school concert but never about how you're coping.

    So what will I say?

    I will say, "I'm here. I care.  Anytime.    Anywhere."  I
will talk about your loved one.  We'll laugh about the good
memories.  I won't mind how long you grieve.  I won't tell
you to pull yourself together.

    No, I don't know how you feel - but with sharing,
perhaps I will learn a little of what you are going through.
And perhaps you'll feel comfortable with me and find your
burden has eased.  Try me.

Written by a pediatric nurse Submitted to Ann Landers from
A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1998 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TODAY'S POSITIVE THOUGHT:

Learn to forgive others if you want to forgive
yourself.

TODAY'S POSITIVE AFFIRMATION:

Today, I AM forgiving others as I learn to forgive
myself.

TODAY'S POSITIVE VISUALIZATION:

I close my eyes and recognize myself in others. I
realize that the faults I see in others are a mirror
of my own limitations.  As I put myself in another's
shoes, I feel the fear and sadness this other person
experiences as he/she views his/her own mistakes. I
allow my compassion to surround this person with love
and forgiveness. I recognize the Divine spirit, that
lives within this person, is worthy of my love.  My
forgiveness, love, and compassion return to me,
magnified and strengthened, to heal my own insecurities
and limitations. In my mind's eye I see myself easily
forgiving myself and others as I recognize the Divine
within us all. I combine these thoughts with a feeling
of joy and I let the images go.

Copyright © 2002 Institute For Creative Living

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Understanding

Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

Let us be slower to condemn and quicker to forgive.
If we knew the other fellow's troubles,
we might hesitate to criticize.
We might admire his courage for carrying on.

Go beyond yourself and reach out to other people
with a sincere love, respect,
caring and understanding of their needs.

The more we know , the better we forgive;
Whoever feels deeply, feels for all who live..

Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I sent this to my ex-fiancee' when I discovered that he had taken the place
of me before I got into the rooms.  Now I am here, and he is still using,
and I have gotten the courage to move on and up in this world.  It is only
through the grace of God and the love of the people in these rooms that i
have been able to see the things that I have.  I hope that by sharing this,
others will be able to see that it is possible to have the courage and care
enough about someone to let them go. God Bless!
I suppose that it really is TRUE that things come full circle to people.

I Am Here

I remember when it was me that had no regard for what you asked of me,
  When I cared about my drugs more than you,
  When your pleading with me didn't matter,
  I was on a mission.

Because I liked the feeling that the drugs gave me.
  Not because I had a problem,
  Not because I couldn't stop,
  But because it was more fun than you.

It was more fun, more exciting,
  to live life on the drug.
  For a weekend, a day, an hour.
  It was all the buzz.

You tried to help me, to save me,
  To keep me from my own misery.
  But it didn't matter, because you weren't as important anymore.

So you turned, and left, and let me be,
  Just as I am doing for you.
  Maybe that ray of light will shine through,
  and you will be able to stop before it is too late.

Before you get put in jail,
  have lots of court cases,
  lie to your parents,
  dislike your friends,
  blame everything on other people,
  lose sight of who you REALLY are,
  and the things you REALLY believe in,
  and WANT from life,
  and the only time you can "let go and be you" is with the drugs.

But, Just For Today,
  I know that in order to take care of me, and keep me safe and the wonderful
person I am,
  I have to walk away from you.
  And maybe, just maybe, it will have an impact on your lifestyle.
  But, if it doesn't, I am okay with it, because I have
      lived with you,
      learned with you,
      and loved with you.

Know this:

  Forever and always you are loved,
  For the life I live now, without the hiding,
  and the drug using, has taught me,
  It is okay to love you for who you are.

  For the sickness and the health.
  For the person you are, and the person you are not.
  And if the time ever comes that you are ready,
  For a new way of life, I am here.

Love,
Paula
i_qualify@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first.
Ask questions, then feel the answer.
Learn to trust your heart.
Source Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Some people carry their heart in their head
and some carry their head in their heart.
The trick is to keep them apart yet working together.
David Hare

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"A mistake is simply another way of doing things."
Katharine Graham

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hold Fast to dreams for if dreams die,
life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.
Langston Houghes

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am a good listener

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I do not dwell on the past

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I look for new challenges

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I feel complete today

*~*~*~*~*~*~*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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or go to the website and unsubscribe
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

Step One Cartoon
www.recoverycartoons.com/step01.html

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 28
Today I am worthy of being gentle with myself.
I am worthy of it and I am going to
give myself gentleness and softness.
I am developing a new habit
of being softer with myself today....
of not driving myself so hard.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Change

There are so many things we encounter in life,
   things that are different or strange;
but nothing we do or decide day by day,
   scared me as much as change.

Walking through life with no known direction,
   poisoning the body and mind;
not wanting to decide or plan anything,
   ignoring the past...it's unkind.

Why did this happen to me, after all,
   what did I do to deserve it?
Nobody understands the way that I feel,
   or why I depend on old habits.

There once was a time that I feared the truth,
   there once was a time of great pain;
but now that I've learned that I can't change the past,
   I concentrate on personal gain.

There are so many things that have happened to me,
   neither deserved or required;
so much abuse, neglect and regret,
   ignoring my personal desires.

Now that I know I deserve more than that,
   it's time to stop sulking and crying;
it's time that I live my life for myself,
   time to start living and stop dying.

I don't need to seek the approval of others,
   depending on the faith of a friend;
where I once always needed to feel loved by another,
   I now love myself from within.

There are so many things we encounter in life,
   things that are different or strange;
but now I embrace the newness of each day,
   I welcome the mystery of change.

The strength I now feel in the depths of my heart,
   the reason I feel I'm now free;
is the result of a long and winding road,
   I've come to know as recovery.

08/20/01 copyright
Written by Melyssa "Blueyes" Williams
blueyes@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Y'all Come Back Now
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1999/01/comeback.htm

Spiritual Principle :Attention
www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/blank/item_178.html

Boot Camps For Struggling Teens
www.boot-camp-boot-camps.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for Today
August 28                           The light of exposure

"These defects grow in the dark and die in the light of exposure."
Basic Text, p. 31

     The Fifth Step asks us to share our true nature with God, with
ourselves, and with another human being. It doesn't encourage us to tell
everyone every little secret about ourselves. It doesn't ask us to
disclose to the whole world every shameful or frightening thought
we've ever had. Step Five simply suggest that our secrets cause us more
harm than good when we keep them completely to ourselves.

  If we give in to our reluctance to reveal our true nature to even one
human being, the secret side of our lives become more powerful. And
when the secrets are in control, they drive a wedge between ourselves,
our Higher Power, and the things we value most about our recovery.

  When we share our secret selves in confidence with at least one human
being-our sponsor, perhaps, or a close friend-this person usually
doesn't reject us. We disclose ourselves to someone else and are
rewarded with their acceptance. When this happens, we realize that
honest sharing is not life-threatening; the secrets have lost their
power over us.

Just for today: I can disarm the secrets in my life by sharing them
with one human being.

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:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

LIVING OUR AMENDS

"Years of living with an alcoholic is almost sure to make any wife or child
neurotic.  The entire family is, to some extent, ill"
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 122

It is important for me to realize that, as an alcoholic, I not only hurt
myself, but also those around me.  Making amends to my family, and to the
families of alcoholics still suffering, will always be
important.  Understanding the havoc I created and trying to repair the
destruction, will be a lifelong endeavor.  The example of my sobriety may
give others hope, and faith to help themselves.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 28th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"We must continue to take personal inventory and continue
to set right any new mistakes as we go along.  We should
grow in understanding and effectiveness.  This is not an
overnight matter; it should continue for our lifetime.
Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment,
and fear.  When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove
them.  We must not rest on our laurels.  We are headed for
trouble if we do.  We are not cured of alcoholism.  What we
really have is a daily reprieve, contingent on the maintenance
of our spiritual condition."   Am I checking my spiritual
condition daily?

Meditation for the Day

Happiness cannot be sought directly; it is a byproduct of
love and service.  Service is a law of our being.  With love
in your heart, there is always some service to other people.
A life of power and joy and satisfaction is built on love and
service.  Persons who hate or are selfish are going against
the law of their own being.  They are cutting themselves off
from God and other people.  Little acts of love and
encouragement, of service and help, erase the rough places
of fife and help to make the path smooth.  If we do these
things, we cannot help having our share of happiness.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may give my share of love and service.  I pray
that I may not grow weary in my attempts to do the right thing.

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

Owning Our Power In Relationships

So much of what I call my codependency is fear and panic because
I spent so much of my life feeling abused, trapped, and not knowing
how to take care of myself in relationships. ~ Anonymous

No matter how long we have been recovering,
we may still tend to give up power to others,
whether they be authority figures, a new love, or a child.

When we do this, we experience the set of emotions and thoughts we call
"codependent crazies."
We may feel angry, guilty,
afraid, confused, and obsessed.
We may feel dependent and needy or become overly controlling and rigid.
We may return to familiar
behaviors during stress.
And for those of us who have codependency and adult children issues,
relationships can mean stress.

We don't have to stay stuck in our codependency.
We don't have to shame or blame ourselves,
or the other person, for our condition.
We simply need to remember
to own our power.

Practice. Practice.
Practice using your power to take care of yourself,
no matter who you are dealing with,
where you are, or what you are doing.
This is what recovery means.
This does not mean we try to control others; it does not mean
we become abrasive or abusive.
It means we own our power
to take care of ourselves.

The thought of doing this may generate fears.  That's normal!
Take care of yourself anyway.
The answer, and the power to do that,
are within you now.

Start today.  Start where you are.
Start by taking care of who you are,
at the present moment,
to the best of your ability.

Today, I will focus on owning my power to take care of myself.
I will not let fears, or a false sense of shame and guilt,
stop me from taking care of myself.

Melody Beattie~
The Language of Letting Go ©

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Letters of Wisdon and Affirmation, Louise Hay
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/September/hay.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Creating A Treasure Map
by Shakti Gawain

Making a "treasure map" is a very powerful technique, and fun to do.
A treasure map is an actual, physical picture of your desired reality. It is
valuable because it forms an especially clear, sharp image which can then
attract and focus energy into your goal. It works along the same lines as a
blueprint for a building.

You can make a treasure map by drawing or painting it, or by making a
collage using pictures and words cut from magazines, books or cards,
photographs, drawings, and so on. Don't worry if you're not artistically
accomplished. Simple, childlike treasure maps are just as effective as great
works of art!

Basically the treasure map should show you in your ideal scene, with your
goal fully realized.

Here are some guidelines that will help you make the most effective treasure
maps:

1. Create a treasure map for a single goal or area of your life, so that you
can be sure to include all the elements without getting too complicated.
This enables the mind to focus on it more clearly and easily than if you
include all your goals on one treasure map. You might want to do one
treasure map for your relationships, one for your job, one for your
spiritual growth, and so on.

2. You can make it any size that's convenient for you. You may want to keep
it in your notebook, hang it on your wall, or carry it in your pocket or
purse. I usually make mine on light cardboard, which holds up better than
paper.

3. Be sure to put yourself in the picture. For a very realistic effect, use
a photograph of yourself. Otherwise draw yourself in. Show yourself being,
doing, or having your desired objective -- traveling around the world,
wearing your new clothes, or being the proud author of your new book.

4. Show the situation in its ideal, complete form, as if it already exists.
You don't need to indicate how it's going to come about. This is the
finished product. Don't show anything negative or undesirable.

5. Use lots of color in your treasure map to increase the power and impact
on your consciousness.

6. Show yourself in a real setting; make it look believable to yourself.

7. Include some symbol of the infinite which has meaning and power for you.
It could be an "om" sign, a cross, Christ, Buddha, a sun radiating light, or
any thing that represents universal intelligence or God. This is an
acknowledgment and a reminder that everything comes from the infinite
source.

8. Put affirmations on your treasure map. "Here I am driving my new hybrid
gas and electric car."

Be sure to also include the cosmic affirmation, "This, or something better,
now manifests for me in totally satisfying and harmonious ways, for the
highest good of all concerned."

The process of creating your treasure map is a powerful step toward
manifesting your goal. Now just spend a few minutes each day quietly looking
at it, and every once in a while throughout the day give it a thought. That
is all that's necessary.

Some Sample Ideas for Treasure Maps
Here are a few possible ideas for treasure maps to stimulate your
imagination:

Health
Show yourself radiantly healthy, active, beautiful, participating in
whatever activities would indicate perfect health.

Weight or Physical Condition
Show yourself with your perfect body, feeling wonderful about yourself (cut
a picture from a magazine that looks like you would look in your perfect
condition, and paste a photo of your head on the body!). You can make
statements with balloons around them coming out of your mouth like in
cartoons, to indicate how you are feeling, such as, "I feel wonderful and
look fantastic now that I weigh 125 pounds, and am in great physical
condition."

Self-Image and Beauty
Show yourself as you want to feel about yourself... beautiful, relaxed,
enjoying life, warm and loving. Include words and symbols that represent
these qualities to you.

Relationships
Put photos of yourself and your friend, lover, husband, wife, family member,
or co-worker in your treasure map, with pictures, symbols, and affirmations
showing that you are happy, loving, communicating, enjoying a deep,
wonderful sexual relationship, or whatever is appropriate and desirable for
that relationship.

If you are looking for a new relationship, find pictures and words that
represent qualities you desire in the person and the relationship; show
yourself with the ideal person for you.

Job or Career
Show yourself doing what you really want to do, with interesting, agreeable
co-workers, earning plenty of money (be specific about how much you want),
in the location you desire, and any other pertinent details.

Creativity
Use symbols, colors, and pictures that indicate your creativity is really
opening up. Show yourself doing and manifesting creative, beautiful,
interesting things and feeling great about them.

Family and Friends
Show members of your family or friends in totally harmonious, loving
relationships with you and each other.

Travel
Show yourself wherever you want to be, with plenty of time and money to
enjoy your location.

And so on. You get the idea. Have fun!

This article is excerpted from Creative Visualization, ©2002, 1995, 1978, by
Shakti Gawain. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, New World
Library. http://www.newworldlibrary.com

About the Author:
SHAKTI GAWAIN is a pioneer in the field of personal growth. Her other best
selling books include Living in the Light, The Path of Transformation,
Developing Intuition, and Creating True Prosperity. She leads workshops
internationally, and lives in Mill Valley, California, and Hawaii.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

BETWEEN THE CRACKS

Between the cracks of despair,
Love gives hope.

Between the cracks of conflict,
Love heals.

Between the cracks of confusion,
Love brings clarity.

Between the cracks of mis-understandings,
Love builds bridges.

Between the cracks of grief,
Love makes sense of loss.

Between the cracks of hatred,
Love simply loves.

John and Rev. Ananda McIntosh
1998 - 2002 © Copyright  - Teach Only Love

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Share

When words and emotions
crowd the mind
and nothing can escape
through the heart
It's time to share
to give it some voice
to lessen the load
and regain some peace

I used to keep it all inside
bottled and capped tightly closed
A volcano seething and bursting
Ready to explode at the slightest
provocation

Now I realize
and ask myself: What's the worst thing
that could happen if I talk about my feelings?
Share a worry?  Explain a hurt?  Ask for a hug?

The best thing is that when I do
The concern is halved, even dissolved
more often than not

The courage to share thoughts and feelings
in a safe environment
belongs to a loving heart
and a peaceful mind

Love
Stella

© 2000 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

All I Ever Really Needed

All I ever really needed,
was within me.
I was always looking
outside for acceptance.
When I got it,
it really didn't mean
that much to me,
because I never felt worthy.
I always believed,
someone was obligated
to give me praise,
Because I wasn't good enough
And they took pity on me.
Still I insisted on seeking acceptance,
from the world outside,
hoping this time
I would really be accepted.
This was my insanity,
my driving force,
my way of life.
Then I found the secret,
it was within me.
I learned first to like me,
It was hard
To see the face
in the mirror;
"LOOKING GOOD KID !".
Today I have learned
to love myself,
for me,
the good guy,
With all my merits and faults,
because it's just me.
There is no one like me,
I am very special to me,
unique in every way,
and that acceptance is all
that matters to me.

Frank Beresheim August 2, 2000
fberesheim@...
written For Andy J

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"The experience of love is a choice we make,
a mental decision to see love
as the only real purpose and value in any situation."
Marianne Williamson

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
Doug Floyd

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Use what talents you possess;
the woods would be very silent
if no birds sang except those that sang best.
Henry Van Dyke

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Laughter [is] the joyous, beautiful, universal evergreen of life.
  Abraham Lincoln

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Do you want to create a healthy family?
Show love every day by listening, noticing the good, praising,
touching, and holding true to your commitments.
Grand gestures are fine, but in the long run,
they count for less than the accumulation of small acts of love.
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can give to others with no strings attached

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can meet new opportunities without fear

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am joyful

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I will seek out friends today

*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
www,health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

The email will now be coming in Black and White (no html)
The reason for this is that AOL bounces hundreds of
HTML emails with links EVERY DAY
It seems there are less AOL bouncing emails for now.
I will keep my opinions of AOL to myself :)

SENILITY  PRAYER
God grant me the Senility
to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do,
and the eyesight to tell the difference.

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 27
Today I am discovering who I am.
Today I am becoming my person,
worthy of developing all of me.
Today I am beginning to know
that I am okay just the way 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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Changing My Life

Seeking my fortune.
Running my scam.
Feigning my interest.
Filling my hand.
Covering my back.
Saving my face.
Salving my pride.
Losing my race.
Testing my limits.
Defending my turf.
Missing my chance.
Salting my earth.
Revising my standards.
Continuing my education.
Setting my boundaries.
Lowering my expectations.
Retracting my statements.
Expanding my scope.
Framing my questions.
Renewing my hope.
Solving my equation.
Cracking my case.
Counting my blessings.
Sharing my grace.

written by~ Joel Rutledge
jjvarmint@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Thomas Messages
www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=93

Recovery Greetings and Links
www.recoverygreetings.com/

An Open Letter from God
gsowatch.aamo.info/god.htm

Original A.A. document from Bill W.
gsowatch.aamo.info/1941/index.htm
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for Today
August 27                           Choosing life

"Change from self-destructive patterns of life became necessary."
Basic Text, p. 15

     Active addiction is a smoldering death-wish. Each of us courted death
every time we used. Our lifestyles, too, put us at risk. The life of an
addict is sold cheaply with every day and every dose.

  In recovery, the first pattern we change is the pattern of using.
Staying clean is the start of our journey into life. But our
self-destructive behavior usually went far deeper than just our using.
Even in recovery, we may still treat ourselves as if we are worthless.
When we treat ourselves badly, we feel badly. And when we feel badly,
we seek relief-maybe even in our old solution, drugs.

  Choosing recovery means choosing life. We decide each day that we
want to live and be free. Each time we avoid self-destructive behavior,
we choose recovery.

Just for today: I will choose life by choosing recovery.
I will take care of 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:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

. . .TO BE OF SERVICE

Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and
the people about us.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 77

It is clear that God's plan for me is expressed through love.  God loved me
enough to take me from alleys and jails so that I could be made a useful
participant in His world.  My response is to love all of His children
through service and by example.  I ask God to help me imitate His love for
me through my love for others.

Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 27th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"We must be willing to make amends to all the people we
have harmed.  We must do the best we can to repair the
damage done in the past.  When we make amends, when we
say: 'I'm sorry,' the person is sure at least to be impressed
by our sincere desire to set right the wrong.  Sometimes
people we are making amends to admit there own fault, so
feuds of long standing melt away.  Our most ruthless creditors
win sometimes surprise us.  In general, we must be willing
to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences may
be for us."  Have I made a sincere effort to make amends
to the people I have harmed?

Meditation for the Day

The grace of God cures disharmony and disorder in human
relationships.  Directly you put your affairs, with their
confusion and their difficulties, into God's hands.  He begins
to effect a cure of all the disharmony and disorder.  You can
believe that He will cause you no more pain in the doing of it
than a physician who knows how to effect a cure would cause
a patient.  You can have faith that God will do all that is
necessary as painlessly as possible.  But you must be wining
to submit to His treatment, even if you cannot now see the
meaning or purpose of it.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may willingly submit to whatever spiritual
discipline is necessary.  I pray that I may accept whatever
it takes to live a better 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Stop Depriving Yourself

Stop depriving yourself of what feels
comfortable, right, and good to you.

Some of us grew up in environments
that were emotionally deprived.
Being happy and enjoying life wasn't allowed.
Emotional deprivation was the theme.

Many of us learned to continue
this pattern in our adult lives.
We chose relationships with people
who didn't feel good to us.
We chose jobs that felt uncomfortable.

Many of us have heard stories of people
who are addicted to feeling miserable.
It's easy to see when other people are fostering
deprivation and misery in their lives;
it's more difficult to discern when the person is us.

We may be so used to feeling bad that
we genuinely don't know what feels right to us.

You won't know what feels right to you until
you relax and learn to identify how you feel.
Let go of your attraction to misery.
Walk toward what feels comfortable to your heart,
mind, body, and soul.

Lighten up.
Let yourself get comfortable
with what feels good to you.

Do you know what feels good?
Do you know what you like?
One day, a friend was getting his back rubbed,
"That feels good," he said.
"It supposed to," the person rubbing
his back said to him.

Become conscious as you go through your daily life.
Go on a treasure hunt.
Find out what feels good to you.
You just might discover that there's more treasures
and pleasures in this world than you thought.

God, help me stop depriving myself
of the good things in life.

Melody Beattie ©

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Combine Your Exercise Routine with Meditation and Prayer
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/September/cyberweave.htm

Nothing Short Of Passion
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/12/passion.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dealing with Pain
by Lynn Atkinson, Ph.D.

Pain is a primary emotion. It has several emotional by-products which may
come from it such as anger, jealousy, depression, hatred, and confusion. The
types of emotional by-products we feel depends on whether we turn our pain
inward or outward.

Pain turned inward......
Pain turned inward breeds depression and self-blame. We take pain into
ourselves making it a part of ourselves. We start believing we are pain
incarnate and bring pain to all we touch. We become despondent. It is not so
much because we do not see meaning in life; it is more because we simply
want the pain stopped yet seem unable to stop it.

When we make pain a part of ourselves and sink into depression, we start
living in limits. We look at the world and our environment in terms of what
we cannot do, not what we can do. We clutch our pain and limits to ourselves
not seeming to realize that by insisting on holding on to our pain and
limits, we keep them truly ours. We cannot be free of our pain unless we
allow it to leave us.

By clinging to our pain we depower ourselves. We begin to believe we have no
other choice but to feel pain. We argue for our limitations thereby adopting
them and limiting ourselves.

I had a friend who told the story of how fleas were trained for the flea
circus. According to my friend, fleas loved to jump. Jumping is a thing that
brings more joy to fleas than anything else they could do. When fleas are
captured for the flea circus, they are placed in jars and the lids are
screwed on. When the fleas jumped in the jars, they would hit their heads on
the lids. They still wanted to jump, for that is what brings them joy, so
they learned to jump just high enough so that they wouldn't hit their heads.
The trainer then comes back and takes the fleas out of the jars and puts
them in the circus. Even though the fleas now have the whole sky above them,
they still do not jump past their now self-imposed limits. Even though the
fleas are now free, they have made the limits truly theirs by refusing to go
beyond them. These fleas have turned their pain inward and will not allow
themselves to experience the full joy of jumping because of their fear of
being hurt again.

Pain turned outward......
Pain turned outward breeds emotions such as hate, anger, and jealousy. Anger
is simply the cry we make when we push pain away from ourselves. When we
turn our pain outward, we look for someone or something to attach blame to.
When we do this we may be depowering other people.

Often when we affix blame to another person or become angry with a person,
we become caught up with the idea of obtaining justice. Often justice is not
enough for us, we want revenge. We not only want to be equal in power to the
party we are angry at, we want to be above them so we can make them pay,
make them suffer, or make sure they never hurt anyone else like they hurt
us. We use techniques that we feel will be successful in depowering others.

When we use depowering techniques, we can expect depowering techniques to be
used with us. Depowerment is meant to bring pain. When people feel pain,
they will react out of pain and make attempts to depower others to gain
their power back.

Becoming involved in depowerment can become a vicious cycle. We are
continually in pain because of the revenge effort of those we have tried to
depower. Because of the continuing pain, we become more and more intent on
easing the pain. Like an animal caught in a trap, we make efforts to move
and get away from the pain or make stabs at the attacker believing this will
ease or stop the pain. We may end up injuring ourselves worse than if we had
just done nothing.

We continue to depower bringing depowerment back to ourselves, never seeing
that the very way we deal with our pain is what continues to bring it to us.
By concentrating on depowering techniques when we are in pain, we fail to
make use of other techniques which would heal the pain. Again, we become so
caught up with the pain that we won't let it go so we can heal. The only way
that pain will heal is by letting it go; giving up that part of us that
wants to continue to feel pain.

There is a story about the difference between heaven and hell. In both
heaven and hell there is a long banquet table brimming with food. In both
heaven and hell the people have chopsticks three feet long which must be
used to eat the food. In hell the people keep trying to feed themselves with
the chopsticks and thus they starve. In heaven the people feed each other
and enjoy the feast.

Like the people in hell, we concentrate on trying to relieve our own pain.
We still need to learn that the way to ease our own pain, the way to get our
needs met, is to be like the people in heaven. We need to concentrate on
easing each other's pain and allow others to ease our pain.

Pain and Character......
We begin our lives with a rude shock, for we are spanked into existence.
Perhaps it is from this beginning that we assume pain is good for us and
builds our character.

Pain teaches us to hurt. When we are hurting, the pain occupies our complete
attention. We are not focusing on learning from our behavior but on ways to
reduce the pain.

Even after the situation has ended and the pain has gone, we may remember
the pain and resentment we felt rather than our actions at the time. It is
as if the emotion had blocked out everything not directly connected to it.
We talk about being so hurt that all we could do was think about how to get
even.

Pain is used as an excuse or justification for behavior. If we use pain as
our justification for causing pain, then the only character pain builds is
negative character. Hurt and hatred do not bring kindness or love.

We Don't Have to Hurt Anymore......
Somehow we believe that hurting and being hurt are a part of life. We play
games with each other and hurt each other because we feel we must to survive
in this world. We abandon our ethics, never giving them a chance to see if
they work. We limit ourselves by accepting depowerment as the way life must
be.

When you start to depower and give pain to others, use your ethics, remember
what it was like to feel pain. When people act out of pain and try to
depower you, do not assume they are evil. They are acting out of pain. They
are acting out of frustrated needs and wants.

Remember, the way to stop their pain so that they won't have to hurt anymore
(and so you don't have to get hurt) is by finding the key to meet their
needs and set them free from their pain. You may not be able to do it, but
it is worth the try. Freedom from pain will never be accomplished by
depowerment. To break the power of pain, we must empower.

This article was excerpted from: "Power and Empowerment: The Power
Principle"
by Lynn Atkinson, Ph.D.


About The Author:
Lynn Atkinson has been a combatant in various struggles for power, observed
various struggles for power, and has thought out and rethought her own
personal philosophy in light of her own experiences. This article is
excerpted with permission from her book Power and Empowerment: The Power
Principle, published by New Falcon Publications, Tempe, Arizona, USA.
http://www.newfalcon.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Who I Am

I am not my hair, my eyes, my nose or my mouth.
I am not my skin or the shape of any of my body parts.
I am not the IQ of my brain.

I am not the sound of my voice or the volume of my laughter.
I am not my strengths or any of my weaknesses.
I am not the level of my skills.

The temple of my physical makeup is a culmination of genetics.
It reveals nothing about the person who resides within.
I take no credit or point no blame for the way I look.
My temple is perfect, as is.

This body is not who I am.
It is an exquisitely perfect dwelling for my soul.
Everything about it is exactly as it should be.
No other, anywhere, ever, could serve my soul as well.

I am not anything you can see with your eyes
or touch with your hands. Should you judge me
by that criteria, you will never know me.

I am not a dumping ground for bias that's based
on a man-made standard, and I do not accept the
prejudice it creates.

I am a union of body, mind and spirit, a trio, not a solo.

To know me, is to know yourself.

Those who hear the voice of their soul, recognize the song
in mine. They do not stop at the front door and judge me
by the dwelling in which I reside. With a humble sense of
honor, they knock upon the door and ask to come in.

The judgment of others does not change who I am.
Quite the opposite is true. It reveals who they are.

Those who deem me unworthy at a glance and pass me on by,
have my blessing to keep walking, for they have a long way to
go. They have not reached the point in their journey where
they are able to see and appreciate me for who I am.

I will accept no less.

© 2001 Terri McPherson
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
tmcphers@...
Who I Am
www.wisehearts.com/wia.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Light of My Higher Power Shines from Within.

Stars brightly gleaming on a clear summer night
are a vision of beauty and also a reminder
of the magnificent order that exists in the universe.

Within me, too, is a brightly shining light
a divine light of wisdom and inspiration.
With all the beauty and majesty of brightly shining stars,
His light of understanding guides me in the choices I make each day.
I intuitively know how to be loving and compassionate toward others.

The light of My Higher Power within me is an instant,
constant connection to all the wisdom
I will ever need for myself and for offering support to others.
I am a child whose radiant inner light of spirituality
is shining out into the world.
This is light that reveals the answer
to every question of mind and heart.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Feline Philosophies

One day an old cat turned the corner into an alley and saw a much
younger cat running around in circles chasing his tail. "Excuse me
son", the old cat said, "What are you doing that for?"

The younger cat explained: "I just graduated from Cat Philosophy
School, and they told us that a cat's happiness is in its tail. So I
figure it like this, if I can catch my tail and never let go I'll
have a good grip on happiness for the rest of my life!"

The old cat thought about that for a moment and said, "Well son, I
never went to Cat Philosophy School, I've just sorta hung around
these alleys most of my life. But I too have learned that a cat's
happiness is indeed located in its tail. However, I've also
discovered that if I just know it is there and leave it alone, it
just follows me wherever I go. And if I do have to run for some
reason or another, it just chases right along after me."

Rick and Patricia Grow

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Soul Silence

Stop paying attention to external noise
Listen for a while to the silence
Let your own voice speak to you
Treat stillness with respect, as an act of worship

Allow it admittance, a place at your hearth
Silence opens the door to the waiting soul
There with the answer, there with the inspiration

Commune, be at one, with sensitive heart
Be attuned to the whispers
They may at first be hard to hear
But from them issue many stories
Many arrows to new thoughts and choices
gathered together to fashion your Path

To contemplate them
you must be still
and listen to what your soul
has been needing to say to your heart
for a very long time

Love
Stella

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie-Johnson
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When you come to the end of all the light you know,
and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown,
faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen:
Either you will be given something solid to stand on
or you will be taught to fly.
Edward Teller

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you want to stop feeling the way you are feeling
then you have to stop doing the things you are doing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Once you become a pickle,
You can never be a cucumber again !

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"In order to change the way we feel
we need to change the way we act."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I trust in the serenity my God provides

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am calm & tranquil

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I let serenity flow into my life

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I feel appreciated today

*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
www,health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

The email will now be coming in Black and White (no html)
The reason for this is that AOL bounces hundreds of
HTML emails with links EVERY DAY
It seems there are less AOL bouncing emails for now.
I will keep my opinions of AOL to myself :)

Adult Children Of Parents
www3.sympatico.ca/gdavidson/AdultChildrenOfParents.htm

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 26
Today I am open to be touched
by joy, by love, by nature.
Today I put aside all the
happiness that I seek so that
I can be free to experience the
joy of this very moment...right now.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

God's Gift

Where did it go?
Oh where has it gone?
Why has my gratitude left me alone?
I must find it quickly,
I have to know why,
Else I will sit here and I'll surely die.
My blessings, so many,
He planned it this way,
With all of the thank yous I'm willing to say.
The day, when it opens,
And as it unfolds,
The joy and the beauty for all to behold.
And just for this moment,
No sorrow or strife,
This gift I've been given, a wonderful life!
It so overwhelms me,
I can't breathe sometimes,
A love that I've found that will last for all times.

Sharlett H.   8/24/03
Sharlette863@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Welcome to the 12 Step Cyber Cafe
www.12steps.org/

Stress Less
www.stressless.com

The Psychiatrists,  by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/psychiatrists.html

The Physicians, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/physicians.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for Today
August 26                        Tenth Step inventory

"We continue to take personal inventory and when we were wrong
promptly admitted it." Step Ten

     A daily Tenth Step keeps us on a sound spiritual footing. While each
member asks different questions, some questions have been found to be
helpful to almost everyone. Two key Tenth Step questions are, "Am I
honestly in touch with myself, my actions, and my motives? And have I
prayed for God's will for me and the power to carry it out?" These two
questions answered honestly, will lead us into a more thorough look at
our day.

When focusing on our relationships with others we may ask, "Have I
harmed anyone today, either directly or indirectly? Do I need to make
amends to anyone as a result of my actions today?" We keep it simple in
our inventory if we remember to ask, "Where was I wrong? How can I do
it better next time?"

NA members often find that their inventories include other important
questions. "Was I good to myself today? Did I do something for someone
else and expect nothing in return? Have I reaffirmed my faith in a
loving Higher Power?"

Step Ten is a maintenance step of the NA program. The Tenth Step
helps us to continue living comfortably in recovery.

Just for today: I will remember to review my day. If I have harmed
another, I will make amends. I will think about how I can act
differently.

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:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

WE BECOME WILLING. . .
At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order. But this is not an
end in itself.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 77

How easily I can become misdirected in approaching the Eighth Step!  I wish
to be free, somehow transformed by my Sixth and Seventh Step work.  Now,
more than ever, I am vulnerable to my own self-interest and hidden
agenda.  I am careful to remember that self-satisfaction, which sometimes
comes through the spoken forgiveness of those I have harmed, is not my true
objective.  I become willing to make amends, knowing that through this
process I am mended and made fit to move forward, to know and desire God's
will for me.

Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 26th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"If we are still clinging to something that we will not let go,
we must sincerely ask God to help us to be willing to let even
that go, too.  We cannot divide our lives into compartments
and keep some for ourselves.  We must give all the
compartments to God.  We must say:  "My Creator, I am now
willing that you should have all of me, good and bad.  I pray
that you now remove from me every single defect of character
which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my
friends.'"  Am I still clinging to something that I will not let go?

Meditation for the Day

The laws of nature cannot be changed and must be obeyed if
you are to stay healthy.  No exceptions will be made in your
case.  Submit to the laws of nature or they will finally break
you.  And in the realm of the spirit, in all human relationships,
submit to the moral laws and to the will of God.  If you continue
to break the laws of honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love,
you will be broken to some extent yourself.  The moral and
spiritual laws of God, like the laws of nature, are unbreakable
without some disaster.  If you are dishonest, impure, selfish,
and unloving, you will not be living according to the laws of the
spirit and you will suffer the consequences.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may submit to the laws of nature and to the laws
of God.  I pray that I may live in harmony with all the laws of 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Proving It To Ourselves

I spent months trying to prove to a man I was
dating how responsible and healthy I was.
Then I realized what I was doing. He didn't need
  to realize how responsible and healthy I was. I did. -Anonymous

Trying to prove how good we are,
trying to prove we're good enough,
trying to show someone how much he or she hurt us,
trying to show someone we're understanding,
are warning signs that we may be into our self-defeating behaviors.

They can be an indication that we are trying to control someone.
They can be an indication that we are not believing how good we are,
that we're good enough, the someone is hurting us.

They can be a warning that we've allowed ourselves
to get hooked into a dysfunctional system.
They may indicate that we're stuck in that cloudy fog of denial
or doing something that is not good for us.

Trying excessively to make a point
with another may mean that we have not yet
made that point with ourselves.
Once we make that point with ourselves,
once we understand, will know what to do.

The issue is not about others understanding
and taking us seriously.
The issue is not about others believing
we're good and good enough.
The issue is not about others seeing
and believing how responsible
or loving or competent we are.
The issue is not about whether others realize
how deeply we are feeling a particular feeling.
We are the ones that need to see the light.

Today, God, help me let go of my need to control outcomes
by influencing the beliefs of others.
I will concentrate on accepting myself,
rather than trying to prove something about myself.
If I catch myself in the codependent trap of trying to
emphasize something about myself to another,
I will ask myself if I need to convince myself of that point.

An excerpt from -The Language of Letting Go-
by Melody Beattie  ©

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

How Much Would You Pay To Be Yourself
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/September/cohen.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meditation for Prosperity
by José Stevens, Ph.D.

The purpose of the universe is to enable you to learn. Prosperity is the
attitude that you can have what you want in this universe. Therefore
prosperity is one of the things you are here to learn.
Here is a meditation that facilitates that learning.


Sit quietly, close your eyes and be aware of your body, your thoughts, and
your feelings. Put all those things to one side.
Think of a quantity of energy. This may be easiest in monetary terms such
as an annual salary. Or you can think of it as a quantity of love, or a
measure of getting the most out of life.

Draw that amount of energy out of the earth and up into your feet. Be
aware of reprogramming the very cells of your body to a higher level of
havingness.

Move the energy up your legs to your torso. Pay special attention to the
joints, such as ankles and knees. Energy tends to stick in the joints.
Eventually move the energy up through your head and imagine it as a
fountain pouring out of the top of your head. Let the energy cascade down
the outside all around you at about a one to two foot radius. Pay special
attention to your back.

As this energy flow hits the ground draw it around and in again to your
feet.

Now increase the amount to a higher level - for example think of raising
your worth as a salary.

Check to see if you feel comfortable with this higher level. If it is
uncomfortable, lower it to where it is comfortable. The aim however is to
gradually get it higher and higher.

So draw in that increased amount of energy into your feet and up through
your body.
Be aware now of the overall circulation of energy and let it circulate for
a few minutes.

Finally seal off your feet and your head and when you feel complete, draw
the meditation to a close.
This meditation can in fact be done several times during the day fairly
quickly. You can do it while jogging, or sitting in a car in traffic, or
sitting at a desk, or while walking.
It is a powerful meditation and strongly recommended. Within weeks or at
most months you will notice results.

About The Author

José Stevens, Ph.D., is the founder of Essence Psychology and lectures
internationally on essence and personality, shamanism, and prosperity. He is
the author of Earth to Tao and Transforming Your Dragons, and co-author of
The Michael Handbook and Secrets of Shamanism. This article was excerpted
with permission from his book, Tao to Earth, published by Bear & Co.,
(800)WEBEARS. www.bearco.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Surrender

"Moonlit nights turn into day,
not knowing how I could turn away.
The white lightning spun around in my head,
feeling like the walking dead.

One day when I tried with all my might,
I saw the daylight, clear and bright.
My Higher Power shined right through,
and it was right then and there that I knew.

My time had come, and I was done.
Got up from my knees, just so I could see.
The Steps I could climb, with no rhythm or rhyme.
With much faith, hope and time,
the world again would be mine."

©2001
written by Carol Anne Szel

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

One Meeting To Make

There is just one thing
You must change
At first this
Will sound so strange
You must give up
All of your ways
If you really want
To enjoy new days
Start with people
Places and things
Soon you will hear
Your spirit as it sings
Work the steps
Each and everyone
At first it is hard work
With very little fun
You will learn to laugh
Before your half way done
Soon you will learn
Your not the only one
Make all of your amends
Clean your side of the street
Surrender make a vow
Never again to repeat
You really have
Only one meeting to make
That is today
Make no mistake
One a day will help you
To live happy and free
Before long you will see

Daniel M Corkery
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

WE DRANK FOR...

We drank for happiness and became unhappy.
We drank for joy and became miserable.
We drank to be outgoing and became self-centered.
We drank for sociability and became argumentative.
We drank for sophistication and became crude and obnoxious.
We drank for friendship and made enemies.
We drank for sleep and awakened without rest.
We drank for strength and felt weak.
We drank for sex drive and lost our potency.
We drank for relaxation and got the shakes.
We drank for confidence and became doubtful.
We drank for warmth and lost our cool.
We drank for coolness and lost our warmth.
We drank for freedom and became slaves.
We drank for power and were powerless.
We drank to soften sorrow and wallowed in self-pity.
We drank medicinally and acquired health problems.
We drank because the job called for it and lost the job.
We drank to make conversation and slurred our words.
We drank to feel heavenly and knew hell.
We drank to forget and were haunted.
We drank to erase problems and saw them multiply.
We drank to cope with life and invited death.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.
Auguste Rodin

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I would rather go through life clean,
believing I am an addict,
than go through life using and being used,
trying to convince myself that I am not."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"It's not old behavior if I'm still doing it"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"When I was new, I didn't think I had any obsessions, until I started
thinking about it. Then it was  all I could think about."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A treatment center is where you go and pay $15,000
to find out that A.A. /N.A. meetings are free.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I touch those near me with love & gentleness

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I have a new awareness in my life

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I acknowledge my needs

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I allow God to enter my life today

*~*~*~*~*~*~*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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or go to the website and unsubscribe
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

The email will now be coming in Black and White (no html)
The reason for this is that AOL bounces hundreds of
HTML emails with links EVERY DAY
It seems there are less AOL bouncing emails for now.
I will keep my opinions of AOL to myself :)

I can borrow trouble...
only at high interest rates.

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we can’t "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 25
I am so pleased with all the growth that I am experiencing.
It is okay to feel good about myself...and I do.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Bridge Builder

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears 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 strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide-
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?"
The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm, that 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 the bridge for him."

Will Allen 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

God -knows
www.eakles.com/god_knows.html

Woman's World: Rape and Sexual Harrassment
www.geocities.com/Wellesley/9691/rindex.html

Serenity Shoppe (a VERY COOL Recovery Gift Shop)
www.cafepress.com/serenity_shoppe

Why Alcoholics Anonymous is Anonymous, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/whyaaanonymous.html

A Fragment of History and a Tribute, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/history_tribute.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for Today
August 25                    The Ninth Step-reclaiming life

"We are achieving freedom from the wreckage of our past."
Basic Text, p. 40

     When we start the Ninth Step, we've reached an exciting stage in
our recovery. The damage done in our lives is what led many of us to
seek help them the first place. Now, we have a chance to clean up that
wreckage, amend our past, and reclaim our lives.

  We've spent a long time and much effort preparing for this step. When
we came to NA, facing the debris of our past was probably the last thing
we wanted to do. We started doing it privately with a personal inventory.
Then, we open our past up to the scrutiny of a select, trusted few:
ourselves, our Higher Power, and one other person. We took a look at our
shortcomings, the source of much of the chaos in our lives, and ask that
all those defects of character be removed. Finally, we listed the amends
needed to set our wrongs right-all of them-and became willing to make
them.

  Now, we have the opportunity to make amends-to acquire freedom from
the wreckage of our past. Everything we've done so far in NA has led us
here. At this point in the process of our recovery, the Ninth Step is
exactly what we want to do. With the Twelve Steps and the help of a
Higher Power, we are clearing away the rubble that for so long has stood
in the way of our progress; we are gaining freedom to live.

Just for today: I will take advantage of the opportunity to reclaim
my life. I will experience freedom from the wreckage of my past.

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:
"Since we can’t "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

WHEN THE GOING GETS ROUGH

It is a design for living that works in rough going.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 15

When I came to A.A., I realized that A.A. worked wonderfully to help keep
me sober.  But could it work on real life problems, not concerned with
drinking?  I had my doubts.  After being sober for more than two years I
got my answer.  I lost my job, developed physical problems, my diabetic
father lost a leg, and someone I loved left me for another -- and all of
this happened during a two-week period.  Reality crashed in, yet A.A. was
there to support, comfort, and strengthen me.  The principles I had learned
during my early days of sobriety became a mainstay of my life for not only
did I come through, but I never stopped being able to help newcomers.  A.A.
taught me not to be overwhelmed, but rather to accept and understand my
life as it unfolded.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 25th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"Unless we discuss our defects with another person, we do
not acquire enough humility, fearlessness, and honesty to really
get the program.  We must be entirely honest with somebody,
if we expect to live happily in this world.  We must be hard on
ourselves, but always considerate of others.  We pocket our
pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character and
every dark cranny of the past.  Once we have taken this step,
withholding nothing, we can look the world in the eyes."  Have
I discussed all my defects with another person?

Meditation for the Day

Never yield to weariness of the spirit.  At times, the worlds
cares and distractions will intrude and the spirit will become
weak.  At times like this, carry on and soon the spirit will
become strong again.  God's spirit is always with you, to
replenish and renew.  None ever sincerely sought God's help
in vain.  Physical weariness and exhaustion make a time of
rest and communion with God more necessary.  When you are
overcome by temporary conditions that you cannot control,
keep quiet and wait for the power of the spirit to flow back.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may not speak or act in the midst of emotional
upheaval.  I pray that I may wait until the tempest is past.

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

Love, in Words and Action

Many of us have confused notions about what it means
to be loved and cared about.

Many of us were loved and cared for by people
who had discrepancies between what they said and did.

We may have had a mother or father who said,
"I love you" to us, and then abandoned or neglected us,
giving us confused ideas about love.
Thus that pattern feels like love - the only love we knew.

Some of us may have been cared for by people
who provided for our needs and said they loved us,
but simultaneously abused or mistreated us.
That, then, becomes our idea of love.

Some of us may have lived in emotionally sterile environments,
where people said they loved us,
but no feelings or nurturing were available.
That may have become our idea of love.

We may learn to love others or ourselves the way we have been loved,
or we may let others love us the way we have been loved,
whether or not that feels good.
It's time to let our needs be met in ways that actually work.
Unhealthy love may meet some surface needs,
but not our need to be loved.

We can come to expect congruency in behavior from others.
We can diminish the impact of words alone and
insist that behavior and words match.

We can find the courage, when appropriate, to confront
discrepancies in words and actions - not shame, blame,
or find fault, but to help stay in touch with reality
and with our needs.

We can give and receive love where
behavior matches one's words.
We deserve to receive and give
the best that love has to offer.

Today, I will be open to giving and receiving the healthiest love
possible. I will watch for discrepancies between words and
behaviors that confuse me and make me feel crazy.
When that happens, I will understand that I am not crazy;
I am in the midst of a discrepancy.

Melody Beattie ©

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dr. Fred Luskin talks about the process of Forgiveness
and the healing force it can mean in our lives
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/September/conversation2.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Contacting Your Inner Child
by Shakti Gawain

Before starting this meditation, be sure you create the most positive
possible environment for the safety and comfort of the child. Find a place
that feels very comfortable and private. You may want to have a blanket, a
stuffed animal, or something else that will make your child feel welcome.
You may want to meditate outdoors in a special place or find a special place
in your house that feels nurturing to you.

When you first do this meditation, it's important to keep a few things in
mind. Sometimes, even though we have spent most of our lives not being in
touch with our inner child, our first attempt will be very easy. The child
has been waiting for us and wanting that contact with us. But sometimes the
child is not yet ready to trust us, so it may take a little patience. The
child may hold back until it knows that you really want this contact and
that you're willing to be responsible and consistent with the contact.

When you first do this meditation, trust what comes, trust what happens. If
the child is a little reserved or a little hesitant, just give the child
time. Keep doing the meditation regularly and you'll find that the contact
will continue to increase and become stronger and more positive. For now,
though, simply accept whatever happens.

It may be that you'll get in touch with a child who's very emotional, sad,
or hurt. Or, you may get in touch with a child who's very playful and wants
to be with you and have fun. You may be in touch with the magical aspect of
your child, or with the wise child. Accept what comes to you, because that
will be the part that's ready to be discovered at this time. As you continue
to work with this meditation, you may discover different aspects of the
child. Trust your own experience.

   Get comfortable, either sitting or lying down. If you're sitting up, be
sure your back is supported so you can sit straight. If you're lying down,
lie down comfortably, flat on your back. Close your eyes.... Take a deep
breath, and as you exhale, relax your body.... Take another deep breath, and
as you exhale, relax your body deeper and deeper.... Take another deep
breath, and as you exhale, imagine relaxing your body as completely as you
can. Your whole body is now completely relaxed....

   Take another deep breath, and as you exhale, relax your mind.... Let your
thoughts float away; let your mind come into stillness and quiet.... Take
another deep breath, and as you exhale, imagine moving your awareness into a
deep, quiet place inside of you....

   Then imagine that you're walking down that beautiful path to your inner
sanctuary.... And as you walk down the path, you feel more and more relaxed,
centered, and comfortable. You enter your sanctuary and sense and feel the
beauty and comfort of nature all around you....

   Take a few moments to get in touch with your sanctuary, to remember some
of the details about this place, and to let yourself enjoy being there....
Imagine that you're walking around your sanctuary noticing the various
plants and animals, feeling the sun or the breeze, and a little way off in
the distance, across the sanctuary, you become aware of the presence of a
small child.... As you start to move toward the child, you see or sense
whether it's a boy or girl, about how old it is, and what the child is
doing....

   Slowly move toward the child, and as you get closer, notice how the child
is dressed.... Allow yourself to sense how the child is feeling emotionally.
. . . Approach the child and make contact in whatever way you sense would be
appropriate right now....

   Ask the child if there is anything it wants to tell you or wants to
communicate to you. It may be in words or it may be in some other way. Allow
yourself to receive whatever the child wants to communicate....

   Now ask the child what it needs most from you, right now or in your life
in general.... Listen to what the child has to tell you, whether in words or
in other ways....

   Spend a little time being with your child.... Allow the child to guide you
in the appropriate way to be with it, whether playing together or simply
sitting close or holding each other....

   The child has a special gift to give you. Allow yourself now to receive
the gift the child has for you.... Continue to be with your child.... Let
the child know that you want to be in contact with it as much as you can
from now on....

   Complete your time together for right now in whatever way feels good for
both of you. You and the child have a choice to make. The child can choose
to remain there in the sanctuary, in a very safe place inside of you, and
you can come to visit the child in your sanctuary. Or, the child can come
with you when you leave the sanctuary. Your child will know which way feels
best for right now, and it can always change in the future.

   If the child is going to stay in the sanctuary, say goodbye for now. Let
the child know that you will come back as often as you can, and that you
want to know how the child feels and what it needs from you in your life....

   If the child is coming with you, take it in your arms or by the hand and
start to walk up the path out of the sanctuary. As you walk up the path,
feel yourself alive, filled with energy, balanced, and centered....

   Become aware of your body in the room, and when you feel ready, open your
eyes and come back into the room.

Now that you've gotten in touch with your inner child, it's important to
follow through and be consistent in taking care of and being present with
this child on a regular basis. You are the parent to your own inner child.
It's important to become a conscious, loving, responsible parent to that
child. This can be enjoyable for you and for the child, but it also requires
some awareness and responsibility on your part. It means that you need to
start making some space in your life for that child at appropriate times.

If you're not sure what the needs of your child are or how to best take care
of your child, simply ask. The child knows what it wants and what it needs
at all times, so cultivate the habit of communicating with the child, asking
what it needs, what it wants. Then do your best to give that child the
fulfillment of its needs. You can't always do everything the child wants
when it wants, but you should include its needs in your life, just as you
would with a real child. Make them as much a priority as you can, and you
will find that the rewards are great.

Start to think about things that are fun or that are nurturing for the
child, and begin to include them in your life in a regular way. Every day,
or at least every couple of days, take some time, even if it's just a few
minutes in the morning or a few minutes in the evening, and find out what
your child likes to do. Get toys the child likes to play with, go for walks,
ride a bike, take hot bubble baths, get story books -- things that really
feed and nurture your inner child. Of course, the most important thing to
the child is love and intimacy, so your child will guide you in finding more
contact, closeness, friendship, and love with other people.

It's also important to learn when it's not appropriate to bring your child
out. The middle of a business meeting at work is probably not the best time
to have your child come out. You can allow your child to stay home and play.
Just tell the child that you're going off to work and that you'll be home
later on, and that you'll take some time to play then.

Even though these things may feel a little silly at first, they will end up
bringing much more balance, harmony, enjoyment, and fulfillment into your
life.

This article is excerpted from Meditations (Revised and Expanded), É1991,
É2002, by Shakti Gawain. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, New
World Library. www.newworldlibrary.com

About the Author:
SHAKTI GAWAIN is a pioneer in the field of personal growth. Her other best
selling books include Living in the Light, The Path of Transformation,
Developing Intuition, Creative Visualizations, and Creating True Prosperity.
She leads workshops internationally, and lives in Mill Valley, California,
and Hawaii.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Blind Bus Rider

     The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the
attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up
the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location
of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her
was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and
rested her cane against her leg. "Friday at last", she thought.

  It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. Due to a
medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was
suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and
self-pity. Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned
by this terrible twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on
everyone around her. "How could this have happened to me?" she would
plead, Susan's her heart knotted with anger. But no matter how much
she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful truth her sight was
never going to return.

  A cloud of depression hung over Susan's once optimistic spirit. Just
getting through each day was an exercise in frustration and exhaustion.
And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark. Mark was an Air Force
officer and he loved Susan with all of his heart. When she first lost
her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help
his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become
independent again. Mark's military background had trained him well to
deal with sensitive situations, and yet he know this was the most
difficult battle he would ever face.

  Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get
there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get
around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each
day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first,
this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless
wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task. Soon,
however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn't working - it was
hectic, and costly. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus
again, he admitted to himself. But just the thought of mentioning it to
her made him cringe.

  She was still so fragile, so angry. How would she react? Just as Mark
predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I'm
blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I supposed to know where I'm
going? I feel like you're abandoning me." Mark's heart broke to hear
these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that
each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as
it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what
happened. For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all,
accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to
rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where
she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her
befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a
seat. He made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would
trip exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase. Each morning they made the
journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his office.

  Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the
previous one, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan
would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her, in the Susan
he used to know before she'd lost her sight, who wasn't afraid of any
challenge and who would never, ever quit. Finally, Susan decided that
she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and
before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus
riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with
tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said
good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways.

  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went
perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was
going to work all by herself! On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to
work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the
driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you." Susan wasn't sure if the driver was
speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind
woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past
year?

  Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?"
The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and
protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking
about, and asked again, "What do you mean?" The driver answered, "You
know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a
military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when
you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he
watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a
kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady."

  Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she
couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She
was lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight,
a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring
light where there had been darkness.

  God watches over us in just the same way. We may not know He is
present. We may not be able to see His face, but He is there
nonetheless! Be blessed in this thought:

"God Loves You - even when you are not looking."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I Let Go"

Looking at the heavens on a starry, starry night,
I might imagine my Higher Power-in one sweeping motion-scattered
the stars and planets so that each one fell into its perfect place.
From a dark and seeming void of trillions of miles,
the light of His creativity sparkles brightly.

And making the truth of His creativity personal to me,
I realize that I can give to the Creator
of all galaxies whatever concerns me.
Out of this simple step of trusting Him,
I am relieved of worry and stress so that
I am alert to the ways I can be a light of Him in my world.

He created me to be a light of love and life.
Letting go, I allow the light of Him within me
to shine forth in my life and out into my world.

author unkown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

THE SAME PLAYING FIELD

There is a phrase that is heard once in awhile in a meeting.
"We're all on the same playing field."
Now, to a newcomer, old-timers are like the wise ones.
Newcomers tend to put people with sobriety time on a pedestal.

Here is an analogy that can help the newcomer understand the phrase.

One day a newcomer was walking through the rocky hills.
He was depressed, lost and lonely.
"I have no purpose...there is no meaning to my life," he thought.
As he walked on through the rocky hills,
he saw a trail heading up to the mountains.
There was a sign at the bottom of the trail pointing upwards.
The sign said, "To the wise man."

The newcomer said, "Aha! I will ask the wise man,
and he will tell me what the meaning of life is."
So, the newcomer started walking up the trail.
Then, he saw another sign.
It said, "Keep coming back."
He walked up the mountain a little more.
He passed another sign, "This too shall pass."
He continued to walk up the mountain.
He saw another sign, "Live and let live."
He walked  a little further.
He saw another sign, "Don‚t leave before the miracle."
He made it to the top of the mountain, and lo and behold,
he finally reached the wise man.

The wise man was surrounded with
empty beer cans and johnny barleycorn bottles.
The wise man hungover and slurring his words,
"I"m just an alcoholic like you...
go find your own happiness and meaning of life."

www.waterwagonsandiego.com
Brian G
twelveshoes@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A-Maze-Ment

Discover the little joys hidden in your days
do not lose yourself in your patient waiting time
record the journey to your Dream
as a maze that turns and twists ahead of you
unannounced, unforseen
un-covered, as of yet unperceived

For this time is fertile seeding ground
for the unleashing of creative inventions
for centering your self onto solid footings
Don’t let it just pass you by
while your gaze intensifies on the road far ahead

There are treasures at your feet
Pay attention here instead
Leave the hidden workings of the universe
to its promises and miracles

Let them unfold, unravel their mysterious weaving
for the wondrous revealing
It shall soon come to pass

Love
Stella

~*~

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie-Johnson

{To contact Stella or subscribe to her e-zine, write to her at
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Express love through acknowledgment.
Notice the good in those around you and freely comment on it.
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Our house is left desolate unto us because it is not roofed with faith
and its foundation is not laid in a conscious perception of the unity
of God with man.  The lamp of hope is not kept burning.  The wick of
our individual being is withdrawn from the universe oil.
Ernest Holmes

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Love can sometimes be magic.
But magic can sometimes...just be an illusion."
Javan

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The value of persistent prayer is not that He will hear us,
but we will finally hear Him.
William McGill

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am a responsible person

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can be playful

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can trust my thoughts and emotions

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I trust people

*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
www,health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@Âż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

The email will now be coming in Black and White (no html)
The reason for this is that AOL bounces hundreds of
HTML emails with links EVERY DAY
It seems there are less AOL bouncing emails for now.
I will keep my opinions of AOL to myself :)

Recovery delivers everything
that alcohol and drugs promised.

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 24
I no longer want to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
Today I take the time to slow down and
examine the source of my difficulties
so I can move on a clear path with freedom.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This is What it Takes

To the suffering addict that I love,
you are being watched by an angel above.
Look & follow the guiding light,
As God will help you in this fight.
I know how scared you are right now,
Just ask God to show you how.
He will be with you all the way,
so get down on your knees and pray.
If you want to be happy & live,
it's all of your heart you have to give.
We both know what you have to do,
now my friend it's up to you.
Every time you shed a tear,
just remember that I am here.
I will always be your friend,
I pray this doesn't take you to the end.
I love you my sister, my brother,
we all have what it takes to recover.

ClnChip@...
(3/8/99)
Chip's Expressions of Recovery
www.hometown.aol.com/clnchip1/chipsexpressionsofrecovery.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Serenity Shoppe (a VERY COOL Recovery Gift Shop)
www.cafepress.com/serenity_shoppe

The Recovery Radio Show
Saturday night from 6 - 8 pm pacific time
www.recoveryradioshow.com
www.recoveryradioshow.com/archive.htm

Anne S, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/annes.html

A Fragment of History, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/aahistory/history_fragment.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for Today
August 24                                      Seeking God's will

"We learn to be careful of praying for specific things."
Basic Text, p. 45

In our active addiction, we usually did not pray for knowledge of God's
will for us and the power to carry it out. On the contrary, most of our
prayers were for God to get us out of the mess we had made for
ourselves. We expected miracles on demand. That kind of thinking and
praying changes when we begin practicing the Eleventh Step. The only way
out of the trouble we have made for ourselves is through surrender to a
Power greater than ourselves.

In recovery, we learn acceptance. We seek knowledge in our prayers and
meditation of how we are to greet the circumstances that come our way.
We stop fighting, surrender our own ideas of how things should be, ask
for knowledge, and listen for the answers. The answers usually won't
come in a flash of white light accompanied by a drum roll. Usually, the
answers will come merely with a quiet sense of assurance that our lives
are on course, that a Power greater than ourselves is guiding us on our
path.

We have a choice. We can spend all our time fighting to make things come
out our way, or we can surrender to God's will. Peace can be found in
accepting the ebb and flow of life.

Just for today: I will surrender my expectations, look to my Higher
Power for guidance and accept 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:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

LIVING IT

The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83

When new in the program, I couldn't comprehend living the spiritual aspect
of the program, but now that I'm sober, I can't comprehend living without
it. Spirituality was what I had been seeking.  God, as I understand Him,
has given me answers to the whys that kept me drinking for twenty
years.  By living a spiritual life, by asking God for help, I have learned
to love, care for and feel compassion for all my fellow men, and to feel
joy in a world where, before, I felt only fear.
Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 24th

A.A. Thought for the Day

It's been proved that we alcoholics can't get sober by
our willpower.  We've failed again and again.  Therefore
I believe there must be a Higher Power which helps me.
I think of that power as the grace of God.  And I pray to
God every morning for the strength to stay sober today.
I know that power is there because it never fails to help me.
Do I believe that AA. works through the grace of God?

Meditation for the Day

Once I am "born of the spirit," that is my life's breath.
Within me is the life of life, so that I can never perish.
The life that down the ages has kept God's children
through peril, adversity, and sorrow.  I must try never to
doubt or worry, but follow where the life of the spirit leads.
How often, when little I know it, God goes before me to
prepare the way, to soften a heart, or to overrule a resentment.
As the life of the spirit grows, natural wants become less
important.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that my life may become centered in God more than
in self.  I pray that my will may be directed toward doing His will.

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

We learn the magical lesson that making the most of
what we have turns it into more. --Codependent No more

Say thank you, until you mean it.

Thank God, life, and the universe for everyone and
everything sent your way.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we
have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into
acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can
turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger
into a friend.  It turns problems into gifts, failures into
successes, the unexpected into perfect time, and mistakes
into important events.  It can turn an existence into a real
life, and disconnected situations into important and
beneficial lessons.  Gratitude makes sense of our past,
brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Gratitude makes things right.

Gratitude turns negative energy into positive energy.
There is no situation or circumstance so small or large that
it is not susceptible to gratitude's power.  We can start
with who we are and what we have today, apply gratitude,
then let it work its magic.

Say thank you, until you mean it.  If you say it long
enough, you will believe it.

Today, I will shine the transforming light of gratitude on
all the circumstances of my life.

Today's meditation comes from the book
The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie copyright 1990

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Deal Breakers, Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/11/dealbreakers.htm

See No, Hear No, Speak No
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/September/opinion.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Intimacy
by Marie T. Russell

   Intimacy is something we all yearn for, yet are somehow deeply afraid
of. Someone once said that intimacy is spelled into-me-see. Thinking it
of it that way sheds light on why it frightens us.

   Letting someone see into us when we are afraid of letting them see
our hidden "faults and foibles" can be frightening. How can we be
intimate with someone when we are trying to "look good", trying to
appear "perfect", trying to appear to be the person of their dreams?
How can we be intimate when we have something to hide?

   Intimacy implies 100% honesty, and that is probably why it is absent
from a lot of relationships. Of course, people say they are intimate, but
they are usually referring to sexual relations. We have come to equate
having sex with being intimate. Now of course, intercourse is intimate
in many ways... but intimacy is more than intimate bodies... it needs also
to include intimacy of mind and spirit. Even the word intimacy refers to
the blending of the inner. It is defined as "innermost", "private". It
refers to letting others see into the innermost part of our selves.

   Yet even in intimate sexual situations, people close the light, close
their eyes, and refuse to open up and really be intimate. I remember
feeling embarrassed thinking of what my face must look like in the
throes of orgasm - thinking I would look stupid or ugly. How can one be
intimate if one is hiding and afraid to let the other really see them?
How can we become "one" with someone when we are only letting them
see the part of ourselves we approve of? How can we attain "union"
with two incompletes?

   We are afraid of not being loved if we let someone see who we "really"
are... or at least who we think we really are. We suck in our stomach
when walking around naked where our lover can see us, we "put on our
best face", we hide the parts of us that we feel are unacceptable. The
reason many relationships end up in divorce is probably because after a
while, we discover that we are not living with the person we thought we
married (and vice versa). Two "personas" met, "fell in love", and were
married. But because neither truly loved and accepted themselves
completely, neither divulged the truth of who they were to the other...
neither was truly intimate. So one day, we wake up married to a stranger.
We start "being ourselves" and the other does too, and all of a sudden we
are both surprised by who we are living with... Where were these two
other people during courtship? Hiding, that's where they were. Hiding
so they would be loved. Pretending to be "better than", holding back from
expressing themselves 100%, "being nice", etc. Then once the marriage
takes place, all needs for pretense disappear... after all the "fish has
been hooked". This is a very sad commentary on relationships and our
society in general.

   Is there hope? Of course! There is always hope. I like to say that while
we are still breathing, there is still hope. We can always change. We can
always make choices that take us in different directions. We can choose
to be "real", and to let the others "into-me-see". After all, if they're not
willing to accept you 100%, then do you really want to be around them "
until death do us part"? Now, "accepting" does not mean thinking
everything they do is perfect (or vice versa). There will be things that
you disagree with, or even things that you out rightly think are in need
of "healing". But even with that, you are still loving and accepting of the
whole person. The whole package, with its warts and foibles, is what
interests you.

   Yet the first step into intimacy is to love and accept oneself. If you
are not able to accept yourself 100% and love yourself unconditionally,
then you won't be able to let anyone in your life that will do so either.
You will attract people who will criticize you for the same things you
criticize yourself for... You will never let them really see into you, for
fear that you will be giving them "more ammunition" to criticize you.
You will always hide those things that you feel are "not good enough".

   So to open yourself up to an intimate relationship, start with the one
you're with. You! Start being willing to acknowledge lovingly those things
that you've been trying to hide from yourself and from others. Start
being real! Be honest with yourself first, and then extend that to the
people close to you. You might want to explain to them first that you
need their help on this. That you're feeling insecure about letting them
see all your "weaknesses" and that you will need their unconditional love
and support in this process. You can ask that "nothing you say will be used
against you". Our great fear is that once we open up and show our "true"
selves, that people will turn it against us, that they will then look down
at
us (as we do on ourselves), that they will abandon us, that they will
reject us (as we reject ourselves).

   It takes courage to let intimacy into our lives. It takes a strength of
purpose... our purpose being to create relationships that are truly loving,
supportive, and comfortable. Yes comfortable. A relationship where we
can really be ourselves without fear. Somewhat like with a friend that
we've had "forever"... with these old friends we can let all aspects of
our personality act out, and know that we will still be loved. We need  to
develop that intimacy with everyone in our lives (at least those people
close to us), so that we can be comfortable living in our bodies... not
always looking around the corner to see who is watching and make sure
that we are "putting out our best side".

   Of course, I am not implying that intimacy is a license for being a
complete jerk. Of course not! But then, none of us are "complete" jerks.
Yes, we may have a part of us that can be a jerk at times, another part
that is frightened, another part that is arrogant, but we also have the
major part of us that wants to be loved for who we are... a major part of
us simply wants to love and be loved. But, one can only love a reality, not
an illusion. We must become real, with our foibles and hesitations, with
our imperfections, with our hopes and dreams, and let the other people
in our lives express that aspect of themselves as well.

   Until we can feel safe being ourselves, then intimacy is not possible.
While we are still trying to only let the "other" see the "good side" of
us, then we will have a flat relationship, not a three-dimensional one.
We are not cardboard characters -- we are not the flat image we see
in movies, or read about in fairy tales. We are real, we are multi-
faceted, and we are experiencing life in its many aspects, with its many
personality traits and patterns and ups and downs. We need to be willing
to be ourselves, to be real, and to let others get close enough to
"into-me-see" -- and then we'll have relationships that are intimate,
that are grand! We'll have relationships where we can finally feel at
ease, and be able to receive support and love in our path towards
greater and greater Love of self, and Love for all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

IS YOUR HUT BURNING?

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small,
uninhabited island.
He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him,
and every day he scanned the horizon for help,
but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood
to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
But then one day, after scavenging for food,
he arrived home to find his little hut in flames,
the smoke rolling up to the sky.
The worst had happened; everything was lost.

He was stunned with grief and anger.
"God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however,
he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island.
It had come to rescue him.
"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad.
But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives,
even in the midst of pain and suffering.
Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground----
it just may be a smoke signal that summons grace of God.
For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves,
God has a positive answer for it

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Great Deception

This time I am just doing one
All in the game having fun
I just got my check
I will not spend it all
That is one
Bullshit
Of a
Call
Off to
See the dealer
With money in my hand
I'm just doing one
You understand
Out front my
Addiction
And me
Come
Along
You will see
Spare me the
Bullshit my friend
I think it is time
For us to end
I said that same thing
Many years ago
That is how I really know
There is never really
Going to be just one
Your going to carry on
Until your money is done
After the first one
The addiction has won
Your never happy
With just being whole
Your at your end
Losing control
Come see me
When your serious
About a change
I have seen enough
Your not really strange
I had retired from your kind of game
I once felt just the same

Daniel M Corkery
5/7/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"It was the hardest two years of my life," a woman said. "So many painful,
unexpected events happened. I felt so abandoned, so lost. I didn't
understand what was happening, and I felt tortured by God and life. I didn't
think it would ever end. But it did. Now I can look back on that time and
say, Wow. Look at all I learned. There's nothing that life can bring my way
that I can't handle and get through."

She learned self-confidence. But whether she's conscious of it or not, this
woman is beginning to learn the value of trusting the process.

Application:
Sometimes we don't know what we're learning, or whether we're learning
anything at all. It's easy to look back on a situation once it has worked
itself out and be in awe of the process and all that we learned. The time we
most need to trust the journey is when it looks like we can't.

  from the book: 52 Weeks of Conscious Contact by Melody Beattie

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

LISTEN TO YOUR SELF-TALK

This week, really listen to yourself. Do you talk about your
limitations and why you can't have what you want? Or do you talk
about how exciting your life is and the positive expectancies you
have? If you're reading this and protesting, "but my life ISN"T
wonderful right now," guess what? You are perpetuating that reality
for yourself. Initially, it does take a lot of awareness to focus
your thoughts and words on what you DO want, but the results are
worth the effort. I've often heard someone say, "I'm stuck." How can
the Universe give you an insight if you keep saying you're stuck?
Affirm: I have any insight I need to transform this issue in my
life. The Law of Attraction always works. It simply responds to what
you are thinking and speaking. This week, focus on the positive
thoughts and words you want to be creating your exciting future.

Rick and Patricia

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If one speaks with a cruel mind, misery follows,
as a cart follows the horse...
If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows,
as a shadow follows its source.
The Dhammapada, a collection of Buddhist teachings

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When we long for life without difficulties,
remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds
and diamonds are made under pressure.
  Peter Marshall

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Listening is a high art of loving.
Ask yourself, "When was the last time I really listened to my child?
My parent?  My brother or sister?"
When someone is ready to share, three magic words amplify your
connection, and they are: "Tell me more."
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

From a little spark comes a great fire.
Polish Proverb

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am not alone

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am a strong, capable person

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I respect myself

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am at peace with myself

*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
www,health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

Sorry so late a long time sponsee relapsed today.


My mind is like a bad neighborhood
if I go there alone,
I am behind enemy lines...

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
August 23
Everywhere I turn I know I am being supported
by powerful, positive energy.
I am finding love and support wherever I go.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
God

God,
Please walk beside me and hold my hand.
Help me to love my fellow man.
Guide me through this darkest night.
Walk me through with your guiding light.

Keep me safe, secure, and warm
Keep me from all further harm.
On Your path I walk today.
But I need you to show me the way.

Blessings abound, this I see.
Long as I ask You to walk with me.
Recovery friends do uplift.
And Your loving grace is a blessed gift.

I asked God,
"Why do I have to feel this, God"
God said to me, "My child, it is so that you can show
that person who walks through the door
how to laugh, live, and love again."

Written 8/19/03
In peace, light, and love, Meg
mm1597@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Serenity Shoppe (a VERY COOL Recovery Gift Shop)
www.cafepress.com/serenity_shoppe

Ring Out The Old, Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/10/ringout.htm

Clubs in AA Are They With Us to Stay? by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/clubsandaa.html

Adequate Hospitalization: One Great Need by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/onegreatneed.html
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just for Today
August 23                          Decision making

"Before we got clean, most of our actions were guided by impulse. Today,
we are not locked into this type of thinking." Basic Text, p. 87

     Life is a series of decisions, actions, and consequences,. When we were
using, our decisions were usually driven by our disease, resulting in
self-destructive actions and dire consequences. We came to see decision
making as a rigged game, one we should play as little as possible.

  Given that, many of us have great difficulty learning to make decisions
in recovery. Slowly, by working the Twelve Steps, we gain practice in
making healthy decisions, ones that give positive results. Where our
disease once affected our will and our lives, we ask our Higher Power to
care for us. We inventory our values and our actions, check our findings
with someone we trust, and ask the God of our understanding to remove
our shortcomings. In working the steps we gain freedom from the
influence of our disease, and we learn principles of decision making
that can guide us in all our affairs.

  Today, our decisions and their consequences need not be influenced by
our disease. Our fate gives us the courage and direction to make good
decisions and the strength to act on them. The result of that kind of
decision making is a life worth living.

Just for today: I will use the principles of the Twelve Steps to make
healthy decisions. I will ask my Higher Power for the strength to act on
those decisions.

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:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
LIVING OUR AMENDS

"Years of living with an alcoholic is almost sure to make any wife or child
neurotic.  The entire family is, to some extent, ill"
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 122

It is important for me to realize that, as an alcoholic, I not only hurt
myself, but also those around me.  Making amends to my family, and to the
families of alcoholics still suffering, will always be
important.  Understanding the havoc I created and trying to repair the
destruction, will be a lifelong endeavor.  The example of my sobriety may
give others hope, and faith to help themselves.

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

"We who have accepted the A.A. principles have been faced
with the necessity for a thorough personal housecleaning.
We must face and be rid of the things in ourselves that have
been blocking us.  We therefore take a personal inventory.
We take stock honestly.  We search out the flaws in our
make-up that caused our failure.  Resentment is the number
one offender.  Life that includes deep resentment leads only
to futility and unhappiness.  If we are to live, we must be free
of anger."  Am I free of resentment and anger?

Meditation for the Day

Keep in mind the goal you are striving for, the good life you
are trying to attain.  Do not let little things divert you from
the path.  Do not be overcome by the small trials and vexations
of each day.  Try to see the purpose and plan to which all is
leading.  If, when climbing a mountain, you keep your eyes on
each stony or difficult place, how weary is your climb.  But if
you think of each step as leading to the summit of achievement
from which a glorious landscape will open out before you, then
your climb will be endurable and you will achieve your goal.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may realize that life without a goal is futile.  I pray
that I may find the good life worth striving for.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In~Between

Sometimes, to get from where we are to where we are going,
we have to be willing to be in-between.

One of the hardest parts of recovery is the concept of letting go
of what is old and familiar, but what we don't want,
and being willing to stand with our hands empty
while we wait for God to fill them.

This may apply to feelings.
We may have been full of hurt and anger.
In some ways, these feelings may have become comfortably familiar.
When we finally face and relinquish our grief, we may feel empty for a time.
We are in between pain and the joy of serenity and acceptance.

Being in-between can apply to many areas of life and recovery.
We can be in between jobs,
careers, homes, or goals.
We can be in between behaviors as we let go of old
and are not certain what we will replace it with.
This can apply to behaviors that have protected
and served us well all of our life,
such as care taking and controlling.

We may have many feelings going on when we're in-between:
spurts of grief about what we have let go of or lost,
and feelings of anxiety, fear, and apprehension about what's ahead.
These are normal feelings for the in-between place.
Accept them.
Feel them.
Release them.

Being in-between isn't fun, but necessary.
It will not last forever.
It may feel like we're standing still,
but we're not.
We're standing at the in-between place.
It's how we get from here to there.
It's not the destination.

We are moving forward, even when we're in-between.

Today, I will accept where I am as the ideal place for me to be.
If I am in-between, I will strive for the faith
that this place is not without purpose, that
it is moving me toward something good.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Witness, Self-Realization, Growth, Ascension
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/October/pressman.htm
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Being True to Yourself
by Osho

"When you are saying that you are happy and you are not, there will be a
disturbance in your breathing. Your breathing cannot be natural. It is
impossible." -- Osho

You cannot avoid truth. It is better to face it, it is better to accept it,
it is better to live it. Once you start living a life of truth,
authenticity -- of your original face -- all troubles by and by disappear
because the conflict drops and you are no more divided. Your voice has a
unity then, your whole being becomes an orchestra. Right now, when you say
something, your body says something else; when your tongue says something,
your eyes go on saying something else simultaneously.

Many times people come to me and I ask them, "How are you?" And they say,
"We are very, very happy." And I cannot believe it because their faces are
so dull -- no joy, no delight! Their eyes have no shining in them, no light.
And when they say, "We are happy," even the word 'happy' does not sound very
happy. It sounds as if they are dragging it. Their tone, their voice, their
face, the way they are sitting or standing -- everything belies it, says
something else. Start watching people. When they say that they are happy,
watch. Watch for a clue. Are they really happy? And immediately you will be
aware that some part of them is saying something else.

And then by and by watch yourself. When you are saying that you are happy
and you are not, there will be a disturbance in your breathing. Your
breathing cannot be natural. It is impossible. Because the truth was that
you were not happy. If you had said, "I am unhappy," your breathing would
have remained natural. There was no conflict. But you said, "I am happy."
Immediately you are repressing something -- something that was coming up,
you have forced down. In this very effort your breathing changes its rhythm;
it is no longer rhythmical. Your face is no longer graceful, your eyes
become cunning.

First watch others because it will be easier to watch others. You can be
more objective about them. And when you have found clues about them use the
same clues about yourself. And see -- when you speak truth, your voice has a
musical tone to it; when you speak untruth, something is there like a
jarring note. When you speak truth you are one, together; when you speak
untruth you are not together, a conflict has arisen.

Watch these subtle phenomena, because they are the consequence of
togetherness or untogetherness. Whenever you are together, not falling
apart; whenever you are one, in unison, suddenly you will see you are happy.
That is the meaning of the word 'yoga'. That's what we mean by a yogi: one
who is together, in unison; whose parts are all interrelated and not
contradictory, interdependent, not in conflict, at rest with each other. A
great friendship exists within his being. He is whole.

Sometimes it happens that you become one, in some rare moment. Watch the
ocean, the tremendous wildness of it -- and suddenly you forget your split,
your schizophrenia; you relax. Or, moving in the Himalayas, seeing the
virgin snow on the Himalaya peaks, suddenly a coolness surrounds you and you
need not be false because there is no other human being to be false to. You
fall together. Or, listening to beautiful music, you fall together.

Whenever, in whatsoever situation, you become one, a peace, a happiness, a
bliss, surrounds you, arises in you. You feel fulfilled.

There is no need to wait for these moments -- these moments can become your
natural life. These extraordinary moments can become ordinary moments --
that is the whole effort of Zen. You can live an extraordinary life in a
very ordinary life: cutting wood, chopping wood, carrying water from the
well, you can be tremendously at ease with yourself. Cleaning the floor,
cooking food, washing the clothes, you can be perfectly at ease -- because
the whole question is of you doing your action totally, enjoying, delighting
in it.

About The Author
Osho is one of the most provocative spiritual teachers of the 20th century.
Beginning in the 1970s he captured the attention of young people from the
West who wanted to experience meditation and transformation. Even since his
death in 1990, the influence of his teachings continues to expand, reaching
seekers of all ages in virtually every country of the world. © Osho
International Foundation. All rights reserved. For more information, visit
www.osho.org where these is an "Ask Osho" section where people can write
their question and the web editors will find the nearest answer to the
question from Osho, who has answered thousands of questions from seekers
over the years.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Redirection

Wanted: straight path towards full attainment
of all dreams, all goals
Must have acceptable landscape
Must have exceptional accompaniment
Must be spontaneous instant happening
Final perfection/ending a must
All these and more ~ in order to finally
decide to "be happy" ...

Know those desires?
Un-do-able

Redirect
Attainable human possibilities
are at hand
always
seek those
make friends with the imperfect
the lateness of flight arrivals
the lack of explicit desired details
dreams are attainable
ask
and you shall receive

Redirect Towards:
understanding  peace  serenity
acceptance  calmness  patience
all   universe  God   faith   needs
All compatible
All at fingertip distance
All in one's heart
Now

Love
Stella

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Surrender To Acceptance

Itąs time for bed
Time to wink
Time to shut down
All I think
Itąs time for bed
Time to pray
And thank God for
Another day

Itąs time for bed
No more to write
Itąs time for bed
Shut out the light
Itąs time for bed
Time to dream
Itąs time for God
To redeem
My tired low
Self esteem

While Iąm asleep
With every breath
In comes life
And out with death
Cleansing my every
Worldly thought
Incoming visions
Of all Iąve sought
Surrendering every
Fight Iąve fought

Acceptance of all
As it should be
Surrendering to acceptance
Is what sets me free
And sometime sleeping
Is the only key


Mark Thomas Spitler
Printed with Permission
June 20th 1997 ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bad weather always looks worse through a window.
Source Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There are many paths to the top of the mountain,
but the view is always the same.
Chinese Proverb
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
And today?
Today is a gift.
That's why we call it The Present.
Babatunde Olatunji
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"A man's mind may be likened to a garden,
which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild;
but whether cultivated or neglected,
it must, and will, bring forth.
If no useful seeds are put into it,
then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein,
and will continue to produce their kind."
James J. Allen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I affirm my worth and goodness
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I am a loving person
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I no longer feel the need to control others
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I will be who I am
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Be You
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Love is a fact, not a feeling
Love is a behavior
If I say I love you I act like I love you ! ! !
*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
www,health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

The email will now be coming in Black and White (no html)
as it seems there are less AOL bouncing emails for now.

Sponsee's Lament

Said the sponsee to his sponsor
while working his steps one night,
"I keep following your suggestions,
but something's still not right.
I keep relapsing, my life's chaotic,
in fact, its a living hell."
Said the sponsor, "maybe those addicts were right
when they said I shouldn't sponsor myself!"

the meat of this story is sad, but true. he had a fool
for a sponsor---now how about you?

written by ~ John H
Johnh94@...

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 22
Today I accept all responsibilities of my life.
It feels good to know that I am in charge of my life
and can accept the outcome of my decisions.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Eyes of an Addict

  When I look in the eyes of an addict
  I see heartache, struggle and pain.
  Locked deep in those eyes is someone
  who desperately wants to be sane.
  When I look in the eyes of an addict
  I see love, sorrow, and hate.
  I never thought I'd be behind those eyes,
  I believed whatever happened was fate.
  How I got there I don't remember,
  How I get back I don't know.
  I just got tired of getting so high
  and coming down so low.
  When I look in the eyes of an addict
  I see brothers, sisters, and friends.
  I look at these people with gratitude,
  because these strangers unconditionally let me in.
  They have become a family to me,
  One I hope I never destroy.
  And on this path, one day I'll have a life I can enjoy.

  Brad Hollis
  bradhollis@...

Hope you liked it. I wrote it when I first got clean.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Serenity Shoppe (a VERY COOL Recovery Gift Shop)
www.cafepress.com/serenity_shoppe

Psych Tests
www.psychtests.com/

Personality Test
www.cs.ucr.edu/~chua/test/test.html

Love Test
www.lovetest.com/

I.Q. Test
www.universityoflife.com/serious.htm

Will AA Ever Have a Personal Government?, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/personal_government.html

Dangers in Linking AA To Other Projects, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/aaprojectdanger.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for Today
August 22                       Contribution

"We recognize our spiritual growth when we are able to reach out
and help others." Basic Text, p. 56

     To make a difference in the world, to contribute something special,
is perhaps the highest aspiration of the human heart. Each one of us,
no matter what our personal makeup, has a unique quality to offer.

  Chances are that at some time in our recovery we met someone who
reached us when no one else could. Whether it was someone who made
us laugh at our first meeting, a warm and compassionate sponsor, or an
understanding friend who supported us through an emotional storm,
that person made all the difference in the world.

  All of us have had the gift of recovery shared with us by another
recovering addict. For that, we are grateful. We express our
gratitude by sharing freely with others what was given to us. The
individual message we carry may help a newcomer only we can reach.

  There are many ways to serve our fellowship. Each of us will find that
we do some things better than others, but all service work is equally
important. If we are willing to serve, we're sure to find that
particular way to contribute that's right for us.

Just for today: My contribution makes a difference. I will offer a
helping hand today.

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:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A PRAYER FOR ALL SEASONS

God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,  Courage
to change the things we can, And wisdom to know the difference.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 125

The power of this prayer is overwhelming in that its simple beauty
parallels the A.A. Fellowship. There are times when I get stuck while
reciting it, but if I examine the section which is troubling me, I find the
answer to my problem. The first time this happened I was scared, but now I
use it as a valuable tool.  By accepting  life as it is, I gain serenity.
By taking action, I gain courage and I thank God for the ability to
distinguish between those situations I can work on, and those I must turn
over.  All that I have now is a gift from God: my life, my usefulness, my
contentment, and this program. The serenity enables me to continue walking
forward.

Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 22nd

A.A. Thought for the Day

"Those who do not recover are people who are constitutionally
incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such
unfortunates. They are not at fault. They seem to be born
that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and
developing a manner of living that demands rigorous honesty.
Their changes are less than average. There are those, too,
who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but
many of them do recover, if they have the capacity to be
honest." Am I completely honest with myself and with other
people?

Meditation for the Day

You can make use of your mistakes, failures, losses, and
sufferings. It is not what happens to you so much as what
use you make of it. Take your sufferings, difficulties, and
hardships and make use of them to help some unfortunate
soul who is faced with the same troubles. Then something
good will come out of your suffering and the world will be
a better place because of it. The good you do each day will
live on, after the trouble and distress have gone, after the
difficulty and the pain have passed away.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may make good use of my mistakes and failures.
I pray that some good may result from my painful experiences.

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

Accepting Powerlessness

Since I've been a child, I've been in an antagonistic relationship with
an important emotional part of myself: my feelings.
I have consistently tried to either ignore,
repress, or force my feelings away.
I have tried to create unnatural feelings
or force away feelings that were present.

I've denied I was angry, when in fact I was furious.
I have told myself there must be something wrong with me for feeling
angry, when anger was a reasonable and logical response to the situation.

I have told myself things didn't hurt,
when they hurt very much.
I have told myself stories such as
"That person didn't mean to hurt me."...
"He or she doesn't know any better."...
"I need to be more understanding."
The problem was that I had already
been too understanding of the other person
and not understanding and compassionate
enough with myself.

It has not just been the large feelings
I have been at war with;
I have been battling the whole emotional aspect of myself.
I have tried to use spiritual energy, mental energy,
and even physical exertion to not feel
what I need to feel to be healthy and alive.

I didn't succeed at my attempts to control emotions.
Emotional control has been a survival behavior for me.
I can thank that behavior for helping me get through
many years and situations where
I didn't have any better options.
But I have learned a healthier behavior
-- accepting my feelings.

We are meant to feel.
Part of our dysfunction is trying to deny or change that.
Part of our recovery means learning
to go with the flow of what we're feeling
and what our feelings are trying to tell us.

We are responsible for our behaviors,
but we do not have to control our feelings.
We can let them happen.
We can learn to embrace, enjoy,
and experience -- feel --
the emotional part of ourselves.

Today, I will stop trying to force and control my emotions.
Instead, I will give power and freedom to the emotional part of
myself.

Melody Beattie ©

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

No Small Meetings, Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/October/cohen.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giving All Of Yourself
by Alan Cohen

A spiritual teacher told me of two students who were seeking the one place
left in a small-group week-long seminar. "One student was very wealthy, yet
he tried to bargain for a half-price payment of $500," the teacher told me.
"The other student had only $20."

"So which one did you take?" I asked.

"We accepted the student who offered $20."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Because she offered everything," the teacher answered.

It is not so important how much we give; it is how we give that counts. If
you have a lot, but offer a little, you have given little. If you have a
little, but give it all, you have given much. Our actions are real not for
their outer form, but for our energy and intentions behind the actions.

A Course in Miracles asks us to affirm, "I will not value what is
valueless." Things are valueless in and of themselves. The love we give in
association with things, or by itself, is ultimately valuable.

The story is told of a poet who went to see a doctor. The poet said, "I have
all kinds of terrible symptoms. I am unhappy and uncomfortable, my hair and
my arms and legs are as if tortured."

The doctor answered," Is it not true that you have not yet given out your
latest poetic composition?"

"That is true," said the poet.

"Very well," said the physician. "Be good enough to recite."

He did so, and at the doctor's order, said his lines again and again. Then
the doctors said, "Stand up, for you are now cured. What you had inside had
affected your outside. Now that it is released, you are well again."

In your work, your friendships, and relationships, are you giving just a
part of yourself, or are you giving all of yourself? Are you sharing from
the depths of your soul, or are you accommodating? Are you doing what you
came here to do, or are you doing what is expected of you? When you go to
sleep at night, have you lived a day in accord with your vision, or have you
worshipped at the altar of fear? Are you giving wholly of your true self, or
partly of a false self?

Recently I met a famous teacher who is very busy. He has many students and
media people tugging at him, and he is able to meet with individuals for
just a few moments or minutes. When I spoke to him, however, he was really
with me. He looked me squarely in the eye, gave me his full attention, and
listened and responded clearly and lovingly to exactly what I was saying.
Though I spoke to him only briefly, I felt very loved and very fulfilled.
Even in a few moments, he gave me everything.

Kahlil Gibran affirmed:

  Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

  Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

  For love is sufficient unto love. . .

  Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself...

  To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of
loving... And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and
a song of praise upon your lips.

  About The Author:
  Alan Cohen is the author of many 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Reveal Your True Colours

Is it so hard to live from the heart?
Getting to the point of being
who you are meant to be
is a long slow process, with spurts of rapid progress
scattered here and there and in between

The only sure journey
we each must undertake
begins slowly as we listen
to our heart's unique calling
and defy all expectations others may have of us

Go within and touch the child of your past:
Listen to what needs listening to
And mourn what needs to be left behind
Tears promote the healing of raw issues
Rewrite your core beliefs so they
become attuned to reality

Go further within and embrace your personal power
Find your Grown-Up's courage, passion, confidence
Define the meanings that infuse
your life with regeneration
Walk your own path with humility, honesty
and highest truth

Lastly, bring your true colours to the world
Integrate your calling ~ your life's meaning ~
into the tapestry that is our common goal
This is our undeniable relatedness to each other
Your contribution forms a brilliant addition
Never forget that
Form your unique combination and
Live your heart in all its passionate colours!

Love
Stella

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

To Louise

An Angel
she sits in  regal majesty
dignified
loving
gentle
Eyes dance, sparkling in the knowing,
knowing that the end comes
A peace
settles over the hush of silence
no words spoken
no words needed
just the quiet knowing that
all is well
all is
I saw my friend today
she smiled
a serenity
oozing from the depths of her soul
she saw
my fear
she smiled
the fear departed
she saw my tears
she cried
the tears vanished
Ah, my friend
too soon
we leave
so little time we have
here
the earth moves around us
time lingers on
yet
in our busyness let's
pause...reflect...love
be
simply be
I love you Louise.......Thalia

I thought I might share
my poem with you to my friend Louise who made
her transition in November of 1996
copyright November 1996
Thalia
IAmThalia@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Start

If you wake up
You have a new start
If you choose God
With an open heart

Should troubles come
Then drag you down
Say a prayer
Then turn around

Only you can start your day
Over and over
I choose to say
Help me God
To do right
Today

Go somewhere quiet
Close your eyes
Start you day over
Then realize

You are in control
Of how you feel
How you perceive
Just what is real

So should you be down
And feeling blue
Have you allowed others
To get next to you

Go to the rest room
Say a prayer
Ask God to lift you
An make you aware

Ask for a new start
To your day
To start over
You have
To pray

Daniel M Corkery
4/17/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Suffering is good, in that it constitutes
a recognition of inner conflict.
Without such recognition,
there can be no resolution of problems.
Sri Kriyananda

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Service is the highest activity to which we can aspire.
Albert Schweitzer wrote: "I do not know what path in life you will take,
but I do know this: If, on that path, you do not find a way to serve,
you will never be happy."
We are not alone.
We are part of something bigger,
and we experience the connection by giving with grace
a portion of our time and talent to service.
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

All we need to do is allow more joy and love into our experience.
We need to really choose it,
to allow ourselves to feel it,
paying attention, choosing to be alive and to be kind;
allowing ourselves to feel and to be nurtured
by the natural order of the Spirit of God.
When we choose and allow it,
the dramas fall away and dissolve.
Patricia Sun

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There are only two lasting bequests
we can hope to give our children:
one of these is roots,
the other is wings.
Hodding Carter

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am loved

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I have many talents

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am not a victim

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I look forward to each new day

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Peace is a practice, not a hope.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*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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or go to the website and unsubscribe
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

Reality can be hell when you're only visiting.

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 21
God is guiding me in all my thoughts and plans and actions.
I have given up all my struggling and self-defeating
messages and have turned over all my thoughts
to the power and energy of goodness and love.
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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Precious Gift

A precious gift is given us,
This gift of endless Grace.
For there is nothing we must do,
As it shines upon our face.
So undeserved this present,
As we live this very hour.
A gift to us eternal,
Sent from our Higher Power.
The only way we keep it,
is to give this gift away.
Loving every thing that be,
Only for today.
So gladly let us give it,
Saying thanks with every breath,
and shine forth with each morning sun,
Even unto death.

Rebecca Ann Bowlin
rbowlin14@...
Copyright ©2002 Rebecca Bowlin

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Serenity Shoppe (a VERY COOL Recovery Gift Shop)
www.cafepress.com/serenity_shoppe

Chicken Soup For The Soul
www.soupserver.com

Safe Use Of Money, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/money_use.html

Who Is a Member of Alcoholics Anonymous?, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/who_member.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for Today
August 21                            Friendships

"Our friendships become deep, and we experience the warmth and
caring which results from addicts sharing recovery and a new life."
IP No. 19, "Self-Acceptance"

     Most of us come to Narcotics Anonymous with few genuine friends. And
most of us arrive without the slightest understanding of what it takes
to build lasting friendships. Over time, though, we learn that
friendships require work. At one time or another, all friendships are
challenging. Like any relationship, friendship is a learning process.

  Our friends love us enough to tell us the truth about ourselves. The old
saying, " The truth will set you free, but first it will make you
furious," seems especially true in friendship. This can make friendships
awkward. We may find ourselves avoiding certain meetings rather than
facing our friends. We have found, though, that friends speak out of
concern for us. They want the best for us. Our friends accept us despite
our shortcomings. They understand that we are still a work in progress.

  Friends are there for us when we're not there for ourselves. Friends
help us gain valuable perspective on the events in our lives and our
recovery. It is important that we actively cultivate friendships, for we
have learned that we cannot recover alone.

Just for today: I will be grateful for the friends I have. I will take
an active part in my friendships.

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:
"Since we canąt "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
  anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FORMING TRUE PARTNERSHIPS

But it is from our twisted relations with family, friends, and society at
large that many of us have suffered the most.  We have been especially
stupid and stubborn about them.  The primary fact that we fail to recognize
is our total inability to form a true partnership with another human being.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 53

Can these words apply to me, am I still unable to form a true partnership
with another human being? What a terrible handicap that would be for me to
carry into my sober life!  In my sobriety I will meditate and pray to
discover how I may be a trusted friend and companion.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/August 21st

A.A. Thought for the Day

"Who are you to say there is no God?  This challenge comes
to all of us.  Are we capable of denying that there is a design
and purpose in all of life as we know it?  Or are we willing to
admit that faith in some kind of Divine Principle is a part of
our make-up, just as much as the feeling we have for a friend?
We find a great Reality deep down within us, if we face
ourselves as we really are.  In the last analysis, it is only
there that God may be found.  When we find this Reality
within us, we are restored to our right minds."  Have I found
the great Reality?

Meditation for the Day

"Behold, I make all things new."  When you change to a new
way of life, you leave many things behind you.  It is only the
earth-bound spirit that cannot soar.  Loosen somewhat the
strands that tie you to the earth.  It is only the earthly
desires that bind you.  Your new freedom will depend on your
ability to rise above earthly things.  Clipped wings can grow
again.  Broken wings can regain a strength and beauty unknown
before.  If you will, you can be released and free.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may be freed from things that hold me down.  I
pray that my spirit may soar in 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Letting Go of Resistance

Do not be in such a hurry to move on.
Relax. Breathe deeply. Be.
Be in harmony today.
Be open.
There is beauty around and in us today.
There is purpose and meaning in today.

There is importance in today - not so such much in what happens to us,
but in how we respond.

Let today happen.
We learn our lessons, we work things out,
we change in a simple fashion:
by living our life fully today.

Do not worry about tomorrow's feelings,
problems, or gifts.
Do not worry about whether we can trust ourselves, life,
or our Higher Power tomorrow.

Everything we need today shall be given to us.
That is a promise - from God,
from the Universe.

Feel today's feelings. Solve today's problems.
Enjoy today's gifts.
Trust yourself, life, and your
Higher Power today.

Acquire the art of living fully today.
Absorb the lessons, the healing, the beauty,
the love available to us today.

Do not be in such a rush to move on.
There is no hurry.
We cannot escape; we only postpone.
Let the feelings go;
breathe in peace and healing.

Do not be in such a hurry to move on.

Today, I will not run from myself, my circumstances, or feelings.
I will be open to myself, others, my Higher Power, and life.
I will trust that by facing today to the best of my ability,
I will acquire the skills I need to face tomorrow.

Melody Beattie ©

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nature as Mirror
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/October/feature2.htm

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

THE WONDROUS CHILD: A Transformation Tale
by Jessica North-O'Connell

A short story for adults in the Fairytale style...

   Once, long ago and very far away, there was a great dark Wood,
full of trees, lush grasses and many rare and unusual flowering plants.
This Wood was home to many wild things, insects and animals never
seen by human eyes. People did not often venture into this place as it
was rumored to be especially unfriendly to those who wished always
to control that which they beheld, and humans are generally so inclined.
Besides, it was so dark and foreboding that it did not have a particularly
inviting air about it.

   Nonetheless, there came one day to the Wood a couple, a man and a
woman, feeling perhaps a little adventurous and daring. They had heard
stories about the Wood from their parents and fellow townspeople but
this day they had decided that these stories were nothing but the
invention of idle imaginations and timid spirits dulled by the grind of
their workaday lives.

   Despite their bold demeanor, however, they found themselves
somewhat apprehensive as they approached the Wood, so dark and
unfriendly it seemed even to them. As they cautiously made their way
deeper and deeper in, they became more and more enthralled by the
wonders they began to see there. Soon they had forgotten their fears
and grew increasingly interested in the flora and fauna of the wood,
such marvelous things as they had never before witnessed. The flowers
seemed to have personalities, the animals seemed to be waiting for the
couple to start conversing with them. The trees seemed to whisper to
one another. The couple began to feel that they could understand what
it was the trees were saying.

   The couple started to notice what appeared to be golden light here
and there among the flowers and grasses, in the clearings between the
tree groups. At first they thought that sunlight was finding its way
into the Wood but soon realized that, while sunlight indeed was
filtering into the shadowy place, it was given its brilliance by reflection
and that indeed there was gold among the flowers and grasses.

   Overjoyed with their discovery, the couple exclaimed to one another
that this was the day of a great turn in their fortune. They decided to
take some of the gold with them when they left the Wood, not a lot but
just enough to ease their lives a little. They discussed how sudden
wealth might engender suspicion among their neighbors and family and,
besides, they could always return to the Wood to gather a little more
gold when the need arose.

   As they were gathering the gold and celebrating their discovery, one
of them chanced to look up thinking that she had heard a song some
distance away from where they were. A glittering of silver in the trees
overhead caught her eye. As she continued to listen and to look about in
the tree branches, to her amazement she saw silvery fruit appear. It
was as though the fruit grew instantaneously in response to the eerie
and mystical song which was floating through the Wood.

   Turning to her mate, the woman urged him to abandon the gathering of
the gold and to seek the source of the strange song which grew such
remarkable fruit. Together they ventured farther in, moving in the
direction of the musical sound. Soon they saw a child, as yet unaware
of them, stooping to touch the grasses and flowers and singing the
mysterious song. To their great astonishment, whatever the child
touched turned to gold and with every note the child sang there
appeared another silver fruit in the branches overhead.

   Now the couple had a child of their own, but only one and not so rare
a child as this! As they sat in amazement watching the Wondrous Child
of the Wood they soon grew the idea to entice this Child to return to
their home in the village. The Child was likely an orphan, they decided,
as there was not a stitch of clothing to be seen anywhere on the little
body. As to how the Child had managed to develop such a rare gift! Well,
that was anyone's guess, but the most practical idea at hand was to
provide the Child with a proper home and if they benefited from their
charity for the poor homeless creature, they reasoned, so much the
better. Who could fault them?

   About this time, the Child appeared to become aware of the couple's
presence and stopped to observe them with some interest. Seeing this,
the couple decided to take advantage of the situation to entice the
Child towards them. The woman picked a flower which was close at hand
and proffered it. The Child looked somewhat puzzled but, nonetheless,
approached the couple in such an unafraid manner that they became
more emboldened in their own actions and more confident in their
decision. Soon the Child and the couple were together in the Wood,
their laughter flying and the trees, the grasses and flowers and the
rare and lovely fauna echoed their joyous sounds.

   Soon the couple tired of the games and dropped upon the ground still
laughing in delight. The woman held out her hand to the Child and the
Child quite readily took hold of it, eyes shining and silvery peals of
laughter ringing into silvery fruit high in the branches overhead. The
woman reached up to touch the small face and smooth the tousled hair,
and the child smiled back in return.

   After awhile, the couple decided that it was time to return to their
village and to their lives there. They were resolute in their plans to
take the Wondrous Child with them and were somewhat surprised that
the Child offered no resistance whatsoever. The couple were overjoyed
with their sudden good luck and led the Child out of the Wood by the
hand, all the while talking about the comforts of family life which they
were prepared to offer. Although they could not be certain that the
Child understood a word they were saying, still they were encouraged
that the Child showed no resistance and frolicked along with them
holding their hands.

   It was dark when they finally arrived at their village home, after
collecting their own child from the house of a neighbor who had a child
about the same age. The evening was spent in the preparation of food,
the re-arranging of the house to accommodate another and the
recounting of the day's events to the couple's own child.

   Now this couple's own child, being of a jealous nature and sour
disposition, (perhaps because he was the child of the village eccentrics
and never allowed to forget the fact), was wary and not very welcoming
toward this intruder. He sensed this Child who caused his parents to
fuss so, barely paying attention to him, to be a threat to his already
miserable life. At least he had always been able to count on their
undivided attention before, even though the children of the village
were merciless in their teasing. Now suddenly there was an intruder
in his own home! He resolved then and there to share his torment with
this Child but surreptitiously so as not to risk invoking the ire of his
parents. When his parents were not watching, he glowered at the Child
and stuck out his tongue so that there could be no mistaking how he
felt. But imagine his dismay when his mother handed the child a plate
of food which promptly turned into gleaming gold! And when the
Wondrous Child joined in the laughter of the parents, three silver
apples appeared on the table before them. The couple's own child was
beside himself with rage and envy. Sitting across the table from the
Wondrous Child, he waited until their eyes met, glowered and delivered
a kick to the shin of the Wondrous Child who was so surprised by this
sudden act of hostility as to make no response.

   As time passed, the child's hostility and acts of aggression grew. In
response, the Wondrous Child's song was stilled and less and less silver
and gold was produced. The couple, who at first enjoyed material
increase, noticed this decrease in production and, because they were
not aware of their own child's cruelty towards their ward, they
believed the lies their child invented to discredit the Wondrous Child.
Moreover, their neighbors, also deceived by the tales of the couple's
own child, began to complain about the neglect which the child
supposedly suffered because of the presence of the strange Child from
the Wood.

   Then a curious thing began to happen. The Wondrous Child, who had
been so fair of limb and of face, began to grow more and more deformed,
the once-lovely head growing disproportionately to the body which
appeared to shrivel and wither. This frightful occurrence only added to
the already wild stories which the couple's own child was telling the
neighbors and, of course, when people saw the deformed body of the
Wondrous Child they believed that the Child was truly an accursed
thing, a monster come from the forbidden Dark Wood to destroy their
orderly, if pedestrian, lives.

   Where once there was tolerance for the couple and sympathy for
their child,there was now only suspicion and mistrust. Whenever the
smallest misfortune befell any of the village folk, they would
immediately lay blame upon the couple and the Child from the Wood,
growing ever more hideous day by day. Finally, they began to organize
against the couple.

   Their own child was seized taken from their home and brought to live
with "moral" neighbors. There was talk among the villagers about how to
rid themselves of the blight which the couple had brought upon them.
One man demanded that they surround the couple's house, bar the
doors and burn it down with the three inside. It was decided that, while
it would be a quick solution, no one wanted to be the one to set torch to
the house. Another suggested was that they starve the occupants by
not allowing them to leave for market and not allowing anyone to bring
them sustenance of any kind. Eventually the couple's own stores would
be depleted. It was decided that this would take too long and no one
wanted to be responsible for entering the house to see if the
inhabitants had indeed perished. Besides, they feared that the
Wondrous Child might really be a deathless demon waiting to exact
revenge upon the villagers.

   Finally, it was decided that a delegation would be sent to the house
to order the removal of the Wondrous Child and its return to the
Dark Wood from whence it had come. A group of the heartiest men and
women formed and headed towards the couple's house, though not
without apprehension.

   When they arrived, they found the couple grieving and arguing, the
man shouting at the woman, accusing her of destroying their home and
family with her plan, the woman crying back that he, too, had agreed to
the plan and that it was he who had always been so hard on their own son
and now he was gone. Neither of them noticed the Wondrous Child who
was heaped in an unrecognizable lump of flesh, rather like a heart, in a
corner of the room next to the cauldron at the hearth. The mass of
flesh trembled and quivered without emitting a sound.

   Standing before the delegation, the woman tearfully said she
regretted the day she had ever set eyes on the Child from the Wood;
that the Child was, in fact, the source of all their troubles, that she
wished she had never encountered so evil a being, forgetting how she
had once laughed and frolicked with the Wondrous Child and shared in
the bounty of gold and silver which had been bequeathed. When the
villagers ordered the removal of the Child and its return to the Wood,
the couple were quick to agree, so glad for the charity of their
neighbors who did not demand a greater punishing of them.

   Just then the quivering fleshy heart which lay in the corner of the
room and which once had been the Wondrous Child of golden touch and
silver voice gave a wail and a sound like the splitting of the sky during a
storm. To the amazement of all who witnessed, the heart broke open
and out came a great golden Butterfly. The Butterfly hovered for a
moment above the heads of all those in the room then flew out of the
open door and back to the Great Dark Wood to join all the wild and
wonderful flora and fauna therein.

   And that is the story of the Wondrous Child, a heart waiting to be
broken and an wild spirit set free.

Copyright 1993, 2001 Jessica North-O'Connell

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

    Your children are not your children.
    They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
    They come through you but not from you,
    And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

    You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
    For they have their own thoughts.
    You may house their bodies but not their souls,
    For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit,
         not even in your dreams.
    You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
    For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
    You are the bows from which your children
         as living arrows are sent forth.
    The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
         and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and
far.
    Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
    For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
         so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Kahlil Gibran, THE PROPHET

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Blessings

When you find yourself holding something
you've wanted for a very long time
That is a Blessing

When your mornings kiss you
with enthusiastic expectations
That is a Blessing

When a dream comes around
for a second and even third time
That's a yearning from deep within

The Universe speaks in multiplicity:
Loud whispering its gifts onto your path
Giving sight to your blind denials
Only wishing you to see
Yearnings for the Blessings they can be

Love
Stella

© 2000 Stella Raymonde Savoie
Stella's monthly SoulZine features inspiration from articles,
meditations, affirmations, floral and herbal healers.  Join here:
www.she.soulopen.com
Looking for alternative healing?  Nutritional and Herbal help:
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/herbalmenopause

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

From time to time, we all feel a little disappointed
with our lives and perhaps the people in them.
We start questioning our daily routines;
a sense of loneliness touches our hearts,
and we wonder what life is really all about.
When you reach this point in your life,
take a moment and forget about what has gone before....
and start believing in what you really want today.
It is by redirecting our lives that
we can keep ourselves headed in the right direction,
and it is by standing still that we allow time to just pass us by.

It is looking at the sunrise or a sunset and appreciating its beauty for
ourselves that enables us to understand some of life's mysteries.
No two people see the word the same way,
nor do the think of feel or even experience
things around them with the same exact perception.

Don't try to mold yourself or your life into a design that isn't you;
rather, paint your days with all the colors you so desire
and enjoy the artwork that you alone can create.

Anonymous

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

BE AN ANGEL

Reach for the stars
Keep your halo polished
Share your favorite things with others
Plant a garden for the butterflies
Say something nice to someone everyday
Be patient with those who don't fly as fast as you do
Talk to the plants to help them grow
Always tell the truth
Think good thoughts
Sprinkle a little stardust wherever you go

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Look at the world through "soft eyes."
Hard eyes distinguish and judge,
noting the differences between ourselves and others.
Soft eyes discern instead our commonality,
the web of life that weaves itself through all humanity and nature.
  Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When we come out of a dark room into a bright sunshiny day,
we have to shield our eyes until they adjust to the light.
Spirit is like that light.
You move toward Spirit, but you can only go as far as you can endure
its brightness and fill yourself with that brightness
so you can then move on to the next level of brightness.
John-Roger
(From: Spiritual Warrior, The Art of Spiritual Living)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"There is nothing you need to get, find or acquire to be enlightened.
You don't need a teacher or a guru.
You don't need a priest or rabbi to intercede with God for you.
You don't need a special technique or meditation practice.
You don't need to memorize scripture
or engage in esoteric breathing practices.
Looking for spirituality outside of yourself is a dead end.
No teacher or preacher can give you the light.
They can give you a breathing technique or a mantra or a special prayer,
but they can't give you the light, because you already have it.
When you realize that no one else out there is more spiritual than you are
and you begin to turn your attention away from outer teachers,
you take the lid off the pot and you begin to smell the stew.
Suddenly, where there seemed only to be darkness, there is a flame burning.
That flame is your essence. It is the light within your heart.
It is intimately connected to the flame
within the heart of every single person on the planet.
When you see and attend to the flame within your heart,
you burture your connection to all beings,
and to God, the Great Being, which is manifest in all forms."
  Paul Ferrini

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Donąt use even if your ass falls off,
put your ass in a bag,
bring it to a meeting
and we will teach you how to sit up front and listen ! ! !

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Donąt work my program, or your program,
work łthe program˛

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Humility is not thinking less of yourself,
but thinking of yourself less

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Iąm really a very persuasive person;
I can convince myself of anything

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can lie to you well,
I lie to me PERFECTLY

*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
www,health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Adult Children of Alcoholics
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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:
www.groups-beta.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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

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

Denial is not a river in Egypt !

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new, What does it mean when they say
"The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting. "
Talk about reservations -- the ones you had -- and the fear of ones you may
still have.
to share please visit
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Please Be There For The Newcomers*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
August 20
Today I am beginning to experience all that I am,
a unique and interdependent human being.
I feel unique and alive and unlimited.
I am free to experience love and 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 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
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She Did Not Fall

Friends, family, loved ones all
The girl did rise, she did not fall
when her soul gave sweet release
upon her face was perfect peace
all the pain of her short life
abusive relationships, addiction, strife
the destructive turns that she did choose...
were all for naught, for she did not lose
in the end, she gained it all
for up she rose, she did not fall
and we that have been touched by her love
can see her smile forever, in the clouds above
for knowing her, I'm able to stand tall
this girl that rose and did not fall
she helped me be a better man
taught me how to lend a hand
she loved us all, only asked in return
that we share in this miracle that she had learned
that we are all one, joined at the heart
every river flowing from one tiny start
that if we could laugh, share a joke with a friend
what we'd thought was so bad, wasn't much in the end
that time is an instant, gone before it was here
so hold fast every moment, every loved one so dear
I could write for forever, and still not tell all
the lessons I'd learned from the one who'd not fall
so I'll just say with a sigh as I close
I love you, Theresa, the angel who rose.

My dear friend Theresa passed away at 2:15 am on the
morning of the 19th of August, 2002. I would say that
I miss her, but she is all around, unbound from the
shackles that gravity and distance had bound her with.
She's with you right now too...welcome her, and pray
that her family can find peace, for they need comfort
and assurance right now.

I love you all, john
johnh94@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Love
www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=106

Serenity Shoppe (a VERY COOL Recovery Gift Shop)
www.cafepress.com/serenity_shoppe

Those 'Goof Balls', by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/goof_balls.html

A Tradition Born of Our Anonymity, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_born.html
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Just for Today
August 20                         Facing death

"Often we have to face some type of crisis during our recovery,
such as the death of a loved one ..." Basic Text, p. 98

     Every life has a beginning and an end. However, when someone we love
a great deal reaches the end of their life, we may have a very hard time
accepting their sudden, final absence. Our grief may be so powerful that
we fear it will completely overwhelm us-but it will not. Our sorrow may
hurt more than anything we can remember, but it will pass.
We need not run from the emotions that may arise from the death of
a loved one. Death and grieving are part of the fullness of living "life
on life's terms." By allowing ourselves the freedom to experience these
feelings, we partake more deeply of both our recovery and our human
nature.

Sometimes the reality of another's death makes our own mortality
that much more pronounced. We re-evaluate our priorities, appreciating
the loved ones still with us all the more. Our life, and our life with
them, will not go on forever. We want to make the most of what's most
important while it lasts.

We might find that the death of someone we love helps strengthen our
conscious contact with our Higher Power. If we remember that we can
always turn to that source of strength when we are troubled, we will
always be able to stay focused on it no matter what may be going on
around us.

Just for today: I will accept the loss of one I love and turn to my
Higher Power for the strength to accept my feelings. I will make the
most of my love for those in my life today.

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, What does it mean when they say
"The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting. "
Talk about reservations -- the ones you had -- and the fear of ones you may
still have.
to share please visit
to share please visit
www.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
www.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
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts

Daily Meditation for ALL 12 Steppers
www.open-mind.org/Daily/

Dr. Twerski's Sober Thought of the Day
www.gatewayrehab.org/August.html

NEED HELP Pick a topic Daily Meditation
www.hazelden.org/servlet/hazelden/thoughts/search.html
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
GIVING BACK

      . . . he has struck something better than gold . . . He may
not  see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode which will
pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life and insists on
giving away the entire product.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 129

My part of the Seventh Tradition means so much more than just giving money
to pay for the coffee. It means being accepted for myself by belonging to a
group.  For the first time I can be responsible,  because I have a choice.
I can learn the principles of working out problems in my daily life by
getting involved in the "business" of A.A.  By being self-supporting, I can
give back to A.A. what  A.A. gave to me!  Giving back to A.A. not only
ensures my own sobriety, but allows me to buy insurance that A.A. will be
here for my grandchildren.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 20th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"When many hundreds of people are able to say that the
consciousness of the presence of God is today the most
important fact of their lives, they present a powerful
reason why one should have faith.  When we see others
solve their problems by simple reliance upon some Spirit of
the universe, we have to stop doubting the power of God.
Our ideas did not work, but the God-idea does.  Deep down
in every man, woman, and child is the fundamental idea of
God.  Faith in a Power greater than ourselves and miraculous
demonstrations of that power in our lives are facts as old
as the human race." Am I willing to rely on the Spirit of
the universe?

Meditation for the Day

You should not dwell too much on the mistakes, faults, and
failures of the past.  Be done with shame and remorse and
contempt for yourself.  With God's help, develop a new
self-respect.  Unless you respect yourself, others will not
respect you.  You ran a race, you stumbled and fell, you have
risen again and now you press on toward the goal of a better
life.  Do not stay to examine the spot where you fell, only feel
sorry for the delay, the shortsightedness that prevented
you from seeing the real goal sooner.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may not look back.  I pray that I may keep picking
myself up and making a fresh start each day.

"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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Have Some Fun

Have some fun.  Loose up a bit. Enjoy life!
We do not have to be so somber and serious.
We do not have to be so reflective, so critical,
so bound up within ourselves, have placed around us.

This is life, not a funeral service.  Have some fun with it.
Enter into it.  Participate. Experiment. Take a risk.
Be spontaneous.  Don't always be so concerned about doing it right,
doing the appropriate thing.

Do not always be so concerned about what others will think or say.
What they think and say are their issues not ours.
Do not be afraid of making a mistake.
Do not be so fearful and proper.
Do not inhibit yourself so much.

God did not intend us to be so inhibited, so restricted, so controlled.
These repressive parameters are what other people have imposed on us,
what we have allowed to be done to us.

We were created fully human.
We were given emotions, desires, hopes, dreams, feelings.
There is an alive, excited, fun-loving child in us somewhere!
Let it have some fun -- not just for two hours on Saturday evening.
Bring it with us, let it help us enjoy this gift of being alive,
being fully human, and being who we are!

So many rules.  So much shame we've lived with.
It simply isn't necessary. We have brainwashed.
It is time now to free ourselves, let ourselves go,
and enter fully into a full life.

Don't worry.  We will learn our lessons when necessary.
We have learned discipline. We will not go awry.
What will happen is that we will begin enjoying life.
We will begin enjoying and experiencing our whole self.
We can trust ourselves.  We have boundaries now.
We have program for a foundation.
We can afford to experiment and experience.
We are in touch with ourselves and our Higher Power.
We are being guided, but a frozen,
inanimate object cannot be guided, It cannot even be moved.

Have some fun.  Loosen up a bit.  Break a few rules.
We won't be punished by God.
We do not have to allow people to punish us.
And we can stop punishing ourselves.
As long as we're here and alive, let's begin to live.

Today, I will let myself have some fun with life.
I will loosen up a bit, knowing I won't crack and break.
God, help me let go of my need to be so inhibited, proper, and repressed.
Help me inject a big dose of life into myself
by letting myself be fully alive and human.

Melody Beattie ©
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Donąt Get Even, Get Odd!
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/October/feature1.htm

The Miracle of the Floating Fig, Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2000/03/alan.htm
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Anger as a Tool for Growth in Relationships
by Susie and Otto Collins

Everyone gets angry. Some people show it openly and others don't. If you are
one of those people who claim you don't get angry -- you're either not in
touch with your emotions or you are lying.

In relationship, anger can be either healthy or unhealthy. Anger is just an
emotion. How you process it is what determines whether it becomes a tool for
growth or a source of pain and destruction.

In this society anger is perceived as a negative emotion.  If you are a
person who expresses anger, society would tell you that you are someone who
can't control your emotions and can't control your behavior.  Most of us
suppress anger and deny it exists until it rears its ugly head.

In our relationship, we've found that it's always best to deal with any
anger that comes up right away.

In the past, Otto would always let resentments build and build until they
got out of control. Then he would just explode and end up saying things he
would end up regretting later. In his past relationships it wasn't safe for
him to express his true feelings.

Susie was taught that you should always be nice and there was no place for
anger. Her parents were never openly angry with one another. Angry feelings
to her meant something was wrong with her. Because she repressed her
feelings, she found them overwhelming and was not able to express what she
was experiencing.

All emotional feelings are signals that there is something in your life that
needs to be dealt with, and anger is one of those emotions. When anger comes
up, it is a signal that something in your life is out of balance and
incongruent with how you believe your world should be.

When anger comes up in our relationship, we choose to get to the root of the
problem and find out what's really going on. What we have found helpful is
to open up a dialog and just allow the person who is angry to express how
and why.

When you are angry, you need to take responsibility for it and not project
it onto someone else. Use "I" statements and be specific, such as "I am
really upset about you leaving your socks on the floor" instead of "You are
such a slob!"

The partner's job is to listen in a detached, non-judgmental way.   If this
sounds like a lot of work, you're right. This process takes trust and
practice but the reward is a relationship which is free of resentments.

Reacting quickly and honestly to angry emotions bypasses the tendency of
periodic explosions and tends to "clear the air" much like a spring rain.
When you defuse anger, you'll be able to bring back the connection and love
that you've lost in that moment.

Susan has learned not to run away from angry feelings, but that it is safe
to express them when they appear. Otto has found that when he expresses
anger, he is able to move past the anger and discover what he is really
upset about.

The lesson we have learned is that a foundation of safety and trust in the
relationship must be present to express or listen to anger from love instead
of fear. When you express or listen to anger from love instead of fear, the
relationship can experience growth... And the relationship usually deepens.

About The Authors:
Susie and Otto Collins are spiritual and Life partners who teach others how
to create outstanding relationships of all kinds. Susie and Otto regularly
write and present workshops on Spiritual Partnership: The new model for
relationships that really work. Their message comes straight from the heart,
their own experiences and from an intense study of other teachers and
writers on relationships. Visit their web site at
www.collinspartners.com and sign up for a FREE newsletter filled with
tools, tips and ideas on creating outstanding relationships and ideas to
help you on your spiritual path. They can be contacted by e-mail at
passion@... for more info about their work.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A Better Question
~ Virjinja ~

We ask, "What kind of car do you drive?"
A better question is...
"How many do you help transport to their highest and best?"

We ask, "What's the square footage of your house?"
A better question is...
"Is the door to your heart open?"

We ask, "Have you gotten the latest styles?"
A better question is...
"Do you see that no one you know goes without?"

We ask, "What is the level of success you've achieved?"
A better question is...
"Did you compromise your character to attain it?"

We ask, "What is your job title?"
A better question is...
"Are you fulfilling your purpose in life?"

We ask, "How many friends do you have?"
A better question is...
"What kind of friend are you?"

We ask, "Do you live in a good neighborhood?"
A better question is...
"Are you the good neighbor?"

We ask, "What is the meaning of life?
A better question is...
"How do you give thanks for life?"

We ask, "How do I get to know God?"
A better question is...
"How do I learn to love?"

We ask, "Will I go to heaven?"
A better question is...
"Is your living heavenly?"

We ask the routine questions.
Guess who is always asking a better one.

(Copyright ©  2003 ~ Virginia Santoro ~ All Rights Reserved)
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@...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
  "Forgiving your brother for his trespass on you
only helps him if it enables him to forgive himself.
Likewise, receiving your brother's forgiveness for your trespass on him
only helps you if it enables you to forgive yourself.
The forgiveness of others is necessary only if you believe that .
If you do, as most people do, making amends is important.
Asking others for forgiveness demonstrates that you are
ready to change your own mind about what happened.
That is an important first step in the process.
However, do not make the mistake of giving
your brother the "power" to forgive you.
This places power outside of yourself, where it can never be.
Ask for his forgiveness but, if he withholds it,
do not assume that forgiveness will never be yours.
Indeed, it is always yours.
Those who withhold forgiveness only withhold it from themselves."

Paul Ferrini
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I Took The Steps

My elevator is broke so I took the steps
I took them in the order they were laid out
They relieved my fear anger and doubt
First I surrendered and admitted defeat
Then I came to believe
God will help me get on my feet
Turned my will and my life
Over to my Higher Power
I found peace that very hour
I took a fearless and moral inventory
Admitted to myself God and my sponsor my story
I prayed to God to remove my defects
One and all
Because I do not want to fall
I made a list of my amends that I had to make
This was a big step for me to take
As I started to make amends
I had gotten many new friends
Before I was half way through
I was amazed
God had blessed me greatly that day
The last three steps keep me on course
To help me break free and not get lost

Daniel M Corkery
7/10/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Lord is my Sponsor

The Lord is my Sponsor I shall not want.
He maketh me to go to meetings.
He leadeth me to sit back, relax, and listen with an open mind.
He restoreth my soul, my sanity, and my health.
He leadeth me in the paths of recovery, serenity,
and the fellowship for mine own sake.
He teachest me to think, to take it easy, to live and let live,
and to do first things first.
He maketh me honest, humble and grateful.
He teaches me to accept things I cannot change,
to change the things that I can,
and giveth me wisdom to know the difference.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of despair, frustration, guilt,
and remorse, I will feel no evil, for Thou art with me;
The Program, thy way of life, the Twelve Steps, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Rationalization, fear, anxiety, self-pity, and resentments.
Thou anointest my confused mind and jangled nerves with knowledge,
understanding, and hope. No longer am I alone; neither am I afraid,
nor sick, nor helpless, nor hopeless.
My cup runneth over.
Surely recovery and serenity shall follow me every day of my life,
twenty-four hours at a time,
as I surrender my will to Thine and carry the message to others;
I will dwell in the house of my Higher Power,
as I understand him, Daily.
Forever and ever

author unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Happiness is an inside job.
Unknown
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Do you want to be happy or do you want to be right?
Gerald Jampolsky
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You are not responsible for the choices that others make,
nor are they responsible for yours.
However, you can and must learn from one another,
for what you choose is not that different
from the choice your brother makes.
You make many of the same mistakes.
Mistakes are opportunities for learning.
To condemn your brother for making mistakes
is to pretend to be mistake free, which you are not.
I have asked you before and I will ask you again:
which one of you will throw the first stone?"
  Paul Ferrini
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"In your silent moments of prayer
do not be afraid to ask for help.
If you want to remove fear and hatred
in the spirit of wanting peace, help will be forthcoming.
Place no restrictions on how that help is to show up in your life.
Simply ask honestly,
and when it does show up, give thanks."
Wayne Dyer
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A "coincidence" is a miracle
in which god chooses to remain anonymous
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If faith without works is dead;
willingness without action is fantasy
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There are none too dumb for the 12 step programs,
but many are too smart
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When you do all the talking
you only learn what you already know
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Put Gratitude In Your Attitude*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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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
www.AdultChildren.org

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

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

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

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
www.artsanonymous.org

Cluttererąs Anonymous
www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
www.crystalmeth.org

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

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

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
www.na.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
www.recovering-couples.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ż@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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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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   /_\/_\

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www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit

I woke up one day
And what did I see
My past was a blur
But it was all about me!
 
The clouds are slowly lifting
As the days go by
Now I look at my life
And ask why oh why.
 
I drank and I drugged
Until no end
I lived to get high
No matter what the consequence.
 
I'd steal, beg and borrow
Just to get high
I didn't even care
If someone had to die.
 
Crack cocaine took over my life
I gave the Devil my soul the very first night
I got stabbed 19 times and I almost died
I thought I was cool cause I put up a fight
 
Look at me now so fragile and weak
Weighing about 110
So tired I can barely speak
 
All I want to do
is sleep, sleep, sleep
Just wake me to eat
If I can get to my feet.
 
Now I've lost everything
I'm so alone
I look in the mirror and what do I see
Stitches and scars all over me.
 
As the days go by
The stronger I grow
I see a new person
That wants to be known.
 
I've hurt my family and kids
Until no end.
Drug's took over my life
I lived in sin.
 
I stole from my mother
and didn't care
Now I lay here in jail
And she's still there.
 
I want to be healed
From this life long disease
Dear God, Cleanse my heart
And please save me.
 
So Good-bye to you drug
Whatever it may be
Thank you Lord for healing me.
 
Lisa G. 5-16-04 written while serving time in Indian River Correctional Facility.  
Submitted with permission by her sponsor.