Step 3
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/steps2002/step03c.html
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/steps2003/step03.html
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/steps2004/step03.html

Please note, I will be out of the traveling to Reno NV on business
on 4/27 through 5/4 I will be sending ALL my emails into a
holding bin in Yahoogroups and Googlegroups they will be
dated and time stamped 4/27 and might appear in your email
box on 4/27 even though I will be releasing them for bulk mailing
on the day that is in the subject line. I apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause. PLEASE make sure to look
through your inbox carefully and you will find each days email
with an 4/24 time stamp .

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is May the 5th month, PLEASE share on the 5th step
If you haven’t done the 5th step with your sponsor
Please share on trust and integrity...

(((Family))) a BIG hug to you ALL
After writing the 4th step,
I shared my 5th step with my sponsor.
I know that they say you can share it with someone you trust,
a stranger, someone of clergy etc.
I have a different view on this...
A sponsor is someone who guides you in your recovery
If you choose to work the program.
If someone calls me and is looking for directions to get somewhere,
They cant just call me and say "Can you tell me how to get to Brooklyn?"
I have to know where you are at before I can tell you,
how to get to where you want to go.
The 5th step is very much like that...
For me, If my sponsor is the one that I am asking for
Good Orderly Direction from, then they need to know where I have been
and where I am at in order to support me in my journey.
When I finished my 4th step, it was the first thing
that I ever completed without cheating.
I got with my sponsor, we said a prayer
and I started to share with him, every once in a while
he would say something, share through identification or give me a hug.
When I finished, it was the first time one person knew the whole story.
I emerged from isolation, like a cocoon into a butterfly.
I was always fearful, that if you only knew who I was that you would
leave.
He was still there in support, emotionally and spiritually available
for me.
I learned I was not unique, he shared some of his story with me.
I learned what I did, was not who I was.
I learned I was not bad, but I was sick and
I could recover from this disease If I continued to work the steps.
I am grateful to be clean.
My gratitude speaks not in talking the talk,
but in walking the walk and being there for the next person.
This is such an exciting time in my life and in my recovery.
Spring has sprung in my heart,
The blessings are abundant and right before my eyes.
As my friend Mark K. used to say, "I am looking for the beauty"
In loving service,
Scott

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is May the 5th month, PLEASE share on the 5th step
If you haven’t done the 5th step with your sponsor
Please share on trust and integrity...

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

May 1
When I look within, I find that I have all that I need.
It feels wonderful to discover that
I already am the beautiful person that I would like to be.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

At Last….

God’s grace is all around me
God’s love is in my heart.
There’s hope for me just for today
And that’s a real good start.

I pray for love and laughter
An end to all my tears
I pray for courage to live this day
And let go of all my fears.

The steps are the solution
To the wreckage of my past.
I live the steps and start to change
And love myself at last.

Meg M.
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Eagles In A Storm
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=569

The PROPHET, by Kahlil Gibran
www.columbia.edu/~gm84/gibtable.html

Broken Toys
www.wscribe.com/parables/toys.html

Colors Of The Rainbow
www.wscribe.com/parables/rainbow.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
May 1                                Self-Worth and Service

Being involved in service makes me feel worthwhile."
    Basic Text, p. 212

When most of us arrived in Narcotics Anonymous, we had very little
self-worth left to salvage. Many members say that they began to develop
self-esteem through being of service early in their recovery. Something
just short of a miracle occurs when we begin to have a positive impact
on others' lives through our service efforts.

Most of us don't have a lot of experience, strength, or hope to share
at thirty days clean. In fact, some members will tell us in no uncertain
terms that what we can do best is listen. But at thirty days, we do
offer
something to that addict just coming into the rooms of NA, struggling to
get twenty-four hours clean. The very newest NA member, the one with
only the desire to stop using and none of the tools, can hardly imagine
anyone staying clean for a year, or two years, or ten. But he or she can
relate to those people with thirty days clean, picking up a keytag
with a
look of pride and disbelief emblazoned on their faces.

Service is something that is our unique gift—something that no one can
take away from us. We give, and we get. Through service, many of us
start on the sometimes long road back to becoming productive
members of society.

Just for today:  I will be grateful for the opportunity to be of
service.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Happiness Is Not The Point

I don't think happiness or unhappiness is the point.  How do we meet
the problems we face? How do we best learn from them and transmit
what we have learned to others, if they would receive the knowledge?
AS BILL SEES IT, p.  306

In my search "to be happy," I changed jobs, married and divorced, took
geographical cures, and ran myself into debt-financially, emotionally
and spiritually.  In A.A., I'm learning to grow up.  Instead of
demanding
that people, places and things make me happy, I can ask God for
self-acceptance.  When a problem overwhelms me, A.A.'s Twelve
Steps will help me grow through the pain.  The knowledge I gain can
be a gift to others who suffer with the same problem.  As Bill said,
"When pain comes, we are expected to learn from it willingly, and help
others to learn.  When happiness comes, we accept it as a gift, and
thank God for it."  (As Bill Sees It, p.  306)

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

The A.A. program is one of charity because the real meaning
of the word charity is to care enough about other people to
really want to help them. To get the full benefit of the program,
we must try to help other alcoholics. We may try to help
somebody and think we have failed, but the seed we have
planted may bear fruit some time. We never know the results
even a word of ours might have. But the main thing is to have
charity for others, a real desire to help them, whether we
succeed or not. Do I have real charity?

Meditation for the Day

All material things, the universe, the world, even our bodies,
may be Eternal Thought expressed in time and space. The
more the physicists and astronomers reduce matter, the
more it becomes a mathematical formula, which is thought.
In the final analysis, matter is thought. When Eternal Thought
expresses itself within the framework of space and time, it
becomes matter. Our thoughts, within the box of space and
time, cannot know anything firsthand, except material things.
But we can deduce that outside the box of space and time is
Eternal Thought, which we can call God.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be a true expression of Eternal Thought.
I pray that God's thoughts may work through my thoughts.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
MAY 01

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

Recovery Prayer

This prayer is based on a section of the Big Book of Alcoholics
Anonymous:

Thank you for keeping me straight yesterday. Please help me
stay straight
today.

For the next twenty-four hours, I pray for knowledge of Your
will for me only, and the power to carry that through.

Please free my thinking of self-will, self-seeking, dishonesty,
and wrong motives.

Send me the right thought, word, or action. Show me what my
next step should be. In times of doubt and indecision, please
send Your inspiration and guidance.

I ask that You might help me work through all my problems, to
Your glory and honor.

This prayer is a recovery prayer. It can take us through any
situation. In the days ahead, we'll explore the ideas in it. If we
pray this prayer, we can trust it has been answered with a yes.

Today, I will trust that God will do for me what I cannot do
for myself. I will do my part - working the Twelve Steps and
letting God do the rest.

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

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

Keeping Up With The Keys, By Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2005/05/alan-cohen.htm

Soulful Filled E-Cards
www.lightandcolor.org/soulful-cards/index.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

EVERYDAY SPIRITUALITY
Seven Ways to Connect With the Divine
by Lynn A. Robinson

Following are some suggestions for finding "Divine Moments" to
connect with the sacred in your daily life.

NATURE BREAK - Take a few moments to step outside, rain or shine,
and go for a short walk.  You may see an unusual cloud formation, a
resilient weed pressing up through the pavement, feel inspired by the
birds soaring in the sky, hear a child's laugh, or be especially
appreciative of the clean air you breathe.  Pay special attention to
the natural beauty and abundance that God has created all around you.

GRATITUDE PAUSE - We spend much of our lives waiting, whether it's
in line at the grocery store, standing in the elevator as we go to the
office, or in the car in a traffic jam.  When you find yourself with a
few moments on your hands, think silent thoughts of gratitude for all
that you have.

ROAD PEACE - Most people don't behave in a raging and abusive manner
if all is well in their lives.  The Course in Miracles makes a
statement, "Today I will see all anger as a request for love." Imagine
sending love to the harried driver who cut you off on your way to
work.  See him or her as needing your compassion rather than
retaliation.

MORNING BLESSINGS - Before you open your eyes in the morning,
envision the day to come.  Pray that you speak, think, and act with
love and wisdom throughout the day.

ANGEL BLESSINGS - You probably know someone at your office or in
your neighborhood who is down on their luck.  Perhaps they've been
experiencing ill health, are caring for a sick family member, or
perhaps they have experienced a recent financial crisis.  What could
you provide that would be helpful to this person?  Giving doesn't need
to cost money.  You could shovel a driveway, rake leaves, provide a
meal, offer to baby-sit, drive them to an appointment, shop for their
groceries, or simply offer a listening ear.

CHECKBOOK FAITH  - Paying bills each month creates anxiety for many
people.  Use it as an opportunity to build your faith by making a
donation to someone less fortunate. Here's an affirmation to bring to
mind as you write the check, "I freely give, knowing that as I do I am
opening myself to God's rich abundance."  There is a spiritual cycle
of giving and receiving.  As you freely give, you open yourself to
receive.

INTUITION INTERLUDE  - Next time you find yourself fraught with
anxiety, check in with your Divine guidance.  Get in the habit of
asking questions of your intuition and expecting a reply. You might
ask, "What could I do to feel calmer about the meeting this
afternoon?" In response, you get an image of a quiet lunch in the park
by your office coming to mind.  That is one of the ways your intuition
responds - through images.  Your intuition is connected to a higher
wisdom that always knows what you need.  It will always lead you to
peace, love, forgiveness, gratitude and faith.


Copyright (c) 2003, all rights reserved. Permission is granted to
reproduce, copy or distribute these articles as long as this
copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is
attached.

The author of these articles is Lynn A. Robinson, M.Ed. Lynn is one
of the nation's leading experts on the topic of intuition. Her most
recent books include "Compass of the Soul: 52 Ways Intuition Can Guide
You to the Life of Your Dreams" (Andrews McMeel, 2003) and "Divine
Intuition: Your Guide to Creating a Life You Love" (DK Books, 2001).
Lynn is a popular and widely recognized author and motivational
speaker as well as a columnist and the Intuition-At-Work Expert for
iVillage.com. www.LynnRobinson.com

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

More Life with Little

Living by little increments
extracts meaning
allows for change to replace the expected
there's a certain kindness in that

Little steps work better than long strides
for in the running you may miss
the surrounding landscape you may miss
the important stuff
walking allows for the flow of images to come in
to sit, simmer and stay for awhile

Little knowings make someone else's life
become more familiar bit by bit
better not try to assimilate all at once
and jump to conclusions
Little sharings open up the heart one layer at a time
and let in the humanity ~ tender, raw, truthful
Little moments to exchange a touch, a smile
to build upon larger things
acceptance perhaps

Great joys come from little seeds
and little kinds of giving
Rejoice in little patches of freedom along the river
Rejoice in little glimmers of reflections on the water
they make the promise of the ocean
a magical possibility

Love
Stella
stellaraymonde@...

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

The Tumbleweed's Junction

Upon spying the long and
Graceful sunflower,
Thought the tumbleweed,
Alas,
I am not
And will never be
A sunflower.
I can not put down roots;
Instead, I travel on and on,
Following scattered routes.
It's a tough life and,
Although I have become
Battle scarred
  From chronic rolling here and
Constant rolling there,
Only a small portion of me
Possesses the tactile sense.
Although I most assuredly
Am not
Insensitive.

With that, the tumbleweed skewed away
On a zigzagged path which seemingly
Defied logic,
Dancing, though not merrily,
Ungracefully, to
The mindless music of the wind.
Suddenly the wind strengthened and
The tumbleweed slammed
Against a wall of rock.
Crashing to pieces.

The tumbleweed thought,
How strange, I feel that I am floating.
Floating, over the shards of my
Tumbleweed shell.
And, look, there is the sunflower.
The sunflower I earlier spied.
How I wanted to be a sunflower.
I will never be a sunflower.
And now, I am not even a tumbleweed.

Suddenly, the sunflower spoke,
Hello, you lovely, lovely butterfly,
How I wish I were a butterfly,
Free to
Roam the earth.
Free to
Fly here,
To hasten there.
Instead, I sit rooted here,
Day in,
Day out,
Stretching, stretching, stretching
Towards the warm  and comforting sun.
But I will never be able to reach the sun
Or to see the far flung wonders of the
World.
And, when the sun sets,
I feel cold and
Wonder,
Will I live to see
Another warm and sunny day?

And, as the tumbleweed floated,
She turned to the sunflower and
Said
Good afternoon, sunflower.

The sunflower replied,
Good afternoon, butterfly.

Butterfly?  I'm not a butterfly,
I'm a tumbleweed,
At least, I used to be a tumbleweed.

No, said the sunflower,
You were the chrysalis, waiting to become
A butterfly.
Your cocoon was merely
Attached to a tumbleweed,
Composed of bits and pieces of
Dead plants.
The tumbleweed was for you as
A nest is for a bird.
And now your time has come.
Now, fly away,
Fly away.
Transverse, travel, rejoice and celebrate the
Beauty of the world.
Forget not your past,
Forget not your friends,
But live, live in your present.
Remember, it is called
Your present because it is
God's gift to you.

And the butterfly flew forward,
Eager to embrace adventure.
Never to turn around
Nor to mourn
The life past as a tumbleweed.
Forward to face the sun.

Lisa Renee Kraus

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

God's Grace

Wading through memories,
Is not an easy chore.
Just longing to go back,
And do that once more.
But now that I know,
I must live for today,
The past is forgiven,
But won't go away.
For this is who I am,
This is the real me,
And all that was done,
Was the way it should be.
There's things I can't change,
And things that I can,
Accepting myself,
Was part of the Plan,
I try to stay happy,
And it's up to me,
While living God's will,
That's how it must be.
The love that I found here,
I'd never have known,
If not for God's grace,
And the mercy He's shown.

Sharlett Hunt
Sharlette863@...
4/20/03  Easter Sunday

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

Face Everything

There is no magic in my voice
What I'm saying is
You have a choice
It all boils down to you
What is it that you want to do
Whose love lives inside your heart
Are you willing to finish
That what you start
Can you stay for the long haul
It takes time to hear the call
You will have a lot of work to do
You have to dig deep inside of you
Face everything and recover
Face everything and discover
Who you really are deep inside
What's in your closet
That you used to hide
Every stone has to be turned over now
If you really want to discover how
I'll show you what I did
I'll share things
I did when I was a kid
I'm just like you
You'll soon see
Your also just a lot like me
We traveled the same road
We carried the same load
Everyone in this room
Has done things a lot the same
We all played the addiction game
If you want what we have
You'll have to do what we do
In here at the start
It's all about you

Daniel M. Corkery
3/1/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

Don't ask yourself what the world needs;
ask yourself what makes you come alive.
And then go and do that.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Harold Whitman

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

Prayer is a conduit for miracles.
It addresses the problems of the world at their source.
It changes people at a cellular level,
and with each one who changes,
others are brought miraculously close to enlightenment.
Marianne Williamson

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

Nature gave us one tongue and two ears
so we could hear twice as much as we speak.
Epictetus

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

One of the most valuable things we can do to
heal one another is listen to each other's stories.
Rebecca Falls

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

Listen. Don't explain or justify.
William G. Dyer

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

You have to work your recovery,
to have your recovery work for you.

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

7 days without a meeting
makes one weak.

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

I go to meetings because I need to be loved.

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

You can't stash recovery,
If you try you are stealing.
We can only keep what we have by giving it away.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
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 the group
that you belong to
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
or just email me YOUnMEnHP@...
and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
http://www.groups.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Please note, I will be out of the traveling to Reno NV on business
on 4/27 through 5/4 I will be sending ALL my emails into a
holding bin in Yahoogroups and Googlegroups they will be
dated and time stamped 4/27 and might appear in your email
box on 4/27 even though I will be releasing them for bulk mailing
on the day that is in the subject line. I apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause. PLEASE make sure to look
through your inbox carefully and you will find each days email
with an 4/24 time stamp .

Step 2
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/steps2002/step02c.html
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/steps2003/step02.html
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/steps2004/step02.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you finally had to let go of ?
When you "let something go" where do you believe "it" goes ?
What do you believe are the spiritual principles behind "letting go" ?

(((Family))) a BIG hug to you all
One of the last things that I have let-go of is cigarettes,
I have been clean for a while now from this addiction
This didn't happen in one day
I had been a struggling for years
I hated smoking, but I would  smoke 2 packs of Marlboro Reds a day,
I tried stopping many different times for different lengths of time.
I tried many different MAGIC BULLETS like
hypnotherapy, acupuncture, nicorrete gum, the patch etc.
There is no magic bullet, there is no substitute having the willingness
to let go and ask God for the help. There is no easier or softer way
then staying away from the first one, a minute, an hour, a day at a
time.
Letting go is a process not an event.
When I let go, I do a visualization of an image of what I am letting
go of
(a person, an image, a situation, a thing)
I visualize having that "thing" in my hands,
walking outside my home, going down the block with it in my hands,
I walk down the sidewalk over to Gods house,
I approach God's front steps and walk up to His door,
I ring the door bell, wait for the door to open
and I hand him what I am letting go of.
I then turn around and go back home,
knowing that God can handle whatever I let go of.
This is a visualization that I do before I let go
until I am actually willing to do the footwork and action of letting go.
They say, "God will move the mountain,
but I need to bring the shovel"
also "Faith without works is dead"
For me the spiritual principles behind letting go are faith and
willingness.
Letting Go and Letting God is not easy
however when things really get difficult...
I let God and Let Go  :)
Have a blessed day,
Stay in the light
and KEEP Stepping,
In loving service,
Scott

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you finally had to let go of ?
When you "let something go" where do you believe "it" goes ?
What do you believe are the spiritual principles behind "letting go" ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 30
As I start this day with quiet meditation,
I feel myself becoming still and at peace.
At any time during the day
I can bring my mind back to this moment.
I will bring my attention and awareness back to the peace
that I have when I am with my breath and
I know that my breath is with me at all times,
whether I remember it or not.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Who You Think I Am

I hate it when addicts, admit their addiction
I'd rather them powerless and under affliction
When they seek Power, greater than themselves
I use weapons of doubt, stored up on my shelves
For if they make it, past Step number three
They'll acquire an ally, much greater than me
I try to overwhelm them, with Step number four
Cause if I succeed, they'll go out and score
I hate when they find help, in Step number five
And I'd like to burn, their Sponsor alive
If they should waffle, over Step number six
I'll whisper in their ear, you could sure use a fix
And when they seek help, in step number seven
I wince from the power, which comes down from heaven
When I see them attempt, an amends list
I tell them its no use and many resist
When in fear, about making amends
I remind them those people, will never be friends
Step Ten presents a problem, however many are slack
I notice complacency and spring to attack
I don't like em praying, or listening to God
Cause I don't bury many of those, under six feet of sod
I hate it most, when they carry their message of hope
Because I can't seem to get those ones, back on the dope
I'm cunning, baffling, and powerful as can be
So ya better keep 12 Steps of distance, between yourselves and me
I smile when you're miserable, and breathe your last breath
There's nothing like good ole jails, institutions and death
Some call me the addict, disease or reaper that's grim
Others say I'm the devil, as you understand him
For now I'll stay anonymous, just do your program
Cause I don't give a damn, WHO YOU THINK I AM

Poem by Kevin Kensick,
03/30/2003
rjonesincoming@...
www.recoveryjonescartoons.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Don't Use*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If anyone has any original recovery poetry that they
would like to share with us please copy and paste it into the body
of an email and send it to me, Thanks for your support and
contributions.
What I can't do alone, We do together.
In loving service, Scott ~  YOUnMEnHP@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spiritual NOT Religious
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=561

The Brick
www.wscribe.com/parables/brick.html

YellowRibbon.org - For the prevention of teen suicide
www.yellowribbon.org

Mcfeth.com...it's time to relax...
www.mcfeth.com

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just For Today
April 30                                 God does for us

"Ongoing recovery is dependent on our relationship with a loving
God who cares for us and will do for us what we find impossible to
do for ourselves."   Basic Text, p. 96

How often have we heard it said in meetings that "God does for
us what we cannot do for ourselves"? At times we may get stuck
in our recovery, unable, afraid, or unwilling to make the decisions
we know we must make to move forward. Perhaps we are unable
to end a relationship that just isn't working. Maybe our job has
become a source of too much conflict. Or perhaps we feel we
need to find a new sponsor but are afraid to begin the search.
Through the grace of our Higher Power, unexpected change may
occur in precisely the area we felt unable to alter.

We sometimes allow ourselves to become stuck in the problem
instead of moving forward toward the solution. At these times, we
often find that our Higher Power does for us what we cannot do for
ourselves. Perhaps our partner decides to end our relationship.
We may get fired or laid off. Or our sponsor tells us that he or she
can no longer work with us, forcing us to look for a new one.

Sometimes what occurs in our lives can be frightening, as change
often seems. But we also hear that "God never closes a door
without opening another one:' As we move forward with faith, the
strength of our Higher Power is never far from us. Our recovery is
strengthened by these changes.

Just for today:  I trust that the God of my understanding will do for
me what I cannot do for myself.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Entering A New Dimension

In the late stages of our drinking, the will to resist has fled.  Yet
when
we admit complete defeat and when we become entirely ready to try
A.A. principles, our obsession leaves us and we enter a new
dimension -- freedom under God as we understand Him.
AS BILL SEES IT, p.  283

I am fortunate to be among the ones who have had this awesome
transformation in my life.  When I entered the doors of A.A., alone
and desperate, I had been beaten into willingness to believe
anything I heard.  One of the things I heard was, "This could be
your last hangover, or you can keep going round and round."  The
man who said this obviously was a whole lot better off than I.  I liked
the idea of admitting defeat and I have been free ever since!  My
heart heard what my mind never could: "Being powerless over
alcohol is no big deal."  I'm free and I'm grateful!

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

The A.A. program is one of faith because we find that
we must have faith in a Power greater than ourselves if
we are going to get sober. We're helpless before alcohol,
but when we turn our drink problem over to God and have
faith that He can give us all the strength we need, then
we have the drink problem licked. Faith in that Divine
Principle in the universe which we call God is the essential
part of the A.A. program. Is faith still strong in me?

Meditation for the Day

Each one of us is a child of God, and as such, we are full
of the promise of spiritual growth. A young person is like
the springtime of the year. The full time of the fruit is
not yet, but there is promise of the blossom. There is a
spark of the Divine in every one of us. Each has some of
God's spirit that can be developed by spiritual exercise.
Know that your life is full of glad promise. Such blessings
can be yours, such joys, such wonders, as long as you develop
in the sunshine of God's love.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may develop the divine spark within me. I pray
that by so doing I may fulfill the promise of a more abundant 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.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 30

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

Balance

The goal is balance.

We need balance between work and play. We need balance
between giving and receiving. We need balance in thought and
feelings. We need balance in caring for our physical self and
our spiritual self.

A balanced life has harmony between a professional life and a
personal life. There may be times when we need to climb
mountains at work. There may be times when we put extra
energy into our relationships. But the overall picture needs to
balance.

Just as a balanced nutritional diet takes into account the realm
of our nutritional needs to stay healthy, a balanced life takes into
account all our needs: our need for friends, work, love, family,
play, private time, recovery time, and spiritual time -- time with
God. If we get out of balance, our inner voice will tell us. We
need to listen.

Today, I will examine my life to see if the scales have swung
too far in any area or not far enough in some. I will work toward
achieving balance.

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

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

Is Your Body Language Sending The Wrong Message?
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/04/body-language.htm

Dealing With Change…The Wind In Your Face
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/04/change.htm

The Power of The Positive
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/04/power-positive.htm

Tug Of War
www.inspiringthots.net/movie/tugofwar.php

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

There Is an Oz

   They arrive exactly at 8:00 a.m. to take her home, but she
has been ready since before seven.  She has taken a shower --
not an easy task lying down on a shower stretcher.  She isn't
allowed to sit up yet without her body brace, but regardless,
here she is, clean and freshly scrubbed and ever so anxious to
go home.  It has been two-and-a-half months since she has seen
her home -- two-and-a-half months since the car accident.  It
doesn't matter that she is going home in a wheelchair or that
her legs don't work.  All she knows is that she is going home,
and home will make everything okay.  Even Dorothy says so:  "Oh,
Auntie Em, there's no place like home!" It's her favorite movie.

As they put her in the car, she thinks now of how much her
father reminds her of the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.  Like
the scarecrow, he is built in pieces of many different things --
strength, courage and love.  Especially love.

   He isn't an elegant man.    Her father is tall and lanky and
has dirt under his fingernails from working outside.  He is
strictly blue collar -- a laborer.  He never went to college,
didn't even go to high school.  By the world's standards he
isn't "educated."  An awful lot like the scarecrow -- but she
knows differently.  He doesn't speak much, but when he does, she
knows it is worth remembering.  Even worth writing down.  But
she never has to write down anything that her father says
because she knows she'll never forget.

   It is hard for her to sit comfortably while wearing the
body brace and so she sits, still and unnatural, staring out the
window.  Her face is tense and tired and older somehow, much
older than her seventeen years.  She doesn't even remember the
world of a seventeen-year-old girl -- it's as if that world
never was.  And she thinks she knows what Dorothy must have
meant when she said, "Oh, Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas
anymore."  It is more than an issue of geography, she is quite
certain.

   They pull out onto the road to begin their journey and
approach the stop sign at the corner.    The stop sign is just a
formality; no one ever stops here.  Today, however, is
different.  As he goes to coast through the intersection, she is
instantly alert, the face alive and the eyes flashing.  She
grips the sides of the seat.  "Stop!  That's a stop sign!  You
could get us killed!  Don't you know that?"  And then, more
quietly and with even more intensity, "You don't know what it's
like -- you have never been there."  He looks at her and says
nothing.  The scarecrow and Dorothy journey onward.

   As they continue to drive, her mind is constantly at work.
She still hasn't loosened her grip on the seat.  She thinks of
the eyes, the eyes that once belonged to her -- big, brown,
soulful eyes that would sparkle with laugher at the slightest
thought of happiness.    Only the happiness is gone now and she
doesn't know where she left it or how to get it back.    She only
knows that it is gone and, in its absence, the sparkle has gone
as well.

   The eyes are not the same.  They no longer reflect the soul
of the person because that person no longer exists.  The eyes
now are deep and cold and empty -- pools of color that have been
filled with something reaching far beyond the happiness that
once was there.  Like the yellow brick road it stretches
endlessly, maddeningly, winding through valleys and woodlands,
obscuring her vision until she has somehow lost sight of the
Emerald City.

   She lightly touches the tiny gold bracelet that she wears.
It was a present from her mother and father, and she refuses to
remove it from her wrist.  It is engraved with her name on the
side that is visible to others, but as in everything there are
two sides, and only she knows the other is there.  It is a
single word engraved on the side of the bracelet that touches
her skin and touches her heart:  "Hope."  One small word that
says so much about her life and what is now missing from it.
She vaguely remembers hope -- what it felt like to hope for a
college basketball scholarship or maybe a chance to dance
professionally.  Only now, she's not sure she remembers hope as
it was then -- a driving force, a fundamental part of her life.
Now, hope is something that haunts her.

   The dreams come nightly.    Dreams of turning cartwheels in
the yard or hitting a tennis ball against a brick wall.  But
there is one, the most vivid and recurring, and the most
haunting of all...There is a lake and trees, a soft breeze and a
perfect sky.  It is a scene so beautiful it is almost beyond
imagining.  And in the midst of it all, she is walking.  She has
never felt more at peace.

   But then she awakens and remembers.  And remembering, she
knows.  She instinctively fingers the bracelet, the word.  And
the fear is almost overwhelming -- the fear of not knowing how
to hope.

   She thinks of her father's God and how she now feels that
God abandoned her.  All at once, a single tear makes a trail
down her thin, drawn face.  Then another and another, and she is
crying.  "Oh Daddy, they say I'll never walk again!  They're the
best and they say I'll never walk.  Daddy, what will I do?"

   He looks at her now and he stops the car.  This is the man
who has been with her down every road, every trail and every
path -- so very like the scarecrow.  And he speaks.  "I know
that they can put you back together.  They can put steel rods in
your back and sew you up.  But look around you.  Not one of your
doctors can make a blade of grass."

   Suddenly she knows.  He has taught her the most valuable
lesson in her life and in all her journey:  that she is never
alone.  There is an Oz; there is a wizard; there is a God.  And
there...is...hope.  She releases her grip on the seat, looks out
the window and smiles.  And in that instant she loves her father
more than she has ever loved him before.

By Terri Cecil from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II
Copyright 1998 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly
Kirberger

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

Kindred Spirits

Poetry is the language of the heart
Music the language of emotion
But the sacred communication
between kindred souls
has no set definition in any dictionary
on this earth

It rides invisible waves of warm intention
Glories in Beauty and Truth
regardless of cold greed that feeds this world
It surpasses barriers of the physical kind
Overlooks the walls of the fearful mind

The sound of recognition carries
across time and space
whole sentences fulfilled in a glance
chapters written with the invisible chords
of the heart
resonating their frequency at a perfect pitch
that only two can receive together
even when apart

Honesty is the language of the soul's need
for a safe reflecting echo of itself
It accepts no cover-ups
No artificial substitute will do
for the fitting closely knitting contact
has all of Life wrapped inside
It's a language of dreams
for kindred soulspeak

Love
Stella
©
stellaraymonde@...

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

I'm Slipping

When I begin to dislike AA conversation and company...
When I deliberately stay away from meetings....
When I am beginning to take
your inventory, instead of my own....
When I am more afraid to be known as an AAer
than a drunk.....
When I begin to remember the good times
that I had drinking and overlook the bad....
When I begin to condemn in others
that which I tolerate in myself....
When I shrink from self-examination....
I'm slipping.

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

On the Wings of Recovery

On the wings of recovery I will soar
over the mountains I created long ago out of molehills.

I will fly over rivers and see the remnants of  bridges I burned.

I will feel a sense of relief and regret as I look down
at the quicksand I narrowly escaped
and shudder at the thought of my recklessness.

I will relax as the clouds and stars pass me by and wonder
why I always thought they were so out of reach.

These wings are sturdy,
but still a little awkward in their newness.

I am exercising them, though,
and they become stronger and more beautiful
with each passing day.

Erica Seawright
EricaSea1@...
February 8, 2002

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

Sewers in Your Mind

In the darkness of the night
In the shadows where there's no moonlight
  From the sewers in your mind
Greed and lust is all you find
All that matters is yourself
And what you got that is of wealth
Your selfishness it always wins
Stirring lustfulness from within
You decide what to give and take
And all others just have to wait
Is your wallet getting fatter
This is not what really matters

Step out of the sewer in your mind
Out into another time
When happiness came your way
And you were grateful just for the day
Now stop and hear the plead
Start helping others in their need
Reach out your hand to the man
That has less than
To a mother, give a cover
Help your sister and your brother
Give a child a smile
Even if it lasts just awhile
It doesn't have to be a kin
Or even have the same color of skin
You just have to begin
All you have to do is be kind
And stay out of the sewer in your mind.

©by: Angie F Moore. whfl
Amoore530@...
All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner,
without prior written consent is prohibited.
{permission granted}

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

to fulfill, some message has to be delivered, some work has to be
completed.
You are not here accidentally--
you are here meaningfully.
There is a purpose behind you.
The whole intends to do something through you.
Osho

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

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly,
what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antointe de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

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

Love is a force more formidable than any other.
It is invisible it cannot be seen or measured,
yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment,
and offer you more joy than any material possession could.
Barbara De Angelis

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

Wish not so much to live long, as to live well.
Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack

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

Men trip not on mountains!
They trip on molehills.
Chinese Proverb

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

You will either change or go.

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

The most precious gift that I have today is my recovery.

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

You have to get a foundation
for anything meaningful to last.

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

You can't expect the rooms to carry you,
You have to do the footwork in this process.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
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and write subscribe in the subject line.

Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress
this letter cannot be considered spam as long as the following words
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or
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or just email me YOUnMEnHP@...
and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

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http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
http://www.groups.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Please note, I will be out of the traveling to Reno NV on business
on 4/27 through 5/4 I will be sending ALL my emails into a
holding bin in Yahoogroups and Googlegroups they will be
dated and time stamped 4/27 and might appear in your email
box on 4/27 even though I will be releasing them for bulk mailing
on the day that is in the subject line. I apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause. PLEASE make sure to look
through your inbox carefully and you will find each days email
with an 4/24 time stamp .

Step 1
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/steps2002/step01c.html
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/steps2003/step01.html
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/steps2004/step01.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you finally had to let go of ?
When you "let something go" where do you believe "it" goes ?
What do you believe are the spiritual principles behind "letting go" ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 29
With every breath that I take, healing is taking place.
I relax safely in the knowledge that positive,
healing energy is working in my life today.
I am being renewed and refreshed and energized.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

YOU
(my higher power, with gratitude)

you are the colors in my world...
the star of the path I follow....
you are the sun that creeps into my window...
and makes my day bright...

you are the music that makes my heart sing...
you leave me breathless when I am...
not expecting the love in your voice...
or the warmth of your arms...
holding me tight....

you are air and blood and life to me...
I do not exist without you,
for without you I am alone...
your faith in me lets me touch the heavens...
and eases my doubts and worries....

every dream and thought is with you in mind...
you give me strength and hope...
for a better tomorrow...
and for all those reasons...
because you are you...
in my recovery I give you me...

4/27/05 ©
written by anna m
amarley3@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Twelve Steps Downward
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=559

Both Glad and Sad
www.wscribe.com/parables/glad_and_sad.html

But You Promised
www.wscribe.com/parables/snake.html

Hepititus C Anonymous
www.hcvanonymous.com

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 29                                                     "What
if...."

"Living just for today relieves the burden of the past and the fear of
the future. We learned to take whatever actions are necessary and to
leave the results in the hands of our Higher Power."  Basic Text, pp.
90-91

In our active addiction, fear of the future and what might happen was a
reality for many of us. What if we got arrested? lost our job? our
spouse
died? we went bankrupt? and on, and on, and on. It was not unusual for
us to spend hours, even whole days thinking about what might happen.
We played out entire conversations and scenarios before they ever
occurred, then charted our course on the basis of "what if.. ." By doing
this, we set ourselves up for disappointment after disappointment.

  From listening in meetings, we learn that living in the present, not
the
world of "what if," is the only way to short-circuit our self-fulfilling
prophecies of doom and gloom. We can only deal with what is real
today, not our fearful fantasies of the future.

Coming to believe that our Higher Power has only the best in store for
us is one way we can combat that fear. We hear in meetings that our
Higher Power won't give us more than we can handle in one day. And
we know from experience that, if we ask, the God we've come to
understand will surely care for us. We stay clean through adverse
situations by practicing our faith in the care of a Power greater than
ourselves. Each time we do, we become less fearful of "what if" and
more comfortable with what is.

Just for today:  I will look forward to the future with faith in my
Higher
Power.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Learning To Love Ourselves

Alcoholism was a lonely business, even though we were surrounded
by people who loved us . . .  We were trying to find emotional security
either by dominating or by being dependent upon others . . .  We still
vainly tried to be secure by some unhealthy sort of domination or
dependence.
AS BILL SEES IT, p.  252

When I did my personal inventory I found that I had unhealthy
relationships with most people in my life -- my friends and family,
for example.  I always felt isolated and lonely.  I drank to dull
emotional pain. It was through staying sober, having a good sponsor
and working the Twelve Steps that I was able to build up my low
self-esteem.  First the Twelve Steps taught me to become my own
best friend, and then, when I was able to love myself, I could reach
out and love others.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

The A.A. program is one of faith, hope, and charity. It's
a program of hope because when new members come into
A.A., the first thing they get is hope. They hear older
members tell how they had been through the same kind
of hell that they have and how they found the way out
through A.A. And this gives them hope that if others can
do it, they can do it. is hope still strong in me?

Meditation for the Day

The rule of God's kingdom is perfect order, perfect
harmony, perfect supply, perfect love, perfect honesty,
perfect obedience. There is no discord in God's kingdom,
only some things still unconquered in God's children. The
difficulties of life are caused by disharmony in the
individual man or woman. People lack power because they
lack harmony with God and with each other. They think
that God fails because power is not manifested in their
lives. God does not fail. People fail because they are out
of harmony with Him.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be in harmony with God and with other
people. I pray that this harmony will result in strength and
success.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 29

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

Initiating Relationships

Often, we can learn much about ourselves from the people to
whom we are attracted.

As we progress through recovery, we learn we can no longer
form relationships solely on the basis of attraction. We learn to
be patient, to allow ourselves to take into account important
facts, and to process information about that person.

What we are striving for in recovery is a healthy attraction to
people. We allow ourselves to be attracted to who people are,
not to their potential or to what we hope they are.

The more we work through our family of origin issues, the less
we will find ourselves needing to work through them with the
people we're attracted to. Finishing our business from the past
helps us form new and healthier relationships.

The more we overcome our need to be excessive caretakers,
the less we will find ourselves attracted to people who need
to be constantly taken care of.

The more we learn to love and respect ourselves, the more we
will become attracted to people who will love and respect us
and who we can safely love and respect.

This is a slow process. We need to be patient with ourselves.
The type of people we find ourselves attracted to does not
change overnight. Being attracted to dysfunctional people can
linger long and well into recovery. That does not mean we need
to allow it to control us. The fact is, we will initiate and maintain
relationships with people we need to be with until we learn
what it is we need to learn -- no matter how long weve been
recovering.

No matter who we find ourselves relating to, and what we
discover happening in the relationship, the issue is still about
us, and not about the other person. That is the heart, the hope,
and the power of recovery.

We can learn to take care of ourselves during the process of
initiating and forming relationships. We can learn to go slowly.
We can learn to pay attention. We can allow ourselves to make
mistakes, even when we know better.

We can stop blaming our relationships on God and begin to
take responsibility for them. We can learn to enjoy the healthy
relationships and remove ourselves more quickly from the
dysfunctional ones.

We can learn to look for what's good for us, instead of what's
good for the other person.

God, help me pay attention to my behaviors during the process
of initiating relationships. Help me take responsibility for myself
and learn what I need to learn. I will trust that the people I want
and need will come into my life. I understand that if a relationship
is not good for me, I have the right and ability to refuse to enter
into it -- even though the other person thinks it may be good for
him or her. I will be open to the lessons I need to learn about
me in relationships, so I am prepared for the best possible
relationships with people.

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

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

Trapped In Manifestationland?
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/04/trapped.htm

Rude Awakening
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/July/0797-15.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

A Galactic Fairy Tale
by Michael Lightweaver

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there were all of these
little light beings just hanging out enjoying life in that joyful &
timeless
dimension. And then one day a very large, magnificent angel came to
them. He
had a very serious look on his face. He was looking for volunteers for a
very important cosmic mission.

"We have this small - but very special - planet out at the edge of the
Alcyon galaxy called Gaia. It is quite unique like a beautiful garden
and it
is teeming with hundreds of thousands of different life forms. It has
been
something of an experimental station in the galaxy and it has a most
interesting humanoid life form that incorporates the very highest and
lowest
frequencies known in the cosmos. It is in fact the very epitome of
dualism.
On the one hand it is an incredibly beautiful life form and is capable
of
carrying the highest frequencies of love, light & joy known throughout
the
whole Universe. On the other hand it is capable of carrying the
densest and
darkest frequencies the cosmos has ever experienced - frequencies
which the
rest of creation evolved beyond eons ago.

Here is the current situation. Within the domain of time, this planet
goes
through periodic cosmic cycles. It is now coming to the end of two major
cycles - a 2,000 year long age of Pisces and the 25,000 year long cosmic
year in its journey around Alcyon, the central sun of the milky way
galaxy.

With the completion of this cycle, many things are coming to an end
and many
things are about to begin. But most importantly, the planet is
experiencing
an infusion of light that is dramatically increasing it's frequency. As
during any major time of transition, there will be a certain amount of
turbulence. Some of this will be geological, for Gaia herself is a
living
planet and is also evolving. But much of it also involves the humanoid
species that dominates the planet.

This will not be a particularly easy time for the species - especially
for
those who are sleeping and those who are vibrating at the lowest
frequencies. As the frequency changes it will create insecurity which in
turn will create fear.

The first era of evolution on this planet was the physical era and the
key
word was survival. The second era, which is now ending, was the mental
era
and the key word was logic. The third era, which is now beginning, is
the
era of the heart and the key word is love. This is the highest
frequency.

Those who currently hold the reign of power on the planet are of the old
order of the physical & mental. To the extent that they can make a
graceful
transition to a heart centered and divinely guided life, it will be an
easy
transition. To the extent that they are unable to do this, they will
experience much turmoil.

So this is the current situation of Gaia. The reason I am here is to
seek
volunteers who would be willing to incarnate in humanoid form on the
planet
at this time to help make this an easy and smooth transition. We have
sent
prophets and teachers in the past. Very often they were brutally
persecuted
or killed. In other instances they were set up as "gods" to be worshiped
and these humanoids built elaborate religions and rituals around them
and
used these religions to control each other. They did everything except
follow the simple teachings that were offered.

So this time we are trying a different approach. No more prophets,
saviors &
avatars that they can use to create religions. This time we are
sending in
thousands - actually hundreds of thousands - of ordinary light beings
with
only two assignments:

1) Stay in your heart. Regardless of what happens, stay in your heart.

2) Remember who you are, why you are here and what this is all about.

Now that seems easy enough, right? Unfortunately, No! As I have said,
duality has reached its peak on this planet. This species has
perfected the
illusion of good and evil. The greatest challenge you will experience
is to
remember Who You Really Are, Why You Are Here and What This Is Really
All
About. When you remember, you will be ale to stay in your heart,
regardless
of external events.

So how will you know when you are forgetting? It is easy. Watch your
judgments. The moment you notice that you are in a place of judgment you
will know that you have forgotten Who You Really Are, Why You Are Here
and
What This Is Really All About. That will be your signal.

Now here is the challenge. Life on this planet will require a great
deal of
discernment - wise evaluation of what is true, what is appropriate and
what
is for the highest good, both for yourself and for the planet. In many
ways
discernment is similar to judgment. However, you will know when you
are in
judgment and when you have moved out of your heart when you are in a
place
of blame.

We know how challenging that this planet can be. We know how very real
the
illusions on this planet appear to be. We understand the incredible
density
of this dimension and the pressure you will face. But if you survive
this
mission - and it is a voluntary one - you will evolve at hyperspeed.

We also should say that we know that some of you who will go to this
planet
as starseeds, will never germinate - never awakened to the remembrance
of
who you really are. Some of you will awaken and begin to shine, only
to be
choked down by the opinions and prevailing thoughtforms around you.
Others
will awaken and remain awake and your light will become a source of
inspiration and remembrance for many.

You will incarnate all over the planet; in every culture, every race,
every
country, every religion. But you will be different. You will never
quite fit
in. As you awaken you will realize that your true family isn't those
of your
own race, culture, religion, county or even your biological family. It
is
your cosmic family - those who have come as you have come - on
assignment to
assist in ways large and small in the current transition.

True brotherhood and globalization in its highest form will come only in
remembering Who You Really Are, Why You Are Here and What This Is
Really All
About. It will come as you return to the true temple of Divine Presence,
your heart, where this remembrance takes place and from which you are
called
to serve the world.

So, are your ready? Good!

Oh, and by the way, there are a couple of other minor things I should
mention......

Because of the density, you can't operate in that dimension without a
space
suit. This is a biological suit that actually changes over time. There
are
many things we could tell you about this but our orientation time is
short
so I think you can just jump in and experience it. You should be
forewarned,
however. There will be a danger that if you forget who you really are,
you
may think you ARE your space suit instead of the fact that it is
simply your
vehicle in that dimension. Once there, you will notice that there is an
infinite variety of space suits and a great deal of attention given to
these. However, in spite of the infinite variety, because this a
planet of
duality, they all fall into two basic categories called 'genders.'
Again, we
really don't have time to go into this now. But you will find your
relationship with your own space suit to be most instructive and
interesting.

The other little thing is this. In order to operate in that dimension,
you
will also receive a microchip called a 'personality.' This is like an
identity imprint that, along with your space suit, will essentially
make you
different from everyone else. This will allow you to participate in the
hologram there - something they call 'consensus reality.' Once again,
there
will be a real danger that you will become so engrossed in the
holographic
personality dramas that you will forget who you really are and actually
think that you ARE your personality. I know it sounds rather
unbelievable
right now, but once you get there.....

Again, there is so much more we could tell you by way of orientation,
but we
think you can learn the rest experientially 'on site." The only thing
that
is important is to remember Who You Really Are, Why You Are Here and
What
This Is Really All About. If you can do that, everything else will
work out
fine. But take note: So few really DO remember this they stand out as
'different' and others called them 'Enlightened" or 'Awakened" and
similar
terms. Strange isn't it?

Well, Good Luck & Bon Voyage!!!

Michael Lightweaver
PO Box 18909 Asheville, NC. 28814 (USA)
http://www.n2012.com/index.htm
lightweave@...

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

Look Within
by Virginia

"Look within...
Don't look without,
to find out what you're all about.

You'd be surprised...
At what you'll find,
When journeying your heart and mind.

You'll never understand...
just who you are,
Hitching onto someone else's star.

Forget about your work, your things.
You're so much more than these, you see.

Go deep within your secret space,
That no one knows - your private place.

It's there, in peaceful quietude...
You find out who is really you.

Look within...
not once or twice.
Keep looking in throughout your life."

Virginia Santoro
© 2000
MorningMusings@...
www.myspace.com/morningmusings
www.hometown.aol.com/morningmusings

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

It's A Brand New Day

Why are we afraid to give our hearts in love?
Is it because we have been hurt in the past?
We live in self-made prisons.
That keep us from our path.

Why do we never say the words to them,
Words that could save this love?
Are we really so sick of ourselves
Or do we feel "not good enough"?

We need to learn we have survived
Pain that we've had from before.
We need to finally find God's will
And open up love's door.

All it takes are three small words
To open up your heart.
Let go of the fear and the pain
And make a brand new start.

Do not be afraid to love.
It is God's gift to all.
Do not be afraid to dream,
He'll catch us if we fall.

So to all of you afraid of life,
Have faith, God lights the way.
Give in to love, faith, and hope.
Because it's a brand new day.

Meg M
meg4how@...

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

Our Last Chance

As the past is dealt with it's damage and toll,
By working the steps, an awakened Spiritual goal

Nothing to fear as we move forward, ahead,
Our addiction in check, lays down it's ugly head

God guided us here to find solace at last,
Knowing no other way for us to change, finally escaping our past

The future awaits as we take our last chance,
12 steps on the floor of recovery's delivery dance

It doesn't matter from hence you came,
The question is now, will you change or remain the same?

If you want to live more than merely survive,
Why not check us out and give it a try

You have nothing to lose except a slow lonely death,
Step up as you catch your first new found breath

Getting better each day as we search, reveal and delve,
Coming to learn that we can truly love ourselves

We help each other on our paths with hope,
Sharing our experiences no longer living with dope

If its working for me, maybe you too my friend,
"When at the end of your road" can choose your life to amend.

God and N.A. Grateful ~ AJ
aj4how@...

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

Today

Today is unlike others, the days before my waking
It hints of things left unsaid, undone, where my step work has me taking

I never felt the feelings, like these I'm left to hold
Today I look within, and do the things I'm told

I cannot pass by my lessons, the ones presented today
For I've squandered time and Love, of myself and those held dearly

Today is like no other, I amend and follow my path
I await the God within me, to stir and quicken my heart

When all is said and done, with only action left to live
I want the Highest Good for all and will demonstrate my Love

Awakening to my Spirit, numb for so many years
I'm lifted with God's Power, from past sorrow with fresh tears

God is good and allowed me, to find the 12 step rooms with you
I cannot turn my Love away, from forward growing anew

This chance at living finally fresh,
examining where I'm going fast
No fear to slow me down again,
I accept the challenge and I love myself at last.

Thanking God through N.A. and ALL those who have helped
me in my recovery, I gratefully bless you.
Those that have been there for me, those that will be there
for me, and those that will return with me to continue on our
path together allowing our Spirits to unfold awakening to life
and Love.  (((Hugs)))

AJ - clean 1/3/97 and honest at long last
aj4how@...

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

There's a type of freedom that occurs
when everything that you've believed in and worked for is shattered,
because then you have the opportunity to rebuild
and to put yourself back together in a new way.
Dennis Kucinich

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

If you find yourself in a hole,
the first thing to do is to stop digging.
Will Rogers

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

We must release the old to make room for the new.
Alan Cohen, The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore

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

You have a responsibility to be loving.
John-Roger
(From: Loving Each Day, Volume 1)

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

New Thought spirituality offers principles around which we can build
our lives and practices that make those ideas a living reality.
As we attentively practice living our lives by these principles,
we experience a greater connection with God each day
as a comforting companion, a guiding light and ever-present power.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

It's not the outside things that make me better,
recovery is an inside job.

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

Recovery is my job.

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

If you are in recovery you are blessed,
you can hear a message of hope
that you don't have to suffer
and that you have a choice.

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

I don't know what it is,
but I know what it isn't,
I cannot use "No Matter What"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

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or
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and write subscribe in the subject line.

Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress
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or just email me YOUnMEnHP@...
and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

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

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Please note, I will be out of the traveling to Reno NV on business
on 4/27 through 5/4 I will be sending ALL my emails into a
holding bin in Yahoogroups and Googlegroups they will be
dated and time stamped 4/27 and might appear in your email
box on 4/27 even though I will be releasing them for bulk mailing
on the day that is in the subject line. I apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause. PLEASE make sure to look
through your inbox carefully and you will find each days email
with an 4/24 time stamp .

Tradition 12
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition12.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you finally had to let go of ?
When you "let something go" where do you believe "it" goes ?
What do you believe are the spiritual principles behind "letting go" ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 28
It is exciting to know that my thoughts and my actions
in the present moment condition the next moment.
I am responsible for my future.
Today I am bringing awareness to my self-talk
and replacing all negative thoughts with positive thoughts
as soon as they appear on my mindscape.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

How To Save N.A.

Have you ever thought that maybe you have been spiritually
singled out to lead the masses in Narcotics Anonymous?
If you feel it's your chosen destiny to better the NA fellowship
in spite of its pure simplicity and mundane loving nature,
this post is for you.
Over the years I have seen many personalities
in the rooms of NA acting in the alleged behalf
for the betterment of all addicts in recovery.
All of whom have helped me to come to these conclusions.

The following is a list of some "things to do" when you've come
to the conclusion that you need to "Save The Fellowship".

Join as many subcommittees as humanly possible
(with the exception of H&I because it will not bring you
the limelight you will need) in order to quickly move up to
the top of the food chain in the service structure so
that others will recognize you as an authority figure addict.

Memorize the traditions, concepts, and the principles of the
steps so that you can twist them to fit what ever agenda
or debate you are having on a moments notice
and to lecture newcomers on their misguided ways.

Take a firm stand against all other 12 step programs and
do not allow your sponsee's to converse with others
who have not yet seen the light.
Feel free to lump all people into categories as you see fit.

Forget where you came from, it will do you no good where you
are going and it will only make you weak.

Share at ALL meetings you attend, after all,
what YOU have to say is for the benefit fellowship and
is spoken through you, directly from god.
Besides, what YOU have to say is probably more important
than what someone else has to say.

Never take on meaningless responsibilities like making coffee,
setting up chairs, or being a secretary.
As these positions will not offer the recognition you deserve,
nor will they supply that platform you need
to begin your rise to power.

Carefully manage all those you sponsor!
Direct them to the join subcommittees that most need your impact.
This next part may be difficult.....
MAKE SURE they know exactly what your opinion is before
they get to the meeting so you can have an impact
even though you are not there.
As a bonus feel free to tell them and those they sponsor
what to do in all relationships and if they go against you FIRE them!

Collect and wear loving t-shirts with sayings on them like
"One program One Disease Mine!"
You should be able to get a color for every day of the week. :)

Don't have sex with newcomers in THIS program.
I know you hate this one (we all do) but you have to
make the sacrifice in order to get the program back on track.
Try this: Hook up with someone who has some time,
but considerably less than you,
that way they will have to do as you say just like your sponsees.

If you manage to work up to the world service level,
although you won't be considered the way you should be at the WSC,
the folks back home will think you are the shit and
you may be able to steer your region/area in the right direction.

Sponsor everyone you can, even if you don't have time for them.
Make a list of do's and don'ts and
just hand it to them when they need something.

Do not waste time on anything
other than being a high ranking soldier in the field of NA,
i.e. don't go to school or have hobbies.
This way you will remain vigilant in service and
know what is happening and you will be
able to nip it in the bud before it gets out of control.

Ok boys and girls, go get em!
Remember NA needs you, you don't need it.

Love Jimmy S.

PS..... If you are unable to perform the above mentioned tasks,
just send 20 bucks to:

SAVE THE FELLOWSHIP
P.O. Box 13th Step
Cloud Nine, N.A.
123,123,123

The money will go for those t-shirts.

PSS..... Serious replies are not necessary.

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

Our Mirror
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=551

Attitude
www.wscribe.com/parables/attitude.html

Go To Your Soul
www.wisehearts2.com/gts.htm

Feed an Animal in need for Free
www.theanimalrescuesite.com

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just for Today
April 28                                 Who Really Gets Better?

"We can also use the steps to improve our attitudes.
Our best thinking got us into trouble. We recognize the need
for change." Basic Text, p. 53

   When new in recovery, most of us had at least one person we
just couldn't stand. We thought that person was the rudest, most
obnoxious person in the program. We knew there was something
we could do, some principle of recovery we could practice to get
over the way we felt about this person—but what? We asked our
sponsor for guidance. We were probably assured, with an amused
smile, that if we just kept coming back, we'd see the person get
better That made sense to us. We believed that the steps of NA
worked in the lives of everyone. If they could work for us, they could
work for this horrible person, too.

   Time passed, and at some point we noticed that the person didn't
seem as rude or obnoxious as before. In fact, he or she had become
downright tolerable, maybe even likeable. We got a pleasant jolt as
we realized who had really gotten better. Because we had kept coming
back, because we had kept working the steps, our perception of this
person had changed. The person who'd plagued us had become
"tolerable" because we'd developed some tolerance; he or she had
become "likeable" because we'd developed the ability to love.

   So who really gets better? We do! As we practice the program, we
gain a whole new outlook on those around us by gaining a new
outlook on ourselves.

Just for today:  As I get better, so will others. Today, I will practice
tolerance and try to love those I meet.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A.A. Is Not A Cure-All

It would be a product of false pride to claim that A.A. is a cure-all,
even
for alcoholism.
AS BILL SEES IT, p.  285

In my early years of sobriety I was full of pride, thinking that A.A.
was
the only source of treatment for a good and happy life.  It certainly
was
the basic ingredient for my sobriety and even today, with over twelve
years
in the program, I am very involved in meetings, sponsorship and
service.  During the first four years of my recovery, I found it
necessary
to seek professional help, since my emotional health was extremely
poor.  There are those folks too, who have found sobriety and
happiness in
other organizations.  A.A. taught me that I had a choice: to go to any
lengths to enhance my sobriety.  A.A. may not be a cure-all for
everything,
but it is the center of my sober living.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

We're so glad to be free from liquor that we do something
about it. We get into action. We come to meetings regularly.
We go out and try to help other alcoholics. We pass on the
good news whenever we get a chance. In a spirit of
thankfulness to God, we get into action. The A.A. program
is simple. Submit yourself to God, find release from liquor,
and get into action. Do these things and keep doing them and
you're all set for the rest of your life. Have I got into action?

Meditation for the Day

God's eternal quest must be the tracking down of souls. You
should join Him in His quest. Through briars, through waste
places, through glades, up mountain heights, down into valleys.
God leads you. But ever with His leadership goes your helping
hand. Glorious to follow where the Leader goes. You are
seeking lost sheep. You are bringing the good news into places
where it has not been known before. You may not know which
soul you will help, but you can leave all results to God. just go
with Him in His eternal quest for souls.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may follow God in His eternal quest for souls.
I pray that I may offer God my helping hand.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 28

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

Anger at Family Members

Many of us have anger toward certain members of our family.
Some of us have much anger and rage -- anger that seems to
go on year after year.

For many of us, anger was the only way to break an unhealthy
bondage or connection between a family member and ourselves.
It was the force that kept us from being held captive -- mentally,
emotionally, and sometimes spiritually -- by certain family
members.

It is important to allow ourselves to feel -- to accept -- our anger
toward family members without casting guilt or shame on
ourselves. It is also important to examine our guilty feelings
concerning family members as anger and guilt are often
intertwined.

We can accept, even thank, our anger for protecting us. But we
can also set another goal: taking our freedom.

Once we do, we will not need our anger. Once we do, we can
achieve forgiveness.

Think loving thoughts; think healing thoughts toward family
members. But let ourselves be as angry as we need to be.

At some point, strive to be done with the anger. But we need
to be gentle with ourselves if the feelings surface from time to
time.

Thank God for the feelings. Feel them. Release them. Ask
God to bless and care for our families. Ask God to help us take
freedom and take care of ourselves.

Let the golden light of healing shine upon all we love and upon
all with whom we feel anger. Let the golden light of healing shine
on us.

Trust that a healing is taking place, now.

Help me accept the potent emotions I may feel toward family
members. Help me be grateful for the lesson they are teaching me.
I accept the golden light of healing that is now shining on my family
and me. I thank God that healing does not always come in a neat,
tidy package.

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

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

Do You Have A Life Map?
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/04/life-map.htm

Love Life
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/July/0797-02.html

Ask  And Receive
by Susan de  Montfort
www.innerself.com/Money_Matters/ask_and_receive.htm

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

The Ice Cream Comb
Written by:  Rick Beneteau

   She was three. Just released from a far-away hospital after life
threatening brain surgery, ready to take on the world again. I was
happy just to have her back. My little "Mr. Clean" (shaven head and hoop
earrings) and me driving along to our local mall. Hanging out with dad
day.
I recall her words as if it were yesterday.
"Daddy, can I get a treat?"

   As she was understandably spoiled (if there is such a thing), I
replied
"OK honey, but just ONE".

   Her eyes beamed like the Fourth of July in anticipation of that
something only she knew at the time.

   We drove around to the new end of the mall on the normal seek-and-
destroy mission of capturing a parking place. After all, it was
Saturday.
We landed a fair distance from our destination, and began walking
hand-in-hand towards the entrance, her pace gaining momentum with each
tiny step. A few feet from the doors she broke loose and ran hands-first
into the thick wall of glass, trying with everything she had to swing
the
big doors open. No luck. With a little assistance, she 'did it' and
tried
the very same thing at the second set of doors.

   It was then that I asked her what she wanted for her treat. Without
hesitation, she matter-of-factly said "an ice cream comb from the ice
cream store." OK, the goal was set and we were in the mall!

   But hold on! What was this? At the end of what was just an ordinary
looking lane of retail chain outlets she spied something new-- this huge
fountain, water shooting who knows how high into the air. The new goal
line!

   She ran, and I walked (don't ya just hate it when parents let their
kids run wild in public?), and we arrived at the spectacle at about the
same time. The turbulent noise was almost deafening.

   "Daddy, can I make a wish, can I make a wish?" she screamed as she
jumped with the kind of pure joy we've all long since forgotten.

   "Sure honey, but that will be YOUR TREAT you know" I explained
(gotta be firm with these kind of things).
She agreed.

   I fumbled around in my pocket and pulled out what I think was a dime
(big spender) and placed it in her outstretched hand. She cupped it
tightly, closed her eyes and grimaced, formulating her wish. I stared at
that little scrunched-up face and said my own kind of prayer of thanks,
feeling so blessed to still have this ball of energy in my life. And
then
like a shooting star, the coin was flung into the foaming water and
with it,
her wish.

   We happily continued our stroll into the familiar section of the
mall. An
eerie silence ensued, which I was admittedly uncomfortable with. When
I just couldn't stand it anymore, I couldn't resist breaking it.
"Aren't you gonna tell daddy what you wished for?"
She retorted "I wished I could get an ice cream comb."

   I just about lost it right then and there. Couldn't imagine what the
shoppers thought of this lunatic laughing uncontrollably in the middle
of
a crowded mall. And needless to say, she got her wish, and two treats.

   Little did I know then that my beautiful little girl would soon
embark on
a long road of seizures, surgeries, special schools, medications and end
up partially paralyzed on her right side. She never learned to ride a
bike.

   Today, she is almost seventeen. She cannot use her right hand and
walks
with a noticeable limp. But she has overcome what life seemed to so
cruelly inflict on her. She was teased a lot and always struggled in
school, both socially and academically. But each year she showed
improvement. She is planning a career in early childhood education. With
one year still remaining in high school, her and I, one night not too
long
ago, mapped out all the courses she would need to take in community
college. It was her idea. She volunteers weekly at a local hospital, on
the children's floor. She baby-sits a neighbors children five days a
week.
On her own this year, she stood outside in line for four hours on a cold
Canadian January afternoon and enrolled herself, with her own
babysitting money, into two courses she felt she would need for college.
You see, to her failure was never an option.

   It would almost be redundant for me to explain why I wanted to share
this story with you. She IS my daughter and I carry all those fatherly
biases with me wherever I go. But these aside, she is a very exceptional
person and one that I admire and have learned a lot from.

   It is my sincerest hope that her story will have even a momentary
positive impact on you as a human being, a parent or a spouse.

   I'd like to leave you with a closing thought. As human beings, we
deserve
all the treats, and the multitude of good things that life can offer us.
We all have wishes and dreams, AND the power to make them reality.
Just simple truths of the universe.

   We can wish for, and get, that ice cream comb.

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

Living In Truth

There once was a child named Yemaya.
Even before she could walk or talk,
her mother introduced her to the trees.
Yemaya touched them and they accepted her.
They told her she was wonderful and she knew it was true.

As she grew up,
Yemaya occasionally met people who said unkind things to her.
When this happened, she went back to her trees,
who continued to tell her she was just fine.
She couldn't understand what was wrong with those who were mean to her.
Whenever they appeared and insisted on being mean,
she pretended what they said was an arrow that
sailed right by as she stepped out of the way.

We can do the same.
What others say or think is part of them and their lives, not ours.
When we are wise enough to let go of things that don't belong to us,
we will find our own treasures.

Anonymous

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

Footprints In Time

Two young lovers, Walking on the sand,
Gazing at each other, Talking hand in hand,
The prints they leave behind them,
Marking memories of the past,
The long beach laid before them,
Hoping love will last,
The ocean captures the footprints,
And erases them from the shore,
Taking with it remembrances,
And leaving them with more,

Many years have passed,
Time flies when you're having fun,
And before you know it innocence fades,
And the teen years are done,
Now she's back on the beach,
Except she is alone,
Watching and waiting,
For the love that hadn't grown,
She walks along the ocean,
Two footprints, not four,
Wondering where the laughter went,
Why he didn't love her more,
Then she stops to sit,
And draws his name in the sand,
A celestial stranger comes along,
And reaches out a hand,
Hesitantly she takes it,
And he listens to her cries,
He's been there before,
He's heard many lies,
They decide to walk,
And she follows, not knowing why,

Love will always be reborn again,
Even if it may die,
She is more cautious than before,
And as she looks back at the footprints,
She smiles seeing not two, but four,
This time will be different,
Her heart trying to say,
Something magical happened,
She felt it the first day,
Something clicked when they touched,
A jolt from inside,
She knew he'd be there always,
If she had something to confide,

Now here it is twenty years later,
And his love for her,
Is now even greater,
He looks at her like the first time they met,
And despite all the years gone by,
They can never forget,
Those four special footprints,
That are never washed away,
They'll stay forever on her heart,
Until their dying day.

Lauren Posey

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

2nd Childhood

Oh little girl inside us all
Can she come out to play
I'm sorry she's real busy now
Maybe another day.

Ya see, Daddy will be coming home
it's time for her to hide
There's not too many places left
She thought out loud and cried.

Its nighttime now, time for bed
Her mommy tucks her in
Then daddy comes to say goodnight
And does his daily sin.

Then in the morning really sad
Staring at her toast
And sitting right across from her
the one she hates the most.

It's time for school her mama says
And sends her on her way
And off she goes with a quiet sigh
And dreads another day.

She really doesn't understand
what makes daddy tick
Why he does those things to her
What made him so sick?

So, all her life she turns to drugs
And shuts the whole world out
No life, no love, no hope, no hugs
The solution - death - no doubt.

Then God steps in, she makes it through
A second chance has she.
So she reaches out and asks for help
And finds recovery!

Now dedicated to the cause
of letting others know
No matter how bad the pain inside
God can help you heal and grow.

Years go by, the doorbell rings
And the little girl locked away
Can finally be a child again
And runs outside to play.

Randi M. @ Randi7258@...
Miami Beach, FL -
I wish all of you survivors out there much hope and healing!!!

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

The Game of Blame

Some people play the game of blame
Take me, Make me
Use me, Brake me
So that they are the victim
In this there is no shame
Just conviction
"How dare you," they shout
And don't stop to see
What it is really about
They run seeking love
But finding lust
Then say never again
Will they trust
They put themselves in situations
With all of their misconceptions
Wondering why life throws them a hard ball
When that isn't it at all
They become drained
Then act refrained
While emotions are boiling
Their minds are soiling
With thoughts of anger and despair
To them this just isn't fair

This is what I have to say
Stop being the actor
Life's not a play
Stop dreaming upon a star
Start finding out who you are
You've found out what it cost
For now you feel quite lost
You are turning into a ghost
Find your heart and hold it close
People will come and they will go
Don't let this take you so low
When the right one comes
You will know
So work on your soul
Until you become whole
Then you will begin to find
True love comes with time
So quit making yourself drain
Stop the tears
Clear up the rain
For in this there is no gain
Nor a reason to play the game

© 1999 By: Angie F Moore. whfl
Amoore530@...
All rights reserved.
Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner,
without prior written consent is prohibited.
{Permission Granted}

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

At this very moment the universe is trying to manifest miracles
through your visions, intuitions, and longings.
Imagine that your inklings are God's whispers to your heart.
The same God that gave you the idea,
will give you the means and support to see it through.
The world is being transformed through people like you,
who love themselves enough to trust their inner guidance,
and relax enough to let the universe take care of the means.
Alan Cohen

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

Beauty, truth, friendship, love, creation -
these are the great values of life.
We can't prove them, or explain them,
yet they are the most stable things in our lives.
Jesse Herman Holmes

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

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone
who can do him absolutely no good.
Ann Landers

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

Learning to love yourself...
is the greatest love of all.
George Benson

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

Success is to be measured not so much by the position
that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which
he has overcome while trying to succeed.
Booker T. Washington

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

It is a lot easier to stay clean
then it is to get clean.

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

If you stick to the basics,
you don't have to come back to the basics

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

When the student is ready the teacher appears,
I am the student and my experiences are my teacher.
These lessons are no ones responsibility to teach me,
They are my responsibility to learn.

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

This is the 12 Step Program where,
I learn to live and live to learn.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
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By the grace of God and through your efforts of passing on this
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Stay in the Light,

In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tradition 10
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition10.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you finally had to let go of ?
When you "let something go" where do you believe "it" goes ?
What do you believe are the spiritual principles behind "letting go" ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 26
Today I am open to all the powers of the universe.
I am letting them work for me
and carry me to my next step...JOY!
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

One Candle

If one candle lights another,
Will it's light, by one, diminish?
If it shares its flame with one hundred candles,
An entire room will commence to glow,
'Til wax and wick no longer flow,
And all the flames extinguish.

Yet, that one candle, which lit many more,
Still glowed as brilliantly as before.

Such is the miracle of light!
It's magic is our treasure.
And the difference it made in that darkened room,
That difference cannot be measured.

If one heart gives love to another,
Is its capacity to love, by one, diminished?
If it shares its love with a thousand souls,
Those souls will commence to glow,
'Til muscle and sinew no longer grow,
And their earthly light's extinguished.

Yet, that one heart, who loved many more,
Still sang as sweetly as before.

Such is the miracle of love!
Its magic is our treasure.
And the difference it makes in a darkened world,
That difference cannot be measured.

Iris Fox (pen name I.A. Krate)
ifox@...

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

Climbing To The Top
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=537

A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous
www.silkworth.net/aahistory/akron_manual.html

Quotes to Live By
www.geocities.com/lf_loriflower/1/quotes.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just for Today
April 26                                        Self-Acceptance

"The most effective means of achieving self-acceptance is
through applying the Twelve Steps of recovery."
IP No. 19, "Self-Acceptance"

Most of us came to Narcotics Anonymous without much self-acceptance.
We looked at the havoc we had wreaked in our active addiction, and we
loathed ourselves. We had difficulty accepting our past and the self-
image produced by it.

Self-acceptance comes more quickly when we first accept that we have
a disease called addiction, because it's easier to accept ourselves as
sick people than as bad people. And the easier it is to accept
ourselves,
the easier it becomes to accept responsibility for ourselves.

We achieve self-acceptance through the process of ongoing recovery.
Working the Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous teaches us to
accept ourselves and our lives. Spiritual principles like surrender,
honesty, faith, and humility help relieve us of the burden of our past
mistakes. Our attitude changes with the application of these principles
in our daily lives. Self-acceptance grows as we grow in recovery.

Just for today: Self-acceptance is a process set in motion by the
Twelve Steps. Today, I will trust the process, practice the steps,
and learn to better accept myself. pg. 120

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,
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If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cultivating Faith

"I don't think we can do anything very well in this world unless we
practice it.  And I don't believe we do A.A.  too well unless we
practice
it.  .  .  .  We should practice .  .  .  acquiring the spirit of
service.
We should attempt to acquire some faith, which isn't easily done,
especially for the person who has always been very materialistic,
following the standards of society today.  But I think faith can be
acquired; it can be acquired slowly; it has to be cultivated.  That was
not easy for me, and I assume that it is difficult for everyone
else.  .  .  .  "
DR.  BOB AND THE GOOD OLDTIMERS, pp.  307-08

Fear is often the force that prevents me from acquiring and cultivating
the power of faith.  Fear blocks my appreciation of beauty, tolerance,
forgiveness, service, and serenity.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

The A.A. program is one of submission, release, and action.
When were drinking, we're submitting to a power greater
than ourselves, liquor. Our own wills are no use against the
power of liquor. One drink and we're sunk. in A.A. we stop
submitting to the power of liquor. Instead, we submit to a
Power, also greater than ourselves, which we call God. Have
I submitted myself to that Higher Power?

Meditation for the Day

Ceaseless activity is not God's plan for your life. Times of
withdrawal for renewed strength are always necessary. Wait
for the faintest tremor of fear and stop all work, everything,
and rest before God until you are strong again. Deal in the
same way with all tired feelings. Then you need rest of body
and renewal of spirit force. Saint Paul said: "I can do all things
through Him who strengthens me." This does not mean that
you are to do all things and then rely on God to find strength.
it means that you are to do the things you believe God wants
you to do and only then can you rely on His supply of power.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that God's spirit may be my master always. I pray
that I may learn how to rest and listen, as well as how to work.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 26

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

Negativity

Some people are carriers of negativity. They are storehouses of
pent up anger and volatile emotions. Some remain trapped in the
victim role and act in ways that further their victimization. And others
are still caught in the cycle of addictive or compulsive patterns.

Negative energy can have a powerful pull on us, especially if we're
struggling to maintain positive energy and balance. It may seem
that others who exude negative energy would like to pull us into the
darkness with them. We do not have to go. Without judgment, we can
decide it's okay to walk away, okay to protect ourselves.

We cannot change other people. It does not help others for us to
get off balance. We do not lead others into the Light by stepping
into the darkness with them.

Today, God, help me to know that I don't have to allow myself to
be pulled into negativity -- even around those I love. Help me set
boundaries. Help me know it's okay to take care of myself.

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

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

Why Are You Here?
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/04/why-are-you-here.htm

Relationship and the Spiritual Path
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/August/0897-19.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Lightheart
by Alan Cohen

While perusing the hieroglyphics in an ancient Egyptian tomb, I
discovered a painting showing a set of scales, like the scales of
justice. On one side of the scales was a feather, and on the other, a
human heart. Near the scales a godly entity looked on, along with an
ugly monster-like animal.

Our Egyptologist explained that this image depicted the Egyptian
concept of the day of judgment. When someone died, according to the
ancient legend, the person would be accused by 42 gods of having
committed various sins. If the person could deny these sins -- while
keeping his heart as light as a feather -- he would be admitted to
heaven and enjoy eternal life. If he could not deny these sins with a
light heart, the nasty-looking dog-entity Anubis stood waiting to
devour him and send him to. . . well, you know.

If I were a fire and brimstone minister, I could have a field day with
this scenario. But I am a teacher of forgiveness, and I will have my
own field day with it.

Can you recognize your innocence when others are trying to convince
you that you are guilty? The Four Agreements advises us, "Don?t take
anything personally." A Course in Miracles tells us, time and again,
that we are all innocent. None of us have truly sinned. Yes, we have
made plenty of mistakes, but none of us has done anything that would
cause us for even a moment to lose the love of God or deserve
damnation. To the contrary, the Course tells us, we are born of light
and unto light we return. If we practice forgiveness and self-
honoring, we can enjoy the light even as we walk the earth.

When faced with demanding situations, can you keep your heart as light
as a feather? Can you laugh your way through challenges and maintain
an attitude freer than fear? When confronted with upsets and the
poisonous projections of others, can you remember that all is well? Do
you know that you are a spiritual being, not subject to the whims and
caprices of earthly tides? Are you bigger than your circumstances?

One of my favorite movie characters is played by Gene Wilder in Stir
Crazy. Harry is a perpetually happy-go-lucky fellow with a knack for
turning every experience into a gift. When Harry is thrown into prison
for a crime he did not commit, the prison officials try to break his
positive attitude. But they can?t. The guards hang Harry by his wrists
for several days, only to find him with a big smile on his face.
"Thank you, oh, thank you!" he exclaims as they untie him. "You've
finally solved my back problem!"

Next, the officials lock Harry in a little hot box under the
sweltering sun. When they extract him a few days later, he begs, "Oh,
please, give me just one more day ? I was just starting to get into
myself." Finally they throw Harry into a cell with Grossberger, a 300-
pound crazed murderer that the toughest criminals avoid like the
plague. When the guards return, they find Harry and Grossberger on the
floor laughing over a game of cards. Harry kept choosing joy, and
everything around him lined up with his best interests.

February is the month for lovers. Let?s revisit relationships through
the eyes of lightheartedness. The nature of love is freedom and
empowerment. It is about play, delight, and celebration. It is about
supporting each other to be ever more passionately creative.
Relationship was never intended to be heavy, constricting, and soul-
consuming. It is not about projecting need and blame and judgment upon
our partners or ourselves. Yes, there is life beyond processing. If
there is one purpose to relationship, it is to empower each other to
be more comfortable, confident, and alive in who we already are.

Throughout your day, as often as possible, take a heart reading. Ask
yourself, "In this moment, is my heart light or heavy? Am I pandering
to the fears of others, or proceeding from my inner strength? Have I
given my power to appearances, or do I remember the truth?

The lesson is the same for the lighthearted Egyptian, Harry the
prisoner, and you and me: Enjoy your life. Everything else is details.
Forget about the ugly monster waiting to devour you; he is a figment
of somebody else?s imagination. Your own imagination can take you to
far brighter places.

We have been taught that spirit and matter are different, but they are
not. Matter is an expression of spirit, and in the end, the only thing
that matters is spirit.

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

Take A Moment - Relax

Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Take several gentle,easy breaths.
Allow your shoulders, neck, and back to relax and let go. Feel a
wave of relaxation flow through your body. Continue breathing gently
and consciously. While you are in that quiet state, visualize having
something you want, say a prayer of gratitude, or ask your Inner
Wisdom for guidance. Then when you feel complete, breathe more
deeply, stretch, open your eyes, and slowly start your activities.

When you give yourself the gift of experiencing a few minutes of
quiet every day, you give your body and mind precious moments to
relax, rev up your immune system, gain access to the wisdom within,
stimulate creativity, feel a connection to Source, and open your
heart. The benefits of those few minutes are enormous!

Patricia Crane, Ph.D.

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

Cherish things while you still have them,
before they're gone,
and you realize how precious they really are.

Life can only be understood backwards,
but it must be lived forwards.
Everything in life is temporary.
So if things are going good,
enjoy it because it won't last forever.
And if things are going bad,
don't worry because it won't last forever either.

Destiny is not a matter of chance,
it is a matter of choice;
it is not a thing to be waited for,
it is a thing to be achieved.
If you can not add years to your life
Add life to your years.

Author Unknown

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

Despite All Odds

An innocent rose just emerging into this world so cruel,
Not even yet a bud,
Such a beauty with strength and courage,
Surviving the hardships of her surrounding,
Thunder and rain crashing down upon her roots,
Yet, she still stands.
Harsh winds pushing and pulling,
Still she stands,
Standing alone slowly emerging, hanging strong.

Those around her crumble and fall,
Unable to withstand the torture and abuse,
And she still pushes her way up,
Staying undiscouraged by the weakness that surrounds her,
Surpassing the hardships of nature and man,
Defying the odds against her,
She starts to bloom,
those walk by and admire her beauty,
Unknown of the treacherous weather she had withstood,

Insects fly by taking her soul so they may live,
Taking for their own needs,
Leaving her shallow and empty,
Yet, she still illuminates with beauty,
An evil created by man arrives,
Spraying her with a vicious venom that burns and stings,
Seeping into her pores, crushing her soul,
Creatures dying around her,
Their bodies lay upon her motionless.

Such burden taking away from her liveliness,
Now those walk by, only glimpse and passion,
Sadness fills her as they pick those around her,
Those seemingly more innocent and pure,
One's who yet to see nor experience the hardships she had induced,
Life within her drains out lonely and sad,
Left alone to die,
Never receiving the admiration of her beauty despite the abuse,
Such a cruelty to allow a beauty to stand alone.

Only a little nurturing is all she needs,
A simple act to clear away the facade created by abuse
Just a simple feed as water,
Only a little time and affection to bring out her illuminating beauty,
Out of a rose so delicate, beautiful and fragile.
So much cruelty to leave such a small delight alone,
To stand alone and die alone,
Without ever exploring the happiness one can bring, despite all odds.

Eva Y. Ng
chnarose@...
www.chinarose.net
January 15, 1991
© 1994

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

Today

Today I am free
Free of resentments
But mostly of me
I live for today
Taking the steps
That show me the way
The past is no more
The future unknown
Today I walk through a new door
I need not fear
What lies beyond
For god is always near
He isn't in my head
But in my heart
Without him I‚d surely be dead
Today I have a new attitude
Not full of hate
But overflowing with gratitude
Today there is hope
No need to be afraid
That my life is at the end of it‚s rope
A gift has been given to me
The gift of today
This, I am now able to see
Please give me the strength, I pray
To live my life as best I can
If only, just for today

Don M. Iser ©
dmi88@...

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

The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect he becomes an
adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he
forgives himself, he becomes wise.
Aiden Nowlan

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

If you know something, it is in your head.
When you believe something, it is in your heart.
Gabriel A. Bankes

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

You will regret many things in life but you will never
regret being too kind or too fair.
Brian Tracy

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

We understand that by giving we receive.
We grasp that by lighting others' candles,
we do not lose our own light.
The more candles one lights,
the more enlightened the world becomes.
John Bradshaw

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

I am strong.
I am sure.
Any trial,
I can endure.
For I know
That I am loved
By some below
And GOD above
So, until tomorrow,
I can say,
I can make it
Through today.
M'Chelle Smith

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

This program of recovery is not about what you know,
it's about what you do.

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

There are a lot of little battles along the way,
however the war is over.

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

This is not Burger King,
I can't do it my way.

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

This is a simple program
for complicated people,
don't confuse simple with easy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
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 the group
that you belong to
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
or just email me YOUnMEnHP@...
and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
http://www.groups.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Please note, I will be out of the traveling to Reno NV on business
on 4/27 through 5/4 I will be sending ALL my emails into a
holding bin in Yahoogroups and Googlegroups they will be
dated and time stamped 4/27 and might appear in your email
box on 4/27 even though I will be releasing them for bulk mailing
on the day that is in the subject line. I apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause. PLEASE make sure to look
through your inbox carefully and you will find each days email
with an 4/24 time stamp .

Tradition 11
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition11.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you finally had to let go of ?
When you "let something go" where do you believe "it" goes ?
What do you believe are the spiritual principles behind "letting go" ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 27
Today I have the courage to face life as it is
and make progress a part of my life.
I am willing to take chances and grow
and risk and feel what it means to be fully alive in the moment.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Freely Give

Freely give as you receive
Trust in the God you believe
Nothing happens by mere chance
Study the picture do not just glance
No one is beyond hope
We were like you
We learned to cope
In here no one is alone
Practice recovery in your home
Freely give all you can
All along the way
In recovery
We do it
Just for today
Freely give to one and all
Do it when you hear the call
God will freely give all you need
In recovery you can succeed
Freely give as you get
Most of all do not forget
Freely give your strength
Most important all of your hope
God will freely give you
All you need to cope

Daniel M Corkery
5/25/2002
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Our Primary Purpose
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=544

12 Step Recovery Music
www.sunlightofthespiritmusic.com/12-step-recovery.htm

Twelve Songs
"Inspired by achieving recovery through the 12 steps of Alcoholics
Anonymous,
each song uniquely relates to a corresponding step":
www.twelvesongs.com

Jim W Songs
"One Man's Walk" 12 Step recovery music:
www.jimwsongs.com

Welcome to Songs of the Twelve Steps
www.12stepsongs.com

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 27                 Recognizing and Releasing Resentments

"We want to look our past in the face, see it for what it
really was, and release it so we can live today" Basic Text p. 28

Many of us had trouble identifying our resentments when
we were new in recovery. There we sat with our Fourth
Step in front of us, thinking and thinking, finally
deciding that we just didn't have any resentments.
Perhaps we talked ourselves into believing that we
weren't so sick after all.

Such unwitting denial of our resentments stems from the
conditioning of our addiction. Most of our feelings were
buried, and buried deep. After some time in recovery, a
new sense of understanding develops. Our most deeply
buried feelings begin to surface, and those resentments
we thought we didn't have suddenly emerge.

As we examine these resentments, we may feel tempted to
hold onto some of them, especially if we think they are
"justified.' But what we need to remember is that
"justified" resentments are just as burdensome as any
other resentment.

As our awareness of our liabilities grows, so does our
responsibility to let go. We no longer need to hang on to
our resentments. We want to rid ourselves of what's
undesirable and set ourselves free to recover.

Just for today:  When I discover a resentment, I'll see
it for what it is and let it go.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

New Soil .  .  .  New Roots

       Moments of perception can build into a lifetime of spiritual
serenity, as I have excellent reason to know.  Roots of reality,
supplanting the neurotic underbrush, will hold fast despite the high
winds of the forces which would destroy us, or which we would use
to destroy ourselves.
AS BILL SEES IT, p.  173

I came to A.A.  green -- a seedling quivering with exposed taproots.  It
was for survival but it was a beginning.  I stretched, developed,
twisted,
but with the help of others, my spirit eventually burst up from the
roots.  I was free.  I acted, withered, went inside, prayed, acted
again,
understood anew, as one moment of perception struck.  Up from my
roots, spirit-arms lengthened into strong, green shoots: high-springing
servants stepping skyward.

Here on earth God unconditionally continues the legacy of higher love.
My A.A.  life put me "on a different footing .  .  .  [my] roots
grasped a
new soil" (Alcoholics Anonymous, p.  12).

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

By submitting to God, were released from the power of liquor.
It has no more hold on us. We're also released from the things
that were holding us down: pride, selfishness, and fear. And
we're free to grow into a new life, which is so much better
than the old life that there's no comparison. This release gives
us serenity and peace with the world. Have I been released
from the power of alcohol?

Meditation for the Day

We know God by spiritual vision. We feel that He is beside us.
We feel His presence. Contact with God is not made by the
senses. Spirit-consciousness replaces sight. Since we cannot
see God, we have to perceive Him by spiritual perception. God
has to span the physical and the spiritual with the gift to us
of spiritual vision. Many persons, though they cannot see God,
have had a clear spiritual consciousness of Him. We are inside
a box of space and time, but we know there must be something
outside of that box, limitless space, eternity of time, and God.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have a consciousness of God's presence.
I pray that God will give me spiritual vision.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 27

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

Letting Go of the Need to Control

     The rewards from detachment are great: serenity; a deep sense
of peace; the ability to give and receive love in self-enhancing,
energizing ways, and the freedom to find real solutions to our
problems.
     --Codependent No More

Letting go of our need to control can set others and us free. It can
set our Higher Power free to send the best to us.

If we weren't trying to control someone or something, what would
we be doing differently?

What would we do that we're not letting ourselves do now? Where
would we go? What would we say?

What decisions would we make?

What would we ask for? What boundaries would be set? When
would we say no or yes?

If we weren't trying to control whether a person liked us or his or
her reaction to us, what would we do differently? If we weren't
trying to control the course of a relationship, what would we do
differently? If we weren't trying to control another person's behavior,
how would we think, feel, speak, and behave differently than we
do now?

What haven't we been letting ourselves do while hoping that
self-denial would influence a particular situation or person?
Are there some things we've been doing that we'd stop?

How would we treat ourselves differently?

Would we let ourselves enjoy life more and feel better right now?
Would we stop feeling so bad? Would we treat ourselves better?

If we weren't trying to control, what would we do differently?
Make a list, and then do it.

Today, I will ask myself what I would be doing differently if I
weren't trying to control. When I hear the answer, I will do it.
God, help me let go of my need to control. Help me set others
and myself free.

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

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

The One Percent Factor
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/04/one-percent.htm

Letters of Wisdom and Affirmations
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/August/0897-21.html

Am I Being Inspired?
by Dan Joseph
www.innerself.com/Spirituality/joseph_dan_50904.htm

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Feeling Good About Ourselves
by Susan Ann Darley

What have you done lately to nurture yourself, enhance your creativity
and honor your soul? Feeling sad lately? When we neglect ourselves in
the mad rush to make a living, take care of business and raise our
families, we die a little with each passing day. A thousand daily
deaths can lead to a barren life starved for affection and love. And
yet we don't understand. Our partner loves us, our children need us,
our friends are there for us and our employer counts on us. We are
loved and needed we defiantly state. So we continue our frantic pace
and fill up our lives with busyness.

Our faces, with well-applied make-up, mask the pain of our souls that
lie waiting for us to discover what real beauty is. Until we touch the
beauty of our souls and live from our own heartfelt inspiration, we
live with a profound sadness and longing.

Some women desperately search their entire lives to find a cure for
such emptiness. The quest for a man, success and eternal youth
override the longing of their souls.

Our obsession with our physical appearance has reached epidemic
proportions. Women seem more dissatisfied with their bodies than they
were even two or three decades ago. Some types of plastic surgery on
any number of body parts can be performed on our lunch hours. It's
time to ask, "What in the world are we teaching our daughters?"

And why the impossible quest for perfection? Why do we mold and
reshape our faces and bodies? Do we do it to appear younger, to keep
our jobs, to attract a lover or to feel better about ourselves?

How long can we feel good about ourselves when we seek artificial
means to make our lives work? How long can we feel good when we value
our appearance more than ourselves?

Why can't we say "no" to societal pressure to conform to impossible
beauty standards? What will we lose? Why does the risk seem so high?

We could choose to grow old gracefully. When enough join the chorus it
will change. But we are caught in the glamour of the external world in
search of the eternal fountain of youth. We are under the influence of
the opinions of others and afraid to rock the boat. So again and again
we give our power away and by doing so, give our permission to be
taken for granted, used and exploited.

In other words we play the role of the victim -- an all too familiar
role for women to play. Over and over we play this role as it is
handed down from generation to generation. Regardless of where and how
we play it out, our complacency blinds us to its often-subtle disguise.

  From a victim state-of-mind we become needy. Neediness is a form of
negative dependency that brings up all kinds of negative emotions such
as resentment, jealousy, and anger. Not knowing how to nurture
ourselves and take care of ourselves emotionally, we depend on others
to do so. When they fail to do so, we rage. And oddly enough, even
when they do so, we rage even more. Why? Because we know deep inside
that our emotional health is not dependent on others, but ourselves.
We know that our strength to move beyond the victim state comes from
within. Deep inside we know that absolutely no one can have power over
us unless we allow it.

Yet we make excuses for the abusive people in our lives. We blame
ourselves for their insensitive and harmful behavior. We take care of
others at our own expense. We stay in destructive relationships out of
convenience. And the cycle perpetuates itself over and over.

  From neediness to rage, these are the collective deep wounds of
women. Only truth will soften the edges of our pain. Only learning how
to honor ourselves will heal our sorrow.

If we are so good at taking care of others, then why is it so hard to
take good care of ourselves? Perhaps we haven't been taking such good
care of others. I can feel the caregivers of the world -- overworked,
overtired, underpaid and rarely acknowledged, glaring at me with
vengeance.

When we take care of ourselves first, then we can give freely and
generously of ourselves without resentment. With our own needs met
through self-acknowledgment we can lovingly help others. However, the
very thought of putting ourselves first usually produces major guilt.
How dare we?

Get over it. Take good care of yourself. Show the world how much you
value you. Learn to say no. Set healthy boundaries. Protect yourself.
Tell the truth. Be honest with yourself. Live your life with
integrity. Take care of your emotional, mental and physical well
being. Take care of your finances. Acknowledge your feelings. Trust
your intuition. Follow your heart. Honor your creativity.

Easy to suggest and write, but not always easy to do, for where
there's a victim, there's a bully not far behind. When you've been
beaten up enough, you begin to believe you're damaged. And when you
start to believe that lie, you beat up on yourself. The bully can be
long gone, but the script is still read, in fact memorized all too well.

It takes conviction to rewrite the script. It takes courage to prove
to ourselves that we're intelligent, talented and valuable. It takes
perseverance to nurture our dreams to fruition.

And in our solitary moments we realize what is possible. Not only can
we forge beyond the past, we must. So when you lose your confidence
and it all seems to fall apart and the journey is too damn long and
you're too tired to care anymore, ask yourself, "What will be my
legacy?"

Stop. Pray. Ask for strength and the wisdom to understand your true
identity. Look past appearances and stop comparing yourself to others.
Reconnect with your spiritual essence.You will become stronger, more
powerful, more confident and desirable. There is nothing more
appealing and sensual than pure love and joy.

Allow divine feminine energy to flow through you as a healing force.
Be filled with its grace and let it overflow into the world. This
energy when used consciously is a powerful force. It has been dormant
for too long, buried deep within our souls. Let it rise and stand.
Allow it to join forces with the masculine energy of the world in
order to create and give birth to your vision. It will temper, teach,
heal, and balance. When both forces, at long last, stand side-by-side,
we will then experience true equality. We will then know that our
journey has been worthwhile.

Susan Ann Darley is a personal empowerment coach and writer. She helps
people to empower themselves to "live their dreams" through private
consultations, teaching and public speaking. Susan helps people to
move beyond the limits of their past, to hear their "true voice" and
find the courage to express it in all circumstances. She works with
individuals to nurture their creativity and to launch their creative
projects. Website: www.susananndarley.com

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

A beautiful illustration of a parable......
Carrots, Eggs and Coffee

A certain daughter complained to her father about her life and how
things have been so hard for her. She did not know how she was going
to make it and she wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and
struggling. It seemed that just as one problem was solved another
arose. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen, filled three pots
with water and placed the fire on high. Soon the three pots came to a
boil.

In one he placed carrots, in the other he placed eggs, and in the last
he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without
saying a word. The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently wondered
what he was trying to do. She had problems, and he was making this
strange concoction.

In half an hour he walked over to the oven and turned down the fire.
He pulled the car
rots out and placed them in the bowl. He pulled the eggs out and
placed them in the bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it
in a bowl.

Turning to her he asked. "Darling what do you see."

Smartly, she replied. "Carrots, eggs, and coffee."

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and
noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break
it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Her face frowned from the
strength of the coffee. Humbly, she asked. "What does it mean Father?"

He explained. "Each of them faced the same adversity, 212 degrees of
boiling water. However each reacted differently."

"The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after going
through boiling water, it softened and became weak."

"The egg was fragile. A thin outer shell protected a liquid center.
But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became
hardened."

"The coffee beans are unique, however. After they were in the boiling
water, it became stronger and richer."

"Which are you," he asked his daughter? When adversity knocks on your
door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with the smallest amount of
pain, adversity, heat you wilt and become soft with no strength?

Are you the egg, which starts off with a malleable heart, a fluid
spirit? But after a death, a breakup, a divorce, a layoff you became
hardened and stiff. Your shell looks the same, but you are so bitter
and tough with a stiff spirit and heart, internally.

Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean does not get its peak flavor
and robust until it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water
gets the hottest, it just tastes better.

When things are there worst, you get better. When people talk the
most, your praises increase. When the hour is the darkest, trials are
their greatest, your worship elevates to another level.

How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

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

"Forgiveness is like the martial arts of consciousness.
In Aikido and, other martial arts, we sidestep
our attacker’s force rather than resisting it.
The energy of the attack then boomerangs
back in the direction of the attacker.
Our power lies in remaining nonreactive.
Forgiveness works in the same way.
When we attack back, and defense is a form of attack,
we initiate a war that no one can win."
- Marianne Williamson

Today's Affirmation:
I am forgiving and I am forgiven.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
I do not want to hang on to past mistakes, past hurts,
past wrongs or past experiences.
I understand that the past is over unless I make it the present.
My intellect knows these things God,
but my intellect is not what is wounded.
I want to also be free of the feelings of hurt and anger.
I want to be free of the tendency to defend myself
against what I perceive to be attack.
Sometimes I feel so stuck.
I need a miracle.
It seems that there is something very subtle that I sometimes miss.
Lift me above the illusion and clarify my vision.
Teach me how to forgive fully..
I am willing to respond from Love.
Please, show me how.
Thank You God!
Amen

Marianne Williamson

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

Teach Only Love

There are only two emotions,
Fear and Love.

Fear, in all its forms leads only to attack and separation.
There is never any justification for teaching fear,
No matter how obvious the outside world circumstances
May indicate it should be.

Love is the only antidote to those circumstances since
It is our misdirected thoughts which created them to begin with.

Loving thoughts create loving circumstances.
The residue of past error laden thinking will continue
To appear for a time,
But soon the New Love based thoughts will manifest,
And the circumstances of Life will reflect only Love.

Therefore, in all our teaching, whether it be in a
Classroom, workshop, written work or by the
Moment by moment example we set...
Let us Teach Only Love.

Unknown

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

Journey On

Never quit,
Live each day as if it is your last,
Forgiving those who are spiritually sick,
Pray for them to have the love and light you would want,
Love deeply all things living,
Share the light of love and embrace the sick,
So the world you know it may be touched,
      by that ray of illuminating love and grace,
To feel the hope,
So you can move on with peace
      and Love in your heart.

ChinaRose
chnarose@...
www.chinarose.net

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

One does not discover new lands without consenting
to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.
Andre Gide

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

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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

The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life
is the source from which self-respect springs.
Joan Didion

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

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make
you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color.
Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense,
and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable.
Anonymous

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

If you want to be spiritual,
then you have to act spiritual.

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

Recovery is doing things that you don't want to do.

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

It is more important to be the right person,
than to meet the right person.

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

I don't need anyone to be harder on me,
than I am on myself.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
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By the grace of God and through your efforts of passing on this
email, we are reaching many recovering people in different areas of
the world. If you are receiving this, from a country outside of the
USA please send me an email and tell me where you are receiving this.
So far we reaching over 6000 recovering people in 66 countries
including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados,
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Stay in the Light,

In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tradition 9
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition09.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you finally had to let go of ?
When you "let something go" where do you believe "it" goes ?
What do you believe are the spiritual principles behind "letting go" ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 25
Positive energy attracts positive energy.
Today my Higher Power continues to guide my growth
so that I am more and more open.
I am becoming free and unblocked and
am attracting all that is good and right in my life.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Beans

Here in this cozy home in which I reside.
There's a place I go to - with all that's inside.
Alone at night as I lay in my bed.
My inventory makes notes in my head.

In my world there's a cat named "Beans".
When she was a kitten she made us memory scenes.
Hilariously funny, my what spunk! Look at that!
Now a  loveable scraggily old lady cat.

She crawled into bed with me (& I usually remove her).
But, tonight It just seemed right to allow her to stay.
I thanked God for getting to love her one more day.
Then I listened to what God had to say.

"Remember when Beans was hiding outside?
You had a house full of strangers and a heart, black inside ...
- ruled by your emotions and your mind was a mess?"
I just saw it through God's eye's and said "yes".

"Along with the good seeds you planted with Love,
there are weeds that you let in and their roots are way deep.
They were sown when you lived like the demons that creep ...
disguised like a handsome man with a wink and some money.
Some of those demons you brought home and called "honey".

"How many years did you go your own way?"
I thought about it and I replied,
" My life has been a mixture of flowers and weeds
growing side by side."

"Well, now you have compassion and gone is your thirst
to be impulsive and jump for the worst."
"Yes, God that's true my last infatuation blew away my need
to live in imagination and greed."

"Oh God, how do I live with this thing that I see?
I passed on the evil that thrived inside me.
My children now show the weeds living next to the flower.
I by myself have nothing, no power.
But you, are a power greater than me.
Please open their eyes and help them to see."

"What can I do Lord? Please show me, I'll do it.
Only your wisdom can help us all the through it.
Can you stop them from ruining their lives like I did?
Is there something, anything I can do?"

"I loved you before you could see who you are.
Now love others even though they are cruel and self-centered.
The ones closest to you, you possibly mentored."

"How do I love them when I feel so much pain?
I know now how I hurt them a long time ago.
When I was at the top of the roller coaster ride,
the exhilaration of passion that I felt was so good,
   was the very thing that hurt them and I couldn't see ...
The only thing important to me ... was a fantasy."

I looked down at the old cat purring on my arm,
   knowing that I had ignored truth and caused so much harm.
And God whispered, "Let go, I waited for you.
Your children will do what they have to do.
I have all eternity to help them to see.
You be your best and leave the rest up to me."

As I walked through the days of my old cats life.
Humbled that my higher power would choose to use "Beans",
All the things that God showed me tonight.
Let me know that even though today things are not right ...
That the future belongs to Almighty God
and so does the past and that seems odd.

I can't shape the future.
I can't change the past.
Today is enough; goes incredibly fast!
The people I love will make their mistakes.
Maturity just takes whatever it takes.

Yes, sometimes life stings ... and consequences I still must pay.
My life gets better day by day.
Today I am fortunate to have a guide.
I'm no longer on that roller coaster ride.
The best thing is that I don't plant anymore weeds.
Today my life is full of bountiful, beautiful seeds.
For the rest of my life I get to watch them grow.
Someday my children will know what I know.

Here in this cozy home in which I reside.
There's a place I go to - with all that's inside.
Alone at night as I lay in my bed.
My inventory makes notes in my head.

In my world there's a cat named "Beans".
When she was a kitten she made us memory scenes.
Hilariously funny, my what spunk! Look at that!
Now a  loveable scraggily old lady cat.

She crawled into bed with me (& I usually remove her).
But, tonight It just seemed right to allow her to stay.
I thanked God for getting to love her one more day.
Then I listened to what God had to say.

"Remember when Beans was hiding outside?
You had a house full of strangers and a heart, black inside ...
- ruled by your emotions and your mind was a mess?"
I just saw it through God's eye's and said "yes".

"Along with the good seeds you planted with Love,
there are weeds that you let in and their roots are way deep.
They were sown when you lived like the demons that creep ...
disguised like a handsome man with a wink and some money.
Some of those demons you brought home and called "honey".

"How many years did you go your own way?"
I thought about it and I replied,
" My life has been a mixture of flowers and weeds
growing side by side."

"Well, now you have compassion and gone is your thirst
to be impulsive and jump for the worst."
"Yes, God that's true my last infatuation blew away my need
to live in imagination and greed."

"Oh God, how do I live with this thing that I see?
I passed on the evil that thrived inside me.
My children now show the weeds living next to the flower.
I by myself have nothing, no power.
But you, are a power greater than me.
Please open their eyes and help them to see."

"What can I do Lord? Please show me, I'll do it.
Only your wisdom can help us all the through it.
Can you stop them from ruining their lives like I did?
Is there something, anything I can do?"

"I loved you before you could see who you are.
Now love others even though they are cruel and self-centered.
The ones closest to you, you possibly mentored."

"How do I love them when I feel so much pain?
I know now how I hurt them a long time ago.
When I was at the top of the roller coaster ride,
the exhilaration of passion that I felt was so good,
   was the very thing that hurt them and I couldn't see ...
The only thing important to me ... was a fantasy."

I looked down at the old cat purring on my arm,
   knowing that I had ignored truth and caused so much harm.
And God whispered, "Let go, I waited for you.
Your children will do what they have to do.
I have all eternity to help them to see.
You be your best and leave the rest up to me."

As I walked through the days of my old cats life.
Humbled that my higher power would choose to use "Beans",
All the things that God showed me tonight.
Let me know that even though today things are not right ...
That the future belongs to Almighty God
and so does the past and that seems odd.

I can't shape the future.
I can't change the past.
Today is enough; goes incredibly fast!
The people I love will make their mistakes.
Maturity just takes whatever it takes.

Yes, sometimes life stings ... and consequences I still must pay.
My life gets better day by day.
Today I am fortunate to have a guide.
I'm no longer on that roller coaster ride.
The best thing is that I don't plant anymore weeds.
Today my life is full of bountiful, beautiful seeds.
For the rest of my life I get to watch them grow.
Someday my children will know what I know.

"Beans"
Rita Hurd 4/9/2003
nafesah_faith_ali_loves_you@...
(Thank you mom for being in the 12 step program, setting a
good example of being willing to pull up the weeds in your life,
learning to change, applying principles, and most of all for praying
and loving me at my worst.)

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

Our Deepest Fear
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=534

How I got off crystal meth and found joy in living.
www.methedup.net

Special Recovery Articles
www.recoveryemporium.com/SpecialArticles.htm

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 25                                Embracing reality

"Recovery is a reality for us today" Basic Text, p. 97

Pain and misery were realities in our using lives. We were unwilling
either to accept our living situation or to change what was
unacceptable in our lives. We attempted to escape life's pain by
taking drugs, but using only compounded our troubles. Our altered
sense of reality became
a nightmare.

   Through living the program of Narcotics Anonymous, we learn that
our dreams can replace our nightmares. We grow and change. We
acquire the freedom of choice. We are able to give and receive love.
We can share honestly about ourselves, no longer magnifying or
minimizing the truth. We accept the challenges real life offers us,
facing them in a mature, responsible way.

   Although recovery does not give us immunity from the realities of
life, in the NA Fellowship we can find the support, genuine care,
and concern we need to face those realities. We need never hide
from reality by using drugs again, for our unity with other recovering
addicts gives us strength. Today the support, the care, and the
empathy of recovery give us a clean, clear window through which
to view, experience, and appreciate reality as it is.

Just for today: A gift of my recovery is living and enjoying life as it
truly is. Today, I will embrace reality.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Self-Examination

.  .  .  we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be
divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P.  86

   When said sincerely, this prayer teaches me to be truly unselfish and
humble, for even in doing good deeds I often used to seek approval
and glory for myself.  By examining my motives in all that I do, I can
be
of service to God and others, helping them do what they want to do.
When I put God in charge of my thinking, much needless worry is
eliminated and I believe He guides me throughout the day.  When I
eliminate thoughts of self-pity, dishonesty and self-centeredness as
soon as they enter my mind, I find peace with God, my neighbor and
myself.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 25th

A.A. Thought for the Day

I don't believe that A.A. works because I read it in a book or
because I hear people say so. I believe it because I see people
getting sober and staying sober. An actual demonstration is
what convinces me. When I see the change in people, I can't
help believing that A.A. works. We could listen to talk about
A.A. an day and still not believe it, but when we see it work,
we have to believe it. Seeing is believing. Do I see AA. work
every day?

Meditation for the Day

Try saying "God bless her (or him)" of anyone who is in
disharmony with you. Also say it of those who are in trouble
through their own fault. Say it, willing that showers of
blessings may fall upon them. Let God do the blessing.
Leave to God the necessary correcting or disciplining.
You should only desire blessing for them. Leave God's
work to God. Occupy yourself with the task that He gives
you to do. God's blessing will also break down all your own
difficulties and build up all your successes.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may use God's goodness so that it will be a
blessing to others. I pray that I may accept God's blessing
so that I will have harmony, beauty, joy, and happiness.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 25

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

Finding Our Own Truth

We must each discover our own truth.

It does not help us if those we love find their truth. They cannot
give it to us. It does not help if someone we love knows a
particular truth in our life. We must discover our truth for ourselves.

We must each discover and stand in our own light.

We often need to struggle, fail, and be confused and frustrated.
That's how we break through our struggle; that's how we learn
what is true and right for ourselves.

We can share information with others. Others can tell us what may
predictably happen if we pursue a particular course. But it will not
mean anything until we integrate the message and it becomes
our truth, our discovery, our knowledge.

There is no easy way to break through and find our truth.

But we can and will, if we want to.

We may want to make it easier. We may nervously run to friends,
asking them to give us their truth or make our discovery easier.
They cannot. Light will shed itself in its own time.

Each of us has our own share of truth, waiting to reveal itself to
us. Each of us has our own share of the light, waiting for us to
stand in it, to claim it as ours.

Encouragement helps. Support helps. A firm belief that each
person has truth available -- appropriate to each situation -- is
what will help.

Each experience, each frustration, each situation, has its own
truth waiting to be revealed. Don't give up until you find it -- for
yourself.

We shall be guided into truth, if we are seeking it. We are not
alone.

Today, I will search for my own truth, and I will allow others to
do the same. I will place value on my vision and the vision of
others. We are each on the journey, making our own discoveries --
the ones that are right for us today.

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

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

Dad's Checkbook, By Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/04/alan-cohen.htm

The Character of Personal Power
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/August/0897-15.html

Affirmation, Prayers, and Blessings
by Sirona Knight
www.innerself.com/Spirituality/knight_sirona_41104.htm

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Freeing Ourselves from Clutter
by Katherine Gibson

I am often teased about a round side table that once belonged to my
aunt. It's draped with a Victorian-era cloth of ivory silk, its fine
strands of fringe sweeping the floor. On it sits a small wedding photo
in a silver frame, diminutive glass sculptures, a hand-painted
porcelain vase, and an orchid, all gifts from dear friends. To some,
the table is a mishmash of clutter. To me, each object is a treasure
that connects me to those whose love is represented there.

Beh1 When we consciously choose what graces our environment, it will
harmonize with our inner journey. Our home will be welcoming, restful,
and intensely personal. Rather than mimicking an interior design
magazine, each book on the shelf, every painting on the wall, and even
the decorations we use at Christmas will reflect who we are and what
matters most.

As the need for more diminishes, appreciation for what we have
increases. Our life bursts with abundance but not in the usual sense.
We have more time. Rather than spend life's energy shopping for things
we don't need, we can take long walks, read, or build a tree fort with
the kids. With less to clean and mend, we can focus on pursuits that
add dimension to our purpose in life and enrich our spiritual, social,
physical, and mental experiences.

With an uncluttered life, we have more money. It's not that we earn
more (although for some increased income is the result of
uncluttering); we simply buy less. But when we do shop it is with
forethought, not impulse, for we know that what we bring into our life
must offer a purposeful or spiritual benefit.

An uncluttered life ends confusion. With things in their places, we
save time and frustration. We ease through the day with confidence and
clarity instead of spinning into a whirl as we run late, double-book
engagements, or forget them altogether. With a schedule that respects
our limits and interests, a written to-do list (not the one you carry
in your mind), and joy in what we do, life will hum.

A life free from internal and external clutter is healthful. Research
confirms that our physical environment, be it home or the office,
influences how we feel internally. Organized surroundings positively
influence our heart rhythms and blood pressure, reducing anxiety and
tension. We smile more, breathe deeper, and notice the details around
us. We can control many of the factors that shape our surroundings by
reducing nuisance noise, eliminating visual clutter, and making
technology our servant instead of our master. Taking charge of our
time by under-scheduling leaves space for us to become fully engaged
in what we do with reduced pressure and added pleasure.

The uncluttered mind allows space to nurture the childhood brilliance
that creates entire towns from egg cartons, or spawn a cook's
ingenious fish sauce recipe. The uncluttered mind energizes us to
think in new directions that can translate into serious money if that
fish sauce is franchised or that novel wins the Pulitzer.

The uncluttered life unleashes joy. When we love what we do, when our
work reflects passion and utilizes our gifts and talents, we excel and
others benefit. Several years ago Bob and I took a city bus from La
Jolla, a community at the north end of San Diego, to visit the zoo.
The driver sang out the names of each stop and embraced each passenger
with an unbridled smile and a neighborly hello. As the bus moseyed
along, folks traded snippets of news. Although we were in a big city
with big-city issues, the atmosphere on the bus felt like a small town
church picnic -- even though we were among strangers. While the driver
provided transportation that respects the environment, he also colored
his job with a joyfulness that bubbled like champagne.

The uncluttered life is filled with possibilities. I met Janet Stewart
Lilly while biking a trail in Derbyshire, near the Welsh border. She
had lived in London and worked for a national publishing firm. Now she
operated the small tourism office where I had stopped for a map. She
was refreshingly open and engaging, and before long she was telling me
about the sweeping life change she and her husband, David, had made
when they moved from the city. Janet explained why in a letter she
later wrote to me:

      I was quite happy climbing the corporate ladder. We worked hard,
were paid well, and had plenty of disposable income for weekends away
and holidays. Can you believe that living in a one-bedroom flat [in
London], I even employed a cleaning lady! But the daily demands [at
work] increased. Everything became impersonal and PC-based. I was up
at 6 a.m. and didn't leave my desk until the mad dash home on the 7
p.m. train.

      David had always wanted to restore an old property and so we
started looking. I never thought I would be the proud owner of an
expensive pile of stones, but here we are [in Derbyshire]. And what a
life! I can't believe that I have become such a keen veggie gardener.
I wear the same old clothes -- what a relief from having to worry
about your appearance. We eat homegrown food and I get lots of
exercise in the fresh air. I also have time for others, time to write
letters and talk on the phone, time for myself, time to cook proper
meals. Even though we have given up some things -- financial security,
expensive clothes, and holidays -- I wouldn't want to go back to the
way we lived.

While not all of us wish to restore a derelict property or muck about
in the garden, Janet's letter sparkled with the message of the
uncluttered life -- purposeful, creative, authentic, and mindful. When
we release clutter, we harness clarity. Our goals are focused, our
path is clear. We know what matters most and we discard the rest. We
choose our experiences and don't let others direct our lives.
Vicarious experiences are not for us. We want to taste and feel and be
in life! We take the high road and recognize the right of all to live
their own truth, even if it differs from ours. We put money in its
place and know the difference between price and value.

The uncluttered life exudes peace of mind. Free from the weight of
negative thoughts and toxic people, our life is filled with affirming
and enriching relationships. In place of righteousness, resentments,
grudge holding, and jealousies, we find acceptance and compassion.
When our world rocks and rolls, we hold on, knowing that life is
textured with challenges. And when we take our last breaths, we'll
know that the life we lived was truly ours.


Katherine is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists and
the national board of the Periodical Writers Association of Canada.
Katherine holds a Master of Education degree and is a recognized
educator who offers courses at the University of Victoria. Katherine
is a dynamic keynote speaker and seminar leader and also provides
private coaching to writers. Katherine is based in Victoria, British
Columbia. Visit her website at www.katherinegibson.com

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

Are we really listening? - The next time you're in conversation with
someone think about this question for a second. Many times we're simply
thinking of what we're going to say next, rather than actually listening
to the person with a clear mind.

   If you're guilty (as I sometimes am) of this at times there's some
really bad news. The other person knows this as well. It's written all
over our faces. It's in the very words that we use to follow up with
in our
discussion with that person. The good news is that by making ourselves
aware of the fact that we're not truly listening we can begin at that
very
moment correcting the problem.

   Make yourself aware of the importance of listening and you'll reap
many
rewards. It's one of life's most awesome facts that people are drawn to
those who are good listeners. Upon reading the biographies of many
leaders one thing is clear. Each in their own way are magnificent
listeners...

Your friend in cyberspace,
Josh Hinds :-)

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

Care Package

Ever get a care package in the mail?
one came for me last week
in surprise form
delicious gifts that fed my soul's hunger
for something my tongue could not tell
it held...

A rose quartz of flashing beauty
scents from heaven: oil, myrrh & incense
seeds to perpetuate the friendship of flowers
a candle of hearts surrounded
and more

But the crowning glory was
a silver-trimmed silk scarf
hand painted with the love of the heart
and carefully made by the hands
of a friend from far away

What the box contained that touched me deeper
than the sight, touch, scents and soft sounds of fine tissue paper
was the invisible love and care with which the box
had been packed, filled with pieces of her joy to me

It remains in the folds of the scarf
it dances in the flame of the candle
and lingers in my heart

Love
Stella
stellaraymonde@...
©2000 Stella Savoie

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

Let Go

Take off your coat of shame
Throw away those thoughts of blame
Walk away from all the guilt
Tear down the walls you built
Let go of the pain
Before it drives you insane
Find the one
Who rises the sun
Keep the love within your heart
For only there you can start
To build the dreams
Instead of those schemes
To love and hold
And not to scold
To laugh and cry
With little sighs
Up until the day you die
When you learn to forgive
is when you will start to live
All this I now know
Because I have learned to let go.

©1999 By: Angie F Moore. WHFL
Amoore530@...
All rights reserved.
Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner,
without prior written consent is prohibited.
Permission Granted

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

I am Blessed

Confused,
I asked for clarity.
You gave me wisdom and knowledge.
I asked for patience and tolerance, and you put me in rush hour traffic.
I needed to know your will for me??
I found myself in jail,
sharing what you taught me in recovery.
I prayed for friends,
You sent me hundreds.
To love me unconditionally.
I learned honesty, respect, and principles.
Though I received so much more than I prayed for.
I am over paid.
Each and every day I get to be alive, I am blessed.
Your my higher power, my guidance, my strength.
That is my understanding.

kenneth  klein
sportsterken67@...

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

At this very moment the universe is trying to manifest miracles
through your visions, intuitions, and longings. Imagine that your
inklings are God's whispers to your heart. The same God that gave you
the idea, will give you the means and support to see it through. The
world is being transformed through people like you, who love
themselves enough to trust their inner guidance, and relax enough to
let the universe take care of the means.
Alan Cohen

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

The principle we are working with today is JOY.
It is a state of delight and well-being.
An experience of great pleasure.
Inner jubilation demonstrated as a pleasant manner.
A state of happiness.
Iyanla Vanzant

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

EVERY moment is an opportunity for Love.
Where there is hatred, may we bring Love.
Where there is prejudice and injustice, may we bring Love.
Where there is insecurity and small-mindedness, may we bring Love.
Where there is fear in any form,
may we bring the illuminating Light of Love.
We do not open our hearts 'when';
we open them 'in spite of.'
God grants us the opportunity and power to transform
every negativity into everlasting love.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Faith is like electricity. You can't see it,
but you can see the light.
Anonymous

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

When you get 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 how to fly.
Edward Teller

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

Live and Let Live

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

Let Go and Let God

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

Turn it Over

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

Give time,
time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
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and write subscribe in the subject line.

Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress
this letter cannot be considered spam as long as the following words
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or just email me YOUnMEnHP@...
and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

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

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Tradition 8
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition08.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you finally had to let go of ?
When you "let something go" where do you believe "it" goes ?
What do you believe are the spiritual principles behind "letting go" ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 24
Today I am practicing looking at all beings
with the eyes of compassion.
Not only do I feel good when I come from a place of love
and understanding, I also feel useful and connected.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

ALL- FEEL- BETT(er)

A-    stands for addict, WE all must admit
B-    is for BASIC, the TEXT  how to quit
C-    stands for come, coming to believe
D-    is the desire, each member should achieve
E-    stands for encouragement, show the newcomer you care
F-    is for feelings, that lose power as you share
G-    stands for God, who's  loving  as can be
H-    is for home group, a place meant for thee
I-    is the info, the "How And Why" brings your way
J-    is your journal and "Just For Today"
K-    stands for kindness, let it abound
L-    is for love, spread some around
M-    is for meetings, do ninety in a row
N-    is the newcomer, and just saying no
O-    is the obsession, the Steps take from you
P-    is for phone numbers, be sure to grab a few
Q-    is for quiet times, prayer and meditation are good
R-    is relapse prevention, make a plan like you should
S-    is for sponsor, dedicated and caring
T-    is the Twelve steps, your life they'll be sparing
U-    stands for unity, passing around greetings
V-    is your voice, at area meetings
W-    stands for WE, WE must never part
X-    is for x-ray, examine your heart
Y-    is your program, so fight the good fight
Z-    stands for zee's, giving thanks late at night

Do the A, B, C's of the program, as you go through each letter
And I guarantee ya, you'll ALL FEEL BETTER

Poem by Kevin K. 06/04/2003
www.recoveryjonescartoons.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Don't Use*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If anyone has any original recovery poetry that they
would like to share with us please copy and paste it into the body
of an email and send it to me, Thanks for your support and
contributions.
What I can't do alone, We do together.
In loving service, Scott ~  YOUnMEnHP@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Things I Learned From My Relapse
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=526

Great Info on Hepatitis
www.herointimes.com/apr01/hepc.html

Hepatitis Links
www.hep-links.com/index.php?id=30

Hepatitis Links
www.hepcassoc.org/relatedlinks.htm

Hooked On Crack
www.recoverylane.com/hooked1.htm

Recovery Gifts, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 24                                           Twelve Steps Of Life

"Through abstinence and through working the Twelve Steps of
Narcotics Anonymous, our lives have become useful"
Basic Text, p. 8

Before coming to Narcotics Anonymous, our lives were centered
around using. For the most part, we had very little energy left over
for jobs, relationships, or other activities. We served only our
addiction.

The Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous provide a simple way to turn
our lives around. We start by staying clean, a day at a time. When our
energy is no longer channeled into our addiction, we find that we have
the energy to pursue other interests. As we grow in recovery, we
become able to sustain healthy relationships. We become trustworthy
employees. Hobbies and recreation seem more inviting. Through
participation in Narcotics Anonymous, we help others.

Narcotics Anonymous does not promise us that we will find good jobs,
loving relationships, or a fulfilling life. But when we work the Twelve
Steps to the best of our ability, we find that we can become the type
of people who are capable of finding employment, sustaining loving
relationships, and helping others. We stop serving our disease, and
begin serving God and others. The Twelve Steps are the key to
transforming our lives.

Just for today: I will have the wisdom to use the Twelve Steps in
my life, and the courage to grow in my recovery I will practice my
program to become a responsible, productive member of society.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Brothers In Our Defects

       We recovered alcoholics are not so much brothers in virtue as we
are brothers in our defects, and in our common strivings to overcome
them.
AS BILL SEES IT, p.  167

The identification that one alcoholic has with another is mysterious,
spiritual -- almost incomprehensible.  But it is there.  I "feel"
it.  Today I feel that I can help people and that they can help me.

It is a new and exciting feeling for me to care for someone; to care
what they are feeling, hoping for, praying for; to know their sadness,
joy, horror, sorrow, grief; to want to share those feelings so that
someone can have relief I never knew how to do this -- or how to try.
I never even cared.  The Fellowship of A.A., and God, are teaching
me how to care about others.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 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 sell 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.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 24

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

Lessons on the Job

Often, the spiritual and recovery lessons we're learning at work
reflect the lessons we're learning in other areas of our life.

Often, the systems we're attracted to in our working life are
similar to the systems in which we find ourselves living and loving.
Those are the systems that reflect our issues and can help us learn
our lessons.

Are we slowly learning to trust ourselves at work? How about at
home? Are we slowly learning to take care of ourselves at work?
How about at home? Are we slowly learning boundaries and self-
esteem, overcoming fear, and dealing with feelings?

If we search back over our work history, we will probably see that
   it is a mirror of our issues, our growth. It most likely is now too.

For today, we can believe that we are right where we need to be --
at home and at work.

Today, I will accept my present circumstances on the job. I will
reflect on how what I am learning in my life applies to what I'm
learning at work. If I don't know, I will surrender to the experience
until that becomes clear. God, help me accept the work I have been
given to do today. Help me be open to and learn what I need to be
learning. Help me trust that it can and will be good.

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

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

An Escalation In Awakening
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/04/editorial.htm

Are You Dreaming Big Enough?, by Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/August/0897-14.html

Adversity Is Spiritual?
by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche
www.innerself.com/Spirituality/gyatrul07313.htm

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

It's Another Day
by Marie T. Russell

Marie T. RussellOne of my favorite lines in the movie "Gone With The
Wind" is when Scarlett says "Tomorrow is another day". This line has
given me hope many times when the skies of my life were bleak and I
couldn't see around the corner of whatever challenge was facing me at
the time -- I would remind myself, that after all, tomorrow was
another day.

No matter what it looked like at the moment, I knew that tomorrow
would bring a solution, or maybe simply another perception of the
situation I was in. I would remind myself that things always get
better eventually.

Anything can change, tomorrow, or even today, or even this moment. We
simply have to keep the door open to the possibility of change -- keep
our mind and heart open to looking for a next step, a resolution of
our dilemma. When we give up, or when we think it's all hopeless, we
stop looking for solutions and we stop being open to the miracles that
the Universe can send our way.

There are many things that we see when we look around us -- whether in
our household, in our work situation, in the world -- that are "far
from perfect". But, everything that exists today can be different
tomorrow, or the day after that. The important thing for us to
remember is that there is hope. I always like to say: As long as
you're still breathing, there's still hope. (And if you are confident
in life after death, as I am, then you know there's still hope after
your body is no longer breathing.)

Nothing in our life, no matter how terrible it seems, is hopeless.
Whether later today or tomorrow, we still will have opportunities to
"make it better". Whether we are dealing with relationships, work
situations, or world crises -- it can all change. Nothing is ever
always the same -- things are in a constant process of change, and
when we are setting our intentions properly, the change is towards the
betterment of our life situation.

I must say, I am rather enjoying seeing all the "dirt" coming out
about the corporations and CEOs involved. Not that I'm glad it all
happened, but rather I'm happy that it's all coming out in the open.
After all, in order to change or "heal" a situation, we must first
realize and acknowledge that there is something that needs healing.
Thus all the shenanigans coming out about Enron, WorldCom, AOL,
Haliburton, and some of the major key players in the US administration
will finally give us a chance to "fix" the problems. First we must see
the problem -- then we go about resolving it. If we deny that there is
injustice, dishonesty, and corruption, then we also are denying the
possibility of "fixing" what is wrong in our world.

It is the same in our personal lives. If someone is in a battered
relationship, first they must acknowledge that the situation exists
before they can do something about it. We cannot decide to leave an
abusive marriage before acknowledging that something is unhealthy
about the relationship -- the same applies to work situations,
financial situations, etc. First we acknowledge that there is a
problem, then we start looking to see how to resolve it.

The important thing to remember when we see a problem -- or something
that needs balancing or a "course correction" -- is that we must
simply "see the problem". Getting into a barrage of blame and anger
and guilt will not get us any closer to a resolution. We must look at
ourselves and at the people around us (yes even politicians and CEOs)
as small children who need a "course correction". When you see a child
about to do something that will harm either themselves or others, you
correct them -- yet we all know that we can attract more bees with
honey than vinegar. It is best to correct with love and compassion and
understanding, than to do so with retribution, rage, and name-calling.

If we want to make changes in our lives and in the world around us,
blame, anger, and venom will not attain positive change. We need to
focus on the solution we want, focus on the outcome we desire, and see
what steps we need to take to attain that goal -- one step at a time,
one day at a time.

After all, tomorrow is another day. We simply need to keep living our
todays with an eye on our tomorrows and make course corrections when
needed.

The book describes a concrete path for understanding the fear and
guilt which keep us from treating ourselves and others with the
respect and love we deserve; it teaches us how to really take
seriously Jesus' instruction to "Love thy neighbor as thyself."

Marie T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985).
She also produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast,
Inner Power, from 1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-
esteem, personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on
transformation and reconnecting with our own inner source of joy and
creativity.

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

Explosives

Ever tried to stay away from something
that attracts and repulses you at the same time?
the ensuing inner battle can be unbearable
sometimes you win
often times you don't

You can skirt the issue
sneak around the bush
not seeing the forest for the trees
but digging to the root of the problem
to uncover what's buried there
is the only key of resolution

Where does it all begin?
what is hiding underneath that flat compacted soil of habit
where does it really hurt?

For attractions/addictions have core explosives
that lie in wait, ultrasensitive to the slightest provocation
and live for the sole purpose of destroying lives
built-in, foolproof

For total deactivation the core issues
need exposure, to be examined, handled
and delicately diffused in a bomb-shelter
an environment thick with safety

It's not enough to scratch the surface
or to jump right in the thick of things
gratifying the incessant urge tick-tock
for when you least expect it
the bomb shatters in your face
sometimes you can pick up the pieces again
sometimes you can't

our souls are not equipped to play with bombs

Love
Stella

©2000 Stella Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

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

A prayer I learned from a friend that was visiting
   the NA groups in Bangalore, India.......
Sarah Na4mejft@...

God.....

Bless all the addicts wherever they may be..

Bless those unfortunates who are in MOST need of recovery,

Look upon them with compassion and mercy and
lead them all to this wonderful fellowship,

That only through you they may help themselves
as you have helped us and thousands of others,
Bless those who are clean today,

Give grace to those who are on the way,

But God, please show compassion and mercy
to those who may never come.

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

Freedom

Freedom from using is not just from dope.
It's freedom from ego, too
You are no longer better than me.
I am not less than you.

Freedom is defined "to love".
And I can love today.
I am free to make a choice.
So now I choose to stay.

I am free to be myself.
And share myself with you.
I no longer have to wear a mask.
To myself I am finally true.

Freedom to commit to all of life.
Is the greatest gift of all.
No longer to live in a prison of self.
Together we tear down the wall.

Freedom is all of this and more.
Freedom is in the "we".
I free myself once and for all.
Freedom is you and me.

Meg M.
meg4how@...

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

Sit in a comfortable, safe place. Allow your attention to
drift inward. Ask yourself, "If I let love lead me in this
situation, where would I go and what would I do next?"

In the midst of a challenging situation, it takes great
strength to even ask yourself the simple question, "How can
I let love lead me now?"

If at first the answers don't come easily, don't be
discouraged. Just getting to the point where you can ask the
question shows that your intention is good and that you're
moving in the right direction. With practice, before long
you'll come to see this as one of your most powerful tools
for listening to your deeper wisdom.

John-Roger with Paul Kaye
From: Momentum, Letting Love Lead - Simple Practices for
Spiritual Living

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

Even a thousand-mile journey begins with the first step.
Japanese Proverb

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

Happiness is found in doing, not merely in possessing.
Napoleon Hill

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

I don't have to lie to my friends anymore
I can get gut level honest down to the core
I don't have to pretend to be
Today, through NA I am free to be me.
Anne B.

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

whomever you meet, remember this Truth:
Each person is a unique expression of God.
Even the person you consider the most vile is God's child too,
and has a core self that is never lost to our Creator.
We can bring to each encounter extraordinary respect,
looking always for that aspect of the Divine.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

If you can't love everybody today,
at least try not to hurt anybody.

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

I used to shoot up and throw up,
now I suit up and show up.

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

Show up,
Slow up,
Grow up.

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

I am doing
better than I am feeling......

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

You have to be where you are at....
To get where you are going....

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
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Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
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By the grace of God and through your efforts of passing on this
email, we are reaching many recovering people in different areas of
the world. If you are receiving this, from a country outside of the
USA please send me an email and tell me where you are receiving this.
So far we reaching over 6000 recovering people in 66 countries
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Even if your country is listed
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Stay in the Light,

In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
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For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tradition 7
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition07.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you handle a sponsee who doesn't call regularly , doesn't work
on the steps , and shares with you what's going on in their life after
the fact (911 phone calls) but they do go to meetings and call you their
sponsor ? What is your part in your relationship with your sponsor ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 23
Today I can set my goals with the clear and confident knowledge
that I can only do one thing at a time and
take one step at a time towards that goal.
I do not need to wait until I reach
the goal to be happy and satisfied.
I am fulfilled with each step,
knowing that is all I can do in each moment.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Take It From Me
Take it from me
Take it please
Give me something
   Something I need
Take my will and my life
I don’t know what is right anymore
Or did I ever really know
Which way I’m supposed to go
I’m on the floor
   I’m on my knees
Begging please…
Take it from me
I remember all the pain
Sometimes I feel it, running through my veins
Tell me I’m ok now, just for today
Tell me will I make it, is this the way
Take my will and my life
I don’t know what is right anymore
Or did I ever really know
Which way I’m supposed to go
I’m on the floor
I’m on my knees begging please
Take it from me

Emily C.
jftcleanhippie07@...

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

Comes A Dawn
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=518

A Tale of Tradition
www.storybin.com/sponsor/sponsor130.shtml

Gentle Soul
www.wisehearts.angelcities.com/TY.htm

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just for Today
April 23                          A God of our own understanding

"Many of us understand God to be simply whatever force keeps us
clean."   Basic Text, p. 25

Some of us enter recovery with a working understanding of a Higher
Power for a lot of us, however, "God" is a troublesome word. We may
doubt the existence of any sort of Power greater than ourselves Or we
may remember uncomfortable experiences with religion and shy
away from "the God stuff:'"

Starting over in recovery means we can start over in our spiritual
life, too. If we're not comfortable with what we learned when we were
growing up, we can try a different approach to our spirituality. We
don't have to understand everything all at once or find the answers
to all our questions right away. Sometimes it's enough just to know
that other NA members believe and that their belief helps keep them
clean.

Just for today:  All I have to know right now about my Higher Power
is that it is the Power that helps keep me clean.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Self-Honesty

The deception of others is nearly always rooted in the deception of
ourselves.  .  .  .  "When we are honest with another person, it
confirms that we have been honest with ourselves and with God
AS BILL SEES IT, p.  17

When I was drinking, I deceived myself about reality, rewriting it to
what I wanted it to be.  Deceiving others is a character defect --
even if it is just stretching the truth a bit or cleaning up my motives
so others would think well of me.  My Higher Power can remove this
character defect, but first I have to help myself become willing to
receive that help by not practicing deception.  I need to remember
each day that deceiving myself about myself is setting myself up for
failure or disappointment in life and in Alcoholics Anonymous.  A
close, honest relationship with a Higher Power is the only solid
foundation I've found for honesty with self and with others.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 23rd

A.A. Thought for the Day

Men and women keep coming into A.A., licked by alcohol,
often given up by doctors as hopeless cases, they
themselves admitting they're helpless to stop drinking.
When I see these men and women get sober and stay
sober over a period of months and years, I know that
A.A. works. The change I see in people who come into
A.A. not only convinces me that A.A. works, but it also
convinces me that there must be a Power greater than
ourselves which helps us to make that change. Am I
convinced that a Higher Power can help me to change?

Meditation for the Day

Cooperation with God is the great necessity for our lives.
All else follows naturally. Cooperation with God is the
result of our consciousness of His presence. Guidance is
bound to come to us as we live more and more with God,
as our consciousness becomes more and more attuned to
the great Consciousness of the universe. We must have
many quiet times when we not so much ask to be shown
and led by God, as to feel and realize His presence. New
spiritual growth comes naturally from cooperation with God.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that God may supply me with strength and show me
the direction in which He wants me to grow. I pray that
these things may come naturally from my cooperation with Him.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 23

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

Opening Ourselves to Love

Allowing ourselves to receive love is one of the greatest
challenges we face in recovery.

Many of us have blocked ourselves from receiving love. We may
have lived with people who used love to control us. They would
be there for us, but at the high price of our freedom. Love was
given, or withheld, to control us and have power over us. It was
not safe for us to receive love from these people. We may have
gotten accustomed to not receiving love, not acknowledging our
need for love, because we lived with people who had no real
love to give.

At some point in recovery, we acknowledge that we, too, want
and need to be loved. We may feel awkward with this need.
Where do we go with it? What do we do? Who can give us love?
How can we determine who is safe and who isnt? How can we
let others care for us without feeling trapped, abused,
frightened, and unable to care for ourselves?

We will learn. The starting point is surrendering to our desire
to be loved, our need to be nurtured and loved. We will grow
confident in our ability to take care of ourselves with people. We
will feel safe enough to let people care for us; we will grow to trust
our ability to choose people who are safe and who can give us
love.

We may need to get angry first -- angry that our needs have not
been met. Later, we can become grateful to those people who
have shown us what we don't want, the ones who have assisted
us in the process of believing we deserve love, and the ones who
come into our life to love us.

We are opening up like flowers. Sometimes it hurts as the
petals push open. Be glad. Our heart is opening up to the love
that is and will continue to be there for us.

Surrender to the love that is there for us, to the love that people,
the Universe, and our Higher Power send our way.

Surrender to love, without allowing people to control us or keep
us from caring for ourselves. Start by surrendering to love for
yourself.

Today, I will open myself to the love that is here for me. I will
let myself receive love that is safe, knowing I can take care of
myself with people. I will be grateful to all the people from my past
who have assisted me in my process of opening up to love. I claim,
accept, and am grateful for the love that is coming to me.

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

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

Control…Our Last Greatest Illusion
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/04/hess.htm

A Guide To Positive Movies On Video
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/August/0897-04.html

Actively  Creating Peace, by Pema  Chödrön
www.innerself.com/Meditation/Actively_Creating_Peace.htm

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

Notes On Intimacy
by Shepherd Hoodwin

Shepherd HoodwinOnce you are in a relationship, how can you develop
intimacy? One key is honesty. Some people tell little lies about
themselves when they first begin a relationship. This is destructive
to intimacy, because your partner will never be completely sure if you
are telling the truth. It is much easier to maintain credibility if
you start out being credible. This is not to say that you must talk
about things you are not ready to talk about, but neither do you have
to falsify information.

If, for instance, you lack a sense of self-worth,
you are likely to attract a partner
who mirrors your view of yourself,
who treats you as if you were worthless.

There are times when lying is appropriate, but rarely with someone
with whom you wish to have intimacy. Even lying about your age says to
the other person, "There is something about me I do not want you to
know. This is the boundary of our intimacy." If you want to be known
and understood, you must make yourself knowable and understandable.
Communication needs to be not only honest, but clear and complete.
Communicating with another person - any person, not only your mate is
a challenge, because each person speaks a slightly different language,
with different assumptions and definitions. You must be deliberate and
alert to make yourself clear to others.
Opening Up

People often have the unrealistic notion that if somebody really loves
you, he knows all you want, need, or mean without your having to
clarify it. Since human beings are generally not telepathic, this does
not usually occur. If you take responsibility for communicating what
you want, need, and mean, you avoid unnecessary disappointments and
misunderstandings.

Misunderstandings destroy intimacy more than any other factor, and
most of them can be avoided. Of course, the more deeply someone knows
you, the more aware he is of your wants and needs, and of how you
communicate. Nonetheless, as you change and grow, it is important to
stay up to date with each other.

Intimacy needs space and time to grow. If two people have packed
schedules day in and day out, they probably do not share much
intimacy. Intimacy implies being with the other person, being there in
the present, in both conversation and silence. It may include
expressing difficult emotions; a clear and appropriate expression of
anger, for example, can bring two people closer together. Any time you
love someone enough to tell him how you feel, you are offering a
bridge that can enable him to know you better. Of course, bridges go
both ways you can get to know him better as well.

You cannot be any more intimate with another person than you are with
yourself. For example, how can you expect someone else to know what
you are feeling, when you, yourself, do not know what you are feeling?
You can develop intimacy with yourself in the same ways that work with
others: be honest with yourself, communicate clearly with yourself,
and give yourself space and time to be with yourself.
Filling The Gap

You cannot expect any other person even someone who conforms to your
fantasies in every detail, to give you what you feel is missing within
you. You must do that yourself. If, for instance, you lack a sense of
self-worth, you are likely to attract a partner who mirrors your view
of yourself, who treats you as if you were worthless. Why? Because it
is confusing when a partner insists that you are worthy when you are
certain that you are not, and people do not like to be confused.

If you are fortunate enough to have a partner who tries to inspire a
sense of self-worth in you, but you are not willing to accept it, you
will probably deflect his input or dismiss him entirely. You might,
for instance, tell yourself that he is prejudiced, or think, "What
does he know?" Anything you have not yet dealt with in yourself will
likely come up at some point in the context of a mate relationship.

Therefore, if you are single and have been making use of your time
alone to release your old patterns, you will have an easier time when
you form a relationship. However, no one is finished processing
everything. The more you are willing to acknowledge and work on your
shortcomings, without self-judgment, the easier it will be to develop
intimacy with a partner. One reason is that you are less defensive.

Many fights arise over defensiveness. Suppose you are in a
relationship with someone who says to you, "You are selfish about the
television. We always have to watch what you want to watch." What
would most people's response be? Probably an automatic "No, I'm not!"
Suppose that, instead, you say, "Hmm...I wasn't conscious of that.
Thank you for pointing that out." After giving it some thought, you
discuss possible solutions, such as taking turns, or getting another
television - you agree that you do not always have to watch together.

Also, since you had not been aware of the problem, you ask him to be
clearer in saying what he wants to watch. Because you were open rather
than defensive, he does not have to be angry about that issue any
more. You have heard and received his complaint. If your partner
complains about something you do not agree with, or are not able to do
something about, your willingness to hear and discuss it can still
help defuse the issue.
Love Requires Maintenance

Some people want to get a relationship set up so that it is running
smoothly and they never have to do anything about it again. However,
this does not usually work. To make an analogy, someone may build his
dream house and move into it; however, he must continually refine and
maintain it. In a sense, a house is never done. The same is true of
relationships. They keep changing, providing opportunities for growth,
as the people in them change and grow. There is nothing wrong with
that. Wouldn't it be boring if you felt that you had everything set
up, that you always knew what to expect from your partner? It is more
fun to be constantly looking for the unexpected, discovering new
things and changing.

Sometimes relationships change to the point where they are no longer
workable in that form. Maybe the form needs to be changed to a more
distant relationship, a friendship perhaps. That is not necessarily an
indication of anyone's failure; you may have simply completed your
work together. Ending or changing a relationship gracefully, without
making anyone wrong, is a mark of maturity. The more quickly you
acknowledge that a relationship is no longer serving you, the sooner
you can move on to your next step. That may be a relationship that
does serve you, or a period of aloneness. Of course, some
relationships are fitting and adaptable enough to serve you for the
rest of your life.
A Genuine Relationship

How do you know whether to keep working on a relationship or to let it
go? There are no hard and fast rules about this, but generally, if you
have an automatic impulse to run, there is a good chance that you
would benefit from staying with it. If you have an automatic impulse
to hang onto it, it is likely that you would be well advised to let it
go.

The key factor is your motivation. If your impulse is to run, it is
likely to be because of laziness, not wanting to do the necessary
work, or fear of what that work might bring up. If your impulse is to
hang onto the relationship, it is likely to be because of fear that
you will not find anyone else, perhaps because you are not lovable
enough. It is preferable to stay in a relationship because you
genuinely want to.

Shepherd HoodwinShepherd Hoodwin is an intuitive, workshop leader, and
teacher. He is a conscious channel of a nonphysical entity referred to
as Michael. He also does past-life therapy, counseling, and channeling
coaching (teaching others to channel). He is the author of: "The
Journey of Your Soul -- A Channel Explores Channeling and the Michael
Teachings", "Meditations for Self-Discovery -- Guided Journeys for
Communicating with Your Inner Self", and "Loving from Your Soul --
Creating Powerful Relationships". Shepherd can be contacted through
his website at http://summerjoy.com

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

Give it all up and you get it all back.
I believe that this is an immensely potent formula
for finding freedom and joy in living.
Every time I have put this principle in action, it has worked.
Whenever I have let go of something,
God has either given it back to me,
or given me something better,
or shown me that I'm better off without it.
More and more, I have come to see that God
is always giving us exactly what we need for our highest good,
and at no cost to anyone.

Alan Cohen, The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore

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

Shapeshifters

While sitting in the garden
walking on the lawn
sauntering down a country road
Beauty may come upon you
springing wings out of nowhere
in splendid colours and shapes and forms
unexpectedly

What it used to be as a wriggly black or brown pupa
is now a gathering of delicate scales that shimmer
in gold sunlight, glow in silver moonlight
unfurling wings trustingly daringly
to a cold dangerous world
changing shape before our eyes
the iridescence a magical gift
alive but for some hours
a butterfly

Somewhat like love, isn't it ~
appears when you least expect it
taking on myriad shapes and forms
a constant change in motion
from one moment to the next
a display of shifting colours never seen before
shimmering in rainbow qualities
flashing its own light
just pay close attention

But unlike butterflies
love can stay and grow for a very long time
Butterfly collection taken one level further
Instead of keeping it captive under glass
its freedom holds your heart
on its wings

Love
Stella
©2000 Stella Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

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

Spirit Sings

Some other time
Some other place
God has granted me grace
Maybe it was another life God knows
I have suffered so much strife
I have always choose
The way I wanted to go
But this time will be different
I will move real slow
I love life today
It's a better way
The other times
I had to have
Someone or something
To make me happy
This time is different
I am in control of how I feel
This time I need no one
I am happy
Content and whole
This is another story
How my life went
I thank God
For each and every day
I pass on His blessing
With kind things I say
This life I will enjoy
Easy and slow
Being
Careful of
Places I go
I will avoid
People places an things
So for today
My spirit
Sings

Daniel M Corkery
11/12/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

Drugs!

Can't face reality?
Take drugs
Life becomes a calamity
It's not so bad
Don't be sad
Take that next shot
Pop some pills
Run and Hide
That's what kills
Those feelings inside
Can't stand the pain?
Take a downer
Collapse a vein
Become a loner
Nobody understands!
Nobody cares!
Throw up your hands
In despair
It's gotten worse
Gotta have drugs everyday
Feeling no remorse
Life is a deadly price to pay
In the end there's no hope
You've given up
You can longer cope
Things have gone amuck
There's an easy way out
You have a choice
If you have any doubt
Listen to that inner voice
Someone cares
Someone understands
There are snares
and there are quicksands
Learn responsibility
Get rid of confusion
Get rid of anxiety
It's not an illusion
Life is GREAT
Without the Drugs
Lose the hate
Accept the hugs
Get a glimpse of the good life
On life itself you can get high
Drugs don't care if you die!

Written by Dyanne E. 7/14/90
Cleandate 4/2/93
Dyanne4293@...

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

The Change Begins

As days go by I look within,
It seems the world is filled with sin,
And many times I see my face,
A worried frown is such disgrace.

While all the years I've wondered why,
It starts with just a little lie,
And being blind I cannot see,
The only one I fool is me.

I read of misery, death and woe,
It's in the hearts of some I know.
I get down on my knees and pray,
And ask the Lord for one more day.

For just today is all that's here,
To be so honest and sincere
In everything I say and do,
The change begins with me and you.


Sharlett Hunt
3/24/05©
Sharlette863@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*It Begins With You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Each of you must understand that you are a spiritual entity who lives in
relationship with the universe, and that you can obtain everything you
need
from the inexhaustible worlds of the soul and spirit.  This will give
your
life meaning, and you will no longer feel the need to run after
ephemeral
gains.  So beware: even if social and material success appear ever more
convincingly to be the only ways to guarantee your security these
days, you
must not give them priority, because sooner or later you will be
forced to
admit that this was an illusion.  If your worth and competency have been
recognized and you are offered an important position in one field or
another, accept it if you wish.  But be vigilant, and never abandon
what is
essential: the nourishment of your soul and spirit.
Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

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

Look at life as an energy economy game.
Each day, ask yourself, "Are my energy expenditures
(actions, reactions, thoughts, and feelings)
productive or nonproductive?
During the course of my day,
have I accumulated more stress or more peace?
The HeartMath Solution, Doc Childre and Howard Martin

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

A person is not hurt so much by what happens,
as by his opinion of what happens.
Michel de Montaigne

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

To be at one with God is to be at peace...
peace is to be found only within,
and unless one finds it there he will never find it at all.
Peace lies not in the external world.
It lies within one's own soul.
Ralph W. Trine

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

It is not how much you do, but how much love you put
into the doing and sharing with others that is important.
Try not to judge people.
If you judge others then you are not giving love.
Mother Teresa

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

An expectation is a premeditated resentment.

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

God will heal your broken heart,
if you will give Him all the pieces.

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

Had the eyes no tears,
the soul would have no rainbow.

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

Praying is asking God for help,
meditating is listening for God's answer.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
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and write subscribe in the subject line.

Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress
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or go to the website and unsubscribe

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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,
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Thailand, Trinidad, Turkey, United Arab Emirates,
U.S.A., Venezuela, Wales, West Indies, Zimbabwe.
Even if your country is listed
please email me, and let me know where you are from.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,

In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Tradition 6
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition06.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you handle a sponsee who doesn't call regularly , doesn't work
on the steps , and shares with you what's going on in their life after
the fact (911 phone calls) but they do go to meetings and call you their
sponsor ? What is your part in your relationship with your sponsor ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 22
Today I will be aware not to judge myself
when I feel less than perfect.
I am beginning to love myself
just as I am and that feels so nice.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

The Elevator's Broken, Take the Steps to Set You Free

If you work Step One, you'll know without a doubt
that the disease of addiction really wiped you out
Only Step Two can give you the Hope
that a Higher Power will help you to cope

And Step 3 will help you do God's will
coz there's an empty place inside us all that only God can fill

When you're ready to be honest & look at your past
A Fearless & Moral inventory is all we ask
Then share it with a friend and relieve your hell
coz 1 addict helping another is without parallel

Step 6 is being willing to finally let go
of the security of familiar pain our defects often show
And if you are able to be humble and sincere
Ask God to take those defects & walk you thru the fear

Then, write a list of the people you have hurt
and make amends for treating them like dirt
Then on a daily basis, when you make a mistake
Promptly admit it & give yourself a break!

Then, prayer & meditation to the God you've come to know
and Spread the message of recovery to help other addicts grow
AND no matter what, remember..as you seek recovery..
The Elevator's broken, take the Steps to set you free!!!

Randi7258@...
Miami Beach, Florida

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

Cursing the Rain
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=516

Denial
www.denialqueen.com/denial.html

Insanity
www.denialqueen.com/insanity.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 22                              Traveling The Open Road

"This is our road to spiritual growth." Basic Text, p. 35

When we arrived at our first NA meeting, it looked like the end of the
road to many of us. We weren't going to be able to use anymore. We
were spiritually bankrupt. Most of us were totally isolated and didn't
think we had much to live for Little did we realize that, as we began
our program of recovery, we were stepping onto a road of unlimited
possibilities.

At first, just not using was tough enough. Yet, as we watched other
addicts working the steps and applying those principles in their lives,
we began to see that recovery was more than just not using. The lives
of our NA friends had changed. They had a relationship with the God
of their understanding. They were responsible members of the
fellowship and of society. They had a reason to live. We began to
believe these things were possible for us, too.

As we continue our recovery journey, we can get sidetracked by
complacency, intolerance, or dishonesty. When we do, we need to
recognize the signs quickly and get back on our path—the open
road to freedom and growth.

Just for today:  I am continuing to develop my spiritual, social, and
general living skills by applying the principles of my program. I can
travel as far as I wish on the open road of recovery.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love And Fear As Opposites

All these failings generate fear, a soul-sickness in its own right.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.  49

"Fear knocked at the door; faith answered; no one was there."  I don't
know
to whom this quote should be attributed, but it certainly indicates
clearly
that fear is an illusion.  I create the illusion myself.

I experienced fear early in my life and I mistakenly thought that the
mere
presence of it made me a coward.  I didn't know that one of the
definitions
of "courage" is "the willingness to do the right thing in spite of
fear."  Courage, then, is not necessarily the absence of fear.

During the times I didn't have love in my life I most assuredly had
fear.  To fear God is to be afraid of joy.  In looking back, I realize
that, during the times I feared God most, there was no joy life.  As I
learned not to fear God, I also learned to experience joy.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 22nd

A.A. Thought for the Day

People believe in A.A. when they see it work. An actual
demonstration is what convinces them. What they read
in books, what they hear people say doesn't always
convince them. But when they see a real honest-to-goodness
change take place in a person, a change from a drunkard
to a sober, useful citizen, that's something they can
believe because they can see it. There's really only one
thing that proves to me that A.A. works. Have I seen the
change in people who come into A.A.?

Meditation for the Day

Divine control and unquestioning obedience to God are the
only conditions necessary for a spiritual life. Divine
control means absolute faith and trust in God, a belief
that God is the Divine Principle in the universe and that
He is the intelligence and the Love that controls the universe.
Unquestioning obedience to God means living each day the
way you believe God wants you to live, constantly seeking
the guidance of God in every situation and being willing to
do the right thing at all times.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may always be under Divine Control and
always practice unquestioning obedience to God. I pray
that I may be always ready to serve Him.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 22

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

Coping With Stress

Inevitably, there are times of stress in our lives, no matter how
long we've been in recovery.

Sometimes, the stress is outside or around us. We're feeling
balanced, but our circumstances are stressful. Sometimes, the
stress is within; we feel out of balance.

When the stress is external and internal, we experience our
most difficult times.

During stressful times, we can rely more heavily on our support
systems. Our friends and groups can help us feel more balanced
and peaceful in spite of our stressful conditions.

Affirming that the events taking place are a temporarily
uncomfortable part of a good, solid plan can help. We can
assure ourselves that we will get through. We won't be
destroyed. We won't crumple or go under.

It helps to go back to the basics to focus on detachment, dealing
with feelings, and taking life one day at a time.

Our most important focus during times of stress is taking care
of ourselves. We are better able to cope with the most irregular
circumstances; we are better able to be there for others, if
we're caring for ourselves. We can ask ourselves regularly:
What do we need to do to take care of ourselves?
What might help us feel better or more comfortable?

Self-care may not come as easily during times of stress.
Self-neglect may feel more comfortable. But taking care of
us always works.

Today, I will remember that there is no situation that can't be
benefited by taking care of myself.

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

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

Angel Therapy To Lift Your Spirit
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/04/doreen-virtue.htm

What Goes Around
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/August/0897-02.html

Accidents  & Synchronicity:
Messages from the Soul
by  Ashok Bedi, M.D
www.innerself.com/Spirituality/accidents.htm

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Are Relationships Our Mirrors?
by Shakti Gawain

If we learn to see our relationships as the wonderfully accurate
mirrors they are, revealing to us where we need to go with our own
inner process, we can see much about ourselves that we would otherwise
have a great deal of difficulty learning.

One of the biggest differences between the path of the material world,
the path of transcendence, and the path of transformation is in how we
view our relationships.

On the material path we see relationships as an end in themselves. We
form relationships of various kinds in order to satisfy our needs for
love, companionship, security, stimulation, sexual fulfillment,
financial stability, and so on. Our focus tends to be on the external
form of the relationship and on what is being exchanged, be it
friendship, work, affection, respect, money, or security. Because we
view relationships primarily in the light of getting needs met, we
tend to try to control them, to try to make them the way we want them.
Consciously or unconsciously, we try to manipulate other people in
order to get what we want from them. The control we assert limits how
we experience our relationships.

On the path of transcendence, relationships are often viewed as
impediments that keep us from evolving beyond the physical form.
Because our relationships bring out all of our human feelings, needs,
and emotional attachments, they are seen as distractions and thus
detrimental to our spiritual journey. People who are seriously
committed to the transcendent path try to stay as unattached as
possible. Since sexuality is such a strong force physically and
emotionally, involving our animal instincts and human feelings, it is
often looked upon as the opposite of spirituality. Therefore, many
devotees of the transcendent path either take a vow of celibacy and
try to avoid sex altogether, or they try to transmute it into a
"higher" energy, following sacred disciplines that keep the experience
focused on its spiritual aspects.
Embracing Our Humanness

On the path of transformation we embrace both our humanness and our
spirituality. Instead of attempting to escape or ignore them, we honor
our human needs for relationship, and we learn to be more conscious of
how to communicate those needs and how to take good care of ourselves
and each other in the process. We also recognize that we are spiritual
beings, not limited to our human form and emotions, but connected to
the unlimited oneness of the universe. Rather than denying our
sexuality, we embrace it as one of the most important expressions of
our life force.

On the path of transformation there is a further vital step we must
take, one that allows us to have a different perspective on
relationships than we would if we followed a material or spiritual
path. On the transformational path we need to recognize that our
relationships can be powerful mirrors, reflecting back to us what we
need to learn. When we learn how to use these reflections, our
relationships can become one of the most powerful avenues we have for
becoming conscious.

Our primary relationship is really with ourselves. Each of us is
involved in developing all aspects of our being and bringing them into
relationship with one another -- becoming whole. Our relationships
with other people continually reflect exactly where we are in that
process. For example, for many years I yearned to find the right man
to be my life partner. I created many relationships with men who were
unavailable or inappropriate in certain ways. Eventually, I realized
they were reflecting my own inner ambivalence about committed
relationship and the ways that I didn't truly love myself. It was only
after I did some deep emotional healing work, learning to truly love
and be committed to myself, that I met a wonderful man who is now my
husband.

If we learn to see our relationships as the wonderfully accurate
mirrors they are, revealing to us where we need to go with our own
inner process, we can see much about ourselves that we would otherwise
have a great deal of difficulty learning. Any and every relationship
in our lives -- with our friends, co-workers, neighbors, our children
and other family members as well as our primary partners -- can be a
reflection to us in this way. Even an encounter with a stranger can
sometimes be an important learning experience.

It's very difficult to look inside ourselves and see what's going on
in there -- particularly to see what we're unaware o? That's why it's
important to look at our relationships as mirrors of our inner
processes. Used in this way, relationships become one of the most
valuable sources of healing and teaching in our lives. To understand
how this works, we need to remind ourselves that we each, through our
individual consciousness, create and shape how we experience external
reality. This is as true in our relationships as in every other area
of our lives -- the relationships we create and shape reflect back to
us what we are holding within our consciousness. We draw to us and are
drawn to people who match and reflect some aspect of ourselves.

Generally, we find that the easiest people to get along with are those
who reflect aspects of ourselves that we feel comfortable with and
accept -- reflections of our primary selves, or complementary energies
that we appreciate. These are usually people who we consciously seek
out or are drawn to in everyday friendship. If you are primarily a
physically active person who loves sports, you may feel most
comfortable with people who are similarly athletic. On the other hand,
you may also enjoy a relationship with a friend who is somewhat more
intellectual and less physical than you because it stretches your mind
in a way that you accept and enjoy -- it stimulates a less-developed
aspect of you in a way that is comfortable and non-confrontational.
Your friend is reflecting your intellectual self, and you may be
reflecting his or her physical or athletic self. In this case, you are
both comfortable with the reflections you are receiving, so the
relationship is a harmonious one.

About The Author

SHAKTI GAWAIN is an internationally renowned leader in the human
potential movement. Her many bestselling books, including Creative
Visualization, Living in the Light, and Creating True Prosperity, have
sold more than six million copies in thirty languages world. She leads
workshops internationally and has facilitated thousands of individuals
in developing greater balance and wholeness in their lives. For more
info, visit her website at http://www.shaktigawain.com

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

Ritual of the Morn

Poised on the opening edge of the day
Like a little kid sitting on a rock by the river bank
dangling my feet in moist free air
I watch the river rush by
images flash reflections to capture

The first meal is to scoop up a bit of the river
with my pen-line, the flow as bait:
writing is like feeding myself
the ink life-serum for my soul
the page the ever-hungry, always-thirsty
receptacle blotter leafs
that line my pantry shelves

I am always hungry in the early morning
my dreams have tantalized my imagination
with apéritifs that pique a curious appetite
so I nibble, listening to messages the birds bring on their wings
hearing the wind whisper about the night
gazing at what the trees are wearing
never exhausted by the rushing gushing river
never satisfied, never satiated

A ritual to open wide my hours
A spiritual reconnaissance
The best meal of the day

Love
Stella
©2000 Stella Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

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

Still I Rise
written by : Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

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

Misty

I felt the vision coming for me once again
as if it were a misty tidal wave of revelation
just beyond the layers of gossamer curtains
with the merest hint of subtle illumination
And it's not that it doesn't offer any courtesy
when it resolves to come a call'in unto me
but rather that it simply must manifest itself
whenever its secret clock determines it is time
I know its message is important for my soul
although I have no feeling yet as to the why
because there is something acutely captivating
in its insistent and consistent presence within me
Although I realize that trying to force it into focus
only compels it to grow dimmer and more obscure
sometimes I'm just seduced into trying to define it
even though I know it already has its own meaning
But to stand at the threshold of a critical unveiling
and be denied access to the keys of understanding
is maddening and the frustration feels unbearable
at times while I await for it to reveal itself unto me
So I am trying to learn to embrace that it exists at all
and trust that it will come to me when it's time for me to know

dennis j hopkins
mrseven@...

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

When Your

When your down and feeling low
When your confused
Which way to go
Pick up
The phone
Give sponsor a call
When no ones home
To keep you from a fall
Say a prayer maybe two
Turn to God
He will help you
To get through
We all get weary Somedays
Especially when we are trying
To change our old ways
Life sometimes
Is so confusing
It will not get better
If you return to using
Turn to God
When
No ones home
Remember
Your never alone
When you join us today
You are a member
Go to meetings
Get many numbers
You will never
Be alone
So always
Remember
We love you
We will be here
Always ready too
Help you

Daniel M Corkery
4/14/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

I Pray

I opened my eyes
At the dawn of this day
God sits besides me as I pray
I confess my short comings
My anger and my fear
I feel great all day long
Cause Gods angels are always near
God sends His helpers from heaven above
For He is truly the God of love
Help my brothers and sisters
In their trials and tribulations
Bless the leaders of all the nations
God your humble servant
Prays this prayer
Let me help others
And show that I care
I pray for that brother
Who confided in me
I pray for all in recovery
God I'm grateful for another day
Grant me strength
As I make my way
God give me victory
Over my lust
I'm serving
You God
You have my trust
In and by Gods grace
Let me find only good today
And overlook the bad
Along the way
For today I choose
To be happy
Not sad
Very grateful
And not mad
For these are the best days
I've ever had
God please use me
Keep me aware
I want everyone to know
You are there
To help them and care
I pray God
Remove my fear
I'll will always know
You God are near

Daniel M Corkery
2/9/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

All I have is today, this moment, now.
I can spend this moment making it the best moment yet
with fearlessness, trust, courage, confidence, faith and love
or I can waste it with doubt, anxiety, worry,
regret, anger, fear, distress and hurt.
Knowing that whichever way I choose determines the experiences I will
have,
I choose to use the opportunity of each moment to live my life
to the fullest, always choosing love.
Copyright 2000 Carol A James.  All rights reserved.

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

Those who enjoy the greatest lives are not extraordinary people,
or even ordinary people with something added.
They are not necessarily the wealthiest or most professionally
acclaimed.
Those who sparkle with aliveness are
ordinary people with nothing taken away.
They have not lost their wonder of the moment.
They cherish the presence of a friend;
they marvel when a child takes their hand.
They find a gift in each moment of living.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.
J. Andrews

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

the largest room in the world is the room for improvement
gods little book of promises

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

Don't analyze the program,
utilize the program.

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

People may fail you,
but the program won't.

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

This is a program of change and spiritual progress.

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

Recovery is like the mafia,
you can't quit this and live safely.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

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

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Tradition 5
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition05.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you handle a sponsee who doesn't call regularly , doesn't work
on the steps , and shares with you what's going on in their life after
the fact (911 phone calls) but they do go to meetings and call you their
sponsor ? What is your part in your relationship with your sponsor ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 21
It feels terrific letting go of perfection as my goal.
As I let go of my judgments,
all parts of me come together and I feel complete.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

I'm Counting My Blessings

I know I've been blessed,
But why, I can't say,
Good things just keep happening
In my life today!
I looked up and asked Him,
Now, how can this be,
That all this is given to someone like me?
The spring of my life,
Overflowing with gladness,
Burst forth from a pit
Full of darkness and sadness.
My eyes, like a lamp,
  From my soul you can see,
All the miracles of life,
That are happening to me!
I'm counting my blessings,
And, just for today,
I know that God loves me
And wants it this way!

Sharlett Hunt
Sharlette863@...
4/13/03


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Rules for Being Human
ttp://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=500

God Within
www.wisehearts.angelcities.com/gw.htm

On The Wagon
www.onthewagon.org/index2.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just for Today
April 21                                                   Fear


"We have found that we had no choice except to completely
change our old ways of thinking or go back to using."
Basic Text, p. 21

Many of us find that our old ways of thinking were dominated by fear.
We were afraid that we wouldn't be able to get our drugs or that there
wouldn't be enough. We feared discovery, arrest, and incarceration.
Further down the list were fears of financial problems, homelessness,
overdose, and illness. And our fear controlled our actions.

The early days of recovery weren't a great deal different for many
of us; then, too, fear dominated our thinking. "What if staying clean
hurts too much?" we asked ourselves. "What if I can't make it? What
if the people in NA don't like me? What if NA doesn't work?" The fear
behind these thoughts can still control our behavior, keeping us from
taking the risks necessary to stay clean and grow. It may seem easier
to resign ourselves to certain failure, giving up before we start,
than to
risk everything on a slim hope. But that kind of thinking leads only to
relapse.

To stay clean, we must find the willingness to change our old ways of
thinking. What has worked for other addicts can work for us—but we
must be willing to try it. We must trade in our old cynical doubts for
new affirmations of hope. When we do, we'll find it's worth the risk.

Just for today:  I pray for the willingness to change my old ways of
thinking, and for the ability to overcome my fears.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anger: A "Dubious Luxury"

If we were to live, we had to be free of anger.  The grouch and the
brainstorm were not for us.  They may be the dubious luxury of the
normal men, but for alcoholics these things are poison.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p.  66

"Dubious luxury." How often have I remembered those words.  It's not
just anger that's best left to nonalcoholics; I built a list including
justifiable resentment, self-pity, judgmentalism, self-righteousness,
false pride and false humility.  I'm always surprised to read the actual
quote.  So well have the principles of the program been drummed into
me that I keep thinking all of these defects are listed too.  Thank
God I
can't afford them -- or I surely would indulge in them.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 21st

A.A. Thought for the Day

After we've been in A.A. for a while, we find out that
if we're going to stay sober, we have to be humble people.
The men and women in A.A. who have achieved sobriety
are all humble people.  When I stop to think that but for
the grace of God I might be drunk right now, I can't help
feeling humble.  Gratitude to God for His grace makes me
humble.  When I think of the kind of person I was not so
long ago, when I think of the person I left behind me, I
have nothing to be proud of.  Am I grateful and humble?

Meditation for the Day

I must arise from the death of sin and selfishness and put
on a new life of integrity.  All the old sins and temptations
must be laid in the grave and a new existence rise from
the ashes.  Yesterday is gone.  All my sins are forgiven if
I am honestly trying to do God's will today.  Today is here,
the time of resurrection and renewal.  I must start now,
today, to build a new life of complete faith and trust in God
and a determination to do His will in all things.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may share in making the world a better place
to live in.  I pray that I may do what I can to bring goodness
a little nearer to the earth.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 21

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

Waiting

Wait. If the time is not right, the way is not clear, the answer or
decision not consistent, wait.

We may feel a sense of urgency. We may want to resolve the issue by
doing something - anything now, but that action is not in our best
interest.

Living with confusion or unsolved problems is difficult. It is easier
to resolve things. But making a decision too soon, doing something
before it's time, means we may have to go back and redo it.

If the time is not right, wait. If the way is not clear, do not plunge
forward. If the answer or decision feels muddy, wait.

In this new way of life, there is a Guiding Force. We do not ever have
to move too soon or move out of harmony. Waiting is an action - a
positive, forceful action.

Often, waiting is a God-guided action, one with as much power as a
decision, and more power than an urgent, ill-timed decision.

We do not have to pressure ourselves by insisting that we do or know
something before it's time. When it is time, we will know. We will
move into that time naturally and harmoniously. We will have peace and
consistency. We will feel empowered in a way we do not feel today.

Deal with the panic, the urgency, and the fear; do not let them
control or dictate decisions.

Waiting isn't easy. It isn't fun. But waiting is often necessary to
get what we want. It is not dead time; it is not downtime. The answer
will come. The power will come. The time will come. And it will be
right.

Today, I will wait, if waiting is the action I need in order to take
care of myself. I will know that I am taking a positive, forceful
action by waiting until the time is right. God, help me let go of my
fear, urgency, and panic. Help me learn the art of waiting until the
time is right. Help me learn timing.

  From The Language of Letting Go by 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.

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

The Four Principles of Creation
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/04/4-1.htm
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/04/4-2.htm
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/04/4-3.htm

Letters Of Wisdom and Affirmations, Louise Hay
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/September/0997-21.html

Accessing Spiritual Direction
by Wayne W. Dyer
www.innerself.com/Spirituality/direction_8222.htm

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Is Your Personality Making You Sick?
by Carol Ritberger, Ph.D.

Each one of us is born with inherent personality traits, meaning our
biological genetic coding, which determine the way our brain develops
and how our personality expresses itself. That is our core part. Our
personality traits reveal themselves at a very early age and remain
constant throughout our entire lives. They direct the way we act and
how we think, and they establish our learned personality
characteristics. Traits create our involuntary habits that determine
the course our lives will take. They decide our preferred way of
gathering information and how we draw conclusions from the information
we take in. Personality traits influence the choice of words we use to
communicate with others, as well as how we learn. Our personality
traits are responsible for our brain functioning and its normal
neurobiological and biochemical reactions. They establish the
electrochemical dialogue that takes place between the brain, the
endocrine system, and the physical body.

The learned parts of personality are called characteristics.
Characteristics are the behavioral patterns that we develop as a
result of what we have learned. They reflect our biographical history,
and they are what makes us unique. They are the distinguishing
qualities that differentiate us from others, and they establish our
identity and how we express that identity to the outside world.
Characteristics are responsible for the formation of habits, comfort
zones, quirks, and idiosyncratic behavioral patterns. In the human
energy system, our personality characteristics are reflected within
the emotional layer of energy. They provide the biographical
information that reveals itself through our emotional reactions.
Traits + Characteristics = Personality Type

When you combine personality traits and characteristics, you define
personality type, meaning the consistent, predictable patterns that
drive the way we live and why we act the way we do. Personality type
represents the orderly arrangement through which we form our
perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and values. Using the premise of
personality type as a categorical formula makes it easier to
understand and identify why people are different.

Think of your personality type as your automatic pilot. It creates the
involuntary behavioral patterns necessary for you to function and
survive. Its inherent traits create your own personal road map, which
guides the outward direction you take in life. Its characteristics
influence what you become. It affects your self-image, self-esteem,
self-confidence, and self-worth. It motivates you, creates your
irritations, and controls stress and how that stress affects you.
Personality impacts the way you face life's challenges and the coping
mechanisms you develop. It is the organizing principle that affects
your sense of reality and spirituality. It greatly impacts your health
and overall sense of well-being.
The History of Personality Type

For centuries, psychologists, psychiatrists, and physicians have
studied personality. They have provided conclusive evidence that human
beings do have distinct personality traits and characteristics that
make them different from one another, and that personality affects
both mental health and physical health. The first person to classify
personality by type was Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine.
He proposed that there were four distinct personality types. His
theory was that a person's personality type determines their
vulnerability to mental dysfunction and their susceptibility to
illness. Ever since he declared his findings, there have been many
others who have formed their own theories around personality and
illness.

In the 19th century, psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud developed his own
detailed theory of personality. His underlying assumption was that the
body is the sole source of mental energy. He approached personality
only from the mental perspective. Soon after Freud's theory was made
public, psychiatrist Carl Jung proposed his own comprehensive theory
to explain how personality type affects every aspect of a person's life.

Like Hippocrates, Jung postulated that there were four personality
types dominated by four distinct modes of psychological functioning:
thinking, feeling, sensing, and intuition. While we do have the
capacity to use all four of these functions, he theorized, we do not
develop them equally.

Jung also believed that people are multisensory in their psychological
functioning and do not rely on just the five senses (sight, hearing,
touch, taste, smell) for the gathering of information. Jung was of the
opinion that the differences in people were the result of inherited
core psychological functions associated with how a person gathers
information and makes decisions. Through his work, he became aware of
basic attractions and aversions that people have toward other people,
and he noticed that those same attractions and aversions also related
to tasks and life events. The more Jung worked with his theory, the
better he understood what drives behavior, and the easier it was for
him to see personality patterns that make people different.

According to most of the personality theories, we each have within our
own personality type both strengths and weaknesses that are primarily
determined by the genetic neurological hard-wiring found within our
personality traits. The more we function within our inherent traits
(strengths), the stronger and more confident we become, the stronger
our sense of reality, the more control we have over our lives, and the
better equipped we are to make the choices that create the life and
health we want. We are in a stronger position to take advantage of and
maximize the opportunities that life sets before us.

If we function outside our core traits and work from our
underdeveloped psychological functions (weaknesses), then life loses
its synchronicity. We become energetically drained, mentally confused,
and experience physical discomfort. Our lives feel as if they are out
of control, and we have a strong sense of being detached from life. We
feel emotionally numb, and our thinking becomes fuzzy. We become
mentally immobilized and chemically out of balance. These chemical
imbalances create a fight-or-flight stress reaction in the physical
body, and that stress response hinders our ability to think clearly to
an even greater extent. As a result, we find ourselves caught up in a
vicious cycle of psychological and emotional behavioral patterns that
prevent us from getting where we want to go. In the end, we leave
ourselves vulnerable to the creation of illness.
The Mind-Body Connection

Edgar Cayce stated, "The spirit is life. Mind is the builder. Physical
is the result." Cayce, like many others, believed that what we think
is what our body generally becomes.

What we have learned is that the mind is the controller of all
behavioral and physical functioning, and that the power of the mind
can intentionally or unintentionally affect both the energy body and
the physical body. In other words, we can make ourselves healthy or
sick through our thoughts and our emotional reactions to those thoughts.

Since those early research studies, more comprehensive studies have
taken place to further the understanding of how the mind influences
our physical well-being. These studies are validating the premise that
there is a direct correlation between personality, thoughts, emotions,
and illness. What has been discovered is that our thoughts and
emotions are intertwined, and both play a significant role in the
development of disease. If our thoughts are charged with positive
energy, then we are emotionally optimistic about life, and we
experience an overall sense of wellbeing. If our thoughts are
negatively charged, then we rob the physical body of the energy it
needs to maintain balance.

Negative thoughts provoke negative emotions: fear, anger, frustration,
worry, resentment, and guilt -- all of which have an undesirable and
potent effect on our ability to fight off disease and infection.
Negative thoughts wear down both the energy system and the immune
system, leaving a person more susceptible to illness. Those same
studies show that prolonged stress also wears down both the energy
body and physical body and consequently impacts why people become ill
and why they do not heal.

To better understand the mind-body connection, it helps to remember
that the human brain is electrical in nature. It communicates its
messages to specific sites in the body by sending electrochemical
impulses via the central nervous system. These electrochemical
impulses and the information they contain activate cellular memory and
tell the cellular structure within that specific area of the body how
to reorganize itself according to the information being received. If a
person is thinking a negative thought, that consequently creates a
negative emotional reaction. Then, the brain responds by changing the
chemistry in the electrical impulses it sends to the body's systems.
These changes in chemistry are what alert the physical body that there
is a problem.

Let's say that people's thoughts continually dwell on being sick and
tired of their lives. The electrochemical message sent from the brain
to the body is that they are sick and tired. If the thought is
emotional and is strongly supported, then the body intensifies its
reaction by feeling sick and tired. The stronger the thought, the
stronger the chemical reaction, and the greater the chances for severe
illness to occur. Understanding how the mind electrochemically
dialogues with the body makes it easier to see the direct correlation
between state of mind and physical health.

It is important to note that not all thoughts -- even those that have
a slightly negative undertone -- cause illness in the body. If our
thoughts are positive and produce positive emotional reactions, then
our physical body will continue to function as a healthy, vital unit.
It is only the thoughts with strongly negative charges that affect the
body and make it susceptible to disease.

To show what I mean, let's use cancer as an example.
Psychoneuroimmunology, the study of how emotions affect the immune
system, indicates that people who are consumed with negative thoughts
or who have a negative outlook on life are more susceptible to the
formation of cancer. The same holds true for people who are consumed
with negative emotions such as fear, anger, or frustration. Negativity
wears down the immune system and leaves the body more susceptible to
the creation of disease.

On the other hand, people who are optimistic and view life from a
positive perspective have stronger immune systems and are able to
resist infection and the formation of diseases such as cancer. What
has been discovered is that when it comes to good health, positive
thoughts play an important role. It also appears that a happy-go-lucky
attitude can go a long way in fighting off disease and keeping us
healthy.

My own research confirms many of the same findings. It has continually
demonstrated that there is a direct connection between personality,
the human energy system, and wellness. It not only substantiates what
research has revealed about how a person's mental state influences
their susceptibility toward illness, it has also identified that each
personality type has its own specific "weak site" within the physical
body. In fact, there are relatively specific personality traits that
predispose a person to the creation of specific diseases, such as high
blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, asthma, tuberculosis,
autoimmune disorders and neurological diseases, as well as chronic
related illnesses.

By understanding personality type and its associated psychological
functioning, we can begin to understand the patterns of behavior that
create illness.

Carol Ritberger, Ph.D., is a medical intuitive, bioenergetic
diagnostician, and nationally renowned lecturer who holds a doctorate
in theology. She helps people understand how emotional, psychological,
and spiritual energy can lie at the root cause of illness, disease,
and life crises. Carol can literally "see" the human energy system to
identify where there are blockages that affect the wellness of the
physical body. She may be contacted through her website at www.ritberger.com
.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Magic Pebbles

   "Why do we have to learn all of this dumb stuff?"
   Of all the complaints and questions I have heard from
my students during my years in the classroom, this was the
one most frequently uttered. I would answer it by recounting
the following legend.

   One night a group of nomads were preparing to retire
for the evening when suddenly they were surrounded by a
great light. They knew they were in the presence of a
celestial being. With great anticipation, they awaited a
heavenly message of great importance that they knew must be
especially for them.

   Finally, the voice spoke, "Gather as many pebbles as
you can. Put them in your saddle bags. Travel a day's
journey and tomorrow night will find you glad and it will
find you sad."

   After having departed, the nomads shared their
disappointment and anger with each other. They had expected
the revelation of a great universal truth that would enable
them to create wealth, health and purpose for the world. But
instead they were given a menial task that made no sense to
them at all. However, the memory of the brilliance of their
visitor caused each one to pick up a few pebbles and deposit
them in their saddle bags while voicing their displeasure.

   They traveled a day's journey and that night while
making camp, they reached into their saddle bags and
discovered every pebble they had gathered had become a
diamond. They were glad they had diamonds. They were sad
they had not gathered more pebbles.

   It was an experience I had with a student, I shall call
Alan, early in my teaching career that illustrated the truth
of that legend to me.

   When Alan was in the eighth grade, he majored in
"trouble" with a minor in "suspensions." He had studied how
to be a bully and was getting his master's in "thievery."

   Every day I had my students memorize a quotation from a
great thinker. As I called roll, I would begin a quotation.
To be counted present, the student would be expected to
finish the thought.

   "Alice Adams - 'There is no failure except ...'"
   "'In no longer trying.' I'm present, Mr. Schlatter."
   So, by the end of the year, my young charges would have
memorized 150 great thoughts.

   "Think you can, think you can't - either way you're
right!"

   "If you can see the obstacles, you've taken your eyes
off the goal."

   "A cynic is someone who knows the price of everything
and the value of nothing."

   And, of course, Napoleon Hill's "If you can conceive
it, and believe it, you can achieve it."

   No one complained about this daily routine more than
Alan - right up to the day he was expelled and I lost touch
with him for five years. Then one day, he called. He was in
a special program at one of the neighboring colleges and had
just finished parole.

   He told me that after being sent to juvenile hall and
finally being shipped off to the California Youth Authority
for his antics, he had become so disgusted with himself that
he had taken a razor blade and cut his wrists.

   He said, "You know what, Mr. Schlatter, as I lay there
with my life running out of my body, I suddenly remembered
that dumb quote you made me write 20 times one day. `There
is no failure except in no longer trying.' Then it suddenly
made sense to me. As long as I was alive, I wasn't a
failure, but if I allowed myself to die, I would most
certainly die a failure. So with my remaining strength, I
called for help and started a new life."

   At the time he had heard the quotation, it was a
pebble. When he needed guidance in a moment of crisis, it
had become a diamond. And so it is to you I say, gather all
the pebbles you can, and you can count on a future filled
with diamonds.

By John Wayne Schlatter  from A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup
for the Soul Copyright 1995 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

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

A Chance Meeting

Have you ever chanced to meet
and talk with someone
who loves the same things you do
who knows exactly how you feel
for they feel the same way
who shares a passion for places and people
just as you do
who studies the same subjects
who sees with the same eyes
is awed by the same wonders
and you've both only scratched the surface
of life

you recognize yourself there
in their words
in shared experiences
and shared laughter
that is pure joy
just for the knowing

As the connecting energy reaches you
it forms a nourishment somehow
a nutritious spiritual validation for being alive

that is how meeting a kindred spirit
in a public place
feels like

Love
Stella

©Stella Savoie
stellaraymonde@...
Printed with Permission

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

The Monster of Addiction

The monster reared its ugly head
And tried to take control
I saw it reach for me with dread
Destruction was its goal

It carefully hid its sharpened claws
To lure me to its trap
But its masks contained so many flaws
I saw through all the crap

I called upon my Higher Power
For help to do His will
His strength made the monster cower
His strength is with me still

The monster of addiction ran
  From my Higher Powers light
It's gone for good as long as I
Hold to God with all my might

Karen S
sngnrnbwwmn@...

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

detox

Lying utterly alone in fear of betrayal from my stomach.
Porcelain relief so far away that i'll never make it.
Attempts to count the holes in the ceiling tiles
become a mind-numbing, self-occupying game.

With every hour comes a conversation the length of one cigarette.
I must be accompanied, especially with a metal object.
How much harm can a lighter do anyway?
Too tired to loathe their unhappiness, but i normally would.
back to counting the holes.

Every four hours is an intrusive reminder of fatality.
A check of the vitals maintains sleep deprivation.
Smoke and talk and quickly its back to counting
and thinking and empty attempts to avoid
the realization of  how many times i walked away.

Withdrawal is sickness of the soul.
the body clings to it as it attempts to exit every orifice.
mind escaped long ago, replaced by this racing, twisted machine.
My body wretches and convulses and
reminds me that life is really taking place.

This is a form of death.
A close friend's death creating a hole in my soul.
My companion and confidant that worked every time.
my mortal enemy that still wants to kill me.  no longer numb,
now seemingly a spectator in MY life,
decisions are based on ideas that are not mine.

neal h
neal_hubbard@...
5/2000

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

If you do not know how to take care of yourself,
and if you are not willing to do so,
nobody else will take care of you.
Your lack of love and commitment to yourself
attracts people with similar lessons into your vibrational field.
Then you will simply mirror back to each other
that lack of self-understanding and self-commitment.
Paul Ferrini

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

A good love relationship can reinforce self-esteem,
but it cannot create it.
Many people carry a lot of unfinished business
from childhood into relationships,
and look to their partners to fulfill their unmet needs.
So you get immature, dependency-type relationships that tend not to
work.
The more you can complete unfinished business from childhood,
the better your chance in relationships as an adult.
Nathaniel Branden, The Art of Living Consciously

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

......pouring perfume on a pig wont make it a lady.
why change your image unless you first change your life.
gods little book of promises

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

...the formula is simple:
you cannot do gods work,
and he will not do yours
gods little book of promises

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

This is a "We Program"

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

The program is based in unconditional love and service.

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

This is a one size fits all program,
The 12 Steps and The 12 Traditions
are like 24 wrenches that will fit
any size nut that walks into our meetings.
Mark Kostew

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

How does it work?
It works just fine.
If it works, don't fix it.

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

Love Is The Answer!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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In loving service,
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YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

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

Tradition 4
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition04.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you handle a sponsee who doesn't call regularly , doesn't work
on the steps , and shares with you what's going on in their life after
the fact (911 phone calls) but they do go to meetings and call you their
sponsor ? What is your part in your relationship with your sponsor ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 20
I can handle anything that comes up today...
even if it is only for a moment at a time.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Spiritual NOT Religious

Coming to believe is a wonderful process, that unfolds it self day by
day.
Our program states in the literature that "Unity is a must."
We increase our Unity by participating in each others recovery.
The diversity of our fellowship is enhanced by our Unity.
We have people of many beliefs and faiths
and we have people who don't believe.
We also have newcomers, who don't believe that they can even get clean.
I am a BELIEVER who thinks in this ANONYMOUS program
we need to allow the "God of our understanding to remain anonymous as
well."
We don't have the right to make anybody feel uncomfortable in our rooms.
We need to learn to be considerate of those who have different
religious beliefs, atheists, agnostics, as well as the Newcomer.
The Newcomer is THE MOST IMPORTANT Person
because we can only keep what we have by giving it away.
We need to be mindful of the newcomers when we share.
When I got clean the word God was intimidating enough.
If people were talking about Jesus, Allah, Buddha, Jehovah and Jah
when I was trying to get clean, it would have scared me out of the
rooms.
Thank God for the traditions.
Thank God that Our common welfare comes first
personal recovery depends on our Unity.
It is in practicing this principle that I get to learn
about putting the groups best interest ahead of my own.
Thank God we learn not to endorse any outside enterprises
and having no opinion on outside issues.
This allows us to better carry the message and not the mess.
There is a place for religion,
but it's not in the rooms of our 12 step program.
Coming to believe is a process not an event.
If you believe, some UNBELIEVABLE things will happen for you.
If you don’t believe, than believe that we believe.
If no one told you that they love you today I do !!!

Scott
YOUnMEnHP@...

"I sought my soul and it escaped me.
I sought my God and he eluded me,
I sought my brother and I found all three"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

For Better or For Worse
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=497

On The Wagon
www.onthewagon.org

Guided 5 Minute Relaxation Journey
www.roomforhealing.com/servlet/constructor.includeHTTP?iwebsiteID=2321&isect
ionTypeID=1&isectionID=33407

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just for Today
April 20                                             Detachment

"Addiction is a family disease, but we could only change ourselves."
IP No. 13 Youth and Recovery

Many of us come from severely damaged families. At times, the insanity
that reigns among our relatives feels overwhelming. Sometimes we feel
like packing our bags and moving far, far away.

We pray that or family members will join us in recovery but,
to our great sadness, this does not always happen. Sometimes, despite
our best efforts to carry the message, we find that we cannot help those
we hold most dear. Our group experience has taught us that, frequently,
we are too close to our relatives to help them. We learn it is better to
leave them in our Higher Power's care.

We have found that when we stop trying to settle the problems of family
members, we give them the room they need to work things out in their
own lives. By reminding them that we are not able to solve their
problems for them, we give ourselves the freedom to live our own lives.
We have faith that God will help our relatives. Often, the best thing we
can give our loved ones is the example of our own ongoing recovery.
For the sake of our family's sanity and our own, we must let our
relatives
find their own ways to recover.

Just for today: I will seek to work my own program and leave my
family in the care of a Higher Power.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Bondage of Resentments

. . .  harboring resentment is infinitely grave.  For then we shut
ourselves off from the sunlight of the spirit.
AS BILL SEES IT, p.  5

It has been said, "Anger is a luxury I cannot afford."  Does this
suggest I ignore this human emotion?  I believe not.  Before I
learned of the A.A. program, I was a slave to the behavior
patterns of alcoholism.  I was chained to negativity, with no hope
of cutting loose.

The Steps offered me an alternative.  Step Four was the beginning of
the end of my bondage.  The process of "letting go" started with an
inventory.  I needed not be frightened, for the previous Steps assured
me I was not alone.  My Higher Power led me to this door and gave
me the gift of choice.  Today I can choose to open the door to freedom
and rejoice in the sunlight of the Steps, as they cleanse the spirit
within
me.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 20th

A.A. Thought for the Day

The satisfaction you get out of living a sober life is made
up of a lot of little things, but they add up to a satisfactory
and happy life.  You take out of life what you put into it.  So
I'd say to people coming into A.A.:  "Don't worry about what
life will be like without liquor.  Just hang in there and a lot of
good things will happen to you.  And you'll have that feeling
of quiet satisfaction and peace and serenity and gratitude for
the grace of God."  Is my life becoming really worth living?

Meditation for the Day

There are two paths, one up and one down.  We have been
given free will to choose either path.  We are captains of
our souls to this extent only.  We can choose the good or
the bad.  Once we have chosen the wrong path, we go down
and down, eventually to death.  But if we choose the right
path, we go up and UP, until we come to the resurrection
day.  On the wrong path, we have no power for good because
we do not choose to ask for it.  But on the right path, we are
on the side of good and we have all the power of God's spirit
behind us.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be in the stream of goodness.  I pray that
I may be on the right side, on the side of all good in the universe.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 20

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

Deadlines

I don't know whether I want in or out of this relationship. I've been
struggling with it for months now. It's not appropriate to let it hang
indefinitely. I will give myself two months to make a decision.
--Anonymous

Sometimes, it helps to set a deadline.

This can be true when we face unsolved problems, are struggling with a
tough decision, have been sitting on the fence for a while, or have
been floundering in confusion about a particular issue for a time.

That does not mean a deadline is written in stone. It means that we
are establishing a time frame to help ourselves not feel so helpless
and to help bring a solution into focus. Setting deadlines can free
our energy to set the problem or issue aside, to let go, and allow the
Universe, our Higher Power, and ourselves to begin to move toward a
solution.

We don't always need to tell people we've got a deadline. Sometimes,
it's better to be silent, or else they may feel we are trying to
control them and may rebel against our deadline. Sometimes, it is
appropriate to share our deadlines with others.

Deadlines are primarily a tool to help ourselves. They need to be
reasonable and appropriate to each individual situation. Used
properly, deadlines can be a beneficial tool to help us get through
difficult problems and situations without feeling trapped and
helpless. They can help us let go of worrying and obsessing, so we can
focus our energies in more constructive directions. Setting a deadline
can help move us out of that uncomfortable spot of feeling victimized
by a person or a problem we can't solve.

Deadlines can help us detach and move forward.

Today, I will consider whether a deadline might be helpful in some
areas in my life. I claim Divine Wisdom and Guidance in setting
appropriate deadlines for any problems or relationship issues that may
be lingering.

  From The Language of Letting Go by 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.

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

Pebbles, Sand & A Jar
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/04/pebbles-sand-jar.htm

Creating Safety in your Relationship
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/September/0997-19.html

Acceptance of Death, by Margaret Coberly
www.innerself.com/Spirituality/acceptance.htm

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv


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

How To Say No: The Basics
by Patti Brietman
and Connie Hatch

      "I really don't want to spend Saturday night baby-sitting my
neighbor's three kids. But when she asked me, I didn't know what to
say. So I just said yes. I wish I'd had time to think of an excuse."

      "Damn! I should have known Mike would hit me up for a loan. Why
did I ever tell him about getting that bonus check?"

      "In my family, there's some kind of event going on nearly every
weekend. Sometimes I just want to stay home and do nothing. But that
doesn't seem like a good enough reason. Unless I have something else
on the calendar, I feel obligated to say yes."

We'll show you a few basic techniques that can help you say no more
easily and avoid regrets like these.

To build up your courage for those really difficult "no's," start
small. Practice saying no in non-threatening encounters where there
isn't much at stake. Tell your best friend you don't want to go to her
choice of restaurant, and suggest another. Tell your husband you don't
want to go to the hardware store with him. Tell your son he can't have
more dessert. The object is to hear yourself saying no successfully.
Little by little, stretch yourself by saying no in more challenging
circumstances.

As you begin to develop the healthy habit of saying no, you'll find
the process gets easier all the time. Most likely, you will settle on
a few different phrases that work for you and that can be applied to
the situations you face most often. The more you use them, the more
comfortable you'll become with them. Over time, you will utter them
with confidence and ease.
Basic Principles

First, saying no without guilt is much easier for all concerned when
it's done in the context of generosity. This means being helpful and
available to family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors whenever you
possibly can -- in other words, when it won't cause significant stress
or inconvenience and when you can say yes without resentment. Just as
important, give yourself a little credit for being a generous person.
Recognizing the many things you do for others with a willing spirit,
you'll feel more confident and less guilty at times when you really do
want to say no to them.

The second basic principle of saying no: Less is more. The most
powerful and effective "no's" are the least complicated, but most of
us have a great deal of difficulty saying no politely and leaving it
at that. Whether we're telling the boss we can't work late or telling
a neighbor we can't walk his dog, we feel obliged to justify our "no"
with a detailed explanation -- often a fictitious one. Yet elaborating
is seldom necessary, and it leaves you on shaky ground. The more
specific information you supply, the more likely the other person will
be to:

      a) try to figure out a way to "solve the problem" so that you can
actually do the thing he wants you to do (which, of course, you don't
want to do),

      b) decide that your reason for saying no isn't good enough and be
miffed about it, or

      c) catch you in a lie (if you're lying).

On the other hand, when you make a statement like "I'm sorry, I won't
be able to" or "I'm afraid I'm busy that day," you sound clear and
decisive. If the other person insists on knowing why, the burden of
prying will be on him. When that happens, don't fall into the trap of
trying to come up with new, more creative excuses to satisfy someone
who can't take no for an answer. Instead, repeat yourself as often as
necessary. You can emphasize different words, change the language
around a bit, or offer some other vague comment. "I'm busy that day"
can also be expressed as "I've got plans," "I have a previous
engagement," "I've got an appointment I can't break," or "I've had
something on my calendar for weeks." Hold your ground in the face of a
rude, nosy, or aggressive person. No one has the right to force you to
violate your own privacy.

This doesn't mean it's a mistake to tell people the reason you're
saying no. Especially when the relationship is a close one, it doesn't
feel natural to be too cryptic. But remember that by keeping
explanations to a minimum and repeating yourself as often as
necessary, you'll be in a stronger position.
Basic Techniques

Now let's look at the basic techniques every good naysayer should have
in her repertoire.
1. Buying Time

Acquire the habit of buying time before responding to requests. It
takes the pressure off when you can't figure out how to say no
diplomatically or simply need more time to decide. A few stock "time-
buying" responses will cover you in just about every situation. For
example:

      * I need to check my calendar; I'll get back to you.
      * Let me check with my husband (wife, partner) to see if we're
free that day.
      * I've got to think about that; I'll let you know.
      * I've got to take a look at my cash flow.
      * I need to find out if I have to work first.

2. "The Policy"

We love to say no with the phrase "I have a policy". For example,
suppose a friend asks for a loan you don't want to extend. Utter the
phrase "Sorry, I have a policy about not lending money", and your
refusal immediately sounds less personal.

In all kinds of situations, invoking a policy adds weight and
seriousness when you need to say no. It implies that you've given the
matter considerable thought on a previous occasion and learned from
experience that what the person is requesting is unwise. It can also
convey that you've got a prior commitment you can't break. When you
turn down an invitation by saying, "Sorry, I can't come -- it's our
policy to have dinner together as a family every Friday night", it
lets the other person know that your family ritual is carved in stone.

Of course, when searching for your response, it helps to have a
policy. Which brings us to an important point: Saying no comfortably
and without guilt requires you to really think about what you stand
for. Why are you saying no? As you learn to eliminate unwanted
obligations from your life, what are you making room for? When you can
identify and embrace your priorities and focus on what you want more
of -- for example, time with the family, money for an important
project or cause -- you feel more justified saying no in order to
pursue those goals.



How to Say No Without Feeling GuiltyExcerpted from:

How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty
by Patti Brietman and Connie Hatch.

Excerpted by permission of Broadway, a division of Random House, Inc.
All rights reserved. ©2000. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced
or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
www.randomhouse.com

Patti Breitman is a literary agent and expert public speaker who has
appeared on numerous radio and television shows.

Connie Hatch is a professional writer and president of Words to
Market, a creative services company.

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

Eagles In A Storm

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching
long before it breaks?  The eagle will fly to some high spot and
wait for the winds to come.  When the storm hits, it sets its wings
so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm.  While the
storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.  The eagle does
not escape the storm.  It simply uses the storm to lift it higher.
It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us - and all of us will experience
them - we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief
toward God.  The storms do not have to overcome us.  We can allow
God's power to lift us above them.  God enables us to ride the winds
of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment
in our lives.  We can soar above the storm.

Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how
we handle them.

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

     "When you come FROM 'happiness', you do certain things
because you ARE happy -- as opposed to the old paradigm
in which you did things that you hoped would MAKE you
happy.

When you come FROM 'wisdom', you do certain things
because you ARE wise, not because you are trying to get
to wisdom.

When you come FROM 'love', you do certain things
because you ARE love, not because you want to have love.

"Everything changes; everything turns around, when you come
FROM 'being', rather that seeking to 'be'... Here is the divine
dichotomy.  The way to 'get there' is to 'be there'. Just BE
where you choose to GET!

There's nothing you have to do. You want to be happy? Be
happy. You want to be wise? Be wise. You want to be love?
Be love."

by Neale Donald Walsch, "Conversations with God, Book 3"

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

Embers

There’s a special space in the human soul
a fireproof place
an energy reserve that never grows cold

It contains the sparks
the infinite flames
The creative desires and dreams all our own
They drive us ~ these embers of life
we follow
we taste/sense
we experience
we know
we intuit
we are real

Drenched in our fire
This space in the soul needs our true nurture
derived of pure sustenance
A loving visit now and then
As regular daily fare

To feed its hot needs
and loosen some care
to comfort the deep
to split wide open some dormant tree root
to water and coax up some wild seeds
the wilder the better
to stir up the fire

love,
Stella
© 2005 Stella Raymonde Savoie Johnson
stellaraymonde@...

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

Beauty Lives

Even if flowers
Are cut and dried
Their beauty lives
It has not died
Even though a star
Is out of sight
Somewhere it shines
In another night
And even when
The ground is dry
Again it will rain………..

  From forgiveness comes an inner peace
Smashing pride and guilt we release
…..We find freedom from the pain

Mark Thomas Spitler
April 13th 1997©
Printed with Permission

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

Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.
Chinese Proverb

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

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives
mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who,
instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures,
have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our
wounds with a warm and tender hand.
The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or
confusion,
who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement,
who can tolerate not knowing, not curing,
not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness,
that is a friend who cares.
Henri Nouwen

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

Happiness is like a butterfly.
The more you chase it, the more it will elude you.
But if you turn your attention to other things,
it comes softly and sits on your shoulder.

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

If you want to dance with another, root your self first.
Learn to hear you own guidance.
Dialogue with the hurt child and divine host within.
Practice forgiveness and compassion for yourself.
Be with your experience and learn from it.
Stay in the rhythm of life.
Be open to others, but do not go out of your way to find them.
Those who know how to dance will meet you half way.
It will not be a struggle.
You will feel companionship without effort.
Paul Ferrini

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

If opportunity doesn't knock,
build a door.

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

Be a winner
not a wino.

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

An addict must give,
so N.A. can live

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

N.A. is not my whole life,
but N.A. makes my life whole.

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

If you stand on the outside,
you will feel like you don't belong.
Get involved.

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

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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   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
www.groups.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
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For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tradition 3
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition03.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you handle a sponsee who doesn't call regularly , doesn't work
on the steps , and shares with you what's going on in their life after
the fact (911 phone calls) but they do go to meetings and call you their
sponsor ? What is your part in your relationship with your sponsor ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 19
If negative feelings are triggered in me today,
I will not act on my first impulse or desire.
I will stop and get in touch with my breathing
and my connections with the universe.
I will take time to remember the other person's point of view.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

The Twelve Steps Downward

1.  I decided I could handle drugs if other people would just quit
trying to run my life.

2.  I firmly believed that there was no Power greater than myself,
and anyone who said so was insane.

3.  I made a decision to remove my will and my life from the care
of God, who didn't understand me anyhow.

4.  I made a searching and thorough moral inventory of everyone
I knew and determined I was not half as bad as them.

5.  I admitted to everyone that I didn't have problems in the past
that I could take credit for.

6.  I became willing to help other people get rid of their defects of
character.

7.  I was even humble enough to ask these people to remove their
short-comings.

8.  I kept a list of all the people who had harmed me and waited
patiently for a chance to get even with them all.

9.  I got even with these people whenever possible, except when
to do so would get me into trouble.

10.  I continued to take everyone's inventory, and when they were
wrong, which was most of the time, I promptly blamed them.

11.  I sought through concentration of my willpower to get God,
who didn't understand me anyway, to see that my ideas were best
and that he ought to give me the power to carry them out.

12.  Having maintained my behavior with these steps, I can
thoroughly recommend them to other addicts who don't want to do
anything different, but want to be left alone to practice insanity in
everything they do for the rest of their lives....

Author Unknown

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

Attitude Is Everything
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=489

The Miracle of God in Abel
www.anonymityone.com/story19.htm

Celebrate your Worth
www.wisehearts.angelcities.com/CYW.htm

Alcoholics Anonymous
An Interpretation of the Twelve Steps THE DETROIT PAMPHLET
www.hindsfoot.org/detr0.html

Discussion No. 1    The Admission
www.hindsfoot.org/Detr1.html

Discussion No. 2    The Spiritual Phase
www.hindsfoot.org/Detr2.html

Discussion No. 3    The Inventory and Restitution
www.hindsfoot.org/Detr3.html

Discussion No. 4    The Active Work
www.hindsfoot.org/Detr4.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm


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

Just for Today
April 19                                         Footwork

"So many times, addicts have sought the rewards of hard work
without the labor." Basic Text, p. 33

When we first came to NA, some of us wanted everything, and right
away. We wanted the serenity, the cars, the happy relationships, the
friends, the closeness with our sponsor—all the things other people
had gotten after months and years of working the steps and living life
on life's terms.

We learned the hard way that serenity comes only from working the
steps. A new car comes from showing up on the job every day and trying
to "practice these principles in all our affairs;' including our
employment.
Healthy relationships come as a result of lots of hard work and a new
willingness to communicate. Friendship with our sponsor comes as a
result
of reaching out during the good times as well as the bad.

In Narcotics Anonymous, we have found the path to a better way of life.
To reach our destination, however, we must do the footwork.

Just for today:  I want a better life. I will make an inventory of what
I want, find out how to get it, talk with my sponsor about it, and do
the necessary footwork.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The "Number One Offender"

Resentment is the "number one" offender.  It destroys more alcoholics
than anything else.  From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we
have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually
sick.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS,  p.  64

As I look at myself practicing the Fourth Step, it is easy to gloss over
the wrong that I have done, because I can easily see it as a question
of "getting even" for a wrong done to me.  If I continue to relive my
old
hurt, it is a resentment and resentment bars the sunlight from my soul.
If I continue to relive hurts and hates, I will hurt and hate myself.
After
years in the dark of resentments, I have found the sunlight.  I must let
go of resentments; I cannot afford them.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 19th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Since I've been putting sobriety into my life, I've been
taking out a lot of good things.  I can describe it best as
a kind of quiet satisfaction.  I feel good.  I feel right with
the world, on the right side of the fence.  As long as I put
sobriety into my life, almost everything I take out is good.
The satisfaction you get out of living a sober life is made
up of a lot of little things.  You have the ambition to do
things you didn't feel like doing when you were drinking.
Am I getting satisfaction out of living a sober life?

Meditation for the Day

It is a glorious way---the upward way. There are wonderful
discoveries in the realm of the spirit.  There are tender
intimacies in the quiet times of communion with God.  There
is an amazing, almost incomprehensible understanding of the
other person.  On the upward way, you can have all the
strength you need from that Higher Power.  You cannot make
too many demands on Him for strength.  He gives you all the
power you need, as long as you are moving along the upward
way.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may see the beautiful horizons ahead on the
upward way.  I pray that I may keep going forward to the
more abundant 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.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 19

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

Accepting Change

The winds of change blow through our life, sometimes gently,
sometimes like a tropical storm. Yes, we have resting places -
time to adjust to another level of living, time to get our balance,
time to enjoy the rewards. We have time to catch our breath.

But change is inevitable, and desirable.

Sometimes, when the winds of change begin to rustle, we're
not certain the change is for the better. We may call it stress or
a temporary condition, certain we'll be restored to normal.
Sometimes, we resist. We tuck our head down and buck the
wind, hoping that things will quickly calm down, get back to
the way things were. Is it possible we're being prepared for a
new normal?

Change will sweep through our life, as needed, to take us where
we're going. We can trust that our Higher Power has a plan in
mind, even when we don't know where the changes are leading.

We can trust that the change taking place is good. The wind will
take us where we need to go.

Today, help me, God, to let go of my resistance to change. Help
me be open to the process. Help me believe that the place I'll be
dropped off will be better than the place where I was picked up.
Help me surrender, trust, and accept, even if I don't understand.

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

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

How Do We Love OurSELF?
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/04/love-our-self.htm

The Walk Of Personal Power
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/September/0997-18.html

A Spiritual Life Game
by Sarano Kelley
www.innerself.com/Spirituality/game.htm

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

Connecting with Love
by Michael Sky

Why must we have a passion for reality? Why must we love and desire
and be filled with metaphysical ardor? Because these passions set up
in us the momentum for bringing new forms into being.

-- JEAN HOUSTON, THE POSSIBLE HUMAN


Michael SkyWe live in the age of connection. Through the wizardry of
personal computers and the Internet we can come into instant, even
intimate contact with others throughout the world, as well as with a
huge and growing body of information. Satellites send pictures of
distant planets back to Earth through light years of empty space,
while cellular communication devices now allow us to link up at all
times, in most places. From an early age we take for granted the
invisible connections used by such wireless gadgets as portable
radios, telephones, and remote controls.

This technology-based experience of connectedness finds confirmation
in many of the life sciences. Holistic medicine asserts that all parts
of the body interconnect and function as a single system; a change in
any one part affects all other parts. Quantum physicists have
demonstrated that invisible links exist between any two particles of
matter, however great their seeming separation. Similar insights echo
in the disciplines of environmental science, systems theory, computer
programming, and global economics.

Everything connects. We live in a worldwide web, truly, as every
living thing connects to every living thing.

Yet when it comes to a typical relationship between two or more
people, or two or more groups of people, disconnection seems the
prevailing truth. We live as if the body forms an impermeable
boundary, dividing each of us from the rest of the world. We
experience the self as inside the body and everything and everybody
else as outside. At times, we open up and reach through the body-
boundary to genuinely connect with some other. Mostly we remain
separate and apart from others and, through various forms of
intolerant thought, we justify, enforce, and even celebrate our
disconnection.

Part of the problem stems from an inability to explain or even imagine
a medium of connection between people. Our technological connectors
all depend on one form or another of energy. Pull the plug, take out
the battery, sever the wiring, or shut down the power plant and our
computers, phones, satellites, televisions, radios, and remote control
devices immediately stop working, their connections broken. Energy
functions as the one essential force of technological connection.

Any such medium of connection between people, however, has proven
difficult to scientifically verify. For many the very notion of
invisible forces constitutes an insurmountable problem. Despite the
model that our technologies provide -- vast quantities of data
flashing instantly and invisibly around the globe -- the suggestion
that similar connections exist between humans -- enabling similar
transfers of information -- smacks of quackery and long-discredited
vitalism.

For others, God presents just such an invisible, omniscient, and
omnipresent (if ultimately unfathomable and scientifically
unverifiable) force that connects all people. Yet God obviously means
different things to different people and, for too many, God remains
abstract, distant and apart from humanity. Defined and experienced as
such, God not only fails to serve as a medium of connection, He, She,
or It actually becomes a justification for decidedly disconnected
behavior, as our long history of religion-based wars and intolerance
demonstrates.

Still, many cultures have long had experience with an invisible force
that connects humans. They have given it many names -- including num,
chi, prana, mana, animal magnetism, life-energy, and the soul's
substance -- and they all describe a similar vibratory force that
moves through the body in regular currents and emanates beyond the
body in radiant fields. Allowing this energy to flow more freely
through the body brings great benefits to our physical health and
general wellbeing.

Just as energy moves within us as the motive force and raw material
for effective response to life's constant changing, so energy extends
beyond the body in radiant fields (called auras) that connect us to
the world, or to specific others, and that vary in size, intensity,
and feeling according to our ever-changing perceptions and intentions.
For a strong and healthy individual and for most babies, the energy
fields extend vigorously from the body, filling entire rooms and
beyond, while providing vital links to the living world. The energy
"boils over" and flows out into meaningful connection with our world.
The larger and more vital our energy fields, the more energy-connected
we feel, and the more empowered we become to meet life's challenges.

These fields all grow out of and expand from in-flowing energy-in-
motion. Thus, the more vigorously we flow within, the larger and more
vital our radiant fields. Yet while we may experience our internal
energy-in-motion as positive one moment and negative the next, we
mostly feel our out flowing energy as a positive (though not always
easy) force. As a rule, the expansion of our vital energy occurs as a
positive, life-affirming, and uplifting event.

Exceptions to this rule do exist. Powerful and out of control desires,
such as lust and greed, will send waves of clutching energy toward the
object of desire. Extreme hatred and anger can explode outward in
malevolent waves. Disciplined practitioners of the "black arts" can
learn to extend their energy fields with purely evil intent. Certain
political and religious leaders, such as Adolf Hitler or Jim Jones,
have used their charisma -- their "personal magnetism" -- to
manipulate large numbers of followers with energy-based mass influence.

Yet such negative expansions of life force tend toward self-depletion
and self-destruction. Like plants growing from poisoned soil, vital
energy radiating from a toxic, chronically suppressed being will
poison all that it touches, beginning with the mind and body of the
offending individual. Clearly, such people can inflict great suffering
in the world with their psychoenergetic powers. But they practice a
form of self-immolation as they must ever dwell within and eventually
choke on their own toxic radiation.

While any negative expansions of vital energy invariably bring us to
self-deplete and self-destruct, positive expansions of energy bring
the very opposite results: they make us stronger, healthier, more
energized and alive. Curiosity, for instance, sends energy tendrils
out to ask and inquire of things, to touch and taste the world; the
more curious we feel, the more we learn, and the greater our curiosity
becomes. The protective concern that parents feel for their children
extends like strong energy arms that -- despite the countless worries
children inspire -- never grow tired of reaching to surround and
protect. Deeply heartfelt dreams start waves of energy pulsing through
manifest reality; the more committed our dream, the more our dream-
energy expands, and the more likely our chances of successful creation.

Any positive expansion of vital energy has the potential to sustain
itself indefinitely, while sustaining the self at the most basic
levels. When we expand our energy with positive intent we step into an
infinite river of living spirit. The more we give outward, the more
energy arises within and the more empowered we become to go on giving.
No experience demonstrates this better than love.

Love emanates from within as moving and outward expanding energy. When
we love any other -- person, animal, plant, place, or thing -- we
extend our self, as fields of living energy, to touch, to envelop, to
enter into, to couple with the other. We feel the outward-connecting
movement of our energy as love.

Love enhances flow, so when we love we reap precious blessings for
ourselves. Our bodies function better on all levels. Our natural
healing processes can accelerate, causing the spontaneous remission of
the most difficult of diseases. Love-inspired minds become clearer,
lighter, and positively directed. Because love enhances flow, when we
love all of our emotions come easier and we use our energy-in-motion
well.

Love begins in the center of the chest -- the psycho-emotional "heart"
-- and radiates outward, sending beams of love-energy in all
directions, as from an inner star. When we love we glow with a
sparkling light, sometimes visible to others, and we move and act
within this halo or aura of love-energy. For this reason we can
accurately speak of being in love. Love permeates and surrounds us
like a luminous womb or cocoon, protecting and nurturing and
encouraging life.

For all of its benefits to the lover, love always seeks a beloved.
Love must extend outward into meaningful connection with others, must
reach to bring others "in love." Love must touch, must caress, must
feed and nurture, must uplift and inspire. True love flows without
discrimination or conditions. Love-energy radiates through all of the
self-made boundaries -- the body's armor, the mind's prejudices -- and
causes, however temporarily, the blessed experience of true oneness.
For those who sustain such love the boundaries forever dissolve,
allowing the continuing experience of love to grow ever stronger, to
spread to others, to become the common currency of all relationships.

Love makes things whole. Love flows as masculine energy: extending
vigorously, entering into others, filling and inspiring. Love flows as
feminine energy: reaching to caress, surrounding and enfolding others,
protecting and nurturing. Love takes our divided and disparate selves,
victims of incessant human conflict, and makes us whole people, wholly
alive.

Two or more people flowing in love experience the very best aspects of
being human. Connected via love-energy they may move as one, may
breathe as one, may dream and create as one. When lovers touch, their
hands and fingers fill with the most healing energy in the universe.
Lovers' thoughts and feelings flow easily from one to the other
through love-energy threads, enabling compassion, empathy, and
telepathy. And when true lovers make love, their union evokes the most
exquisite of pleasures, effects the most profound of healings, and may
even create a brand-new, love-inspired human being.

Love ever subsists as the primary matrix out of which all living
relationship happens. Any relationship succeeds or fails to the degree
that love flows or fails to flow. Without love energy -- extending and
connecting -- we live as solitary individuals, profoundly alone in the
universe and essentially unrelated to all people, including family and
friends.

Yet such lack of love describes the daily lives of most men and women.
"Why?" we must ask. Why fail to love when its absence hurts so much?
Why not love when loving gives so much? How do we take something so
fundamental to human existence and make it so difficult, so scary, so
utterly impossible? Love is the most sublime of human experiences:
think of young lovers dancing on air; think of any parent gazing upon
a sleeping child; think of one's feelings upon the death of an old
family pet. How does something so great get twisted into the all-too-
common feelings of betrayal, intolerance, avoidance, hatred, and fear?

For all its power, love cannot flow through an individual riddled with
and crippled by chronic suppression. Every act of emotional
suppression contracts our inflowing emotional energy and thus
diminishes our experience of energy-expanding love. The more we
condition our children to emotional suppression, the less love-able
they become. The more we, as adults, sustain our personal patterns of
suppression, the less we can feel love, the less we can teach love to
our children, and the less likely they will be to teach love to their
children. And so it happens that most people come to experience love
as rare and difficult, rather than omnipresent and easy.

It helps to think of your emotional energy as a flowing river,
circulating through all parts of your body and then gushing out beyond
the body -- as love -- and drenching others. Your whole emotional
experience arises from the one flowing river of energy. Suppress any
part of the river and all of your emotions -- inward flowing and
outward expanding -- must suffer. Suppress any feelings of sadness and
your capacity for love diminishes. Suppress any feelings of anger and
your capacity for love diminishes. Suppress any emotion -- positive or
negative, easy or difficult -- and your whole emotional experience,
including and especially your capacity for love, diminishes.

Yet while damming up any part of your emotional river has a
suppressing effect on the whole river, freeing up any part of the
river has the opposite effect. Any time you move from suppression to
flow it increases the circulation of emotional energy throughout all
parts of yourself. Moreover, as philosophers and poets have been
telling us for ages, outward expansion of your emotional energy -- as
through the feelings of compassion, empathy, curiosity, and love --
causes the most direct and efficacious movement to system wide
emotional flow.

Further good news: We can learn to purposefully and intentionally
practice love. Love must become more than something that just happens
to us, if we get lucky, or that we fall into and out of according to
some unfathomable whimsy. We can and must learn to actively make love:
to cause love-energy to stir and swell and flow out into meaningful
connection with others; to gratefully open to and receive love
whenever it comes our way; and to create with others a world in which
such conscious loving is the sole abiding reality.

MICHAEL SKY, breath work teacher, certified polarity therapist, and
fire walking instructor, is also the author of Dancing with Fire,
Sexual Peace, and Breathing: Expanding Your Power and Energy. Michael
has been leading human potential seminars for twenty-five years,
including more than 200 fire walks. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Visit his website at http://www.thinkingpeace.com

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

If people only knew the healing power of laughter and joy, many of our
fine
doctors would be out of business. Joy is one of nature's greatest
medicines.
Joy is always healthy. A pleasant state of mind tends to bring abnormal
conditions back to normal.   -- Catherine Ponder

Feeling joy may not come naturally to us most of the time. We may, in
fact,
have to act "as if" with great effort. We may not even recognize
genuine joy
in the beginning. A technique for finding it is living fully in the
present
and with gratitude for all we can see, touch, and feel.

The open and honest expression of gratitude for the presence of the ones
closest to us now creates a rush within our breasts, a rush that will be
shared by our friends, too. Joy is contagious. Joy is freeing. Joy
brings
into focus our distorted perceptions. Greeting life with joy alters
every
experience for us and for those we share it with.

I will bring joy wherever I go today. I will give the gift of joy to
everyone I meet.

from the book: Each Day a New Beginning by Karen Casey

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

Colours of Passion

We all grow our passion deep inside
whether silent or wide open
acknowledged or denied
it's blossoming there
flaunting its colours
have a look-see

What colours embody your passion
What makes your heart race
your vision sharpen to a fine clear edge
when every nuance, every detail
has meaning?
What sends a shiver up your back,
goosebumps down your arms?

purple hues of a sunset falling into the sea
fierce blue of lagoons palm trees hot sun
soft tender shades hidden in a poem's folds
crystal life rain in the tears behind "i'm sorry"
velvet peach in the palm of your hand
emerald grasses, verdure of the wild forest
rainbows cascading from the prism of a heart
that only love can clothe

Which colours paint your world?
May they be vivid
passionately

Love
Stella

©Stella Savoie
stellaraymonde@...
Printed with Permission

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

Waves of Time

The sun set slowly over the horizon
As I watched the love letter
I etched in the sand
Being washed ashore
By the waves
Of today's timely tides

Today is all that is granted me
Tomorrow the feelings I had today
Will be lost amongst the distant past
And still I dream on
Of the new love stories
That await my travels

There is never an escape
Behind the shadow of fear
This ghost sometimes
Haunts the path
Of our enlightenment

We find Serenity
Amidst the storm
When we are enveloped
in the hands of God

Jennifer L
Jennodell@...

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

DEep SEcret

Every night I drank my booze
Every day another  unknown bruise
I drank hard to obliterate
All my feelings I saturate

Professional Drunk master boozer
Certified Two time loser
To hell with drinking socially
Drink for blindness so I can’t see

Hard and fast to the curb
Me alcoholic? that’s absurd
Laugh in their face I know what I’m doing
So drunk off my ass I cant see who I’m screwing

Don’t look at me and disapprove
Further from the truth  I am removed
Falling down, getting back up
Tongue twisted talking hiccup

Saving my bottles mounted trophies
Paying dues to the disease
Walking like I was on a  trapeze
Head in a vice tighten the squeeze

Everyone around asked what was wrong
Crying in my drink singing swan song
In my eyes I seen the haunt
Played it off non chalant

World is full of crap blah blah blah
It don’t bother me que’ sera’ sera’
But the truth is it all stuck in my craw

If things would change life would be better
Clenching my Bottle the silent beheader
Toxic level of bad breath
Another drink kiss of death

Half a man incomplete
Stop and start insane repeat
I was a legend in my own mind I was an M.V.P.
When its dark I’m safe cuz I can’t see
Floating in the wreckage fragmented debris
Don’t tell me your opinion cuz I disagree

Black out lost days and nights
Waking up at crash sites
Longing to hear my last rites
Throbbing head dynamites
100 proof solo blitz
Rational mind on the fritz
Every day I call it quits
Do it all on self will
Slowly I shot to kill
Led my spirit to exile
Careless my body I did defile
Secretly wanting out all the while

Mark Thomas Spitler
10-31-96 ©
Printed with Permission

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

Everyone thinks of changing the world,
but no one thinks about changing themselves.
John Randolph

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

We often hear people talking about acts of kindness towards others.
How about acts of kindness towards oneself?
Let's begin this life-long romance by doing loving things for yourself
-watch your favorite movie,
have your favorite meal,
go for a walk on the beach,
indulge in a bubble bath-things that nourish and nurture!
Hey, you're worth it!
HeartMath Discovery Program, Doc Childre and Sara Paddison

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

You were born an original.
Don't die a copy

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

Your faith is what you believe, not what you know.
John Lancaster Spalding

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

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped
for, the conviction of things not seen.
[Hebrews 11:1] ~ Bible

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

Thank you for saying a prayer and a moment of silence
for the sick and suffering inside and outside of the rooms.
Your prayers and the Grace of God brought me in here.

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

God, Help me find a way
through the changes in my life.

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

God never changed his address,
I did.

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

If you wait to get faith to pray,
you will never have faith.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
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and write subscribe in the subject line.

Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress
this letter cannot be considered spam as long as the following words
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or
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or just email me YOUnMEnHP@...
and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
http://www.groups.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Tradition 2
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition02.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you handle a sponsee who doesn't call regularly , doesn't work
on the steps , and shares with you what's going on in their life after
the fact (911 phone calls) but they do go to meetings and call you their
sponsor ? What is your part in your relationship with your sponsor ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 18
Today I need to do nothing more than pray and meditate.
I trust that all the energies of the universe
are working in my behalf.
I can sleep comfortably in the knowledge
that God is working when I am not.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

These are some words of my first thirty days
When the clouds began to lift and clear the haze
It all started out on the floor of the fifth
Where I came to these rooms for my first gift

I began to hear some long lost words
Was immediately touched like songs from the birds
After having some meetings under my belt
I started to feel what I once had felt

The more days that do go by
I'm able to breathe without a sigh
And with each breath that I do take
The more I look forward to my first cake

The more that I read all the literature
Only lets me know I'm an addict for sure
And the more that I read the more I do feel
Which will allow me to be me and all that is real

This road to recovery will be hard and long
All of which will make and keep me strong
To live twelve traditions and do the twelve steps
Will keep me away from all of the schleps

Life without alcohol and without drugs
Will be without fear and with lots of hugs
What will be and have is a good friend
On the road to recovery and every bend

Life of recovery and starting all over
Is like looking for a four leaf clover
It all starts with just a look
Above the ground and in a book

Once you start keep an open mind
So that you are able to find
All that you need to learn
So that you don't crash and burn

On this road that is so great
You can't afford to hesitate
If you do it wont take long
Before the same old dance and song

Just like these few words of rhyme
It's going to take a little time
So give yourself another chance
For your life to enhance

If you decide these things to choose
It will be hard for you to lose
Sight or hold of what is good
And of life the way it should

It might be hard and not very easy
But life anew it wont be sleazy
All we have to do is trust
And this we know is a must

Some days are good and some are bad
Each one we stay clean makes us glad
So choose today to live not survive
It may have a dip but not a dive

With each day we do get stronger
The desire to use we want no longer
When we look back at when we used
Our minds and bodies were so bruised

In all the time spent stoned and drinking
The consequences we were not thinking
Now my thoughts are realistic
Of good things and futuristic

I'm learning now to walk straight and tall
Instead of on the floor doing the crawl
To hold my head up proud and high
Until the time when I die

Life ahead it might be hard
But it has to be no holds barred
For it to be all that it can
We have to make a better plan

Minute to minute and hour to hour
Were gaining faith in a higher power
Before too long the weight will lift
Off our shoulders what a gift

So to acquire all that we want
Ourselves we know can never taunt
With anything that does us harm
To keep what we have and not sell the farm

Take what you need and leave the rest
So that you can become the very best
Now that you see what is in you
I hope and pray we all continue

Coming up to month number six
The path of destruction we start to fix
Learning the steps and using the tools
Being with winners and not any fools

Give to yourself and all that are near
How to walk with faith not run in fear
To keep what we have we give it away
Freely by showing not just what we say

For us to recover we need only ask
Accept all the suggestions and do any task
It's a simple program we must do
To live this life we know to be true

The next hurdle I had was month number nine
After getting over it I was feeling fine
In between were three months of doubt
And I think I know what that was about

Not being sure and one hundred percent
Left room for me to get myself bent
To overcome this I dug in much deeper
A lot closer to God and away from the reaper

Go to more meetings and read my blue book
This reaffirmed that I had what it took
Listening and talking when I was at a meeting
Allowed me to give my addiction a beating

Sharing and caring and doing what it takes
Plus a bunch of service gave my doubts the shakes
Doing this a lot has now gotten me here
This wonderful place of which is a year

Three hundred plus sixty five days
Is only the beginning of changing my ways
There is only one thing you need to change
Which is everything that makes you feel strange

Out of the darkness will come the light
I hope and pray for all every night
To stop the circle that is so negative
Be more positive so we can live

Keep yourself in touch with your group
So you don't fall and end up in a stoop
In your state of mind and all of the pain
Remember not to use and lose but gain

The power that I found that is greater than me
Will keep me grounded and keep me free
I will always need to have an open mind
To search and find all that I need to find

When I listen to all that share their story
Allows me to seek all of the glory
This will help me throughout each year
And all of you in my life that are so dear

So these words are for you family and friend
Together we will stand until the end
Don't ever forget where we came from
If we do we know we will be done

The storm of winter was not bad
But the one within took all I had
To rise above all of this
I found a way for me to resist

All of the demons and their evil way
This simple program has begun to slay
This is my story and I'm sticking to it
Together we stand I hope we all prove it

Life can be hard and it will be O K
All we need to do is only stay
Always remember it's just for today
Thank you all especially N A

~unknown~

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

Emotions Island
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=481

An Easier, Softer Way
www.anonymityone.com/Story17.htm

Clean time Calculator
www.recoverygreetings.com/calculator.html

Find Gratitude Topics, Word for the Day, and Free E-Cards:
www.gratefulness.org

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 18                                          I Understand

"We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings." Step seven

Once we are entirely ready to have our character defects removed,
many of us are entirely ready! Ironically, that's when the trouble
really
starts. The more we struggle to rid ourselves of a particular defect,
the stronger that shortcoming seems to become. It is truly humbling
to realize that not only are we powerless over our addiction, but even
over our own defects of character

Finally, it clicks. The Seventh Step doesn't suggest that we rid
ourselves of our shortcomings, but that we ask our Higher Power to
rid us of them. The focus of our daily prayers begins to shift.
Admitting
our inability to perfect ourselves, we plead with our Higher Power to
do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. And we wait.

For many days, our program may stay on Step Seven. We may
experience no sudden, total relief from defects - but we often do
experience a subtle shift in our perceptions of ourselves and others.
Through the eyes of the Seventh Step, we begin to see those around
us in a less critical way. We know that, just like us, many of them are
struggling with shortcomings they would dearly love to be rid of. We
know that, just like us, they are powerless over their own defects. We
wonder if they, too, humbly pray to have their defects removed.

We begin evaluating others as we have learned to evaluate
ourselves, with an empathy born of humility. As we watch others, and
as we keep watch on ourselves, we can finally say, "I understand:"

Just for today: God, help me see through the eyes of Step Seven.
Help me understand.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The False Comfort of Self-Pity

Self-pity is one of the most unhappy and consuming defects that we
know.  It is a bar to all spiritual progress and can cut off all
effective
communication with our fellows because of its inordinate demands
for attention and sympathy.  It is a maudlin form of martyrdom, which
we can ill afford.
AS BILL SEES IT, p.  238

The false comfort of self-pity screens me from reality only momentarily
and then demands, like a drug, that I take an ever bigger dose.  If I
succumb to this it could lead to a relapse into drinking.  What can I
do?
One certain antidote is to turn my attention, however slightly at first,
toward others who are genuinely less fortunate than I, preferably
other alcoholics.  In the same degree that I actively demonstrate my
empathy with them, I will lessen my own exaggerated suffering.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 18th

A.A. Thought for the Day

As I look back over my drinking career, have I learned that
you take out of life what you put into it? When I put drinking
into my life, did I take out a lot of bad things? Hospitals with
the D.T.'s? Jails for drunken driving? Loss of job? Loss of
home and family? When I put drinking into my life, was almost
everything I took out bad?

Meditation for the Day

I should strive for a friendliness and helpfulness that will
affect all who come near to me. I should try to see something
to love in them. I should welcome them, bestow little
courtesies and understandings on them, and help them if they
ask for help. I must send no one away without a word of cheer,
a feeling that I really care about them. God may have put the
impulse in some despairing one's mind to come to me. I must
not fail God by repulsing that person. They may not want to
communicate with me unless they are sure of a warm welcome.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may warmly welcome all who come to me for help.
I pray that I may make them feel that I really care.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 18

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

Freedom

Many of us were oppressed and victimized as children. As
adults, we may continue to keep ourselves oppressed.

Some of us don't recognize that caretaking and not setting
boundaries will leave us feeling victimized.

Some of us don't understand that thinking of ourselves as
victims will leave us feeling oppressed.

Some of us don't know that we hold the key to our own
freedom. That key is honoring ourselves, and taking care of
ourselves.

We can say what we mean, and mean what we say.

We can stop waiting for others to give us what we need and
take responsibility for ourselves. When we do, the gates to
freedom will swing wide.

Walk through.

Today, I will understand that I hold the key to my freedom. I
will stop participating in my oppression and victimization.
I will take responsibility for myself, and let others do as they
may.

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

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

Why Your Life Sucks
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/04/alan-cohen.htm

Truth or Etiquette?, by Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/September/0997-17.html

A God Beyond Words
by Larissa Kaye Batten
www.innerself.com/Spirituality/a_god_beyond_words.htm

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Gratitude Is....

       Gratitude is owned by everyone and no
one. Gratitude is in cities, in the country, in houses
of worship, in darkened allies, in caves, in homes
and in tiny apartments.  Gratitude grows the more
you tap into it through acknowledgment, sharing
and awareness.  Gratitude is available to each of
us at anytime.

       Gratitude is a positive virus.  Gratitude
energy can be passed simply, effortlessly and
freely from one person to another to another to
another.

      Gratitude is a choice. We choose whether we
want to embrace its transformative energy. Gratitude
has no opinion, it simply blesses those who are
open. Choose Gratitude.

      Gratitude changes lives and is the doorway to the
manifestation of miracles.  Through consciousness
and acknowledgment, it allows more wonder, more
glory, more celebration to flow.

      Gratitude awakens the soul to an exponential
increase in every area: spiritual, physical, relational,
emotional. This awakening moves beyond the
intellect, it moves beyond the usual and into the
spaces we sometimes forget to treasure.

      Gratitude is fuel for the creative fire and reminds
artists of all sorts that anything is truly possible.
Gratitude sings, it paints, it sculpts, it flies.  It
speaks through us to others and lays the foundation
for a more empowered future.

     Gratitude bridges areas of weakness because
it is through acknowledging our weaknesses we
are able to partner with others - including divine
forces -  and transmute what we previously saw
as weaknesses into strengths.  Perhaps these
weaknesses are turned into strengths of an
entirely different kind.

       Gratitude always finds a way if and when we
are open to it.  It flows like an river, following an
ancient, pre-determined path.  The moment we
join that flow, magic begins to happen - perhaps
in small, insignificant ways at first - and we quickly
learn that there are no small, insignificant ways.
They are all magnificent beyond measure.

      Gratitude is visible on people's faces - it brings
an instant face lift, a needle free form of the wrinkle
eliminating Botox.  Gratitude replenishes and
refreshes us when we are weary, it quenches
our energetic thirst like a perfect spring of water.

       Gratitude is in nature, it is in people.  Gratitude
gives us more courage, it grants wishes, it is
supremely engaging and fulfilling.  Gratitude
purely and simply is.

© 2004 by Julie Jordan Scott

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

The Art of the Circle

Fluidity is a continuous stream
the one in the beginning gets back what was given
to the one at the end
but there is no end
and no middle
just the circle
for we all share the same
yet different
point of view
from where we stand
from where we receive, from where we send
the circle of friendship and sharing
has this parallax condition

There is no admission price
You can stay as long as you like
Or be free to leave at any time
That's the freedom of the circle
Of open love
honest sharing
and easy giving

Love
Stella

©Stella Savoie
stellaraymonde@...
Printed with Permission

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

Our Mirror

The good you find in others, is in you too.
The faults you find in others, are your faults as well.
After all, to recognize something you must know it.
The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.
The beauty you see around you, is your beauty.
The world around you is a reflection,
a mirror showing you the person you are.

To change your world, you must change yourself.
To blame and complain will only make matters worse.
Whatever you care about, is your responsibility.
What you see in others, shows you yourself.
See the best in others, and you will be your best.
Give to others, and you give to yourself.
Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.
Admire creativity, and you will be creative.
Love, and you will be loved.
Seek to understand, and you will be understood.
Listen, and your voice will be heard.
Teach, and you will learn.
Show your best face to the mirror,
and you'll be happy with the face
looking back at you.

Unknown

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

Creation

Take the pain deep in your heart
Lift it out and give it voice.
Let the tears flow. Seas will part.
Fears dissolve without a choice.

Spirits rise as you rejoice.
Newness fills the holes once black.
A heady feeling as you hoist
Shimmering light whose rays you track.

With wings that spread to heaven and back.
You see the shape of truth unfold.
Add fairy smiles or a thundercrack.
Hark! A story has been told.

Bitter roots now wrenched and torn
Allowed a poem to be born.

Iris F.
ifox@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*But Do It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This Could Be The Day

This could be the day
When God sends
Someone this way
Someone who is about to die
Someone who can only cry
I never know when it will be
So I just go to meetings to see
I am responsible to stick out my hand
Lend an ear to understand
To some troubled soul
Someone who is not whole
I never know when God will use me
I will just show up and see
I just love recovery

Daniel M Corkery
1/20/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

TODAY

You gave me hope
and helped me cope
My life had gone sour
You helped me find a Higher Power
And in my despair
I always found you there
I bared my soul
In return became whole
I humbly bowed down
forgiveness I found
Now I can trust the love
that comes from above
So today I am here
without any a fear
To share my joys and sorrows
no regrets of the yesterdays or tomorrows
Thank you for showing me this way
for now I live just for today

©1999 By: Angie F Moore. WHFL
Amoore530@...
Permission Granted
Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner,
without prior written consent is prohibited.

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

...if your life is a flight from self,
how can you expect any relationship to be grounded?
It just is not possible.
All you have is a clash of wings in the crowded sky.
Paul Ferrini

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

How can we possibly describe feeling the Presence of God?
It is the difference between being a child left alone in an empty house
at night and a child who knows that her mother is in the next room.
Even though she can't see or hear her mother,
she feels comforted by her warm, loving, protective presence.
And while a human parent can't always be with us,
our spiritual parent will never abandon us.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Forgiveness does not change the past,
but it does enlarge the future.
Paul Boese

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

Talking about bulls is not the same as facing them in the ring.
Mexican Proverb

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

Just like a sunbeam can't separate itself from the sun,
and a wave can't separate itself from the ocean,
we can't separate ourselves from one another.
We are all part of a vast sea of love, one indivisible divine mind.
Marianne Williamson

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

Courage is fear that has said it's prayer.

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

Instead of throwing a chair,
Throw a prayer.

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

I pray and sometimes I plead.

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

When things get tough,
I pray hard.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
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 the group
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or
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or just email me YOUnMEnHP@...
and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
http://www.groups.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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




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

Tradition 12
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2003/tradition01.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you handle a sponsee who doesn't call regularly , doesn't work
on the steps , and shares with you what's going on in their life after
the fact (911 phone calls) but they do go to meetings and call you their
sponsor ? What is your part in your relationship with your sponsor ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 17
I will open myself up to all the possibilities around me today,
leaving my fear of change behind.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

What is Our Primary Purpose?

I keep hearing some people saying, that it is important to come
to our meetings and dump.

I am a believer that it is important to talk about where you are
and what you are going through, for that is the only way that we
can help you.

But our primary purpose is not to dump, our primary purpose is to
carry the message to the still sick and suffering.

You see meetings are only 1 hour and a half where I come from,
and if you look at it like this.

If I come into a meeting a dump a glass filled with dirty water,
when I come out of the meeting and live the other 22 and a half hours
outside of the meeting, it is only going to fill back up with dirty
water
unless if I do things differently.

Yes, I am a believer in the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions and 12 Concepts,
but there are many more than 36 Spiritual Principles, let's not sell
OUR God short here :)

If I look at these spiritual principles as solid rocks and I start to
practice them in my life and putting them into this empty glass.
Then I am filling the glass with solid rocks like:

Acceptance, Hope, Faith, Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness,
Courage, Trust, Humility, Forgiveness, Unconditional Love, Perseverance,
Integrity, Spirituality, Service, Loyalty, Respect, Admiration,
Compassion, Tenderness, Unity, Sharing, Simplicity, Independence,
Selflessness, Survival, Self- Reliance, Responsibility, Participation,
Balance, Consistency, Clarity, Vision, Communication, Harmony,
Gratitude, Joy, Surrender, Purpose, Freedom, Spontaneity, Abundance,
Brotherhood, Humor, Patience, Beauty, Healing, Flexibility, Truth,
Delight, Peace, Attraction, Availability, Balance, Character,
Commitment,
Discipline, Empathy and Serenity are just a few that come to mind ,
LOL :)

The more that we fill up this empty glass with these solid rock
spiritual principles, the less room there is for dirty water.

It's not about "Dumping" it is about sharing what you are going through.
But its not until you stop sharing about the problem and start to
live in the solution, that you will get to reap the benefits of working
"The Program"

Scott H.
YOUnMEnHP@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Don't Use*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If anyone has any original recovery poetry that they
would like to share with us please copy and paste it into the body
of an email and send it to me, Thanks for your support and
contributions.
What I can't do alone, We do together.
In loving service, Scott ~  YOUnMEnHP@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Simple Recipe For Love (from the angels)
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=474

Never Give Up Hope
www.anonymityone.com/Story11.htm

Thoughts
www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/5818/thoughts3.html

Inner Peace
www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/5818/inner_peace.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 17                                 Priority: Meetings

"I initially felt that it would be impossible to attend more than one or
two meetings a week. It just wouldn't fit in with my busy schedule. I
later learned that my priorities were [180] degrees reversed. It was
them everything else that would have to fit into my meeting schedule."
Basic Text p. 204

Some of us attended meetings infrequently when we first came to
Narcotics Anonymous, then wondered why we couldn't stay clean.
What we soon learned was that if we wanted to stay clean, we had
to make meeting attendance our priority.

So we began again. Following our sponsor's suggestion, we made a
commitment to attend ninety meetings in ninety days. We identified
ourselves as newcomers for our first thirty days so that others could
get to know us. At our sponsor's direction, we stopped talking long
enough to learn to listen. We soon began to look forward to meetings.
And we began to stay clean.

Today, we attend meetings for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we go
to meetings to share our experience, strength, and hope with newer
members. Sometimes we go to see our friends. And sometimes we go
just because we need a hug. Occasionally we leave a meeting and
realize that we haven't really heard a word that's been said-but we
still feel better The atmosphere of love and joy that fills our meetings
has kept us clean another day. No matter how hectic our schedule,
we make meeting attendance our priority.

Just for today: In my heart, I know that meetings benefit me in all
kinds
of ways. Today, I want what's good for me. I will attend a meeting.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giving Up Insanity

. . . where alcohol has been involved, we have b strangely insane.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p.  38

Alcoholism required me to drink, whether I wanted to or not.  Insanity
dominated my life and was the essence of my disease.  It robbed me
of the freedom of choice over drinking and, therefore, robbed me of
all other choices.  When I drank, I was unable to make effective choices
in any part of my life and life became unmanageable.

I ask God to help me understand and accept the full meaning of the
disease of alcoholism.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 17th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Every time we go to an A.A. meeting, every time we say
the Lord's Prayer, every time we have a quiet time before
breakfast, we're paying a premium on our insurance against
taking that first drink.  And every time we help another
alcoholic, we're making a large payment on our drink
insurance.  We're making sure that our policy doesn't
lapse.  Am I building up an endowment in serenity, peace,
and happiness that will put me on easy street for the rest
of my life?

Meditation for the Day

I gain faith by my own experience of God's power in my
life.  The constant, persistent recognition of God's spirit
in all my personal relationships, the ever accumulating
weight of evidence in support of God's guidance, the
numberless instances in which seeming chance or wonderful
coincidence can be traced to God's purpose in my life.  All
these things gradually engender a feeling of wonder, humility,
and gratitude to God.  These in turn are followed by a more
sure and abiding faith in God and His purposes.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that my faith may be strengthened every day.  I pray
that I may find confirmation of my life in the good things that
have come into my life.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 17

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

Taking Care of Ourselves

We often refer to recovery from codependency and adult child
issues as self-care. Self-care is not, as some may think, a spin
off of the me generation. It isn't self-indulgence. It isn't selfishness
- in the negative interpretation of that word.

We're learning to take care of ourselves, instead of obsessively
focusing on another person. We're learning self-responsibility,
instead of feeling excessively responsible for others. Self-care
also means tending to our true responsibilities to others; we do
this better when were not feeling overly responsible.

Self-care sometimes means, me first, but usually, me too. It means
we are responsible for ourselves and can choose to no longer be
victims.

Self-care means learning to love the person we're responsible
for taking care of - ourselves. We do not do this to hibernate in
a cocoon of isolation and self indulgence; we do it so we can
better love others, and learn to let them love us.

Self-care isn't selfish; it's self-esteem.

Today, God, help me love myself. Help me let go of feeling
excessively responsible for those around me. Show me what I
need to do to take care of myself and be appropriately responsible
to others.

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

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

Teacher or Student
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/04/teacher-student.htm

Letters of wisdom and affirmation
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/October/1097-21.html

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with
Alan Cohen
“Are You As Happy As Your Dog"
www.intouchmag.com/dog.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

How Can I Love Better?
by Osho

Osho"How can I love better?"

Love is enough unto itself. It needs no betterment. It is perfect as
it is; it is not in any way meant to be more perfect. The very desire
shows a misunderstanding about love and its nature. Can you have a
perfect circle? All circles are perfect; if they are not perfect, they
are not circles. Perfection is intrinsic to a circle and the same is
the law about love. You cannot love less, and you cannot love more —
because it is not a quantity. It is a quality, which is immeasurable.

Your very question shows that you have never tasted what love is, and
you are trying to hide your lovelessness in the desire of knowing "how
to love better." No one who knows love can ask this question.

Love has to be understood, not as a biological infatuation — that is
lust. That exists in all the animals; there is nothing special about
it; it exists even in trees. It is nature's way of reproduction. There
is nothing spiritual in it and nothing especially human. So the first
thing is to make a clear-cut distinction between lust and love. Lust
is a blind passion; love is the fragrance of a silent, peaceful,
meditative heart. Love has nothing to do with biology or chemistry or
hormones.

Love is the flight of your consciousness to higher realms, beyond
matter and beyond body. The moment you understand love as something
transcendental, then love is no longer a fundamental question. The
fundamental question is how to transcend the body, how to know
something within you that is beyond — beyond all that is measurable.
That is the meaning of the word matter. It comes from a Sanskrit root,
matra, which means measurement; it means that which can be measured.
The word meter comes from the same root. The fundamental question is
how to go beyond the measurable and enter into the immeasurable. In
other words, how to go beyond matter and open your eyes toward more
consciousness. And there is no limit to consciousness—the more you
become conscious, the more you realize how much more is possible
ahead. As you reach one peak, another peak arises in front of you. It
is an eternal pilgrimage.

Love is a by-product of a rising consciousness. It is just like the
fragrance of a flower. Don't search for it in the roots; it is not
there. Your biology is your roots; your consciousness is your
flowering. As you become more and more an open lotus of consciousness,
you will be surprised—taken aback—with a tremendous experience, which
can only be called love. You are so full of joy, so full of bliss,
each fiber of your being is dancing with ecstasy. You are just like a
rain cloud that wants to rain and shower.

The moment you are overflowing with bliss, a tremendous longing arises
in you to share it. That sharing is love.

Love is not something that you can get from someone who has not
attained to blissfulness — and this is the misery of the whole world.
Everybody is asking to be loved, and pretending to love. You cannot
love because you don't know what consciousness is. You don't know the
satyam, the shivam, the sundram; you don't know truth, you don't know
the experience of the divine, and you don't know the fragrance of
beauty. What have you got to give? You are so empty, you are so
hollow ... Nothing grows in your being, nothing is green. There are no
flowers within you; your spring has not come yet.

(Editor's note: Satyam = Sanskrit for 'true, real, pure', that which
abides and exists beyond 'maya', illusion.)

Love is a by-product. When the spring comes and you suddenly start
flowering, blossoming, and you release your potential fragrance
sharing that fragrance, sharing that grace, sharing that beauty is love.

I don't want to hurt you but I am helpless, I have to say the truth to
you: You don't know what love is. You can't know because you have not
yet gone deeper in your consciousness. You have not experienced
yourself, you know nothing of who you are. In this blindness, in this
ignorance, in this unconsciousness, love does not grow. This is a
desert in which you are living. In this darkness, in this desert,
there is no possibility of love blossoming.

First you have to be full of light, and full of delight — so full that
you start overflowing. That overflowing energy is love. Then love is
known as the greatest perfection in the world. It is never less, and
never more.

But our very upbringing is so neurotic, so psychologically sick that
it destroys all possibilities of inner growth. You are being taught
from the very beginning to be a perfectionist, and then naturally you
go on applying your perfectionist ideas to everything, even to love.

Just the other day I came across a statement: A perfectionist is a
person who takes great pains, and gives even greater pains to others.
And the outcome is just a miserable world!

Everybody is trying to be perfect. And the moment somebody starts
trying to be perfect, he starts expecting everybody else to be
perfect. He starts condemning people, he starts humiliating people.
That's what all your so-called saints have been doing down the ages.
That's what your religions have done to you — poisoned your being with
an idea of perfection.

Because you cannot be perfect, you start feeling guilty, you lose
respect for yourself. And the man who has lost respect for himself has
lost all the dignity of being human. Your pride has been crushed, your
humanity has been destroyed by beautiful words like perfection.

Man cannot be perfect. Yes, there is something that man can
experience, but which is beyond the ordinary conception of man. Unless
man also experiences something of the divine, he cannot know perfection.

Perfection is not something like a discipline; it is not something
that you can practice. It is not something for which you have to go
through rehearsals. But that is what is being taught to everybody, and
the result is a world bill of hypocrites, who know perfectly well that
they are hollow and empty, but they go on pretending all kinds of
qualities that are nothing but empty words.

When you say to someone. "I love you" have you ever thought what you
mean? Is it just biological infatuation between the two sexes? Then
once you have satisfied your animal appetite, all so-called love will
disappear. It was just a hunger and you have fulfilled your hunger and
you are finished. The same woman who was looking the most beautiful in
the world, the same man who was looking like Alexander the Great — you
start thinking how to get rid of this fellow!

It will be very enlightening to understand this letter written by
Paddy to his beloved Maureen:

      My Darling Maureen,

      I would climb the highest mountain for your sake, and swim the
wildest sea. I would endure any hardships to spend a moment by your
side.

      Your ever-loving, Paddy.
      P.S. I'll be over to see you on Friday night if it is not raining.

The moment you say to someone "I love you," you don't know what you
are saying. You don't know that it is just lust hiding behind a
beautiful word, love. It will disappear. It is very momentary.

Love is something eternal. It is the experience of the Buddhas, not
the unconscious people the whole world is full of. Only very few
people have known what love is, and these same people are the most
awakened, the most enlightened, the highest peaks of human
consciousness.

If you really want to know love, forget about love and remember
meditation. If you want to bring roses into your garden, forget about
roses and take care of the rosebush. Give nourishment to it, water it,
take care that it gets the right amount of sun, water. If everything
is taken care of, in the right tune the roses are destined to come.
You cannot bring them earlier, you cannot force them to open up
sooner. And you cannot ask a rose to be more perfect.

Have you ever seen a rose that is not perfect? What more do you want?'
Every rose in its uniqueness is perfect. Dancing in the wind, in the
rain, ... the sun ... can't you see the tremendous beauty, the
absolute joy: A small ordinary rose radiates the hidden splendor of
existence.

Love is a rose in your being. But prepare your being — dispel the
darkness and the unconsciousness. Become more and more alert and
aware, and love will come on its own accord, in its own time. You need
not worry about it. And whenever it comes it is always perfect.

Love is a spiritual experience nothing to do with sexes and nothing to
do with bodies, but something to do with the inner-most being. But you
have not even entered into your own temple. You don't know at all who
you are, and you are trying to find out how to love better. First, be
thyself; first, know thyself, and love will come as a reward. It is a
reward from the beyond. It showers on you like flowers ... fills your
being. And it goes on showering on you, and it brings with it a
tremendous longing to share.

In human language that sharing can only be indicated by the word love.
It does not say much, but it indicates the right direction.

Love is a shadow of alertness, of consciousness. Be more conscious,
and love will come as you become more conscious. It is a guest that
comes, that comes inevitably to those who are ready and prepared to
receive it. You are not even ready to recognize it! If love comes to
your door, you will not recognize it. If love knocks on your doors,
you may find a thousand and one excuses; you may think perhaps it is
some strong wind, or some other excuse; you will not open the doors.
And even if you open the doors you will not recognize love because you
have never seen love before; how can you recognize it?

You can recognize only something that you know. When love comes for
the first time and fills your being you are absolutely overwhelmed and
mystified. You don't know what is happening. You know your heart is
dancing, you know you are surrounded by celestial music, you know
fragrances that you have never known before. But it takes a little
time to put all these experiences together and to remember that
perhaps this is what love is. Slowly, slowly it sinks into your being.

Only mystics know love. Other than mystics there is no category of
human beings that has ever experienced love. Love is absolutely the
monopoly of the mystic. If you want to know love you will have to
enter into the world of the mystic.

Jesus says "God is love." He has been part of a mystery school, the
Essenes, an ancient school of mystics. But perhaps he did not graduate
from the mystery school, because what he is saying is just not right.
God is not love, love is God — and the difference is tremendous; it is
not just a change of words. The moment you say God is love you are
simply saying that love is only an attribute of God. He is also
wisdom, he is also compassion, he is also forgiveness, he can be
millions of things besides love; love is only one of the attributes of
God.

And in fact, even to make it a small attribute of God is very
irrational and illogical, because if God is love then he cannot be
"just." If God is love then he cannot be cruel enough to throw sinners
into eternal hell. If God is love then God cannot be the law. One
great Sufi mystic, Omar Khayyam, shows more understanding than Jesus
when he says, "I will go on just being myself. I am not going to take
any notice of the priests and the preachers because I trust that God's
love is great enough; I cannot commit a sin that can be greater than
his love. So why be worried? Our hands are small and our sins are
small. Our reach is small; how can we commit sins which God's love
cannot forgive? If God is love then he cannot be present on the last
judgment day to sort out the saints and throw the remaining millions
and millions of people into hell for eternity."

The teachings of the Essenes were just the opposite; Jesus quotes them
wrongly. Perhaps he was not very deeply rooted in their teachings.
Their teaching was, "Love is God." That is such a tremendous
difference. Now God becomes only an attribute of love; now God becomes
only a quality of the tremendous experience of love. Now God is no
longer a person but only an experience of those who have known love.
Now God becomes secondary to love. And I say unto you, the Essenes
were right. Love is the ultimate value, the final flowering. There is
nothing beyond it; hence, you cannot perfect it.

In fact, before you attain to it you will have to disappear. When love
will be there you will not be there.

A great Eastern mystic, Kabir, has a very significant statement — a
statement that can be made only by one who has experienced, who has
realized, who has entered the inner sanctum of ultimate reality. The
statement is, "I had been searching for truth, but it is strange to
say that as long as the searcher was there, truth was not found. And
when the truth was found, I looked all around ... I was absent. When
the truth was found, the seeker was no more; and when the seeker was,
truth was nowhere."

Truth and the seeker cannot exist together. You and love cannot exist
together. There is no coexistence possible: Either you or love, you
can choose. If you are ready to disappear, melt and merge, leaving
only a pure consciousness behind, love will blossom. You cannot
perfect it because you will not be present. And it does not need
perfection in the first place; it comes always as perfect.

But love is one of those words that everybody uses and nobody
understands. Parents are telling their children, "We love you" — and
they are the people who destroy their children. They are the people
who give their children all kinds of prejudices, all kinds of dead
superstitions. They are the people who burden their children with the
whole load of rubbish that generations have been carrying and each
generation goes on transferring it to another generation. The madness
goes on ... becoming mountainous.

Yet all parents think they love their children. If they really loved
their children, they would not like their children to be their images,
because they are just miserable and nothing else. What is their
experience of life? Pure misery, suffering ... life has been not a
blessing to them, but a curse. And still they want their children to
be just like themselves.

I was a guest in a family. I was sitting in their garden in the
evening. The sun was setting and it was a beautiful, silent evening.
The birds were returning back to the trees, and the small child of the
family was sitting by my side. I just asked him, "Do you know who you
are?" And children are clearer, more perceptive than the grownups,
because the grownups are already spoiled, corrupted, polluted with all
kinds of ideologies, religions. That small child looked at me and he
said, "You are asking me a very difficult question."

I said, "What is the difficulty in it?"

He said, "The difficulty is that I am the only child of my parents,
and as long as I can remember, whenever some guests come, somebody
says my eyes look like my father's, somebody says my nose looks like
my mother's, somebody says my face looks like my uncle's. So I don't
know who I am, because nobody says anything looks like me."

But this is what is being done to every child. You don't leave the
child alone to experience himself, and you don't leave the child to
become himself. You go on loading on the child your own unfulfilled
ambitions. Every parent wants his child to be his image.

But a child has a destiny of his own; if he becomes your image he will
never become himself. And without becoming yourself, you will never
feel contentment; you will never feel at ease with existence. You will
always be in a condition of missing something.

Your parents love you, and they also tell you that you have to love
them because they are your fathers, they are your mothers. It is a
strange phenomenon and nobody seems to be aware of it. Just because
you are a mother does not mean that the child has to love you. You
have to be lovable; your being a mother is not enough. You may be a
father, but that does not mean that automatically you become lovable.
Just because you are a father does not create a tremendous feeling of
love in the child. But it is expected ... and the poor child does not
know what to do. He starts pretending; that's the only possible way.
He starts smiling when there is no smile in his heart; he starts
showing love, respect, gratitude and all are just false. He becomes an
actor, a hypocrite from the very beginning, a politician.

We are all living in this world where parents, teachers, priests —
everybody has corrupted you, displaced you, has taken away from
yourself. My effort is to give your center back to you. I call this
centering "meditation." I want you simply to be yourself, with a great
self-respect, with the dignity of knowing that existence needed you —
and then you can start searching for yourself. First come to the
center, and then start searching for who you are.

Knowing one's original face is the beginning of a life of love, of a
life of celebration. You will be able to give so much love — because
it is not something that is exhaustible. It is immeasurable, it cannot
be exhausted. And the more you give it, the more you become capable of
giving it.

The greatest experience in life is when you simply give without any
conditions, without any expectations of even a simple thank-you. On
the contrary, a real, authentic love feels obliged to the person who
has accepted his love. He could have rejected it.

When you start giving love with a deep sense of gratitude to all those
who accept it, you will be surprised that you have become an emperor —
no longer a beggar asking for love with a begging bowl, knocking on
every door. And those people on whose doors you are knocking cannot
give you love: they are themselves beggars. Beggars are asking each
other for love and feeling frustrated, angry, because the love is not
coming. But this is bound to happen. Love belongs to the world of
emperors, not of beggars. And a man is an emperor when he is so full
of love that he can give it without any conditions.

Then comes an even greater surprise: When you start giving your love
to anybody, even to strangers, the question is not to whom you are
giving it — the very joy of giving is so much that who cares who is on
the receiving end? When this space comes into your being, you go on
giving to each and everybody — not only to human beings but to
animals, to the trees, to the faraway stars, because love is something
that can be transferred even to the farthest star just by your loving
look. Just by your touch, love can be transferred to a tree. Without
saying a single word ... it can be conveyed in absolute silence. It
need not be said, it declares itself. It has its own ways of reaching
into the very depths, into your being.

First be full of love, then the sharing happens. And then the great
surprise . . . that as you give, you start receiving from unknown
sources, from unknown corners, from unknown people, from trees, from
rivers, from mountains. From all nooks and corners of existence love
starts showering on you. The more you give, the more you get. Life
becomes a sheer dance of love.

Osho About the Author
OSHO is one of the best-known and most provocative spiritual teachers
of our time. Beginning in the 1970s he captured the attention of young
people in the West who wanted to experience meditation and
transformation. More than a decade after his death in 1990, the
influence of his teachings continues to expand, reaching seekers of
all ages in virtually every country of the world.

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

Beauty Of A Touch

I love all things bright and beautiful...
and constantly seek to help improve on God's handiwork..
but the bottom line is the fact that
I do not worship material outer "things"......body or possessions.

I have allowed  myself to enjoy  what God has freely given,
and to take care of and enhance his gifts to me.

THAT is not "wrong" for me.
It took so very long to come to my own understanding
and knowing that it is OKAY for me to do this...
OKAY for me to feel this joy of living.
I MUST NOT let anyone else's views affect my own sense
of values and belief that
God gave "beauty" to this world to be appreciated
and talents to us to use creatively.

My God smiles when I plant a tree,
when I manicure the yard by pulling weeds
and planting flowers ...flowers that would NOT be in my
immediate environment without my "efforts".
HE smiles when I put on a pretty dress
and dance and sing when I look in a mirror!
He smiles.....because he KNOWS that
those "things" are not necessary for my happiness.
They are luxuries.....bonus items.....which add icing
to an already content spirit of love for  myself
and for my fellow man.
The greatest beauty God has given me is
the gift of being able to reach out and touch.

And to bask in the equally pleasing gift of
allowing another human spirit to touch me.
Touch me with your eyes.
Touch me with your thoughts.
Touch me with your hugs.
Touch me with your words.
Hold tight my hand
And let me hold yours.

God lives inside us. THAT is where He dwells.

I touch God when I touch another human being.
Therefore...with that belief in mind...

I TOUCH AS MUCH AS I DARE  TOUCH.

Lindy Jo Jones

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

Just One Voice

A single note becomes a song
A single tree becomes a forest
A single voice that's clear and strong
Can turn into a worldwide chorus

Just one voice
One single voice
If you say you can
Then you can

A single moon turns the tide
A single seed becomes the harvest
A single sun within the sky
Keeps the whole world spinning for us

Just one voice
One single voice
If you say you can
Well then you can, you can

A single drop becomes the rain
A single step becomes the journey
A single heart that tries again
Can change the course of history's turning

Just one voice
One single voice
If you say you can
Well then you can, you can

Excerpted from the song lyric of:
By Ann Mortifee/Valley Hennell/Doug Edwards
(Mabela Music/Edsel Music/Inaudible Music 1984 PROC)

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

Life's Seasons
by Marie T. Russell

Someone I was speaking with one day said to me, "I wanted to call you
as soon as I saw the latest issue of the magazine to tell you how
wonderful it was, and then I thought you must get tired of hearing
that..." This comment raised a question in me... Is there such a thing
as too much appreciation? My response to that is that when the
feelings being shared are sincere, appreciation is always a boon and
comfort.

Appreciation is defined in the dictionary as "grateful recognition".
Studies show that plants and animals respond to praise and
appreciation... they grow faster, healthier, etc. Human beings also
respond to expressions of gratitude. They also blossom in the aura of
appreciation.

We all need appreciation, and we especially need to give ourselves
that appreciation, that self-love. If you don't love yourself and
think highly of yourself, it doesn't matter how many other people tell
you that you are wonderful, etc. You won't believe a word of it until
you truly love and appreciate yourself.

After participating in a workshop where much of the talk and processes
dealt with self-esteem, self-worth, and self-love, I mailed myself a
thank-you note. It was wonderful to receive this card where I told
myself how much I was appreciated, loved, etc. Every once in a while
when I feel I need a boost, I pull out the card, read it, and remember
who I truly am...

It's essential to take the time to appreciate the beauty within us, as
well as around us. What beauty in such a daily occurrence... a sunset!
Though in a sense sunsets are repetitive (there is one each day), I
have never seen one that was exactly like another.

Just as we see each sunrise and sunset as completely different (which
they are), we can see each moment of our life experience as completely
different (which they are).

Something as commonplace as driving to work, or having breakfast, or
turning on the computer, can attain a level of peace and love when
done mindfully ? as if for the first time. When we do things out of
habit, we take away the joy and wonder of newness.

We can instead choose to see each experience as brand-new and each
person we encounter through the day as brand-new... letting go of past
hurts, resentments, etc.

We are like trees. Our beauty lies not so much in our exterior, but in
our interior beauty and love. We need to take time to reconnect with
the source of our energy in order to spring forth with renewed vitality.

The bare autumn trees convey the message that whatever the appearance,
whatever the exterior, what really is essential is the inside, the
interior... From the outside the trees appear dead, yet we know that
on the inside they are still alive, and preparing for a resurgence of
beauty and aliveness.

Autumn leaves in their splendor of orange and the trees with their
bare branches speak of rebirth... of cleansing by shedding the old
leaves... It speaks of resting, of taking time to be silent and
peaceful and to go within.

Such is the beauty of life...When we listen to our intuition (inner
guidance), our lives can also be magically different every day and we
can be "reborn" daily as well.

Summer has gone... and Winter is arriving... yet Spring will return.
The seasons pass in nature, as in our own lives. The winter of doubt
and fear does pass away as we become aware that there is no one to
blame for the dark times we went through -- not even ourselves. These
are simply the processes of life, the changing seasons as it were.

If you have gone through some hardships, and been taking it
personally, it is time to move on. As you keep in contact with your
Higher Self, at last you can have fun being you! For too long we have
tried to conform and fit in...We can have a much more pleasant
experience by LOVING our differences in this "new day", this new
season. As we appreciate the uniqueness in everyone, we can also see
the oneness of duality.

We are not limited to being who we have been. The secret to creating
the life we wish, right here and now, is within us. We can heal our
emotions and thus attract to ourselves similar energies as those we
are sending out. We can choose which frequency we wish to emit by
working with the energies. As we use the tools which surround us, such
as dreams and self-knowledge, it becomes easier and easier to enjoy
and celebrate life.

"Letting go is the bottom-line key to happiness," states Hugh Prather.
And in The Little Book of Letting Go, he offers a simple three-step
process for shedding prejudices, preconceptions, and prejudgments and
facing each moment with openness and enthusiasm.


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

New Opportunity

Everyday is a new opportunity
How to live your life entirely free
Should you be down and feeling blue
Call on your Higher Power He will help you
With each sunrise God grants us a new day
So be sure to love your neighbor and do not stray
It's said it is better to give then to receive
Tell your Higher Power that you believe
Trust in God all throughout your day
Pray that He blesses you
All along your way
Everyday
Is a new opportunity
To carry this message
To help others break free
When you retire at night pray
God grant that I may get my rest
For I have given you my very best
In the morning pray
God grant me a new day
I promise God to help others
All along this way
God I truly wish to help others
To be free and understand
Love unconditionally
For all fellow man
This is Gods purpose
For me today
I love to
Help
Others
All along the way
Everyday is surely
New opportunity
To help others
To break free
I count my blessings
For this new opportunity

Daniel M Corkery
8/1/2002
DMCDREAMER1@@aol.com
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

See with your heart
not with your eyes
for beauty lies
everywhere.
The mind reasons,
The heart knows.

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

The mind cannot possibly understand God
because the heart already knows,
Minds were designed for carrying out the orders of the heart.

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

When we harbor negative emotions toward others or toward ourselves,
or when we intentionally create pain for others,
we poison our own physical and spiritual systems.
By far the strongest poison to the human spirit
is the inability to forgive oneself or another person.
It disables a person's emotional resources.
The challenge...is to refine our capacity to love others
as well as ourselves and to develop the power of forgiveness.
Caroline Myss, PH.D., Anatomy of the Spirit

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

Take the first step in faith.  You don't have to
see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
Martin Luther King Jr.

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

Generosity is giving more than you can,
and pride is taking less than you need.
Kahlil Gibran

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

Memory is a child walking along the seashore.
You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up
and store away among its treasured things.
Pierce Harris

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

If you think putting down the first one is tough,
try putting down the second one.

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

It's about not picking up,
"NO MATTER WHAT"
everything else will take care of itself.

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

If you don't pick it up,
you don't have to put it down.

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

If you don't pick it up
you can't get high.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*If I Use, I Lose*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

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or
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Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress
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or go to the website and unsubscribe
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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.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/




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

Tradition 12
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad12.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you handle a sponsee who doesn't call regularly , doesn't work
on the steps , and shares with you what's going on in their life after
the fact (911 phone calls) but they do go to meetings and call you their
sponsor ? What is your part in your relationship with your sponsor ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 16
Today I picture myself flooded with
the glow of a powerful bright light that is
guiding me on my positive path of success and happiness.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Higher Power

When the fog had finally lifted
I was amazed what I could see
I’d never felt like this before
It feels wonderful to be free

I never realized how blind I was
Living the way I had
Recklessly I ran my life
It’s true.......life was bad

Then I found my Higher Power
As he opened up my eyes
He showed me how my life could be
I was totally mesmerized

He’s always been there for me
I just wouldn’t have believed
My troubles could all be turned over to him
So that I could be relieved

We all have our different problems
Mine were drugs and alcohol
Unless we turn it over to a Higher Power
It’s almost certain we will fall

I’m grateful I got a second chance
And want to pass the message along
So you can read it if you’d like
Or sing it in a song

There is no pain greater than God
He’ll help to get you through
Just don’t give up five minutes before
God sends a miracle to you.

Copyright © 1997
by Bill MacFeat

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Don't Use*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If anyone has any original recovery poetry that they
would like to share with us please copy and paste it into the body
of an email and send it to me, Thanks for your support and
contributions.
What I can't do alone, We do together.
In loving service, Scott ~  YOUnMEnHP@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Farewell Letter
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=464

I Thank My Higher Power Every Day for His Love and Guidance.
www.anonymityone.com/story9.htm

A Time To Believe. . .
www.geocities.com/ddaaffee/LoriFlower/believe.html

Hope
www.geocities.com/ddaaffee/LoriFlower/hope.html

Forgiveness
www.journeywithspirit.com/forgiveness.htm

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 16                                     "Acting As If"

"Today, we seek solutions, not problems. We try what we have
learned on an experimental basis."  Basic text,Page-55

The first time we heard hat we should "act as if," many of us
exclaimed, "but that's not honest! I thought we were always
supposed to be honest about our feelings in Narcotics
Anonymous."

Perhaps we can reflect on when we first came into the program. We
may not have believed in God, but we prayed anyway. Or maybe
we weren't sure the program would work for us, but we kept coming
to meetings regardless of what we thought. The same applies as we
progress in recovery. We may be terrified of crowds, but if we act
confidently and extend our hand, we'll not only feel better about
ourselves, we'll find that we are no longer so frightened of large
gathering.

Each action we take in this vein brings us closer to becoming the
people we were meant to be. Each positive change we make builds
our self-esteem. Through acting differently, we will realize that we
are beginning to think differently. We are living ourselves into right
thinking by "acting as if."

Just for today:  I will take the opportunity to act as if I can accept
a situation I used to run from.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Word to Drop: "Blame"

To see how erratic emotions victimized us often took a long time.
We could perceive them quickly in others, but only slowly in ourselves.
First of all, we had to admit that we had many of these defects, even
though such disclosures were painful and humiliating.  Where other
people were concerned, we had to drop the word "blame" from our
speech and thought.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.  47

When I did my Fourth Step, following the Big Book guidelines, I noticed
that my grudge list was filled with my prejudices and my blaming others
for my not being able to succeed and to live up to my potential.  I also
discovered I felt different because I was black.  As I continued to work
on the Step, I learned that I always had drunk to rid myself of those
feelings.  It was only when I sobered up and worked on my inventory,
that I could no longer blame anyone.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 16th

A.A. Thought for the Day

In A.A. we have insurance.  Our faith in God is a kind of
insurance against the terrible things that might happen
to us if we ever drink again.  By putting our drink problem
in the hands of God, we've taken out a sort of insurance
policy, which insures us against the ravages of drink, as
our homes are insured against destruction by fire.  Am I
paying my A.A. insurance premiums regularly?

Meditation for the Day

I must try to love all humanity.  Love comes from thinking
of every man or woman as your brother or sister, because
they are children of God.  This way of thinking makes me
care enough about them to really want to help them.  I must
put this kind of love into action by serving others.  Love means
no severe judging, no resentments, no malicious gossip, and
no destructive criticism.  It means patience, understanding,
compassion, and helpfulness.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may realize that God loves me, since He is the
Father of us all.  I pray that I in turn may have love for all
of His children.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 16

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

Letting Things Happen

We do not have to work so hard at gaining our insights. Yes,
we're learning that painful and disappointing things happen,
often for a reason and a higher purpose. Yes, these things
often work out for good. But we don't have to spend so much
time and energy figuring out the purpose and plan for each
detail of our life. That's hypervigilence!

Sometimes, the car doesn't start. Sometimes, the dishwasher
breaks. Sometimes, we catch a cold. Sometimes, we run out
of hot water. Sometimes, we have a bad day. While it helps to
achieve acceptance and gratitude for these irritating
annoyances, we don't have to process everything and figure
out if it's in the scheme of things.

Solve the problem. Get the car repaired. Fix the dishwasher.
Nurse yourself through the cold. Wait to take the shower until
there's hot water. Nurture yourself through your bad day.
Tend to your responsibilities, and don't take everything so
personally!

If we need to recognize a particular insight or awareness,
we will be guided in that direction. Certainly, we want to
watch for patterns. But often, the big insights and the
significant processing happen naturally.

We don't have to question every occurrence to see how it fits
into the Plan. The Plan - the awareness, the insight, and the
potential for personal growth - will reveal itself to us. Perhaps
the lesson is to learn to solve our problems without always
knowing their significance. Perhaps the lesson is to trust
ourselves to live, and experience, life.

Today, I will let things happen without worrying about the
significance of each event. I will trust that this will bring about
my growth faster than running around with a microscope. I will
trust my lessons to reveal themselves in their own time.

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

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

Creating Your Life From Within
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/04/cteating-life-within.htm

Risking For Deeper Relationship
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/October/1097-19.html

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
A Promise Is A Promise
www.intouchmag.com/promise.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv


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

The Missing Tube By Alan Cohen
By Alan Cohen

My friend Kane’s father was a television repairman in the 1950’s. One
day Herman went out on a house call to service the TV of an old man
named Jake who lived alone. Herman found that Jake’s television was
missing a tube, which he replaced in a few moments. Then Herman spent
about 20 minutes chatting amiably with Jake.

Three days later Jake called Herman to fix the same television. This
time a different tube was missing. Herman replaced the tube and hung
out with Jake for another little while.

Several days later Jake again reported his TV was on the blink. This
time a different tube was missing. It did not take Herman long to
figure out that Jake himself was removing the tubes. He just wanted
some company.

A Course in Miracles asks us to keep our priorities in order. Spirit
first, matter second. People before stuff. Love before fear. Leo
Buscaglia noted, “We were born to love people and use things, but we
learn to love things and use people.” Imagine the following situation:
You wake up one morning and feel like having some French Toast for
breakfast. When you look in the pantry you find no bread, so you go to
the local grocery store, pick up a loaf of bread, and chat with the
clerk a bit on your way out. What was your purpose in going to the
store? For the bread, you might answer hastily. But on a deeper level
you went to connect with the clerk. Sure, you wanted some food. But
more significantly you were feeding your soul and that of the clerk by
engaging with him in a loving way.

In a recent newspaper column I read a series of angry letters from
supermarket clerks complaining about how rudely they are treated by
customers talking on their cell phones in the checkout line. One clerk
counted that out of over 200 people she served on her shift, 47 were
talking on their cell phones. Most of them, she reported, were
discourteous, acting as if she was interrupting them from something
more important, while she was simply trying to help them. These clerks
frustration was due not only to their customers’ rudeness, but their
energetic absence. As spiritual beings, we are fed by our connection
with each other. When we seek to connect with another person and they
are not there, we are left feeling hungry. These clerks, already
frustrated by the banality of their work, were reaching out for human
contact, and when their customers treated them like an intrusion, they
grew hurt and angry. They were working there not just for money, but
for love.

You don’t need to keep taking the tubes out of your television to get
the nurturing you want. You can ask for it directly. You can take the
initiative to create the intimacy you crave. (The word “intimacy“ is
built of three smaller words, “into me see”). During one period in my
life I was feeling quite lonely, and I picked up a book by Emmanuel,
through Pat Rodegast. Emmanuel suggested that there is no such thing
as a bad feeling; every feeling you have is guiding you toward greater
self-knowledge and fulfillment. (An emotion is emotion — energy in
motion, moving you to your next step in life.) So I decided to embrace
my loneliness rather than resist it or distract myself from it. I
asked my loneliness what was its message to me. It was telling me, I
realized, that I had cut myself off from people. My feeling of
emptiness was moving me to reach out and connect in a more meaningful
way. So I called a few friends and made some appointments to get
together and share what was happening in our lives. Soon my loneliness
dissipated, and I was grateful for the message it had delivered to me.

I once did a retreat on a small nearly deserted island near Vancouver
B.C., at a rustic Y.M.C.A. camp. The caretaker, Dave, kept walking
into the meeting room during our seminars; he was always seeking to
fix something or on his way to the next room. At first I felt annoyed
by Dave’s persistent presence. Then I realized that he wanted to be a
part of our group. So we invited Dave to join us, and he eagerly
participated in our processes. Dave revealed that several years
earlier his wife and young daughter were killed in a car crash. Dave
took the job as camp caretaker so he could hide from life. But he
found that he could not hide from himself or the call of his heart. He
craved human contact and encouragement to give life another chance.
Our group took Dave in and gave him a lot of love, which he received
gratefully.

I’ll never forget the day we left the island. As our boat launched out
from the pier, Dave stood at the edge of the dock waving vigorously to
us. He was smiling and weeping at the same time. As our vessel made
its way back to the mainland, Dave just kept waving until he appeared
as but a pinprick on the horizon (I think he might still be waving).
It was an important weekend for him…and us. Dave got some of his tubes
back that weekend. So did we. Funny, I don’t remember anything else
about that whole seminar. We went there not just for the bread. We
went there for Dave — and he for us.

This article is based on themes from Alan Cohen’s new breakthrough
bestseller, Why Your Life sucks and What You Can Do About It. To order
it or request a free catalog of Alan’s books, tapes and seminars call
1-800-568-3017  or visit Alan's web site www.alancohen.com. Join Alan
for the life-transforming Mastery Training in Maui, Aug. 25-31 or Nov.
30-Dec. 6. Phone above 800 number, e-mail admin@...  or
write .O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708.

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

Once there was a group of tiny frogs who arranged a climbing
competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.  A big crowd
gathered
around the tower to see the race and cheer the contestants on.  The race
began.  No one in the crowd really believed the frogs would reach the
top of
the tower.  Statements such as, "Oh, way too difficult!", "They will
never
make it to the top.", "Not a chance they will succeed, and "The tower
is too
high!", were heard throughout the race.  One by one, the frogs began
collapsing.  Only those who gained a fresh purpose continued to climb
higher.  The crowd yelled louder, "It is too difficult!!!  No one will
make
it!" More frogs became tired and gave up.

But one continued to climb higher and higher.  This one refused to
give up!
At the end of the race, everyone else had given up climbing the tower.
Except for one tiny frog who put out a huge effort to reach the top!
Then
everyone wanted to know how he managed to do it.  How had he found the
strength to reach his goal?  It turned out the winning frog was deaf!
The
wisdom of this story is this.  Never listen to other people's negative
comments or pessimism because they will steal your dreams.  Always be
aware
of the power words have, because everything you hear and read will
affect
your actions!  Therefore, always stay positive and focused.  Above
all, be
deaf when people try to steal your dreams!  Continually remind
yourself, "I
can do this!" The choice is yours!

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

Happiness consists of a solid faith, good health, and a bad memory.
Clare Boothe Luce

Resentments are guaranteed to hinder our growth. We can never know full
happiness when resentment clouds our vision. Why is it so hard for us to
"forget" the small injuries of life? We have never been promised freedom
from pain. Many of the lessons we are destined to learn will scuff our
egos.
But we will know happiness, completely, if we free our minds of
resentments.

The formula for happiness is simple. We don't need material wealth, a
perfect job, or an exceptional relationship. In fact, it's possible to
know
happiness with no job, very little money, and no significant other.
Happiness is a by-product of a healthy attitude. And a healthy
attitude is
one that takes the normal turmoil of life and mixes it with a belief in
God's presence. The result is an acceptance of God's will and a
certainty
that, in spite of appearances, all is well.

I am in charge of my attitude today. Happiness is a choice I can make
regardless of what the people around me are doing.

from the book: A Woman's Spirit by Karen Casey

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

Relief

In their eyes I see sadness and anger
And I know of the constant danger
Of hurting themselves or even a stranger
Around alcohol and drugs their lives rotate
Not realizing, it's what causes their hate
And that end the end it will seal their fate
I have seen the anguish and I know the pain
For at one time, I too was brought out of the rain
I know there is nothing I can do
Until they know, they are through
And with this thought I am blue

Hey you! Yeah You!
What do I have to do
Just to get through to you
You think that's what it's all about
It's just a way of checking out
What you think is a safe little shell
Will soon turn your life into living Hell
Thinking that your life is screwed
Let me tell you what to do

Just stop and listen
We can help find what your missin
Come on, get up and let's get tough
It looks to me like you've had enough
Stop worring what others' think
That alone will help you not to drink
I'll give you love and lots of hugs
Then maybe you won't pick up those drugs
If you could only see what I see
Then I know you would be pleased

Open your eyes
Don't believe the lies
Follow me
And you will see
You will once again become alive
Instead of struggling just to survive
Don't give up on hope
I'll help you cope
So take my hand
We will make a stand
And on this day
We'll begin to pray
All you need is a little belief
Then you will have your freedom and relief

©1999 By: Angie F Moore. WHFL
Amoore530@...
All rights reserved.
Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, without prior written
consent is
prohibited.
Permission Granted

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

The Disguise

Why do you drink
Can you please tell me why
Do you not see the tears
and the pain in my eyes?

I have so much to share
and lots of secrets to tell
But I can't openly share them
when it's of liquor you smell.

You say that you're happy
But how can that be
When I see those blue eyes
staring blankly at me.

What I'm longing to see
when I look in to your eyes
is your true inner self
not a drunken disguise!

I love you so dearly
and by you I'll stand.
Even with distance between us
I'm still holding your hand!

Bonnie Wong

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

Maturity is achieved when a person postpones immediate pleasures
for long-term values.
Joshua L. Liebman

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

Our past is neither an accident nor a mistake.
We have been where we needed to be, with the necessary people.
We can embrace our history, with its pain,
its imperfections, its mistakes, even its tragedies.
It is uniquely ours; it was intended just for us.
Today, we are right where we need to be.
Our present circumstances are exactly
as they need to be, for now.
Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go

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

The principle we are working with today is FAITH.
It is the magnetic pull of the heart's desire.
An inner knowing that brings spiritual/emotional assurance.
The substance/foundation of that which one believes."
Iyanla Vanzant

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

What we give, whether it's love, time, talent or dollars,
circulates back to us.
As scripture says, "As you sow, so shall you reap."
When we sow seeds of gratitude and joy,
we take a percentage of all the good that comes to us
and bestow it on the universe and we harvest a life of
abundance, touching and transforming every aspect of our lives.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

There is only one way that you will find genuine fulfillment
in your life and that is to learn to love and accept yourself.
With that as a foundation, relationships cease to be traumatic.
Perhaps that is because one does not bring
such intense expectations to them.
When you know how to "be with" yourself,
it is not so difficult to "be with"another.
Paul Ferrini

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

Accepting that I am powerless,
gives me power.

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

It's the first on that gets me every time.
(drugs, alcohol, women, secrets and lies)

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

Powerless and acceptance go hand in hand.

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

I am powerless but not helpless.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

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or
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Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress
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or just email me YOUnMEnHP@...
and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

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http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
http://www.groups.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Tradition 11
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad11.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you handle a sponsee who doesn't call regularly , doesn't work
on the steps , and shares with you what's going on in their life after
the fact (911 phone calls) but they do go to meetings and call you their
sponsor ? What is your part in your relationship with your sponsor ?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 15
I will put aside all judgments and accept each
and every situation with openness and trust today.
Only then will I discover the joy that lies beyond my fear.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's 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 My Story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jodi S.
jes1239@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Don't Use*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If anyone has any original recovery poetry that they
would like to share with us please copy and paste it into the body
of an email and send it to me, Thanks for your support and
contributions.
What I can't do alone, We do together.
In loving service, Scott ~  YOUnMEnHP@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Childrens Artwork
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=454

Page 56* - Kevin's Story
www.anonymityone.com/story5.htm

Insanity
www.anonymityone.com/story62.htm

The Stone Cutter
www.storybin.com/sponsor/sponsor137.shtml

Comes A Dawn
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=518

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 15                                                Keep Coming Back

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

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

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

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

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Growing Up

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

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

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

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

Meditation for the Day

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

Prayer for the Day

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

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 15

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

Communication

Part of owning our power is learning to communicate clearly,
directly, and assertively. We don't have to beat around the
bush in our conversations to control the reactions of others.
Guilt-producing comments only produce guilt. We don't have
to fix or take care of people with our words; we can't expect
others to take care of us with words either. We can settle for
being heard and accepted. And we can respectfully listen to
what others have to say.

Hinting at what we need doesn't work. Others can't read our
mind, and they're likely to resent our indirectness. The best
way to take responsibility for what we want is to ask for it
directly. And, we can insist on directness from others. If we
need to say no to a particular request, we can. If someone is
trying to control us through a conversation, we can refuse to
participate.

Acknowledging feelings such as disappointment or anger
directly, instead of making others guess at our feelings or
having our feelings come out in other ways, is part of
responsible communication. If we don't know what we want to
say, we can say that too.

We can ask for information and use words to forge a closer
connection, but we don't have to take people around the block
with our conversations. We don't have to listen to, or participate
in, nonsense. We can say what we want and stop when we're
done.

Today, I will communicate clearly and directly in my
conversations with others. I will strive to avoid manipulative,
indirect, or guilt producing statements. I can be tactful and
gentle whenever possible. And I can be assertive if necessary.

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

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

Being Masterfully Human
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/04/aluna-joy.htm

The Wisdomgifting & Power Objects
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/October/1097-16.html

Mindfullness and the Discovery of the Self
www.intouchmag.com/joanb3.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Dogs Never Lie About Love
by Jeffrey Masson, Ph.D.

Few who have lived with dogs would deny that dogs have feelings.
Taking a cue from his great friend Darwin, who spoke of conscience in
the dog, George Romanes wrote that "the emotional life of the dog is
highly developed -- more highly, indeed, than that of any other
animal." (He did not include the human animal, though perhaps he
should have done so.) Of course dogs have feelings, and we have no
trouble acknowledging most of them. Joy, for example. Can anything be
as joyous as a dog? Bounding ahead, crashing into the bushes while out
on a walk, happy, happy, happy. Conversely, can anything be as
disappointed as a dog when you say, "No, we are not going for a walk"?
Down he flops onto the floor, his ears fall, he looks up, showing the
whites of his eyes, with a look of utter dejection. Pure joy, pure
disappointment.

But are this joy and disappointment identical to what humans mean when
we use these words? What dogs do, the way they behave, even the sounds
they make, seem instantaneously translatable into human emotional
terms. When a dog is rolling in fresh-cut grass, the pleasure on her
face is unmistakable. No one could be wrong in saying that what she is
feeling is akin to what any of us (though less often, perhaps) may
feel. The words used to describe the emotion may be wrong, our
vocabulary imprecise, the analogy imperfect, but there is also some
deep similarity that escapes nobody. My dog may appear to feel joy and
sorrow much the way I do, and the appearance here is critical: We
often have no more to go on when it comes to our fellow humans.

All dog caretakers (just another word for companion and friend) have
marveled at the exuberant greeting their dogs give them after a brief
absence. Sasha twirls around in delight, squealing and making
extraordinary sounds. What accounts for this display of unbounded
pleasure in our return? We tend to explain it by assuming a kind of
stupidity: The dog thought I was gone forever. Dogs, we say, have no
sense of time. As Robert Kirk of the Cornell Veterinary School once
put it to me, dogs don't watch the clock. Every minute is forever.
Everything is for good. Out means gone. In other words, when dogs do
not behave as we do, we assume it to be irrational behavior. Yet a
lover is entranced to see the beloved again after even a brief absence
-- and dogs are all about love.

Another explanation for dogs' delight in our return may be found in
the way in which puppies greet their mother. As soon as the mother
appears, the puppies crowd around her, eager to nurse or expecting her
to vomit food for them. Wolves have a greeting ceremony during which
they wag their tales, lick one another, and bite the muzzles of other
wolves. The pleasure of the puppies may be a vestige of this ceremony,
as John Paul Scott and J. L. Fuller suggest.

Soon after she joined the family, Sasha was sitting next to me one
evening as I worked on an early draft of this chapter. I had been
alone all day, working. There were just the two of us sitting in the
living room, and it was very quiet. I looked over at Sasha and noticed
that she was looking at me. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with the
thought: There is another being in this room, another consciousness.
There is somebody here besides me. What, though, was Sasha thinking?
Why did she suddenly glance up at me? Was she just checking to make
sure I was still there, that I had nothing else in mind? Or was it a
more complicated thought, one that was imbued (as many thoughts are)
with feelings -- affection, for example, or perhaps anxiety? She
looked so peaceful, lying there. Was she feeling something like
tranquillity? For certain Hindu philosophers, tranquillity is the
master emotion, the one that underlies all others -- it has been so
fascinating to me that it was the subject of my Ph.D. thesis at
Harvard. Perhaps I was merely projecting my own feelings on to Sasha.
It is hard to know.

As Sasha sat quietly next to me, looking contented, every so often
sighing with what appeared to be contentment, I wondered what she was
actually feeling. How I would love to be her for just one moment, to
feel what she was feeling. I have had this desire, more than once,
with people, too. Does one ever know what another human being is
actually feeling? It may be no harder to find out the truth about
feelings in dogs than it is in people.

The question of how we know what we feel, let alone what somebody else
feels, is beset with difficulties. Speaking to other people, we often
use shorthand: "I feel sad" or "I feel happy." But more often than not
what we feel is an emotional state for which there are no precise
verbal equivalents. Think of how we restrict ourselves with language.
"I'm depressed," we say. Yet that is only the vaguest hint of a more
complex set of feelings. It is probably the same for dogs; their joy
is at least as complicated (in the sense that we are not always
certain of its components; perhaps memory of earlier pleasure plays a
role and perhaps it is entirely bound to the moment) and hard to define.

While it is clear that we can learn a great deal about dogs from
observing their behavior in terms of purely external actions, I think
it is time to recognize that we could understand much more from
observing how dogs feel. Moreover, we could learn something about our
own feelings as well. For in the realm of feelings we can have no
sense of superiority. After a lifetime of affectionate regard for dogs
and many years of close observation and reflection, I have reached the
conclusion that dogs feel more than I do (I am not prepared to speak
for other people). They feel more, and they feel more purely and more
intensely. By comparison the human emotional landscape seems murky
with subterfuge and ambivalence and emotional deception, intentional
or not. In searching for why we are so inhibited compared with dogs,
perhaps we can learn to be as direct, as honest, as straightforward,
and especially as intense in our feelings as dogs are.
Dogs Bite Their Enemies

Freud remarked on the fact that "dogs love their friends and bite
their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and
always have to mix love and hate in their object relations." In other
words, dogs are without the ambivalence with which humans seem cursed.
We love, we hate, often the same person, on the same day, maybe even
at the same time. This is unthinkable in dogs, whether because, as
some people believe, they lack the complexity or, as I believe, they
are less confused about what they feel. It is as if once a dog loves
you, he loves you always, no matter what you do, no matter what
happens, no matter how much time goes by. Dogs have a prodigious
memory for people they have known. Perhaps this is because they
associate people with the love they felt for them, and they derive
pleasure from remembering this love.
Doggie Love is Forever

Sasha is possessed by my two small kittens, Raj and Saj. The minute
she sees these two tiny fur dots, she goes into hyper-alert mode. She
begins to whine and to moan and to groan. She looks at me with a
pleading look, as if I hold the key to helping her get what she so
badly wants. She sniffs them. She follows them from room to room,
whining piteously. The first night they were here, Sasha never slept
at all. She lay on the floor next to their cage, crossed her feet
daintily, and observed them all through the night. When I let them
out, she gently put her paw on them. The cats were a little
dumbfounded by the whole thing, and especially at what Sasha took to
doing by the second week: She would pick one up in her mighty jaws,
taking great care not to harm him, carry him into another room,
deposit him somewhere, and then head off to find the other one to do
the same. Seeing her carrying these little orange dots from room to
room was as puzzling for me as it was evidently for the cats. Soon,
however, they wanted to play. One of the cats rolled over and reached
out with her little paw. Yet their interest in Sasha is mild compared
to hers in them. There can be no mistaking the intensity of her
interest in these kittens. The nature of this interest is another
matter.

What does she want? Could it be that a maternal instinct has been
awakened and Sasha wants to act as a mother to the kittens? Does she
really think they are her puppies, and want to bring them into a den?
Or is her interest predatory, in that she wants to eat them and is
torn between her desire to listen to me ("Do not eat the kittens!")
and her instincts as a predator telling her that a kitten makes a good
meal? Is she merely curious, wondering if these small beings are some
odd kind of puppy? Maybe she is just herding them; she is after all a
shepherd.

None of these explanations is entirely satisfactory. If it were a
mothering instinct at work, she would behave similarly to rabbits,
say, or geese, moaning when she sees them (instead of chasing them).
Moreover, Sasha has had no pups. I doubt that she wants to eat them; I
can barely persuade her to eat a piece of steak. Nor is she stupid;
she knows the difference between a dog and a cat. If she were herding
the kittens, she would not pick them up in her mouth, nor moan and
groan with some inexpressible need or feeling. The truth is that I
don't know why she's so drawn to them, and nobody else knows either.
It would be so much simpler if only we could ask, "Sasha, why are you
so interested in these small fur balls?" "Simple, just look at how
adorable they are!" Or "They look so small and helpless, I want to
protect them." Or even "Beats me." Whatever the behavior means, it is
clear that Sasha is filled with feeling for these little kittens. It
is clear because she moans and groans and follows them from room to
room, and cocks her head and looks puzzled and intrigued. That is why
I say she is possessed. She wants something from them, she feels
something for them, and she seems to want to express those feelings.

It is hard to empathize with her because humans generally do not walk
behind kittens sighing and groaning. There does not seem to be an
equivalent for us. Perhaps, then, Sasha is demonstrating to me one of
my "pet theories": As well as the emotions animals and humans have in
common, animals can also access emotions that humans do not share,
ones different from those we know, because animals are other; they are
not the same as human beings. Their senses, their experiences, open
them to a totally different (or new) set of feelings of which we know
little or nothing. That a whole world of canine feelings remains
closed to us is an intriguing notion. Some of these feelings could be
based on the dog's sensory capacities. According to one early
authority, a dog can smell 100 million times better than we do. But
even if the true figure is significantly less, the fact remains that
when Sasha puts her nose to the ground, she becomes aware of a world
about which I can only make guesses. Similarly, when Sasha cocks her
ears, she hears sounds of which I am altogether unaware.
Dogs are a Social Animal

In the case of Sasha's interest in the kittens, we are dealing not
with a question of superior (or inferior) sensory capacities but
something else, something social. We like to assume that dogs and
humans are social in very similar ways, and that therefore humans are
uniquely qualified to understand whatever emotions a dog may have
based on belonging (like us) to a pack. We, too, have deep interests
in one another's social lives and the web of interrelations
interdependence creates. We assume this is why dogs are able to
understand us so well, and appear to empathize with humans from their
own direct experience.

Perhaps they are so often right about human emotions because their
social world is similar to ours. We are not similar to cats in the
same way, and cats are not all that good at understanding us. We do
not expect the same kind of sympathy from our cat as we do from our
dog. A cat the size of a lion would be an animal we would approach
with some hesitation. No matter what size, however, most of us would
accept a reliable dog as being reliable. The German ethologist P.
Leyhausen, an expert on the cat family, makes the point that nobody
chose to domesticate the cat; it chose domestication itself, while
nevertheless maintaining its independent nature. He believes that the
cat is domestic, but not domesticated.

The German scholar Eberhard Trumler suggests that it was not wolves
who joined the human fold but the opposite. He pointed out that
wolves, phylogenetically older than us and superbly equipped for
hunting, had no need of human help. Men, on the other hand, derive
from plant-eating ancestors and are not nearly as well equipped for
hunting as are wolves. In order to eat, wolves scarcely need us at
all, but we could benefit from the help of wolves. It may well be that
human groups followed wolf packs, waited until they had brought down a
kill, then chased the wolves away. Indian wolves are often chased away
from their kills by wild pigs, and the same could have been true of
early humans and wolves.

The naturalist and writer Jared Diamond points out that the large
mammals were all domesticated between 8000 and 2500 b.c. Domestication
began with the dog, then moved to sheep, goats, and pigs, and ended
with Arabian and Bactrian camels and water buffalos. He believes that
since 2500 b.c. there have been no significant additions. Why this is
so is a question that has never been answered.

Although other animals have been domesticated -- primarily the cat,
the horse, certain birds, rabbits, cattle -- no other animal (wild,
tame, or domesticated) carries such meaning for humans as the dog. We
feel strongly about such nondomesticated animals as wolves, elephants,
and dolphins (all of which can be tamed but over whose reproductive
life we exercise little control), but our direct interactions with
them are much more restricted. By raising all these domesticated
animals over centuries, we have altered their genetic makeup to make
them conform to our desires. We control their reproductive functions
and breed them to suit our needs, just as we control their territory
and food supply. Juliet Clutton-Brock, an expert on domestication,
believes, as Darwin did, that only humans benefit from the
association. She quotes Darwin to the effect that "as the will of man
thus comes into play we can understand how it is that domestic races
of animals and cultivated races of plants often exhibit an abnormal
character, as compared with natural species; they have been modified
not for their own benefit, but for that of man."

Michael Fox, a dog expert and Humane Society vice president (in charge
of bioethics and farm animal protection), points out that rapid
maturation, disease resistance, high fertility, and longevity, all of
which we foster in domesticated animals, would in nature produce
overabundance of certain species, which would cause a shift in the
ecological balance (and possibly the extinction of other species).
Many of these domesticated animals, even when they appear to be semi-
wild, are dependent on humans and require considerable attention. Even
hardy hill sheep still need to be dipped, wormed, and given
supplementary winter feed.

Even among domesticated animals, the dog stands out as perhaps the
only fully domesticated species. Goats are domesticated, and can be
tame, but they rarely make intimate companions. Pigs probably could,
if given half a chance. H. Hediger, the director of the Zoological
Gardens of Zurich, writes that the dog, basically a domesticated wolf,
was the first creature with which humans formed intimate bonds that
were intense on both sides. According to Hediger, no other animal
stands in such intimate psychological union with us; only the dog
seems capable of reading our thoughts and "reacting to our faintest
changes of expression or mood." German dog trainers use the term
Gefühlsinn (a feeling for feelings) to talk about the fact that a dog
can sense our moods.
Dogs and Emotions

Voltaire, who knew about the emotions of dogs, used the example of a
lost dog to refute the thesis of Descartes that dogs are merely
machines, incapable of any kind of suffering. He responded to
Descartes in his Dictionnaire philosophique with:

      Judge this dog who has lost his master, who has searched for him
with mournful cries in every path, who comes home agitated, restless,
who runs up and down the stairs, who goes from room to room, who at
last finds his beloved master in his study, and shows him his joy by
the tenderness of cries, by his leaps, by his caresses. Barbarians
seize this dog who so prodigiously surpasses man in friendship. They
nail him to a table and dissect him alive to show you the mesenteric
veins. You discover in him all the same organs of feeling that you
possess. Answer me, mechanist, has nature arranged all the springs of
feeling in this animal in order that he should not feel? Does he have
nerves to be impassive?

The reason why humans and dogs have such an intense relationship is
that there is a mutual ability to understand one another's emotional
responses. The joie de vivre of a dog may be greater than our own, but
it is immediately recognizable as a feeling that we humans enjoy as
well. The closeness between dogs and people is taken for granted and,
at the same time, seen as something immensely mysterious. Naturally I
feel close to my dogs, but who are these dogs? They are Sima, Sasha,
and Rani, of course, that much is simple and obvious. Yet I will often
look at them lying in my study as I work and be overwhelmed with a
sense of otherness. Just who are these beings lying here, so close to
me, and yet also so remote? They are easily grasped, and they are
unfathomable. I know them as well as I know my closest friend, and yet
I have no idea who they are.

Jeffrey Masson has a Ph.D. in Sanskrit from Harvard University and
graduated from the Toronto Psychoanalytic Institute. He was briefly
projects director at the Sigmund Freud Archives; the documents he
found there on Freud's approach to child abuse created a major
controversy in psychoanalysis. He has written more than a dozen books,
including most recently the national bestseller When Elephants Weep:
The Emotional Lives of Animals (with Susan McCarthy). Visit his
website at www.jeffreymasson.com.

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

The Story of Creation
by William Mistele

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

Our Deepest fear
www.goodworksonearth.org/nelsonmandela2.html

Our deepest fear, Marianne Williamson, (Nelson …
www.skdesigns.com/internet/articles/quotes/williamson.html

Marianne Williamson's prayer used in Nelson Mandela's speech…
www.the-reflectory.com/mw_fear.html

Deepest Fear
www.geocities.com/Heartland/9290/DeepestFear.htm

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

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Randi7258@...
Miami Beach, Florida

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

The Process

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

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

Karen S
sngnrnbwwmn@...

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

One SONG can spark a moment
One FLOWER can wake the dream
One TREE can start a forest
One BIRD can herald spring
One SMILE begins a friendship
One HANDCLASP lifts a soul
One STAR can guide a ship at sea
One WORD can frame the goal
One VOTE can change a nation
One SUNBEAM lights a room
One CANDLE wipes out darkness
One LAUGH will conquer gloom
One STEP must start each journey
One WORD must start a prayer
One HOPE will raise our spirits
One TOUCH can show you care
One VOICE can speak with wisdom
One HEART can know what is true
One LIFE can make a difference
You see, it is up to YOU.

Author Unknown

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

Don't ask God to send you a brilliant career,
but rather ask Him to show you the brilliance within you,
It is the recognition of our brilliance that releases it into
expression.
Marianne Williamson

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

People shop for a bathing suit with more care
than they do a husband or wife.
The rules are the same.
Look for something you'll feel comfortable wearing.
Allow for room to grow.
Erma Bombeck

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

I recently read this line:
"If you ever think you are too small to be effective,
then you have never been in bed with a mosquito."
There are times we forget who we are, what we're made of,
or we struggle to know the purpose for which we've been born.
That's why it's so important to build support into our lives,
with prayer groups or Master Mind partners.
We are not too small to make a difference in the world.
By infusing each day with practices that help us remember this truth,
we can begin and continue to do the work we have been sent here to do.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

The wise man in the storm prays to God,
not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear.
It is the storm within that endangers him,
not the storm without.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

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

Many are called
and few choose to listen.

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

Move a muscle,
change a thought.

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

The answers don't come before the question.
Ask the question.

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

We can disagree without being disagreeable.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

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

Tradition 10
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad10.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What is your favorite recovery quote or slogan
What is your least favorite recovery quote or slogan
Please tell us why?

to share please visit
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A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
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back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 14
Today I am growing in my awareness that
my mind, body and spirit need exercise and nourishment.
Through prayer and meditation, exercise and reading,
I am developing a personal program for
physical, mental and spiritual growth.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Her Tears

   Years of tears rolled down her cheek
And her knees had grown quite weak
Through all this she couldn't speak
Watching in sorrow
She dreaded her tomorrow
And as they took him away
Her soul melded to gray
All she felt was fear and despair
And the pain was much to bare
She was so lost and alone
For she knew he could never come home

   She was oh so young
Just had turned twenty-one
With yet another failure in life
She wondered why she had this strife
She wished to God she would just die
But until then she'd just get high
For when she was stoned
She could stand to be alone
So around drugs and alcohol her life did rotate
And she realized the habit, she could not brake
And that was why she swam in hate
Searching for her great escape

Then one day she started to pray
She could no longer live this way
She knew, she had not a friend
And prayed to God, to just let it end
Life to her was a mystery
And she didn't know of honesty
She lied, cheated and she stole
Her heart had turned, rigid and cold
And she wouldn't let anyone brake that mold

   Then one day she got busted
With the wrong person, she had trusted
She screamed to them "it's not my stuff"
As they lead her off in the cuffs
She felt God was getting her for her sin
In truth, this is where that life would end

   This I know, it's for sure
On that day God had smiled on her
It made her go and seek help
And now she has learned to love herself
She is in pretty good health
And has found a greater wealth
She has a God from up above
That has filled her up with love
Now she stands upon solid ground
Because of this love she has found
So if you think your life is dead
Just start praying and look ahead
She has learned how to cope
Even though she gave up hope
She no longer lives with fears
And only joy is in her tears

©by: Angie F Moore. whfl
Amoore530@...
Permission granted
All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner,
without prior written consent is prohibited

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

Meditate
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=451

Al's Story
www.anonymityone.com/story1.htm

Insanity
www.anonymityone.com/story62.htm

N.A. Grey Cover Book
http://lakeportna.homestead.com/greybookindex.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 14                                      A New Vision

"Do we really want to be rid of our resentments, our anger, our fear?"
   Basic Text p. 33

Why do we call them "shortcomings"? Perhaps they should be called
"long-goings:' because that's often what it takes for them to fade from
our lives. Some of us feel that our shortcomings are the very
characteristics that saved our lives when we used. If this is true, then
it is little wonder that we sometimes cling to them like old, dear
friends.

If we are having trouble with resentment, anger, or fear, we may want
to envision what our lives could be like without these troubling
defects.
Asking ourselves why we react in a certain manner can sometimes
root out the fear at the core of our conduct. "Why am I afraid to step
beyond these aspects of my personality?" we ask ourselves. 'Am I
afraid of who I will be without these attributes?"

Once we have uncovered our fear, we are able to move beyond it. We
try to imagine what our lives could be like without some of our more
glaring shortcomings. This gives us a feeling for what lies past our
fear,
providing the motivation we need to push through it. Our Higher Power
offers us a new vision for our lives, free of our defects. That vision
is
the essence of our own best, brightest dreams for ourselves. We need
not fear that vision.

Just for today: I will imagine what my life would be like without my
character defects. I will ask for the willingness to have God remove
my shortcomings.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Accepting Our Humanness

We finally saw that the inventory should be ours, not the other man's.
So we admitted our wrongs honestly and became willing to set these
matters straight.
AS BILL SEES IT, p.  222

Why is it that the alcoholic is so unwilling to accept
responsibility?  I
used to drink because of the things that other people did to me.  Once
I came to A.A. I was told to look at where I had been wrong.  What did
I have to do with all these different matters?  When I simply accepted
that I had a part in them, I was able to put it on paper and see it for
what it was -- humanness.  I am not expected to be perfect!  I have
made errors before and I will make them again.  To be honest about
them allows me to accept them -- and myself -- and those with whom
I had the differences; from there, recovery is just a short distance
   ahead.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 14th

A.A. Thought for the Day

A police captain once told about certain cases he had come
across in his police work. The cause of the tragedy in each
case was drunkenness. He told his audience about a man who
got into an argument with his wife while he was drunk and
beat her to death. Then he went out and drank some more.
The police captain also told about a woman who got too near
the edge of an old quarry hole when she was drunk and fell
one hundred and fifty feet to her death. When I read or
hear these stories, do I think about our motto: "But for the
grace of God"?

Meditation for the Day

I must keep balance by keeping spiritual things at the center
of my life. God will give me this poise and balance if I pray for
it. This poise will give me power in dealing with the lives of
others. This balance will manifest itself more and more in my
own life. I should keep material things in their proper place
and keep spiritual things at the center of my life. Then I will
be at peace amid the distractions of everyday living.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may dwell with God at the center of my life.
I pray that I may keep that inner peace at the center of
my being.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 14

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

Perfectionism

Recovery from codependency is an individual process that
necessitates making mistakes, struggling through problems,
and facing tough issues.

Expecting ourselves to be perfect slows this process; it puts us
in a guilty and anxious state. Expecting others to be perfect is
equally destructive; it makes others feel ashamed and may
interfere with their growth.

People are human and vulnerable, and that is wonderful. We
can accept and cherish that idea. Expecting others to be
perfect puts us in that codependent state of moral superiority.
Expecting ourselves to be perfect makes us feel rigid and
inferior.

We can let go of both ideas.

We do not need to go to the other extreme; tolerating anything
people throw our way. We can still expect appropriate,
responsible behavior from ourselves. But most of us can afford
to loosen up a bit. And when we stop expecting others to be
perfect, we may discover that theyre doing much better than we
thought. When we stop expecting ourselves to be perfect, well
discover the beauty in ourselves.

Today, I will practice tolerance, acceptance, and love of others
as they are, and myself as I am. I will strive for that balance
between expecting too much and expecting too little from
others and myself.

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

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

Truths From Children
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/04/truths-children.htm

End of the Trail - or the Beginning?, Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/October/1097-15.html

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with
Dr. Wayne Dyer
A Promise Is A Promise
www.intouchmag.com/promise.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Finding Reasons to Feel Good
by Lynn A. Robinson

The Universe totally supports every thought
I choose to think and believe.
I have unlimited choices about what I think.
I choose balance, harmony, and peace,
and I express it in my life.

-- Louise Hay

Last month I was teaching a class called Creating a Life You Love. I
was going over the lesson about affirmations. I stated something I
thought was self-evident -- that each of us has an internal dialogue
going on at all times, and in essence we're constantly talking to
ourselves. A man sitting to my right let out an audible gasp and
exclaimed, "Oh! I'm so glad you said that. I thought I was the only
one who talked to myself!"

Have you ever suddenly and inexplicably felt depressed or irritable
when just moments before you'd felt fine? That happens to all of us
from time to time. The next time it happens, take a moment to remember
what occurred just prior to your shift in emotions. You'll likely come
up with something someone said or did that hurt your feelings, or a
situation that arose that made you feel bad in some way.

The important thing is to observe your thoughts. What did you tell
yourself about the comment or situation that made you feel bad?
Learning to ask this question whenever you experience a sudden mood
shift is vitally important. You'll have some instant insight into some
core thoughts and beliefs.

I'll give you an example to illustrate this point. Recently I was
coaching Roy, a middle manager at a corporation near Boston. We were
speaking about his recent successes and an award that he had received
the week before. He was upbeat and positive as we spoke.

Moving on to a different subject, I asked him something about his
boss, Neil. Roy immediately began shifting in his seat. His energy and
posture changed, and he looked crestfallen. I was startled by the
abrupt shift and asked, "What did you just tell yourself about the
topic of Neil?" He quickly replied, "I'll never be as smart as Neil. I
won't get ahead because I'm not as good as him." I remarked that it
was interesting to me that we could be talking about his successes one
moment, then make such a rapid shift in focus based on his self-
defeating internal dialogue.

Clearly it didn't help Roy to perceive himself as unintelligent and
incapable of getting ahead. Neither was it true! The rest of the
session was spent in reframing how he saw himself in relation to
others. The next time he experienced the beginning of a negative
thought pattern, he learned to question it and ask, "What's a more
productive way of thinking about this?" The answer he came up with in
connection to his boss was to say to himself, "I have many abilities
that enable me to do my job well. They are just a different set of
skills than Neil's."

The book A Course in Miracles has an affirmation that says, "I could
choose peace instead of this." You have a choice about the thoughts
you pay attention to. You can choose the ones that make you feel good,
hopeful, and positive or the ones that make you feel rotten, hopeless,
and miserable. Take a look at how this model works in the Intuition
Exercise.
Intuition Exercise: Find Reasons to Feel Good

Begin to look for reasons to feel good, and consciously change the
direction of your thoughts. Practice asking your inner guidance, "Is
there another way to view this situation?" and listen for the answers.
Here's a practice exercise:

      Write a few sentences about a recent event that you felt bad about.

      What did you say to yourself about this situation? How did you
interpret what took place?

      What is another way of viewing or interpreting the situation that
makes you feel better?

Here's an example from my journal:

      The situation: I had a miscommunication with a local landscaper
about the cost of planting some bushes in our backyard. I realized
that this was my misinterpretation of the work involved. It was not
his fault.

      My interpretation/what I told myself: I spent the day feeling bad
because I felt I had spent too much money. I was chastising myself for
not keeping to our budget. I began generalizing that I was not good at
saving money. I told myself that I should be investing that money in
our retirement fund.

      An alternate way of viewing the situation: I began to stop
beating myself up when I asked the question, "How can I look at this
differently?" The answers came flooding into my mind. I feel expansive
when I look into my "new" backyard. I feel good that I could afford to
have this work done. I trust that more money will come from some other
source to more than make up for this money I spent.

      Epilogue: The next day my husband received a contract for his
freelance work that more than covered the check I'd just written to
the landscaper. I find over and over again that when I can shift my
thinking to feeling good about something and placing my focus on what
I want rather than what I don't want, I create positive results. Ask
your intuition to direct your thinking. Your inner wisdom will always
guide you to well being.

Your Intuition Journal

Do you have a chronic situation in your life that takes a lot of your
energy? This might be an area in which you are disappointed, sad, or
discouraged.

      Write one or two sentences about this situation in your journal.

What do you tell yourself about this situation?

      For example: "This will never change." "I'm just not good at this."

What could you tell yourself that would make you feel better and more
optimistic?

      For example: "This situation is only temporary." "I'm taking
steps to change and this will get better." "I've been in difficult
situations before and things have worked out."

What are you willing to do to change your internal dialogue to be more
positive?

Sometimes you may not feel that you have options, or you may believe
that the other person or the situation has power and you have none.
This is rarely true, and continuing to think that way may shut you off
from your wise inner guidance attempting to offer you solutions.
Answers and options will come to your mind and heart. Allow yourself
to be open to the potential for change.
Transforming Your Fear

We cannot escape fear.
We can transform it into a companion
that accompanies us on all our exciting adventures...
Take a risk a day -- one small or bold stroke
that will make you feel great once you have done it.

-- Susan Jeffers

Divine intuition speaks to you most strongly through your hopes and
dreams. God communicates your next steps through what you feel excited
and passionate about. In talking to thousands of clients, I've
discovered that many of us suppress and restrain our enthusiasm. Have
you ever done that? You might have been excited about a work project,
a potential move, a new business venture, but you talked yourself out
of it. You let your initial enthusiasm fade away.

Many of us do that because the task seems insurmountable. How do I get
from Point A (where I am) to Point B (where I want to be)? The Roman
philosopher Seneca stated, "It is not because things are difficult
that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are
difficult." We give up when our fear gets in our way. Intuition can
provide you with the appropriate steps to take to bring your dream to
fruition.
Intuition Exercise: Small Steps, Big Gains

1. Think of a goal or dream you've had. Write it in your journal.
Examples:

      I'd like to lose twenty pounds.

      I want to be self-employed in my own graphic-design business.

      I want to be a well-known poet.

      I'd love to be a great watercolorist.

2. Each morning when you arise and each evening before going to bed,
visualize yourself having achieved your goal. Just spend a few minutes
each time.

3. Think of a small step you could take that would move you toward
your goal. Think of something you feel excited about that doesn't feel
like too much of a stretch to achieve.

      Examples:

      I'd like to lose four pounds this month.

      I'd like to find out more about starting a business.

      I'd like to discover where I could read my poetry in public.

      I'd like to find a great watercolor class.

4. Begin to take the small steps you listed above. Each day, pay
attention to what you feel enthusiastic about in relation to your
goal. This is your intuition communicating with you and encouraging
you toward your goal. Take action on your enthusiasms!
Your Intuition Journal

Creating major change in your life can feel overwhelming. Many people
don't change, if given an option. They prefer to stay stuck and wait
until they're assured that the change they contemplate will be
successful. Those assurances are rarely forthcoming, and then it's
often too late. Think of the excitement and enthusiasm you feel as
your intuition indicating the direction of some small steps to take.

      What do you feel excited about today?

      What small steps can you take toward your goal?

Your action plan:

Success breeds success. As you start to take small steps, you'll feel
more self-confident and you'll develop trust that your intuition will
lead you in the right direction. Slowly but surely you'll find that
you'll experience a greater sense of self-achievement and satisfaction.

Lynn Robinson, M.Ed., is one of the nation's leading experts on
intuition. She's a popular and widely recognized author and
motivational speaker. She is the author of four books, including
Divine Intuition: Your Guide to Creating a Life You Love. She is also
the co-author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being Psychic.

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

The Golden Buddha

In the fall of 1988 my wife Georgia and I were invited
to give a presentation of self-esteem and peak performance
at a conference in Hong Kong. Since we had never been to the
Far East before, we decided to extend our trip and visit
Thailand.

When we arrived in Bangkok, we decided to take a tour
of the city's most famous Buddhist temples. Along with our
interpreter and driver, Georgia and I visited numerous
Buddhist temples that day, but after a while they all began
to blur in our memories.

However, there was one temple that left an indelible
impression in our hearts and minds. It is called the Temple
of the Golden Buddha. The temple itself is very small,
probably no larger than thirty feet by thirty feet. But as
we entered, we were stunned by the presence of a ten-and-a-
half-foot tall, solid-gold Buddha. It weighs over two-and-a-
half tons and is valued at approximately one hundred and
ninety-six million dollars! It was quite an awesome sight -
the kindly gentle, yet imposing solid-gold Buddha smiling
down at us.

As we immersed ourselves in the normal sightseeing
tasks (taking pictures while oohing and ahhing over the
statue), I walked over to a glass case that contained a
large piece of clay about eight inches thick and twelve
inches wide. Next to the glass case was a typewritten page
describing the history of this magnificent piece of art.

Back in 1957 a group of monks from a monastery had to
relocate a clay Buddha from their temple to a new location.
The monastery was to be relocated to make room for the
development of a highway through Bangkok. When the crane
began to lift the giant idol, the weight of it was so
tremendous that it began to crack. What's more, rain began
to fall. The head monk, who was concerned about damage to
the sacred Buddha, decided to lower the statue back to the
ground and cover it with a large canvas tarp to protect it
from the rain.

Later that evening the head monk went to check on the
Buddha. He shined his flashlight under the tarp to see if
the Buddha was staying dry. As the light reached the crack,
he noticed a little gleam shining back and thought it
strange. As he took a closer look at this gleam of light, he
wondered if there might be something underneath the clay. He
went to fetch a chisel and hammer from the monastery and
began to chip away at the clay. As he knocked off shards of
clay, the little gleam grew brighter and bigger. Many hours
of labor went by before the monk stood face to face with the
extraordinary solid-gold Buddha.

Historians believe that several hundred years before
the head monk's discovery, the Burmese army was about to
invade Thailand (then called Siam). The Siamese monks
realizing that their country would soon be attacked, covered
their precious golden Buddha with an outer covering of clay
in order to keep their treasure from being looted by the
Burmese. Unfortunately, it appears that the Burmese
slaughtered all the Siamese monks, and the well-kept secret
of the golden Buddha remained intact until that fateful day
in 1957.

As we flew home on Cathay Pacific Airlines I began to
think to myself, "We are all like the clay Buddha covered
with a shell of hardness created out of fear, and yet
underneath each of us is a 'golden Buddha,' a 'golden
Christ' or a 'golden essence,' which is our real self.
Somewhere along the way, between the ages of two and nine,
we begin to cover up our 'golden essence,' our natural self.
Much like the monk with the hammer and the chisel, our task
now is to discover our true essence once again."

By Jack Canfield  from Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1993 by Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen

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

There's a story about a rabbi who takes a group of people into a
basement and tells them to get rid of the darkness.
He hands them a broom, saying "Beat the darkness away."
But the darkness remains.
He says, "Shout it away," and they scream and shout and the darkness
won't
go away.  Then he hands each of them a candle and says,
"Light one candle and then light the others," and before long,
the whole room is filled with light.
Darkness is dispelled when we replace it with something better.
We can all find the light within us and spread it to everyone that we
meet.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Loyal to the Foil

We're so sick of being tired all we want is to get wired
We just want to tweak and stay up for a whole week
The lights are always on cause we are constantly awake
We go to people's houses just to see what we can take
We vacuum carpets with a brush & clean the floors with a rag
After cleaning the house for hours we chase down another bag
We're paranoid as shit but not afraid of death
Scandalous and dishonest but loyal to our meth
At times we are confused we can't seem to understand
What happen to our lives-why we're the outcast of the land
At times we act so crazy people think we are insane
Irritating thoughts are always running through our brain
What a high it is for those of us who deal
Slinging out the cut so we can do the real
We come up fast and make money by the score
Everyone's our friend we're surrounded by crank whores
We all end up in prison wondering how the hole was dug
We blame it on society cause we're loyal to our drug
When in prison we build our bodies and our stature
Then get out on parole and go and manufacture
We don't care about our health or worry about going back
We don't care about our lives cause we're loyal to the sack
So here I sit in prison unable to get high
I take it the best I can it's no time for me to cry
Soon I'll be back out and tempted by the meth
I'll have to be much stronger or face my certain death

QoiLady@...

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

With this relapse I've taken some time to review some of the
things I learned, or thought I learned during my short sober time.
I'm clean again today, and that's what's important, I believe mistakes
are ok as long as you learn from them. And believe me I learned a lot
from this one.  When my pink cloud of sobriety faded away and reality
smacked me in the face and knocked me on my ass, well I turned back
to my old ways of coping. It didn't take me long at all to be back where
I was. I had 45 days of clean time, those days are still mine, and are
the catalyst for me wanting more days of clean time. I also heard that
sharing was good, so I'm going to share a bit now with the little poem
thing below that I wrote. Thanks everyone for being here for me.

The Things I Learned

I believed I was in recovery by myself,
I learned that I was never truly alone,
Unless I chose to be.

I believed recovery was a breeze,
I learned that my disease didn't agree,
I have to recover one day at a time, in small degrees.

I believed I could solely heal myself,
I learned that I had to completely surrender,
And let my God be the one to show me sobriety's splendor.

I believed I was in total control,
I learned from my relapse that my disease held the lead role,
And the lack of drugs left a hole that needed to be filled in my soul.

I believed that 12 Steps were not a necessity,
I learned that to stay clean I had to make them be,
With the 12 Steps I could actually be free.

I believed there was no such thing as unconditional love,
I learned that when I stumbled and fell it was still there,
And all I had to do was accept it.

I believed if I ever relapsed I would not be able to come back,
I learned that with my Higher Power this is just a learning experience,
And just a small obstacle and a minor setback.

I believed faith in itself was enough,
I learned that faith by itself is useless,
And there's a lot of work to be done and it's going to be rough.

I believed in my mind that I tried,
I learned that my mind was a dangerous place to be,
And I needed to listen to my heart because my mind had again lied.

I believed I knew everything I had to know,
I learned I didn't know much of anything,
And I had to listen to grow.

I believed to surrender was to lose,
I learned that surrendering gave me the ability to choose,
And the strength to continue.

I believed by knowing and simply sharing I was recovering,
I learned that I also ran my mouth and knew alot when I was stoned as
well,
And there is truth to actions speak louder then words.

I believed that by using yesterday my disease had won,
I learned that yesterday is over and done,
And today I start over with Day One.

written by:
Michael Arthur, recovering addict
RisngSmoke@...
April 9, 2000

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

Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities have crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day;
you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit
to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

I have found that the deepest, most meaningful
aspects to my life are often the ones that first appear
to be so ordinary and inconsequential.  The source
of the blessings in my life is deep within, past
whatever abilities or attainments I have or don't
have, past any circumstances or fortune, past
whatever can be seen as a cause or an effect.  That
source is still invisible and unknown and yet the
most real aspect of my life.

Praise be to God.

John Morton
From: The Blessings Already Are

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

It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
Luke 6.45

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

There are two types of people -
those who come into a room and say, 'Well, here I am!'
and those who come in and say, 'Ah, there you are.'
Frederick L. Collins

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

People, Places and Things
Don't go into the Garden of Eden,
because the snake will be calling your name

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

People, Places and Things
If you jump in the water,
your gonna get wet.

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

People, Places and Things
You don't go into the lion's den
with pork-chop underwear
and tell the lion to chill out.

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

Stay away from people places and things.
I am the people, that take me to those places, to do those things.....

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

People, Places and Things
If you think you have willpower,
eat a box of Ex-Lax
and try not to go to the bathroom.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

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or just email me YOUnMEnHP@...
and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

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

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Tradition 9
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad09.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What is your favorite recovery quote or slogan
What is your least favorite recovery quote or slogan
Please tell us why?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 13
Today I have faith and perseverance to stay on my path
and to do what is necessary whether or not
it gives me immediate results and gratification.
I am letting go of my impatience, procrastination, fear and doubt.
I trust that God knows the right time for the right results.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Peaceful thoughts tossed in turmoil.
Riches reached, riches lost.
The enriching, the deepening is the growing to the light.
It is the dawning
It's human right.
The ahas move us forward.
Can set us apart.
Can bring us together.
Inner acknowledgment glows.
Don't extinguish one's light
Be bright-not dim.
Life is really not just a spectacle or whim.
Cherish the gift
Do your best.
Looking back is the Dawning.
Ahaa…
You get it now.
Keep growing your light

Nemo011@...
Heather T

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

"Gossip KILLS" A Friend Speaks From The Heart
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=449

Whilst Drunk
www.anonymityone.com/story13.htm

A Chance to Start Anew
www.geocities.com/loriflower/1/sunshine.html

Choose a meeting type (AA, NA, CA, OA etc.)
www.meetingfinder.org

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 13                                              People - Pleasing

"…approval-seeking behavior carried us further into our addiction..."
    Basic Text p. 14

When others approve of what we do or say, we feel good; when they
disapprove, we feel bad. Their opinions of us, and how those opinions
make us feel, can have positive value. By making us feel good about
steering a straight course, they encourage us to continue doing so.
"People-pleasing" is something else entirely. We "people-please"
when we do things, right or wrong, solely to gain another person's
approval.

Low self-esteem can make us think we need someone else's approval
to feel okay about ourselves. We do whatever we think it will take to
make them tell us we're okay We feel good for awhile. Then we start
hurting. In trying to please another person, we've diminished
ourselves and our values. We realize that the approval of others will
not fill the emptiness inside us.

The inner satisfaction we seek can be found in doing the right things
for the right reasons. We break the people-pleasing cycle when we
stop acting merely to gain others' approval and start acting on our
Higher Power's will for us. When we do, we may be pleasantly
surprised to find that the people who really count in our lives will
approve all the more of our behavior. Most importantly, though, we
will approve of ourselves.

Just for today: Higher Power, help me live in accordance with
spiritual principles. Only then can I approve 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
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Character Building

Demands made upon other people for too much attention, protection, and
love
can only invite domination or revulsion.  .  .  .
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.  44

When I uncovered my need for approval in the Fourth Step, I didn't
think it
should rank as a character defect.  I wanted to think of it more as an
asset (that is, the desire to please people).  It was quickly pointed
out
to me that this "need" can be very crippling.  Today I still enjoy
getting
the approval of others, but I am not willing to pay the price I used
to pay
to get it.  I will not bend myself into a pretzel to get others to like
me.  If I get your approval, that's fine; but if I don't, I will survive
without it.  I am responsible for speaking what I perceive to be the
truth,
not what I think others may want to hear.

Similarly, my false pride always kept me overly concerned about my
reputation.  Since being enlightened in the A.A. program, my aim is to
improve my character.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 13th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Having found my way into this new world by the grace of God
and the help of A.A., am I going to take that first drink, when
I know that just one drink will change my whole world?  Am I
deliberately going back to the suffering of that alcoholic
world?  Or am I going to hang onto the happiness of this sober
world?  Is there any doubt about the answer?  With God's help,
am I going to hang onto AA. with both hands?

Meditation for the Day

I will try to make the world better and happier by my presence
in it.  I will try to help other people find the way God wants them
to live.  I will try to be on the side of good, in the stream of
righteousness, where all things work for good.  I will do my duty
persistently and faithfully, not sparing myself.  I will be gentle
with all people.  I will try to see other people's difficulty and help
them to correct it.  I will always pray to God to act as interpreter
between me and the other person.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may live in the spirit of prayer.  I pray that I may
depend on God for the strength I need to help me to do my part
in making the world a better place.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 13

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

Enjoyment

One of the prohibitions many of us learned in childhood is the unspoken
rule; don't have fun and enjoy life. This rule creates martyrs -
people who
will not let themselves embrace the pleasures of day-to-day living.

Many of us associated suffering with some sort of sainthood. . Now, we
associate it with codependency. We can go through the day making
ourselves
feel anxious, guilty, miserable, and deprived. Or we can allow
ourselves to
go through that same day feeling good. In recovery, we eventually
learn the
choice is ours.

There is much to be enjoyed each day, and it is okay to feel good. We
can
let ourselves enjoy our tasks. We can learn to relax without guilt. We
can
even learn to have fun.

Work at learning to have fun. Apply yourself with dedication to learning
enjoyment. Work as hard at learning to have fun as you did at feeling
miserable.

Our work will pay off. Fun will become fun. Life will become worth
living.
And each day, well find many pleasures to be enjoyed.

Today, I will let myself enjoy life as I go through my day.

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

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

You Are Designed To Desire
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/04/designed-to-desire.htm

The True Purpose of Numbers
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/October/1097-13.html

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with
Louise L. Hay
Dear Louise
Mindfullness and the Discovery of the Self
www.intouchmag.com/hay.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

It's Now or Never
by Ric Giardina

Living is a thing you do now or never -- which do you?

              -- PIEI HEIN

Ric GiardinaIt is probable that this book (Become A Life Balance
Master) actually is the set of directions you have been looking for
that will allow you to design the life you want to live; indeed, it is
intended to be that. It is also possible that this program may not be
ideal for you, although I am a firm believer in kismet ? if you have
this book in your hands, it's there for a reason.

But be forewarned: If you intend to get any value from this book, it
is not to be taken lightly ? nor is it for the fainthearted. What you
do with this book and, hence, whether it helps you to change your life
for the better or whether it does nothing at all is entirely up to you.

In any event, before you start on this journey, you need to know the
following: To get any benefit from this book will require you to
embrace and to commit and continuously recommit to exhibiting a
combination of certain personal characteristics. These characteristics
include attention, intention, intuition, creativity, articulation,
action, discipline, integrity, and patience.

Attention, because if you have any hope of making changes to the way
you are living your life ? some people like to say "doing life" ? then
you will have to start taking a close look at what you are actually
doing at the present time. This will require a new level of
mindfulness about your thought processes, your choices and decisions,
and your actions and activities. Frankly, maintaining that level of
awareness can seem forced in the best of circumstances and is likely
to make you uncomfortable at times.

Intention, because at every stage of this journey it will be necessary
for you to be clear about the direction into which you want to move
next. If you don't know where you are going, how will you know when or
if you have gotten there? Intention is like keeping your eye on the
ball. It is also like a welcome fire in your soul that you can stoke
from time to time to get you over the rough spots.

Intuition, because there will be times when things will look like they
are moving in the right direction, but something inside you may be
trying to tell you that something is off. You will need to learn to
listen to those little messages ? those suggestions, inklings,
pictures, and nudges from your subconscious. Frequently, your
subconscious mind knows more about what is going on in your "real"
world than your conscious mind does. If you fail to heed your
intuition, you will end up traveling down too many dark alleys and
dead ends in your quest to make your life one of balance.

Creativity, because this journey will require you to look at your life
in different ways and to come up with alternative solutions to the
issues and problems you have been attempting to solve by making the
same choices over and over and expecting different results. Those
choices haven't worked to give you what you truly want in the past,
and they will not work to provide you with your heart's desire for the
future. The path to your balanced future begins with you reaching deep
into your creative self for new approaches and ways of being that will
surprise you in terms of their depth, their appropriateness, and the
results that they bring.

Articulation, because as you begin to change the world around you
beginning with your views of your self, your life activities, and your
responsibilities, it will become necessary for you to explain to those
who are in your circle of family, friends, and business associates ?
and most of all those who rely on you ? that you are undertaking to
change the way you are living your life. You need to do this for two
reasons: First, because it is unfair to surprise people with
unexpected behaviors. If you have been living life a particular way
and then suddenly change your behavior without giving notice of your
intentions to the people in your life, they may respond badly. Second,
because you will want to garner support for your new way of living,
and you can only get that by explaining what you are doing and why.

Action, because planning to do something is not the same thing as
doing it. Our dreams become realities only to the extent that we
actually start doing something about making then happen. For you to
succeed on this journey, you will need to be action-oriented in a very
deliberate and mindful way.

Discipline, because taking mindful action one or two times is not
enough any more than running a mile or two would prepare you for a
marathon. To change what you are doing consistently for the long haul,
the new actions that you do only deliberately and mindfully at first
will need to become your unconscious default actions ? your new
habits. To accomplish this, it will be necessary for you to be
disciplined in both constancy and repetition.

Integrity, because you will undermine your entire program if you fudge
your self-assessment and your progress and if you are anything other
than ruthlessly honest with yourself. For many people, this is the
hardest characteristic to embrace. After all, most people get off
balance because they either haven't been paying attention to the
consequences of their behaviors, choices, and actions or because, even
if they do begin to recognize subliminal stirrings that things aren't
right, they fool themselves into thinking that everything will work
itself out without the need to make any changes. This is yet one more
example of our human tendency to do the same thing over and over with
the ridiculous expectation that at some point we will get a different
result.

Patience, finally, because whatever the state of your life and your
Life Balance equation at this point, you have arrived here through the
making of choices and the taking of actions over a lengthy period of
time ? perhaps your entire life. You will not be able to suddenly
shift direction in the blink of an eye and start down a direct course
to your heart's desire. As noted above, it will take disciplined
repetition of mindful choices as well as actions taken in full
awareness of their consequences over a period of time to change what
have effectively become your habits. There will be times that you
succeed and times that you do not. You will need to practice patience
in good measure ? with the process, with other people in your life,
and most importantly, with yourself ? as day by day you make different
choices, try alternative approaches, monitor your progress, and then
reclaim your chosen path when you have discovered you have somehow
strayed from it.

RIC GIARDINA is the founder and president of The Spirit Employed
Company, a management consulting and training firm that offers keynote
addresses and other programs on authenticity, balance, community, and
discipline. Ric is the author of Your Authentic Self: Be Yourself at
Work and a book of poetry called Threads of Gold. He lives in Los
Gatos, California, with his wife and daughter.

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

Dreams Do Come True
by Debbie Johnson

The goal is set. She runs for the pot of gold at the end of the
rainbow and everything in creation tries to stop her... A hailstorm, a
fire, a hurricane, a heartbreak, and finally, persisting until the
sweet end, she makes it! Hardly believing it is real, she basks in the
warm light of glory that begins to feel as natural as the sun itself.

Just as she did, you can make your dreams come true. Persistence is
the key word in the above story, and the magic key to success in any
endeavor. Never give up. If you believe in your dreams, you must
pursue them with zeal, tumbling any blocks in your way with pure love
and joy for the chase!
Where To Begin

When I was in eighth grade, my teacher asked us to write a composition
about what we'd like to do when we grew up. All I could think of was
one sentence. "I want to help people!" I had an unformed idea that has
reshaped and remolded itself many times over the years, through many
failures, heartbreaks, and countless feelings of unworthiness and self-
doubt. I know now that the feeling to help others meant to help myself
first, then find ways to help others help themselves.

That dream has finally grown into a full-time income reality, with a
part-time effort. (My dream job). I get to spend my days spreading
love, and loving myself, because I have the freedom and time to do
whatever I need to live well. That doesn't mean that life is always
easy, or that my work is always enjoyable. It means I am doing what I
would do if this were the last day of my life. That is my yardstick
for following my heart... that and doing what feels absolutely right
and true.

What have you always wanted to do? Write it down now. If that
questions stumps you, try this one on for size: What would you do if
this were the last day of your life? Write down the first thing that
comes to mind, no matter how ridiculous or impossible it seems... that
will always be from Soul. OK, got it? Good, you're on your way!
The God-Can

The first magic ingredient to making something happen is to write it
down. Writing things down makes them happen. It has been proven in
studies done with two groups of people. Both groups sought after goals
in the same way. Yet one group, the test group, wrote their goals down
on paper, the other group was not allowed to do this. The group that
took pen to paper accomplished them, get this, 100 to one over the
group that did not! Is that incredible? I have proven this over and
over to myself. Every time I write my goals, they get accomplished
unless I am emotionally entangled in them (that's a whole article in
itself).

So get out a pretty or special box or jar, or decorate a can (a "God-
can" is nice). Now stuff it with all the little pieces of paper on
which you have madly written your dreams and goals as they have come
to mind. Set reasonable dates for their attainment as well. It works,
even if the dream doesn't land exactly on that date, it helps your
subconscious to have a specific time frame.

Now you get to be a kid again. If you can pretend it is really
happening, it will happen much faster and more fully than your mind
can believe. Relaxation and becoming childlike in your attitude is
vital to working with your subconscious. Too bad adults don't "make
believe" anymore... why should kids have all the fun anyway?

There are lots of wonderful books on creating what you want. My
studies of them and my own experiences in life have helped me to
accomplish almost anything I could imagine, from a Hawaiian cruise to
living there and learning Hula. From a visit to New York City working
temporarily at "Good Morning America" to working at my dream job for a
very special publisher. There's more to go for me... I'm not stopping
till my body does, and you don't have to either. Life is meant to be
lived to the fullest, so get in there and dig your toes in the mud.
You might just find a diamond!

Debbie Johnson is a counselor, author and publisher of 3 books: "How
to Love Yourself", "How to Think Yourself Thin", and "How to Make Your
Dreams Come True", available at your local Recovery & Metaphysical
Bookstore. Debbie can be reached at: Deborah Johnson Publishing, 7030
SW Canyon Crest Dr., #6, Portland, OR 97225.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I Just Don't Want to be Disposable Anymore

"I just don't want to be disposable anymore."
Those were her exact words.
They still are hovering in the air like words from a comic book
character
that are displayed in bubbles above their heads.
She is my friend, and I am sad to hear her say these words.
Her pain hovers around me as I remember the words.

Disposable - designed to be used once and then thrown away

We live in a disposable society.
There are disposable diapers, disposable food containers, disposable
clothing.
There are those who throw away food with no thought of other countries
who
would scavenge the trash cans of America for a few crumbs.
There are those who throw away their money
on meaningless things.
There are those who throw away their dreams because they simply
can't deal with this disposable world we live in.

My friend has joined the ranks of the walking wounded.
The individuals that have been disposed of.
Sometimes as children with parents who
just don't know what to do or how to love.
Sometimes by peers who don't know how
much it hurts to isolate others.
Sometimes by boyfriends or girlfriends
who reject them for someone "better."
Sometimes by friends who simply
cannot tolerate their sadness.
Sometimes by husbands or wives who simply walk away,
leaving behind critical comments that add to feelings of rejection and
hurt.

She had been rejected.  Not in one marriage, but two.
Not in one relationship, but many.
I understood her pain.
I understood the comment she was making.
I understood her sadness in trying to find someone, anyone,
who would walk beside her in a permanent relationship
without leaving her when it wasn't what they desired.

And I thought back to my own experience.
I, too, had been in two marriages.
I, too, had been rejected.
And I, too, had given up my dreams.

She began to weep as she told me how she felt.
She sadly began the self-fulfilling prophecy of what we are often told -
that there is nothing permanent, nothing we can depend on,
no one worthy of trust, that we are truly alone in our
own little isolated world.
And I was speechless.
I had no words of comfort to give her because she is in the throes of
still
yet another failed relationship that appeared to be the beginning of the
answer to her prayers and dreams.

I stood outside looking at the moon
and wondered just how this happens.
How does something beautiful just melt into
the sand like it never was?
And I began to despair about my own hopes and dreams.

But then I remembered those who defy the odds.
My high school sweetheart, married 21 years, whose wife is
suffering through breast cancer,
who stands by her no matter what the cost.
A friend, married for 20+ years, to a woman suffering from depression
that paralyzes her inside the walls of their home, who loves her anyway.
A friend, married for many years, whose husband is confined to a
wheelchair and can no longer work,
so she has to support the family.
A friend who has a child with Down's Syndrome and sits with her
every day because she is getting old and can no longer function
independently.
My grandfather, who spent many years taking care of my grandmother,
who had Alzheimer's.
These people are salt of the earth.
They defy the world of disposability.
They define the words "love and commitment."
Love that cannot give back.
Love that is not self-seeking.  Love that does not go away.

I told my friend how much I loved her, that I would be her friend no
matter
what, that I would not throw her away.  But, after some thought, I
want to
tell her more. I want to tell her to hold to her hopes and dreams
because if
you can't dream it and believe it, you can never see it.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish."
God knew, and we should know.
We are never alone in this cosmos called Earth.
We just need to grab onto life, dream our dreams,
and believe that somewhere out there, we will find that
special relationship that is not disposable.
And, when we do, we will know that anything is possible,
if we can just remember to hold onto hope.
Because hope is what keeps our dreams alive.
And our dreams are significant.
They are never disposable unless we ourselves let them go.

Debbie Harrell
timaostrouthos@...
Email Debbie and let her know what you thought of her story!

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

Listen with your Heart

Have you ever wished to be normal,
As some people seem to be ?
To have no bad reputation,
No black-marks for others to see.
Did you ever try to control things,
And they got more out of control ?
These wicked thoughts should get smaller,
They just continue to grow.
I'm glad they can't read my mind.
It's not moral to think thing's like that.
Remember the old lady they locked in the ward,
They said "she was crazy as a bat."
Today, I believe in miracles,
Cause my ideas and attitudes have changed.
It doesn't really matter what you think of me,
And it's okay if I take the blame.
It says on page 30 of my favorite book,
That I've lost the power to choose.
But I seem to remember something about Steps,
As I search under my bed for my shoes.
We don't like rules, being told what to do,
And you told me to stop listening to my head.
Then they said I loved attention and pats on the back,
And that would get me nowhere but dead.
You don't claim to be normal, but I want what you have,
And I'm willing to make a new start.
I will do what you say, and trust the unknown,
And try to Listen with my Heart.

Barry Lane, 4-3-03
barryL81001@...

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

The Girl

Where is the girl
The one with the smile
The one with the blue, sparkling eyes?

She's lost in the haze
Trapped in life's maze
Filled with shame, guilt, confusion and lies.

Where is the girl
The one who walked tall
Her world seemed secure, safe and sound?

She walks alone in Denial
Struggling mile after mile
Praying that one day soon she'll be found.

Ellen Campbell  May 1993 @BFC
ellen@...

I thank God for my life, for the way it was.....
and for the fact that is is no longer..........
Love ellen

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

Buried deep within each of us is a spark of greatness,
a spark than can be fanned into flames of passion and achievement.
That spark is not outside of you it is born deep within you.
James A. Ray

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

To the luckiest of people,
a time comes when they join or launch a cause
that forever changes their lives and the lives of others.
Guy Kawasaki (Apple Computer Co-founder)

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

When human beings stand by one another,
testify to their faith,
and witness each other's pain, miracles happen.
If we are loved enough,
we are emotionally healed and spiritually made whole.
Marianne Williamson

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

Never see anything that you do
as a failure but see it as an accomplishment.
Then you have never failed; you have always learned.
Ramtha

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

There R other people
There R other places
There R other things
R stands for remember

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

If you lay down with the dogs
you will wake up with fleas

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

If you show me who your hanging out with,
I will tell you how you are living.

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

People that are using will
piss on your head and tell you that it's raining.

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

The minute you settle for less than you deserve,
you get even less than you settled for.
Maureen Dowd

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
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Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
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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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Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Korea,
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Even if your country is listed
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Stay in the Light,

In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
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For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tradition 8
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad08.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What is your favorite recovery quote or slogan
What is your least favorite recovery quote or slogan
Please tell us why?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 12
Today I know that every time I inhale,
I am breathing in powerful healing energy.
And every time I exhale I am letting go.
I am letting go of all anxiety and stress,
all negativity that is standing in the way
of my feeling good about myself.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

For Better or For Worse


So much time spent wasted

so many values I sold short

wrestling each day with the demons I played with

daring disease, overdose and the courts.

I hurt everyone that loved me

I lied, robbed and cheated my friends.

The disease had me thinking that I had control

but found it controlled me til the end.

It told me that this was pure happiness

had me believing the next one would work

I ended up broken, lost and alone

a failure, a freak and a jerk.

Gosh, it started out such a fun thing

we’d party and play all day long

I don’t even remember when it turned on me,

and made everything I tried come out wrong.

But now, there’s a new happy ending

a new life they promise I’ll find.

One that brings peace to this battle scarred heart;

teach me not to cause harm all the time.

This is what I was searching for

in all of those bottles and bags

a coat of blessed serenity

woven from surrender flags.

john h.
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What If God Should Go On Strike
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=444

Special Forces
www.anonymityone.com/story77.htm

Abundant Spirituality + codependency recovery + inner child healing +
Love =
Joy2MeU
www.joy2meu.com/Siteindex.htm

In My Prayers
www.wisehearts2.com/IMP.htm

Hold On
www.geocities.com/loriflower/2/Hold.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 12                                       The Big Picture

"All spiritual awakenings have some things in common. Common
elements include an end to loneliness and a sense of direction in
our lives."  Basic Text p. 48

Some kinds of spiritual experiences take place when we confront
something larger than we are. We suspect that forces beyond our
understanding are operating. We see a fleeting glimpse of the big
picture and find humility in that moment.

Our journey through the Twelve Steps will bring about a spiritual
experience of the same nature, only more profound and lasting. We
undergo a continual process of ego-deflation, while at the same time
we become more conscious of the larger perspective. Our view of the
world expands to the point where we no longer possess an
exaggerated sense of our own importance.

Through our new awareness, we no longer feel isolated from the rest
of the human race. We may not understand why the world is the way it
is or why people sometimes treat one another so savagely. But we do
understand suffering and, in recovery, we can do our best to alleviate
it.
When our individual contribution is combined with others, we become
an essential part of a grand design. We are connected at last.

Just for today: I am but one person in the entire scheme of things. I
humbly accept my place in the big picture.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Looking Within

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.  42

Step Four is the vigorous and painstaking effort to discover what the
liabilities in each of us have been, and are.  I want to find exactly
how,
when, and where my natural desires have warped me.  I wish to look
squarely at the unhappiness this has caused others and myself.  By
discovering what my emotional deformities are, I can move toward their
correction.  Without a willing and persistent effort to do this, there
can
be little sobriety or contentment for me.

To resolve ambivalent feelings, I need to feel a strong and helpful
sense of myself.  Such an awareness doesn't happen overnight, and
no one's self-awareness is permanent.  Everyone has the capacity for
growth, and for self-awareness, through an honest encounter with
reality.
When I don't avoid issues but meet them directly, always trying to
resolve
them, they become fewer and fewer.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 12th

A.A. Thought for the Day

This sober world is a pleasant place for an alcoholic to
live in.  Once you've gotten out of your alcoholic fog, you
find that the world looks good.  You find real friends in
A.A.  You get a job.  You feel good in the morning.  You
eat a good breakfast and you do a good day's work at
home or outside.  And your family loves you and welcomes
you because you're sober.  Am I convinced that this sober
world is a pleasant place for an alcoholic to live in?

Meditation for the Day

Our need is God's opportunity.  First we must recognize our
need.  Often this means helplessness before some weakness
or sickness and an admission of our need for help.  Next
comes faith in the power of God's spirit, available to us to
meet that need.  Before any need can be met, our faith must
find expression.  That expression of faith is all God needs to
manifest His power in our lives.  Faith is the key that unlocks
the storehouse of God's resources.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may first admit my needs.  I pray that then I may
have faith that God will meet those needs, in the way which is
best for 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.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 12

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

Letting Go of Fear

Picture yourself swimming floating - peacefully down a gentle
stream. All you need to do is breathe, relax, and go with the
flow.

Suddenly, you become conscious of your situation. Frightened,
overwhelmed with what ifs? your body tenses. You begin to
thrash around, frantically looking for something to grab on to.

You panic so hard you start to go under. Then you remember
- youre working too hard at this. You dont need to panic. All you
need to do is breathe, relax, and go with the flow. You wont drown.

Panic is our great enemy.

We dont need to become desperate. If overwhelming problems
appear in our life, we need to stop struggling. We can tread
water for a bit, until our equilibrium returns. Then we can go
back to floating peacefully down the gentle stream. It is our
stream. It is a safe stream. Our course has been charted. All is
well.

Today, I will relax, breathe, and go with the flow.

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

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

Refrain From All Criticism
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/04/criticism.htm

Preparing to Connect with Your Spiritual Guides
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/October/1097-10.html

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with
Joan Borysenko
Mindfullness and the Discovery of the Self
www.intouchmag.com/joanb3.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

The Power of Forgiveness
by Brian Sheen

   "Forgiveness is the demonstration that you are the light of the world.
Through your forgiveness does the truth about your self return to your
memory."
                              .....Course in Miracles

It is a reality of life that you will occasionally experience pain,
disappointment, upset, loss, and injury. Whether physical, emotional,
spiritual, familial, or economic - someone, somewhere at some time will
contribute to a negative experience that will affect you. Even angels
have
their traumas. The question then becomes, HOW LONG DO YOU PROLONG THIS
NEGATIVITY BEFORE MOVING FORWARD? Each moment you cling to this trauma
after
it occurs, you cause the past trauma to generate an entirely new
sequence of
thoughts, emotions, and actions. Until you can give up your attachment
to
the past incident, you are cursed to maintain and magnify the pain. This
brings us to the heart of the saying, "To forget is human, to 'for
give' is
divine." I separate "forgive" into two words intentionally, because the
divine gift you receive is "for giving" it - get it?

Why is this and how does it work? Is forgiveness in some way "giving
in" to
the forces of evil that have hurt you? Should you follow the eye-for-
an-eye
philosophy to even the score?

Let's consider the following: Many great works of religion and
philosophy
teach, "How can you expect God to forgive you if you refuse to forgive
someone else?" Ouch! This seems to insinuate you have done something
wrong
in the eyes of God or whatever higher source or power you subscribe
to. Have
you ever done something wrong? Have you ever intentionally or
unintentionally done something to another person that hurt or hindered
them?
Maybe you just neglected to do something you felt or others felt you
should
have. Recall a few of these now, particularly the ones that gnaw at
you with
guilt. Let's turn these guilty feelings into a growth awareness.

Consider an easier side of the equation. Recall a few times you felt you
were wronged by others. Maybe you were victimized or taken advantage of,
maybe you were lied to, injured, or had something dear to you damaged or
stolen. Can you visualize a few of these?

Okay, now here's the hard part. As I mentioned earlier, we are all
subject
to the indisputable law of physics: for every action there is an equal
and
opposite reaction. The reactions may occur through other parties, in
different places, and may be observed at much later times, but the
equalizing reaction will occur. Therefore, you should first realize
that any
negative reaction that you experienced was precipitated by actions you
previously took. Your karma just caught up with you, that's all.

You may have a hard time accepting this, so I'll approach it from
another
viewpoint. You were damaged last week, last month or last year. The
pain or
loss occurred sometime BEFORE. It was the PAST. The event is over now,
even
though the consequence may continue. The effect this event had on you
was
painful and detrimental in some way. The question now is, "do you keep
reliving this memory over and over again as if it just happened, so
you can
keep experiencing this negativity? Or do you find a way to release this
negativity from having any further effect on your life (for giving
it)? The
sooner you release this negative incident, the sooner you begin the
healing
process, recover and build as needed. And there it is - forgiveness.

Forgiveness is completely letting go of the past, its pain, anger, and
grief. Forgiveness is operating in the here and now - where this event
is no
longer occurring.

Forgiveness focuses you on the reality of what happens and asks you to
accept it as karma to engender your evolution to a higher level. You
need to
learn from your bad karma and begin to understand how your actions
helped
bring this change to your world. If you hold onto it, seek revenge, or
refuse to let go, you are ADDING your current strength and power to this
negative memory. The negative memory then:

   1.. adds more power to the already negative occurrence;

   2.. continues its negative influence on you and everyone else
connected to
you;

   3.. prevents new ideas and prosperity from emanating because your full
attention is blocked; and

   4.. brings on new conflicts and bad karma from these unforgiving ways.
This is probably why many divorcees take so many years to regain their
footing or establish productive new relationships. They don't accept
their
responsibility in the breakup and refuse to forgive their former
spouse or
themselves.

This gives the wronged party an excuse to transmit their misery to
those in
their circle of friends and associates. The pain is now multiplied and
the
hardships litter their lives and cause more grief.

I recently met with a friend who had gone through an upsetting
divorce. She
was devastated because he had been her "true love" - and he left her.
Like a
car spinning out of control on the highway, she began smashing into
every
vehicle in her path. One by one, her friends and family became innocent
bystanders caught in her emotional tornado. Her anger was transferred
to the
people she loved and cared for - people who had played no part in her
marital breakup. This brought her more grief and eventually illness. It
wasn't long before she was in the hospital with pneumonia, followed by
her
father, and then her mother, with a similar illness. She cast aside
the new
man in her life who offered her love, understanding, and the
fulfillment of
her lifelong dreams. Any time someone encouraged her to go back to
using the
meditation and therapy techniques she was well-versed in, she shrugged
off
their suggestions and kept her arms firmly crossed to keep the pain in -
like a vacuum, to suck in more.

Perhaps you recognize yourself in the above scenario, or maybe it
reminds
you of some friends of yours. The more people internalize their pain and
hold on to the misery, the more they create this enormous inflow of
energy
from everyone around them and suck in more and more misery. What was
incredible was that when I finally was able to reach my friend and
persuaded
her to uncross her arms, to imagine herself sending thoughts of love and
forgiveness, and to stop using excuses for not having the time to
meditate,
her entire life turned around.

I remember when I felt destroyed by the defamatory article about me in
"MONEY" magazine. I lashed out not only at the publication but at
everyone
around me. I created a dozen or more new conflicts to deal with. My
anger
and refusal to forgive kept making matters worse. Every time I lashed
back
at someone, I gave them justification to come back at me. It wasn't
until I
took responsibility for these effects on my life and practiced
forgiveness -
not forgetfulness - that I began to heal. As long as you hold on to the
anger, victimization, and pain, you will have this negative energy
locked
inside you making you ill - mentally, spiritually, and physically.

What is forgiveness?
It starts in your heart with understanding, a heaping measure of love,
acceptance of the truth, the truth of the light of consciousness, God's
grace - or whatever you wish to call it - and is followed by healing
actions. Any ongoing conflicts, such as lawsuits, arguments, or
refusals to
communicate must be resolved. Words of resolution should be communicated
either in person (preferably), by phone, or with a nice letter. It
must be
heart-felt, not mechanical, not just an act of going through the
motions.
Fake it until you make it - that's a start. It can lead to a
transformational experience if repeated often enough, but the results
will
be slow until it is truly from your heart. The more you focus your
attention
on this healing, the faster your pain and the chaos you cause in
everything
around you, will dissipate.

How perceptions can fool you...
If you were holding a baby and it unexpectedly threw up on your new silk
outfit, would you consider this an intentional act and forever be
upset at
the infant? Or should you take responsibility for playing too rowdily
with
the baby after a meal, or not being proactive by protecting your garment
with a cloth. Imagine forever blaming the baby for ruining your suit and
refusing it love for the rest of its life because of your anger. Pretty
silly, huh? Imagine the baby hating you for the rest of your life and
calling you a child abuser because you got upset and yelled at him
because
of this typical incident. Imagine someone being that mean to you.
There you
go, stupid and ridiculous, right? After all, it's just a baby.

Give everyone else that latitude and you'll go a long way to better
health
and success. Failing to forgive someone places a roadblock in your
path. You
turn their potential future support into inevitable opposition. Not a
good
thing. This is why we often hear the cliché, "Don't burn your
bridges". The
baby who throws up on you today could be the future spouse of your
grandchild, the future governor, or a potential employer 25 years from
now.
Your failure to forgive causes you to lock horns and project your
negative
attachment into the future. It is certain that problems will come back
to
haunt you.

In such cases, you've locked yourself into a conflict that will work
like a
hidden magnet in the future to mysteriously attract you again to this
person
or conflict together. The moment you forgive, not only do you break the
negative chain that blinds you, you convert this negative energy into
positive energy. This energy will enhance the future lives of yourself
and
everyone around you.

I'll never forget receiving a lovely letter of support and caring from
an
attorney I had tried to get disbarred because of actions I considered
unethical. I had been involved in an ugly 7-year-old court battle
against
her client who caused me great turmoil. I had to be right at any cost.
All
it took was a letter written by me forgiving her and requesting her
forgiveness. The knot in my stomach of suspended life energy was
released.
It was a great feeling for both of us that allowed this conflict to be
resolved.

Calling someone, or writing them to forgive and ask for forgiveness, is
something that can be beneficial to all parties involved. Feel what it's
like to be divine.

This article was excerpted from "When Life Becomes Overwhelming; How It
Happened, Why It Continues and What You Can Do to Overcome It" by Brian
Sheen

About The Author:
Brian Sheen is the Executive Director of the Self Discovery and
Meditation
Center in Delray Beach, Florida. He is the author of five books and
various
audio and videotape series, including the best-selling book, Nest Egg
Investing, a guide to personal, career and financial independence. For
more
info, check out his website at: http://spiritgrowth.com. Brian Sheen
can be
reached by e-mail at BrianSheen@.... To order copies of the
audiotapes:
"When Life Becomes Overwhelming" lecture or Brian guiding you through
the
Self Discovery process and Empowerment Meditations as contained in this
book.

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

The Lord in the Tree

"Two men were walking in a field when a bull charged them.  One man
scampered up a tree while the other stood defiantly in the bull's path.
'Get up here, you idiot!' called the man in the branches.

'The Lord will protect me!' retorted the other man.
The bull butted the man vehemently and went on his way triumphantly,
leaving the obstinate fellow dazed and confused.  The first man came
down
from the tree to help his bruised friend.

'I thought for sure the Lord would help me!' complained the injured man.
'He tried,' answered his friend.  'Didn't you hear Him calling you from
the tree?'

A request for help from an unseen power often manifests itself through
earthly channels.  God's wonders are not restricted to supernatural
miracles. Often miracles occur through people and tangible messages
here on
earth.

If you are looking for an answer to a question or problem, you may
receive it through physical means.  Someone may hand you a book,
invite you
to a lecture, or speak a phrase that resonates within you.  You may
feel a
tingling in your spine, get goosebumps, or simply feel a sense of
clarity or
fulfillment.  Be sensitive to your feelings and energies when such a
sign is
presented.  The word 'angel' means 'messenger,' and your message may
come
anytime through any means.  Stay awake to listen!

Help me stay open to hear Your voice.
Let me receive Your answer and act upon it.
I act upon the messages Spirit sends me."

Alan Cohen

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

Good Judgment

Don't judge me by who I was or by who I will be,
But by who I am right now.

Don't judge me by the clothes I wear upon by body,
But by the expressions I wear upon my face.

Don't judge me by how many friends I have,
But by the friends I choose.

Don't judge me by the color of my skin,
But by the color of my personality.

Don't judge me by how I speak,
But by what I listen to and what I hear.

Don't judge me by my eyes,
But by how my eyes look upon the world.

In fact, don't judge me at all,
Because if you judge me,
Then you are only comparing me to you,
And I am not you.
I reflect you,
But I am not you.
And if you stop judging me,
And take the time to see me for who I am,
Then you may find,
That you love me for who I am.

Jen Barnes

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

Thirty encore ! , encore ! !

I must say I’m proud
Of your thirty days
Stick with it and watch
How recovery pays
You’ll be paid back
A hundred fold return
Of things of the spirit
The disease tried to burn
Give the glory to God
And thank him each day
I am really more proud
Than words could say
Seek first God
And reap the rewards
It is no destination
That you’re moving towards
Its progress and growth
Of renewing your mind
It’s freedom of spirit
For which you were designed
I’m proud of your thirty
Now get thirty more
Then try ninety
For an encore

Mark Thomas Spitler
   June 23rd 1997 ©
Printed with Permission

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

Gods Grace is Sufficient

Something new that I have learned
that grace is a gift, that can not be earned
A priceless ruby, a Jewel so rare
a comfort to us, relieving all care
Just to accept is the only need
and know that it covers our every deed
Still we must grow along the way
please remove our defects, is how we must pray
Pride and anger, gluttony and lust
greed, sloth and envy, to remove is a must
Not for perfection, just progress today
This we must strive for, in each and every way
Gods grace is sufficient, on it we rely
Just keep on with progress and don't question why
Seeking Gods wisdom, that will help us to see
That there is a purpose in all that shall be
Good, bad or indifferent, God help us to know
In all that takes place, it's to help us to grow.

Written By: Rebecca B.
rbowlin14@...

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

The forgiveness that is required is from ourselves.
God already knows everything we think and do,
and understands and loves us.

There is an experience of forgiveness that is transforming,
that lets us recognize that we are the beloved,
the sons and daughters of the living God.

We find that experience of God's
unconditional and transforming love
as we learn to forgive others and ourselves.

Ask God, "Who would you have me forgive today?"
Whoever comes to mind, start there.

Mary Manin Morrissey

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

There is a soul force in the universe, which, if we permit it,
will flow through us and produce miraculous results.
Mahatma Gandhi

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

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

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

We are what we repeatedly do.
Aristotle

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

Don't go through life, GROW through life.
Eric Butterworth

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

People, Places, Things
Playmates, Playgrounds, Playthings

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

If you hang out in a barber shop long enough,
you are going to get a haircut.

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

Don't go into the lion's den with pork chop underwear
and tell the lion to chill out.
He will eat your ass.

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

You don't go into a whorehouse,
to hear the piano player.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
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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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Tradition 7
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad07.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What is your favorite recovery quote or slogan
What is your least favorite recovery quote or slogan
Please tell us why?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 11
The more I let go of my own suffering and self-pity,
I can see those around me with the eyes of love and compassion.
I am becoming more aware of other people's pain and
unhappiness today and I will reach out to them in loving ways
that heal me while helping them to heal.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

I Pray

I prayed for life,
You gave me hope.
I prayed for strength,
You taught me to cope.

I prayed for courage,
You took away my fear.
I prayed for your will,
You taught me not to interfere.

I prayed to be thankful,
You gave me gratitude
I prayed to be unselfish,
You gave me a new attitude.

I prayed to understand,
You taught me to accept.
I prayed for guidance,
You gave me 12 steps.

I prayed for serenity
You gave me release.
I prayed for comfort,
You gave me peace.

I never believed, my soul was bare.
Now I've found my Higher Power,
You've answered my prayer.

RiaSC
RiaSC1@...
©March 2000

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 A.A. Wish
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=442

Sober Rider
www.anonymityone.com/story18.htm

A Tale for all Seasons
www.storybin.com/sponsor/sponsor141.shtml

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 11                                       A Closed Mind

"A new idea cannot be grafted onto a closed mind… Open-
mindedness leads us to the very insights that have eluded us
during our lives."  Basic Text p. 93

We arrived in NA at the lowest point in our lives. We'd just about
run out of ideas. What we needed most when we got here were
new ideas, new ways of living, shared from the experience of
people who'd seen those ideas work. Yet our closed minds
prevented us from taking in the very ideas we needed to live.

Denial keeps us from appreciating just how badly we really need
new ideas and new direction. By admitting our powerlessness and
recognizing how truly unmanageable our lives have become, we
allow ourselves to see how much we need what NA has to offer.

Self-dependence and self-will can keep us from admitting even
the possibility of the existence of a Power greater than ourselves.
However, when we admit the sorry state self-will has gotten us into,
we open our eyes and our minds to new possibilities. When others
tell us of a Power that has brought sanity to their lives, we begin to
believe that such a Power may do the same for us.

A tree stripped of its branches will die unless new branches can be
grafted onto its trunk. In the same way, addiction stripped us' of
whatever direction we had. To grow or even to survive, we must
open our minds and allow new ideas to be grafted onto our lives.

Just for today: I will ask my Higher Power to open my mind to the
new ideas of recovery.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

No One Denied Me Love

On the A.A.  calendar it was Year Two .  .  .  .  A newcomer appeared at
one of these groups .  .  .  .  He soon proved that his was a desperate
case, and that above all he wanted to get well.  .  .  .  [He said],
"Since
I am the victim of another addiction even worse stigmatized than
alcoholism, you may not want me among you."
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 141-42

I came to you -- a wife, mother, woman who had walked out on her
husband, children, family.  I was a drunk, a pill-head, a nothing.
Yet no one denied me love, caring, a sense of belonging.  Today,
by God's grace and the love of a good sponsor and a home group, I
can say that -- through you in Alcoholics Anonymous -- I am a wife,
a mother, a grandmother and a woman.  Sober.  Free of pills.
Responsible.

Without a Higher Power I found in the Fellowship, my life would be
meaningless.  I am full of gratitude to be a member of good standing
in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 11th

A.A. Thought for the Day

In that alcoholic world, one drink always leads to another
and you can't stop till you're paralyzed.  And the next
morning it begins all over again.  You eventually land in a
hospital or jail.  You lose your job.  Your home is broken up.
You're always in a mess.  You're on the merry-go-round
and you can't get off.  You're in a squirrel cage and you
can't get out.  Am I convinced that the alcoholic world is
not a pleasant place for me to live in?

Meditation for the Day

I must learn to accept self-discipline.  I must try never to
yield one point that I have already won.  I must not let
myself go in resentments, hates, fears, pride, lust, or gossip.
Even if the discipline keeps me separated from some people
who are without discipline, nevertheless I will carry on.  I
may have different ways and a different standard of living
than some others.  I may be actuated by different motives
than some people.  But I will try to live the way I believe God
wants me to live, no matter what others say.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be an example to others of a better way of
living.  I pray that I may carry on in spite of hindrances.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 11

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

Financial Goals

Taking responsibility for our financial affairs will improve our
self-esteem and lessen anxiety.

Each of us, today, has a present set of financial circumstances.
We have a certain amount of money in hand, and money due to us.
We have a pile of bills that we owe. We have taxes to pay. Those
are our present financial circumstances. No matter what the details
are, acceptance, gratitude, and self-responsibility will lessen the
stress.

Each of us, today, has a financial future. There are few future
aspects of our life we can control, but one part we can play to
assist our future is setting goals.

We dont have to obsess about our goals. We dont have to
constantly watch and mark our progress toward them. But it is
beneficial to think about our goals and write them down. What
do we want to happen in our financial future? What financial
problems would we like to solve? What bills would we like to
be rid of? What would we like to be earning at the end of this
year? The end of next year? Five years from now?

Are we willing to work for our goals and trust our Higher Power
to guide us?

Pay bills on time. Contact creditors. Make arrangements. Do
your best, today, to take responsibility for your finances. Set
goals for the future. Then, let go of money and concentrate on
loving. Taking responsibility for our financial affairs does not
mean making money our focus. Taking responsibility for our
finances enables us to take our focus off money. It frees us to
do our work and live the life we want.

We deserve to have the self-esteem and peace that accompanies
financial responsibility.

Today, I will take the time necessary to be responsible for myself
financially. If it is time to pay bills or talk to creditors, I will do
that. If it is time to set goals, I will do that. Once I have done my
part,
I will let the rest go.

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

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

Thoughts For Consideration…
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/04/thoughts.htm

The Celestine Vision: Living the New Spiritual Awareness, James Redfield
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/October/1097-09.html

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with
Barbara De Angelis
www.intouchmag.com/barbara.html

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

Blaming "The Other Guy"
by Marie T. Russell

It's so easy for us to look to others to shoulder our guilt for
occurrences
in the past. We accuse our parents for our lack of self-esteem. We blame
our siblings for our lack of motivation. We blame teachers for our
unwillingness to express ourselves. And then later on, we place on our
mate's shoulders the weight of our inability to sustain a loving
relationship. Yet, who's to blame? No one is to be blamed, yet there
is a
responsibility to be taken and it is ours and ours alone.

Who is responsible for the grief and sadness in our life? Who is
responsible for the hurdles that we find ourselves facing? Who is
responsible for the anger and resentments that we carry within?
Who is responsible for the bubbling laughter and joy that arises
also from within?

The word responsibility consists of two words "response" and
"ability". It
is the ability that we have to respond in any way we choose to any given
situation. You can respond with anger, or you can respond with
acceptance and peace.

Let's suppose that a co-worker says something and you feel you were
criticized. You may choose to feel hurt or you may choose to look at
that
person's comments simply as their perception of you. You have the
ability to respond in any way you choose. You can respond defensively
(or offensively), or you can choose to see that this co-worker is simply
bringing you a message. You can then look at that message and see
what truth there is in it for you and what you can learn from it.

Yet, on so many occasions in our lives, we have been quick to respond
with anger, and claim that "he/she made me angry". An important thing
to realize which is very empowering is that no one can "make you"
angry except yourself. Someone could consciously try to make you
angry, yet if you do not choose to respond with anger, that person's
efforts would be unfulfilled.

Many times, I have seen in myself and in others a tendency to avoid
taking responsibility for our own "stuff" by placing the blame on
someone
else. "If they hadn't done that, I wouldn't be angry..." "If my mother
had
loved me more, I wouldn't be so withdrawn within myself..." "If my
brother
hadn't pushed me around, I would be more willing to express myself..."
Yet, in all situations, we, as the powerful beings that we really are,
always have the choice of how we respond. It is always up to us,
whether to be sad or joyful, angry or understanding, fearful or
trusting.

Even the occurrence of death presents us with a choice. Do we react with
feelings of loss or do we instead focus on the liberation of that soul
from
the chains of earth? In confronting situations, do we only see one
side of
any situation or do we open ourselves up to understand and relate to the
point of view of others? In an uncertain moment, do we give in to our
feelings of doubt and fear, or do we surrender to the moment knowing
that
everything that comes to us is there for us to experience in whatever
way
we choose?

Yes, each one of us is 100% responsible -- able to respond in any way we
choose. Why do some of us choose misery and pain? Do we feel the need
to punish ourselves or others for events that have taken place in the
past?
We have the choice to respond to the past with forgiveness and through
the
light of understanding that we, and others, were indeed doing the best
we
could at that time. Any time someone acts in a way that you would judge
negatively, remember that they are only doing what they feel they have
to
do at that moment. You have the choice of responding with an expression
of compassion and forgiveness.

Any feelings of negativity that you carry around are only hurting
yourself.
These feelings are stored in your body and become like a rotting core of
energy that poisons your every moment. Why encumber yourself with
feelings of anger, hatred, and thirst for revenge? Any negative feelings
you harbor do not hurt the person they are directed to; these feelings
only hurt the person who is carrying them - you.

It is much better to empty ourselves of stored emotional hurts and fill
ourselves instead with light, love, and compassion. We will feel much
better when we are living in a clean, light-filled body. It's our
choice...
Let the light of love shine and make the darkness of unforgiveness and
old resentments disappear. See the pain dissolve into well-being.

About The Author:
Marie T. Russell is the publisher of InnerSelf Magazine (first
published in
1985 originally as Mighty Natural Magazine) and The Natural Yellow Pages
(1987-2002). She produced a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner
Power, from 1991-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem,
personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on transformation
and
reconnecting with our inner source of joy and creativity. Marie can be
reached at marie@... with personal comments and feedback,
or to be placed on a mailing list to be advised when her book becomes
available.
http://www.innerself.com

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

Today's Positive Thought:
Healing comes through forgiveness and love.

Today's Positive Affirmation:
I open to my healing by loving and forgiving
others and myself.

Today's Positive Visualization:
As I take a slow and even breath, I call forth
the power of love and forgiveness to heal my life.
I feel the power of love and forgiveness warming
my heart with a beautiful light. In my mind's eye
I gently recall a time when I was upset with another
person or myself. As I think about that situation now,
I easily surround it with the warm light of love and
forgiveness. In my imagination I watch as the power
of love and forgiveness erases the negativity and
hurt from my memories. I give thanks for this healing.
I combine these images with the feelings of joy and
let them go, knowing that they will create the good
things I am visualizing and thinking.

© Sample Life, LLC
All rights reserved.

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

I Create

As I stretch myself out to my job,
my family, my community,
sometimes I stretch myself out too thin,
and I must return back inside to where
the stretching began
and come back home to myself;

to my heart, to my home
where my own creativity resides
to settle into its flow, to lose time there

this needs attention
direction
permission

we all create in order to accomplish
our destiny, what has meaning for us.
The process is our path to Joy.

Today, give yourself permission
to create.
For Joy

Love
Stella
© 2000 Stella Raymonde Savoie Johnson
stellaraymonde@...

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

Lost and Found

Look at what I have become
And where did it all come from
Living in a world of hate and illusions
Suffering from my own delusions
Trapped in the memories of my past
Where lies were many and pain came fast
I had become a professional escapist
And my own spirit's rapist
I found that I was lost
Willing to find happiness at any cost
Just looking for a real quick fix
Not knowing that I was just sick
Never looked at my own behavior
And alcohol and drugs had become my savior
The more I struggled to survive
The more I just wanted to die
But without a doubt
I had to find a way out
Here is how I had to begin
I take a long deep look within
Slowly I found a spiritual love
It lifted me and rose me above
All the my mess
And unseen injustice
Here I found a God of my own understanding
That isn't even close to be called commanding
I now do my best to practice forgiveness
And let go of my own hardened prejudice
So if you want you too can be
Happy, Joyous, and Free
Just follow me
Come to where love abounds
Get out of the lost and come be found

©2000 by: Angie F. Moore whfl
Amoore530@...
permission granted

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

Your task is not to seek for love,
but merely to seek and find
all the barriers within yourself
that you have built against it.
Rumi

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

Man's heart away from nature, becomes hard.
Standing Bear

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

Learning to live in love is life's greatest lesson,
and our daily life is the curriculum.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Humility leads to strength and not to weakness.
It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes
and to make amends for them.
John (Jay) Mccloy

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

Learning is an upward, ever-evolving process.
We will never reach the point where we've learned all we need to know.
Every aspect of life contains lessons.
We can choose to discard them or to embrace them.
Lessons embraced lead to wisdom.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the
soil, and let us see what we are made of.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

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

Today I am living in the moment,
instead of living for a moment.

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

If I don't take this program one day at a time.
I won't have one day.

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

If you keep making meetings and don't use.
The program will give you a gift.
And that gift is called a choice.
And that choice is that Just for today,
you never have to use again.

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

Today was made for you.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

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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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,
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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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
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For the weekly topic meeting please visit me at:
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tradition 6
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad06.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What is your favorite recovery quote or slogan
What is your least favorite recovery quote or slogan
Please tell us why?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 10
I am attracted to positive people
and I attract positive people to me.
Today I continue to seek and find people who are
positive, healthy and nurturing.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Hi Scott .... just sharing a reality from here ...
a 12 midnight call from distraught parents ...
and out came this words .....
Joyce
joydave@...

Hell is Awake

Mom and dad woke up that one fateful morning,
and found their only teenage son smoking pot
their lives changed forever in that one instant
little did they know, hell was descending

Mom and Dad tried talking and negotiating
finding ways and words to help their only son
their attention given fully to their son
but they did not know, darkness was not leaving

Soon Mom and Dad found their son graduating to heroin
they found this only when their son overdosed in the bathroom
the battle of addiction began to be too much to bear for them
again, with little they know, they did everything they can

Mom and Dad finally took their son to a doctor to fix
nothing changed, as their son relapsed minutes after detox
and after a few months to their horror they found
HIV and HCV has became a reality in their household

Mom and Dad went to yet another doctor,
who said that they mut keep their son's behavior  safe
only to find a few months afterwards
their only son had made three girls pregnant

Mom and Dad, began living in a private hell
none of their kin would help, none understood
the shame and the deep pain their son had caused
all fingers blamed only Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad sought those who'd listen,
through the doors of 12 Steps they have gone
finally although their son was still addicted,
their pain has slowly easing and diminishing

Yet, tonight as Mom and Dad were at the meeting
the junkie son came home to rip off their home
Mom and Dad, were left with nothing
The reality of Addiction is nothing but hell

Addiction is an awakening hell, they know that by now
dragging not only the addict, but also their families
if families are not enough, they drag their friends
deep into the abyss, the thick darkness of hell
and still the darkness clamour for more and more .....

People continue to ask,
why do you continue to go back
why do you continue to live in hell,
reduced, ultimately to animalistic level

Yet addicts continue to chase the dragon,
until the dragon stops dead, red fiery eyed, on its track
to the addict, the dragon would finally look back
and roaring vicious fire, the dragon chases the addict

You can't tell the dragon to stop
until the dragon has finally destroyed the addict
and until what remains of the addict
is ashes to ashes, dust to dust ....

For those of you who have found recovery
please stop relapsing once and for all
the cost is too great, for love, there's no survival
all are lost, until all is regained, through true recovery

God, however you may call God
patiently, and lovingly awaits you ....
to reach out your hand and finally .....
take 12 steps into a life with God ....

Leaving without turning  ....
honestly and willingly ...
once and for all your life in hell
retreating from your deadly dance with the devil

Bogor, March 28, 2002

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

We Need Each Other
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=439

We Agnostics
www.anonymityone.com/Story14.htm

Recovery Tee-Shirts
www.sobrietees.com

Twelve Gifts
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/TwelveGifts.html

Peace Found
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/PeaceFound.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 10                                                          Too
Busy

"We must use what we learn or we will lose it, no matter how long
we have been clean."  Basic Text, p. 82

After putting some clean time together, some of us have a tendency to
forget what our most important priority is. Once a week or less we say,
"I've gotta get to a meeting tonight. It's been.. " We've been caught up
in other things, important for sure, but no more so than our continued
participation in Narcotics Anonymous.

It happens gradually. We get jobs. We reunite with our families. We're
raising children, the dog is sick, or we're going to school at night.
The
house needs to be cleaned. The lawn needs to be mowed. We have to
work late. We're tired. There's a good show at the theater tonight. And
all of a sudden, we notice that we haven't called our sponsor, been to
a meeting, spoken to a newcomer, or even talked to God in quite a
while.

What do we do at this point? Well, we either renew our commitment to
our recovery, or we continue being too busy to recover until something
happens and our lives become unmanageable. Quite a choice! Our best
bet is to put more of our energy into maintaining the foundation of
recovery on which our lives are built. That foundation makes everything
else possible, and it will surely crumble if we get too busy with
everything else.

Just for today: I can't afford to be too busy to recover I will do
something today that sustains my recovery.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Our Group Conscience

". . . sometimes the good is the enemy of the best."
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, p. 101

I think these words apply to every area of A.A.'s Three Legacies:
Recovery, Unity and Service!  I want them etched in my mind and life
as I "trudge the  Road of Happy Destiny" (Alcoholics Anonymous,
p. 164). These words, often spoken by co-founder Bill W., were
appropriately said to him as the result of the group's conscience.
It brought home to Bill W. the essence of our Second Tradition:
"Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern."

Just as Bill W. was originally urged to remember, I think that in our
group  discussions we should never settle for the "good," but always
strive to attain the "best."  These common strivings are yet another
example of a loving God, as we understand Him, expressing
Himself through the group conscience.  Experiences such as these
help me to stay on the proper path of recovery.  I learn to combine
initiative with humility, responsibility with thankfulness, and thus
relish the joys of living my twenty-four hour program.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 10th

A.A. Thought for the Day

When I came into A.A., I came into a new world.
A sober world.  A world of sobriety, peace, serenity,
and happiness.  But I know that if I take just one drink,
I'll go right back into that old world.  That alcoholic world.
That world of drunkenness, conflict, and misery.  That
alcoholic world is not a pleasant place for an alcoholic
to live in.  Looking at the world through the bottom of
a whiskey glass is no fun after you've become an
alcoholic.  Do I want to go back to that alcoholic world?

Meditation for the Day

Pride stands sentinel at the door of the heart and shuts
out the love of God.  God can only dwell with the humble
and the obedient.  Obedience to God's will is the key
unlocking the door to God's kingdom.  You cannot obey
God to the best of your ability without in time realizing
God's love and responding to that love.  The rough stone
steps of obedience lead up to where the mosaic floor of
love and joy is laid.  Where God's spirit is, there is your
home. There is heaven for you.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that God may make His home in my humble and
obedient heart.  I pray that I may obey His guidance to
the best of my ability.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 10

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

Using Others to Stop Our Pain

Our happiness is not a present someone else holds in his or
her hands. Our well being is not held by another to be given
or withheld at whim. If we reach out and try to force someone
to give us what we believe he or she holds, we will be
disappointed. We will discover that it is an illusion. The person
didn't hold it. He or she never shall. That beautifully wrapped
box with the ribbon on it that we believed contained our
happiness that someone was holding - its an illusion!

In those moments when we are trying to reach out and force
someone to stop our pain and create our joy, if we can find
the courage to stop flailing about and instead stand still and
deal with our issues, we will find our happiness.

Yes, it is true that if someone steps on our foot, he or she is
hurting us and therefore holds the power to stop our pain by
removing his or her foot. But the pain is still ours. And so is
the responsibility to tell someone to stop stepping on our feet.

Healing will come when were aware of how we attempt to use
others to stop our pain and create our happiness. We will heal
from the past. We will receive insights that can change the
course of our relationships.

We will see that, all along, our happiness and our well being
have been in our hands. We have held that box. The contents
are ours for the opening.

God, help me remember that I hold the key to my own
happiness. Give me the courage to stand still and deal with my
own feelings. Give me the insights I need to improve my
relationships. Help me stop doing the codependent dance
and start doing the dance of recovery.

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

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

Feel Good Thoughts
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/04/feel-good-thoughts.htm

Show Me the Consciousness!, Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/December/1297-22.htm

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with Susan Jeffers
www.intouchmag.com/SusanJeffers.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

No Problems, Only Opportunities
by John Kehoe

Who can tell what is good or bad luck?
                                       -- Zen saying

Most of us dream of the day when we won't have any more problems, when
everything will be resolved, and our lives will be "complete". But
problems
are an important and valuable part of our lives, and instead of trying
to
eliminate them, we should strive to understand exactly what they are.

Nothing happens by chance. We are a part of a universe that is forever
giving us definite messages and signals, often in the form of
problems. It
is not an accident or coincidence that a particular problem is
happening to
you at any given point in your life; our difficulties are signposts
waiting
to be read. Ask yourself: What is the problem I'm experiencing telling
me
about myself? What is it telling me about my thoughts? Beliefs? Actions?
Choices? Lifestyle? What is this problem trying to tell me? Look
closely,
and see if you can find the real cause. If you always feel sorry for
yourself or helpless when a problem comes your way, you'll miss the
important messages it brings you.

BECOME AN ALCHEMIST
The medieval alchemist spent his lifetime trying to learn the secrets of
turning ordinary base metals into gold. Much time and great fortunes
were
spent in this pursuit, to no avail. Medieval alchemy failed because its
practitioners were looking in the wrong direction. The real alchemist
is one
who learns the secret of turning everyday situations into gold, who
learns
how to make every situation serve him. Problems and difficulties can
be used
as a springboard to deeper insight, and the real alchemist understands
that
there are no such things as problems, only opportunities.

NO SUCH THINGS AS PROBLEMS, ONLY OPPORTUNITIES
Once a person takes on this belief and works at finding the
opportunities
that are contained within each situation, the experiences that follow
this
simple change of attitude are quite startling.

Margaret Kelly, a woman who had attended my "Thought Dynamics" seminars,
found an opportunity to practice this principle one day at work. She
was the
director of a huge nursing home and, together with her two assistants,
managed the day-to-day affairs of over a thousand patients. If even
one of
her assistants was off sick, it created havoc, so you can imagine the
"problem" she faced one day when both called in sick. She panicked,
until
she remembered that "there are no such things as problems, there are
only
opportunities". Where is the opportunity here? Margaret wondered.

Then Margaret realized that she was always working through just her two
assistants, and that she didn't really know some of the staff they
worked
with. She told herself, "I'm going to use this as an opportunity to
get to
know these other people." She spent the day talking and working with
employees with whom she normally had little contact. She listened to
their
concerns, and to the difficulties they were having which, in turn, led
to a
whole new and more effective way of administering certain duties. As
Margaret Kelly later told me, "The day turned out to be a wonderful
opportunity, and I accomplished so much."

I doubt Margaret Kelly would have been able to turn such a tense
situation
to her advantage had she dwelt upon her so-called problem. It was
changing
her attitude from, "I've got a huge problem" to "There are no such
things as
problems, only opportunities," which had enabled her to try the new
course
of action, producing such rich results.

Nancy Spencer was facing the biggest problem of her life when I first
met
her. She had been deserted by her common-law husband and left with three
small children. She had no money, no marketable skills, and no immediate
prospects. It seemed like an insurmountable problem until Nancy began
reminding herself that there are no such things as problems, there are
only
opportunities. But where? She searched for over a week before she
finally
found the opportunity she was looking for.

She realized, upon examining herself, that she had always been dependent
upon someone -- first her parents, and then her common-law husband.
She had
always allowed other people to tell her what to do because she had
very low
self-esteem. Now, in the depths of despair, in a seemingly hopeless
situation, she made a promise to herself. Nancy resolved to rise up and
become a confident and successful person, for herself and for her
children.
She would use this crisis as a springboard to become a strong and
independent adult.

I was pleased I had the opportunity of teaching Nancy the concepts
covered
in my book "Mind Power into the 21st Century", for she was an avid
student
and worked regularly and persistently on her self-image, her beliefs,
and
her goals. I watched her change before my very eyes, and saw her
progress
from taking her first menial jobs, to opening her own wholesale flower
business. Today she is a happy, successful, self-confident woman
married to
a warm and sincere man. They share a wonderful life together - all
because
Nancy believed that there are no such things as problems, there are only
opportunities.

Become an alchemist in life and make every situation serve you. Remember
that many times we complain about events which, in retrospect, were
necessary for our growth and development.

One of the great examples of turning happenstance to an advantage came
about
when researcher Don Stookey accidentally left some treated glass in the
furnace so long it turned white. Undaunted, Stookey creatively turned
that
accident into a benefit by continuing to experiment with the new
substance
and, when he found it could withstand searing heat, further refined and
marketed his mistake as Corning Ware, a product now found in almost
every
home in North America.

Learn to see your stresses and struggles as challenges and
opportunities,
not liabilities or handicaps. Consider the story of entrepreneur Kathy
Kolbe
who was born dyslexic, unable to tell left from right, or read the
time on a
clock without great difficulty. "My disability is one of the greatest
advantages I have," she says, "it helped me become a student of the
thinking
process."

One day Kolbe took the plunge. With $500 of her savings, she launched
a firm
called Resources for the Gifted. She compiled a catalogue of available
resources for intellectually gifted children and sent it out to 3,500
teachers. At first, orders only trickled in, and even when they began to
flow, the first years were hard. She bought a warehouse, and the
building
caught fire. An employee embezzled money. Kolbe divorced her husband. In
spite of everything, she never lost sight of her belief that there are
no
such things as problems, there are only opportunities. Today she grosses
$3.5 million a year, and Resources for the Gifted continues to grow.

American President Franklin D. Roosevelt was a paraplegic who had to be
helped in and out of his wheelchair, yet he brought America out of the
Great
Depression, and went down in history as one of the world's most
respected
and revered leaders.

Bob Hawke rose from the depths of alcoholism to become an important
labor
leader, and eventually Australia's Prime Minister for four successful
terms.

Wilma Rudolph was born poor and black in Depression stricken
Tennessee. When
she developed polio at the age of ten, life didn't seem very promising
to Wi
lma, yet she surmounted all these problems and went on to win three gold
medals in track and field at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Thirty years later, another potential Olympian was facing the crisis
of her
life. Gail Devers was training to compete at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
when she suddenly broke out in sores all over her body. No one seemed to
know what it was. Finally, she was diagnosed with Graves Disease, a
condition that had doctors threatening to amputate her feet. She was
within
two days of losing her feet when she finally began improving. Overcoming
this adversity, she went on to win the 100-metre race in Barcelona, and
then, with a home crowd of 85,000 cheering her on, she repeated this
amazing
feat in Atlanta in 1996. "I wouldn't change a thing," said Gail
looking back
on her ordeal. "It was a blessing. It made me the person I am today.
It made
me a stronger, better person."

The founding director of a highly successful investment firm shared
with me
his secret for hiring top performers. "We don't hire any senior people
here
unless they've had at least one major failure in their life. We find
that
people become more committed and determined as a result. It makes for a
better person."

What opportunities are waiting for you right now in your life? You will
never know until you look for them. Very seldom do opportunities stand
up
and wave a flag at you; they more likely come disguised as problems or
failures. But opportunities do exist in abundance for all of us and,
if you
are willing to open up and explore your "problems" with this new
attitude,
some exciting surprises await you. Your struggles and stresses are
challenges and opportunities. As Arnold Schwarzenegger says, "I
believe very
much in the struggle."

About The Author:
John Kehoe, author, lecturer and philanthropist, has been teaching
people
the astounding powers of the mind for over twenty years. He has spoken
to
hundreds of thousands of people around the globe, and served as a Mind
Power
consultant to numerous corporate giants, including DeBeers, Mobil Oil,
and
Dominion Life. Kehoe's books have become international publishing
triumphs,
topping bestseller lists around the world. This article is excerpted
from
his book "Mind Power  Into the 21st Century", ©1997, published by Zoetic
Inc., Vancouver BC, Canada.

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

Emotions Island

Once upon a time there was an island where
all the feelings lived; Happiness, Sadness,
Knowledge, and all the others, including Love.

One day it was announced to all of the feelings
that the island was going to sink to the bottom
of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their
boats to leave.

Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted
to preserve the island paradise until the last
possible moment.

When the island was almost totally under love
decided it was time to leave. She began looking
for someone to ask for help. Just then Richness
was passing by in a grand boat.  Love asked,
"Richness, Can I come with you on your boat?"
Richness answered, "I'm sorry, but there is a lot
of silver and gold on my boat and there would be
no room for you anywhere."

Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was
passing in a beautiful vessel. Love cried out, "Vanity,
help me please." "I can't help you," Vanity said, "You
are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat."

Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said,
"Sadness, please let me go with you." Sadness
answered, "Love, I'm sorry, but, I just need to be
alone now."

Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out,
"Happiness, please take me with you." But Happiness
was so overjoyed that he didn't hear Love calling to
him.

Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say,
"Come Love, I will take you with me." It was an elder.
Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to
ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land,
the elder went on his way. Love realized how much
she owed the elder.

Love then found Knowledge and asked, "Who was
it that helped me?" "It was Time," Knowledge answered.
"But why did Time help me when no one else would?"
Love asked. Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom
and sincerity, answered, "Because only Time is capable
of understanding how great Love is."

Unknown Author

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

To Rely Upon God

How I wish I could fill my voids with God, feel fulfilled and at ease
It's always been a guy, booze or drugs....take my brain please!
I have it within me but the fear is intense
To be alone and deal with ME...the fear is immense!
Building of character...making a change
Learning who I am and what I want...it would feel so new and strange
I am sure in time I will be ready
When once again I stumble over the same stone, but next time bringing
more
pain
I will turn to God, be ready to free myself
Look at it ,not as a loss, but as a gain
Until then I stay in comfort, but feeling the pain...still
When will I set myself free? Turn over my will?

Filling my soul
I have filled my soul with God and AA
To help me get through another day
When I was lost and could not get by
I realized I needed help or I could possibly die
The arms of AA were welcoming me
I just had to convince myself..."this is where I need to be"
I am LIVING, not EXISTING today
And, I am happy to say, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY!!!

By Cheryl W.
Sweetnsober518@...
celebrated 18 mos on 3/19/03

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

If We Live

If we live just for today
Being grateful along the way
We can do anything
For 24 hours
God has given us
Many powers
If we just ask
God for strength
And we're ready to go
To any length
If we're grateful
Our actions will show
We will not have to brag
All will know
This trip through sobriety
Will never end
This is a life style
We will
Have many a friend
The sobriety we earn
Is the sobriety we keep
For our good deeds
We all shall reap
Many blessings
Will come our way
If we walk in sobriety
Day to day
Go to many meetings
Along the way
You have to work
The program
Through
And
Through
Make a change
That's up to you
Working a program
Removes the strife
As you go through your new life
It's serenity we yearn for most
God gives us a double dose
If we live just for today
Being grateful
Going out
And
Giving it away
We will not regret
The past
Or wish
To shut
The door on it
In this program
We are blessed
God helps
Us to
Get
A grip
On this
New found way
Being blessed along
  From day
To day

Daniel M Corkery
1/12/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

In Loving Memory of Sydney R.
Sayings on the wall at Sydney R.'s 30th N.A. birthday celebration

“Acceptance is our way of showing gratitude
to the loving god who has given us EVERYTHING.”

“Get on your knees and stay there until the feeling passes.”

“This is the disease: obsession, compulsion, denial, and self-
centeredness
-- leaving a path of destruction.”

“Nobody ever died from being tired.”

“The solution to everything is in the steps.”

“Whatever happens, a loving god will help me go through it.”

“Boy, are you being good to the disease!”

“I know you hate it when I say this,
but iIwant you to practice being a very simple, humble person.”

“If you want to hear insanity,
just ask addicts why they are or aren’t doing something!”

“It works -- if you live it!”

“What would a loving god want me to do?”

“I’ll worry about that if and when it happens -- and not before.”

“What you don’t understand is
that you already are perfect. you just fuck it up!”

“Just start over again. don’t give up, no matter what!”

“Don’t be such a victim!”

“You deserve to have discipline in your life.”

“Just don’t use, no matter fucking what!”

“The solution to everything is in the steps.”

"Be good to yourself!"

“I know you’re right. just keep your mouth shut!”

“Just because someone else is being an asshole --
doesn’t mean you have to take it on!”

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

Just as a blade of grass will push through a crack in the cement,
growing
toward the light, we too are being pulled toward a fuller expression of
ourselves. That pull, or calling, comes in many forms: in a dream,
through a
yearning, or from a desire to be released from an experience that has
hemmed
us in. How are you being called to greater aliveness?
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

When special feelings come your way,
let them flow into your heart.
When miracles try to find you, don't hide.
When special people come along,
let them know what a blessing they are.
Let your smiles begin way down, deep inside.
Collin McCarthy

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

Don't be afraid to try something new.
An amateur built the ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.

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

Whether I know it or not,
I'm always attacking myself...
I cannot attack you.
I can only attack myself.
Everything I project onto you comes home to me.
Paul Ferrini

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

The most effective way to rid yourself of toxic addictive behavior
is to go directly to your higher self
and turn the problem over to God...
Surrender, knowing that the highest force in the universe is within you.
Wayne Dyer

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

Yesterday is a cancelled check,
tomorrow is a promissory note,
today is cash in the bank.

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

Yesterday is history,
Tomorrows a mystery,
Live just for today.

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

If you have one foot in yesterday,
and one foot in tomorrow,
you are pissing all over today.

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

Today is a gift
that is why they call it the present.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

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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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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Tradition 5
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad05.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What is your favorite recovery quote or slogan
What is your least favorite recovery quote or slogan
Please tell us why?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 9
My heart is open to all that happens in my life today.
There is such joy in being alive
and feeling everything with a full and open heart.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Realization-The Dawning Part One

Just a thought,
A moment,
A flicker.
Funny how how the twists and turns
Bind us to decision.
The lefts and the rights of it all.
Indecision is the pristine of wrong.
The truth of right.
Just doing is….
Still searching for enlightenment.
Glimmer-
Hope, once again.
Acceptance is so clear looking back.
Sometimes- 'Gee how about that?'
'I was right after all.'
'I was wrong, but I learned.'
It is. It was, It shall always be.
Just as it should.
Ah-ah- it just dawned on me.

Nemo011@...
Heather T

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

Rent-A-Sponsor
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=431

The Man In The Gold Shoes
www.anonymityone.com/Story12.htm

John Bradshaw A Teacher Of Our Times
www.creativegrowth.com/opexart.htm

The Key To Serenity
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/TheKeyToSerenity.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 9                                                    Acting Out

"We learn to experience feelings and realize they can do us no
harm unless we act on them."    IP No. 16, "For the Newcomer"

Many of us came to Narcotics Anonymous with something less than an
overwhelming desire to stop using. Sure, the drugs were causing us
problems, and we wanted to be rid of the problems, but we didn't want
to stop getting high. Eventually, though, we saw that we couldn't have
one without the other Even though we really wanted to get loaded, we
didn't use; we weren't willing to pay the price anymore. The longer we
stayed clean and worked the program, the more freedom we
experienced. Sooner or later, the compulsion to use was lifted from us
completely, and we stayed clean because we wanted to live clean.

The same principles apply to other negative impulses that may plague
us. We may feel like doing something destructive, just because we
want to. We've done it before, and sometimes we think we've gotten
away with it, but sometimes we haven't. If we're not willing to pay the
price for acting on such feelings, we don't have to act on them.

It may be hard, maybe even as hard as it was to stay clean in the
beginning. But others have felt the same way and have found the
freedom not to act on their negative impulses. By sharing about it and
seeking the help of other recovering people and a Power greater than
ourselves, we can find the direction, the support, and the strength we
need to abstain from any destructive compulsion.

Just for today: It's okay to feel my feelings. With the help of my
sponsor, my NA friends, and my Higher Power, I am free not to act
out my negative feelings.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Trusted Servants

They are servants.  Theirs is the sometimes thankless privilege of
doing the group's chores.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 134

In Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis describes an encounter between
his  principal character and an old man busily at work planting a tree.
"What is it you are doing?" Zorba asks.  The old man replies: "You can
see very  well what I'm doing, my son, I'm planting a tree." "But why
plant
a tree,"  Zorba asks, "if you won't be able to see it bear fruit?" And
the old
man answers: "I, my son, live as though I were never going to die." The
response brings a faint smile to Zorba's lips and, as he walks away, he
exclaims with a note of irony: "How strange -- I live as though I were
going to die tomorrow!"

As a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, I have found that the Third
Legacy is a fertile soil in which to plant the tree of my sobriety.  The
fruits I harvest are wonderful: peace, security, understanding and
twenty-four hours of eternal fulfillment; and with the soundness of mind
to listen to the voice of my conscience when, in silence, it gently
speaks
to me, saying: You must let go in service.  There are others who must
plant and harvest.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 9th
A.A. Thought for the Day

Third, alcoholics recover their proper relationship
with other people. They think less about themselves
and more about others. They try to help other alcoholics.
They make new friends so that they're no longer lonely.
They try to live a life of service instead of selfishness.
All their relationships with other people are improved.
They solve their personality problems by recovering
their personal integrity, their faith in a Higher Power,
and their way of fellowship and service to others. is my
drink problem solved as long as my personality problem
is solved?

Meditation for the Day

All that depresses you, all that you fear, is really
powerless to harm you. These things are but phantoms.
So arise from earth's bonds, from depression, distrust,
fear, and all that hinders your new life. Arise to beauty,
joy, peace, and work inspired by love. Rise from death
to life. You do not even need to fear death. All past sins
are forgiven if you live and love and work with God. Let
nothing hinder your new life. Seek to know more and more
of that new way of living.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may let God live in me as I work for Him.
I pray that I may go out into the sunlight and work with God.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 09

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

Giving

Learning to be a healthy giver can be a challenge. Many of us
got caught up in compulsive giving - charitable acts motivated
by uncharitable feelings of guilt, shame, obligations, pity, and
moral superiority.

We now understand that catering and compulsive giving dont
work. They backfire.

Caretaking keeps us feeling victimized.

Many of us gave too much, thinking we were doing things right;
then we became confused because our life and relationships
weren't working. Many of us gave so much for so long, thinking
we were doing Gods will; then in recovery, we refused to give,
care, or love for a time.

Thats okay. Perhaps we needed a rest. But healthy giving is part
of healthy living. The goal in recovery is balance - caring that is
motivated by a true desire to give, with an underlying attitude of
respect for others and ourselves.

The goal in recovery is to choose what we want to give, to whom,
when, and how much. The goal in recovery is to give, and not feel
victimized by our giving.

Are we giving because we want to, because its our responsibility?
Or are we giving because we feel obligated, guilty, ashamed, or
superior? Are we giving because we feel afraid to say no?

Are the ways we try to assist people helpful, or do they prevent
others from facing their true responsibilities?

Are we giving so that people will like us or feel obligated to us?
Are we giving to prove were worthy? Or are we giving because
we want to give and it feels right?

Recovery includes a cycle of giving and receiving. It keeps
healthy energy flowing among our Higher Power, others, and us.
It takes time to learn how to give in healthy ways. It takes time to
learn to receive. Be patient. Balance will come.

God, please guide my giving and my motives today.

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

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

Treating Seasonal Allergies - Part 1
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/04/seasonal-allergies.htm

Words of Wisdom and Affirmations, Louise Hay
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/December/1297-20.htm

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with
Stuart Wilde
www.intouchmag.com/wilde.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Learning to Live in the Moment
by Richard C. Michael, Ph.D.

Undoubtedly, one of the most difficult and rewarding things you will
ever learn is how to live in the moment. Quite simply, if you are to
have power to create the reality you want you must learn how to live
in the moment.

But what does it mean to live in the moment? It means to experience a
peace that surpasses all understanding, where love overshadows fear
and fear steps aside for love. When you live in the moment you dwell
in the presence of peace and experience the absence of guilt and
anxiety. In the moment, you dwell with fear, love, and truth working
as one on your behalf to guide you through your challenges.

You may wonder how does fear dwell in the place of love and truth?
Fear and love have always worked and lived together, just as yin works
and lives with yang. Wherever you find fear you will find love and
vice versa. Just look around you and observe your world. It is a
direct result of the intimate interaction regarding the checks and
balances that go on between love and fear as they work together in
order to assist you in your creations.

In the myriad of individual moments you can choose either fear or love
as your reality. When you choose love your world expands, opening up
to countless probabilities and endless possibilities. When you choose
fear your world contracts causing you to live in the past or future
where you experience hopelessness through guilt and anxiety. In the
moment, love predominates and a beautiful transformation occurs.
Problems yield to solutions, guilt yields to joy, anxiety yields to
peace, and fear submits to love.

Learning to live in the moment is a process that comes from managing
your mind, body, and spirit. First you must learn to manage them, then
you will eventually progress to mastering them. Managing your mind,
body, and spirit is a great accomplishment that brings forth your
power. Once your power returns to you in consciousness it will never
leave you unless you choose not to manage them.

The return and resonation with your power will lead you to reconcile
with fear. This is where you begin to experience a new freedom and
develop a joyous relationship with love and fear. When love becomes
your reality, fear merges with love and they both work together on
your behalf.

As love becomes your reality, so does the power of truth. This is when
you know that you are not only the manager but also the master of your
mind, body, and spirit. These are just a few of the benefits you will
derive from learning how to manage them and living in the moment.

YOUR POWER BELONGS TO YOU

For you to create the reality you want, you must recognize your power
and how it is acquired. This power is your life force. The Chinese
call it Chi, the Japanese call it Ki, and the Americans call it
energy. Whatever the terminology or culture, it is still power. You
require power to create. The more power you have to create with, the
more powerful your reality. Power comes from managing, not
controlling. To manage your life, you must take back your power from
the people, places, things, and situations you gave power to.

When you continuously give away your power, the life force that
supposedly should govern your body begins to leave your body -- soon
symptoms of fatigue and aging arise. These symptoms, expressed by the
body, are an indication that it is time to make changes. And they will
persist, or possibly get worse, until you do. You can cover them up by
taking a drug, or something else to alter your reality. However,
sooner or later the cold reality will surface.

You have to change because you have accomplished nothing -- only
delayed the inevitable. Once you do, the life force or power will
subtly begin to return to your body, renewing and regenerating what
was degenerating. As soon as you come to the awareness that it is time
to make changes, you begin to heal. You are now beginning to access
life from a new and different perspective, causing you to evaluate and
sequentially reprioritize your life.

This is where the realization regarding the importance of managing
begins. Learning how to manage your mind, body, and spirit gives you
power. To learn how to manage them efficiently you must define and
clarify what they are and what they are not. Once you learn what they
are, you begin to realize that what you have bought into was not
truth. This will lead you to an awareness that you do not have power.
The things and people you thought were truth, are not and cannot be
truth. Because if love is not present, neither is truth.

WHERE HAS ALL MY POWER GONE?

You look up to, identify with, and model yourself after certain
individuals who you think have made it in life. In your eyes, they
have done miraculous things, sacrificed themselves and their happiness
for others, they have won the big games and climbed the highest
mountains. They have made money you can only dream of, and are held in
high regard.

But what is the result of all this admiration on your part? The result
is you give away your power through adulation, respect, or worship.
You think you are the lesser and they are the greater. When in truth
there is no greater nor lesser.

It does not matter if you gave power to those who meditate, levitate,
or commune with their god. It doesn't matter if you gave power to
those whose palms drip with blood, drink blood, or walk on water,
nails, or hot coals. It doesn't matter if you gave power to a master
who taught you or didn't teach you, or to a school where you attained
the degrees after your name. It doesn't matter if you gave power to
those who want to save the whales, dolphins, trees, environment,
themselves, or others, or to those who have a cause, live by laws, or
make the laws. It doesn't matter if you gave power to the homeless,
helpless, speechless, or to missionaries working with those the world
considers to be the poor and unfortunate. It doesn't matter how you
gave your power away.

What matters, is you can take back your power right now, at this very
moment. You can live the life you intend to live, instead of living
your life through other people and what they have or haven't done with
their lives. You have become dependent on others to lead you through
the darkness, instead of accessing light for yourself.

Living your life through other people will not bear fruit. It will not
bring forth the joy, peace, happiness, love, productivity, prosperity,
and health that you are searching for. You find yourself giving power
away to people, things, and situations that glitter, only to realize
that once the glitter fades, you are still in darkness and those whom
you followed, idolized, and worshiped have left your life and gone on
with theirs.

When you do not access your own power, you become dependent upon the
power, or the illusion of power, you receive or take from others. This
is because you have not come to the place within yourself where you
are able to access power from life and its processes. You have not yet
learned how to manage your life. This keeps you from living and
enjoying the moment.

Are you aware that once you learn how to live in the moment, your past
and future no longer exist? It may exist in the worlds of those that
you have had a past with, but it will not exist in yours.

Think of the peace and joy you will experience once you learn how to
live in the moment rather than the past or future. To live in the
moment you would have had to heal those unresolved issues that took
your power and you have held onto from your past. Try this simple
exercise. Close your eyes and imagine this is your last moment on
earth, before the moment is finished you will die. Are you now
thinking about the past or future and the worries and problems you may
be presently facing? I seriously doubt that you are. This is what it
means to live in the moment.

AFFIRMATION

This is my true reality. I, at this moment, will no longer live my
life through other people and their accomplishments. I have my own
life to live and they have theirs.

"Attempting to get your power back without learning why you gave it
away is as futile as trying to put a forest fire out with a garden hose"


Richard C. Michael, Ph.D. 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.

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

A SIMPLE RECIPE FOR LOVE
(from the angels)

"We have a simple recipe to help you bring all of your most fearful life
situations into a state of love.  Remember the two states of being -
love
and fear.  We now wish to look at love in its conditioned [limited]
form.
Love in it's limited form can and is a very beautiful aspect of self.
You
cannot have true unconditional love without first mastering conditioned
love."

"Conditioned love can be broken down into three very important parts.
They are loved, loving and lovable.  Loved is the state of receiving
love.
Loving is the state of expressing and giving love.  Lovable is the
state of
love to self.  When all three of these limited states of conditioned
love
are happening simultaneously in any condition of your life, the cycle is
complete and conditioned love will automatically transmute itself into
unconditional love.  All three of these states of conditioned love must
happen together for this transmutation to occur."

LOVABLE

"This is the first and most important state.  Love must be known from
self to self first.  All love begins inside each and every one of you
first.
This state is acknowledging your connectedness to God/Goddess/All That
Is, in your individualized being.  We find you all ever so lovable.  You
must find that lovableness within yourself."

"Sit everyday and focus upon your connectedness with All That Is.  Do
not
try to escape your individuality.  Learn to love your individuality
knowing
your oneness."

LOVING

"Loving is expressing or giving love.  If you hate something it is very
difficult to express love towards it.  Remember that if you hate
something, you hate it because you have not learned to love it and that
is the only reason.  It is not always easy to love something you hate.
It can be most difficult.  Remember to love yourself first in every
situation.  No matter how unpleasant, focus on that oneness.  Then try
to let some of that self  love escape from you towards what ever it is
that you hate.  Then you will learn how to realize the art of loving
deeper
and deeper."

LOVED

"Even though you will all say that you need to be loved, do you fully
allow
yourself to be loved by another?  No!  You may find all kinds of reasons
not to accept being loved fully.  You say you feel controlled, you feel
smothered.  You may not like the way someone else loves, therefore not
accept their love.  All of you are still learning how to love, so the
love
you are experiencing is not perfect love, so you reject it.  Learn to
receive love.  Let yourself be loved."

By working with these three aspects of conditioned love - lovable,
loving
and loved, you will come to know unconditional love.  Only when these
three
aspects of conditioned love are happening simultaneously can conditioned
love be transmuted into unconditional love."

Odra

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

Decisions

Sometimes we make up our minds
sometimes our mind makes itself up
as it comes to some sort of understanding
with itself
It’s a quirk of the human brain
to reconcile its beliefs and values
with what’s fermenting on the outside

The day brings choices laid out before us
which the night introduced
The day is wide open to all we can be
A prelude to living out our dreams
In the real-time of the rest of our life

Use one day as template
Calm the inner rumblings
Make the choice to follow your Spirit

Make those dreams
come true
and live with integrity of the heart
Forever

With love,
Stella
© 2005 Stella Raymonde Savoie Johnson
stellaraymonde@...

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

My Addict's Song

  From the pits of hell I came
It was you, I was to blame
For all the wrong that came my way
And there was nothing you could say

I was the victim of your pain
Hopelessness was what I gained
It was me, I started to shun
I had to find a place to run

Drugs and alcohol were my retreat
And from there I hit the street
Living in a life of pity
Jumping on from city to city

Looking for love all around
Only to come crashing down
What I thought was love, was only lust
Why is this world so unjust

My life is founded on rejection
This I feel with conviction
And with all of it's affliction
I hate my life of addiction
I need the drink
So I won't think

Of all the things I've done
My life is no longer fun
Love it seems like a must
But is there anyone I can trust
You came to me
Saying you could set me free

You say I need not live these depths
All's I have to do is take the steps
That I don't have to live in misery
To me it sounds like a fantasy
I have my doubt
But I want out

So I will try
I pray this is not a lie
The years have gone by
No longer, is the need to die
Now I look back with a smile
At a life that was full of denial
They pulled me from that living hell
Expelling me from my self-imposed jail
No more drugs or alcohol
No more curling up in a ball

  From the hex
Of craving a fix
And as far as the abuse
For it I've found a use
I now too can help others
Might even be your sister or mother

I can help to share their pain
So they too can live again

And I know life can't go wrong
As long as I don't sing my addict's song

by Angie F. Moore
Amoore530@...
Printed with Permission

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

Pink Cloud

I have to stay on the positive side
In Gods grace is where I abide
I take no credit for the things I do
I pray daily for God to help me through
Pink Cloud all around me
Blessing from God is all I see
If not for the grace of God
I would be dead
I see pink
I see no red
Full of love I give it away
I've been blessed from day to day
Walking on a pink cloud my head in the sky
I feel blessed I never question why
Many get jealous
Try to cut you down
I do not need people
Like that around
I've been blessed
I hear a new sound
Work the steps the best I can
In love and patience I try to understand
My God is with me He's at my side
On a pink cloud I like to ride
I give my hand everywhere I go
Thanks to my God that I finally know
To bad they do not stay for long
Yet we just carry on
As we try to pass it on
My spirit sings when I am on a pink cloud
Give credit to God I'm mighty proud
When I'm riding on a pink cloud

Daniel M Corkery
1/15/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

We can stop waiting for others to give us
what we need and take responsibility for ourselves.
When we do, the gates to freedom will swing wide.
Walk through.
Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go

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

Do just once what others say you can't do, and you
will never pay attention to their limitations again.
James R. Cook

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

We are enrolled in a full time, informal school called, "Life."
Each day of this school, we have the opportunity to learn lessons.
We may like the lessons or hate them,
but they are part of the curriculum.
The greatest lessons we learn are about love and fear,
that every action is either an expression of love, or a call for love.
And the great blessing is that every lesson
repeats itself until we learn it.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot
do what they want to,
when all they need is one reason why they can.
Willis Whitney

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

"The best way to say, "I love you, God,"
is to live your life doing your best.
The best way to say, "Thank you, God," is by letting go of the past
and living in the present moment, right here and now."
Don Miguel Ruiz
from The Four Agreements

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

If you don't believe what you hear,
believe what you see,
an addict that doesn't use for one day is a miracle.

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

Miracles are not against the law of nature,
they are the law of nature.

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

There are miracles in the choices we make.

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

Miracles are our birthright.
You are a Child of God.

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

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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,
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Even if your country is listed
please email me, and let me know where you are from.
12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit-owner@yahoogroups.com
Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ clean date 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

     (\o/\o/)   we are each of us angels  with only one wing  (\o/\o/)
      /_\/_\    and can only fly     by embracing each other   /_\/_\

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
www.groups.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/




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

Tradition 4
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad04.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
What is your favorite recovery quote or slogan
What is your least favorite recovery quote or slogan
Please tell us why?

(((Family))) a BIG hug to you ALL
My favorite recovery quote is
"Those who fail to remember are doomed to repeat"
So I remember to remember, where I came from.
My least favorite quote, is that some have to die,
in order for others to live...
I never liked this quote,
it is the stigma, it is not from the 12 step program.
It is contrary to the promise of Narcotics Anonymous,
"An addict, ANY ADDICT, can stop using,
lose the desire to use and find a new way to live.
Im home with a cold, trying to keep a distance from my wife and son,
so that they don't get sick.
I think God was trying to tell me to slow it down!!!
I have been going 110 mph for a while.
Other that that things are good,
I have one more road trip to Chicago on 4/18 for 5 days
and then I will be home for a while after the new baby is born.
Laurie is feeling good and looks great!!!
Andrew is funnier then ever, he is a happy boy,
talking from the moment he wakes up.
What a blessing!!!
I cant wait till I feel better so I can kiss him and BITE his ass :)
Love you ALL,
Scott


The weekly meeting topic is:
What is your favorite recovery quote or slogan
What is your least favorite recovery quote or slogan
Please tell us why?

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 8
Today I can make peace within myself
without needing the approval and agreement of others.
Today I can love and respect people
who do not always share my view of the world.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Our Last Chance

As the past is dealt with it's damage and toll,
By working the steps, an awakened Spiritual goal

Nothing to fear as we move forward, ahead,
Our addiction in check, lays down it's ugly head

God guided us here to find solace at last,
Knowing no other way for us to change, finally escaping our past

The future awaits as we take our last chance,
12 steps on the floor of recovery's delivery dance

It doesn't matter from hence you came,
The question is now, will you change or remain the same?

If you want to live more than merely survive,
Why not check us out and give it a try

You have nothing to lose except a slow lonely death,
Step up as you catch your first new found breath

Getting better each day as we search, reveal and delve,
Coming to learn that we can truly love ourselves

We help each other on our paths with hope,
Sharing our experiences no longer living with dope

If its working for me, maybe you too my friend,
"When at the end of your road" can choose your life to amend.

God and N.A. Grateful ~ AJ
aj4how@...

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

Comfort Zone
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=437

Bring The Big Book Alive
www.recoverytimes.com/janc.html

Positively Sober
www.anonymityone.com/story94.htm

Downward Spiral
home.earthlink.net/~insure/downward_spiral.html

A.A. 1st Edition Big Book
www.silkworth.net/bb/contents.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 8                                                      Happiness

"We come to know happiness, joy and freedom."   Basic Text p. 88

If someone stopped you on the street today and asked if you were
happy, what would you say? "Well, gee, let's see... I have a place
to live, food in the refrigerator, a job, my car is running... Well,
yes,
I guess I'm happy;' you might respond. These are outward examples
of things that many of us have traditionally associated with
happiness. We often forget, however, that happiness is a choice;
no one can make us happy.

Happiness is what we find in our involvement with Narcotics
Anonymous. The happiness we derive from a life focused on
service to the addict who still suffers is great indeed. When we
place service to others ahead of our own desires, we find that
we take the focus off ourselves. As a result, we live a more
contented, harmonious life. In being of service to others, we
find our own needs more than fulfilled.

Happiness. What is it, really? We can think of happiness as
contentment and satisfaction. Both of these states of mind
seem to come to us when we least strive for them. As we live
just for today, carrying the message to the addict who still suffers,
we find contentment, happiness, and a deeply meaningful life.

Just for today: I am going to be happy. I will find my happiness by
being of service to others.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Equality

      Our membership ought to include all who suffer from
alcoholism.  Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover.
Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity.
Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call
themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no
other affiliation.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 565

Prior to A.A., I often felt that I didn't "fit in" with the people
around
me.  Usually "they" had more/less money than I did, and my points
of view didn't jibe with "theirs."  The amount of prejudice I had
experienced in society only proved to me just how phony some
self-righteous people were.  After joining A.A., I found the way of
life I had been searching for.  In A.A. no member is better than
any other member; we're just alcoholics trying to recover from
alcoholism.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 8th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Second, alcoholics recover their faith in a Power greater
than themselves. They admit that they're helpless by
themselves and they call on that Higher Power for help.
They surrender their lives to God, as they understand Him.
They put their drink problem in God's hands and leave it
there. They recover their faith in a Higher Power that can
help them. Have I recovered my faith?

Meditation for the Day

You must make a stand for God. Believers in God are
considered by some as peculiar people. You must even be
willing to be deemed a fool for the sake of your faith. You
must be ready to stand aside and let the fashions and
customs of the world go by, when God's purposes are
thereby forwarded. Be known by the marks that distinguish
a believer in God. These are honesty, purity, unselfishness,
love, gratitude, and humility.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be ready to profess my belief in God
before others. I pray that I may not be turned aside by
the skepticism and cynicism of unbelievers.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 08

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

Self Care

     I dont precisely know what you need to do to take care of
yourself. But I know you can figure it out.
--Beyond Codependency

Rest when youre tired.

Take a drink of cold water when youre thirsty.

Call a friend when youre lonely.

Ask God to help when you feel overwhelmed.

Many of us have learned how to deprive and neglect ourselves.
Many of us have learned to push ourselves hard, when the
problem is that were already pushed too hard.

Many of us are afraid the work wont get done if we rest when
were tired. The work will get done; it will be done better than
work that emerges from tiredness of soul and spirit. Nurtured,
nourished people, who love themselves and care for
themselves, are the delight of the Universe.

They are well timed, efficient, and Divinely led.

Today, I will practice loving self-care.

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

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

Pray Outside The Box ,By Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/04/alan-cohen.htm

Forgiveness as a Gift to Yourself
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1997/December/1297-18.htm

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with
DR. LEO BUSCAGLIA
www.intouchmag.com/interview.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Afraid of My Own Thoughts
by Jim Brickman & Cindy Pearlman

Face it - the one person you never spend time with is yourself. It's
almost
too mind-boggling when you think of the questions that would immediately
come up if you did: What would I mull over with myself? Would I find
myself
amusing? Would I have anything to talk about with me? Oh, no, I'm not
making
myself laugh. Am I a bore? And here's the big one: Would I even like
myself?
Or would I think, Gosh, I wish I could dump this guy and find someone
else's
self who's a lot more fun.

Okay, I'll stop. But you get the idea.

It's easy to ignore yourself. It's especially easy when we're always
racing,
talking, doing, and going, which leaves little time for just being. But
often people say to me, "I get lost in my head listening to your music."
What I take that to mean is: (1) Hey, they like the music; and (2) I'm
reconnecting people to themselves in a weird way.

Let me explain. I find it really hard to sit in a room by myself. I'd go
crazy - certifiably nuts. I mean, have you ever tried to just sit in a
chair
and . . . drum roll, please . . . think? But the simple act of
thinking is
so helpful, because you might actually find yourself in those
thoughts. And
we're so busy doing a million things that we don't really have time to
find
ourselves.

Think about this: What do you really want from this life? Do you ever
have a
moment to just sit down and really focus on what you want to achieve
during
your time on the planet? Forcing yourself to answer such questions is
rough,
but necessary. For me, of course, it has to do with music. And now
back to
that very thing.

When people say, "Your music gets me through the day," I feel like
I've been
their invisible companion. Many people put on the music and it feels
like
somebody is there with them. And with that "invisible support system,"
they
can let their mind go free and wander to otherwise unexplored places.
Call
it a mental Club Med vacation. You're the tour guide. Airfare doesn't
even
have to be included, because you can just close your eyes and go any
place
in your head.

It's not a bad thing to do some really deep meditation. It doesn't
have to
be as formal as sitting in your brown La-Z-Boy on the third recline
notch
and staring at the paint-chipped ceiling. Maybe, for instance, you're
driving in your car, and the music playing starts to make you daydream
- but
not to the point where you don't notice that Mack truck in the distance.
Please be careful. Anyway, let's say you're obeying the rules of the
road,
but "drifting" just a little bit, when suddenly, you're sent to a
place deep
inside where you're thinking, Huh, I never thought about that stuff. The
music isn't dredging up these feelings. It's more like a catalyst that
takes
you on a mental voyage.

I like to walk around my neighborhood in the canyons of Los Angeles,
and I
wish I could tell you that it's because I'm a nature freak. Nah, I go on
these walks because the gym in Hollywood drives me crazy, and I live
in a
hilly neighborhood, so it's good "interval training," which is
basically a
fancy way of saying that you sweat a ton by running up the hill. It's
really
good for your heart, not to mention helpful for the hips.

I could never walk outside without headphones and two or three CDs.
Honestly, I'm afraid of what I would think. I'm almost afraid to have
that
time with myself because: (1) What would I really think about; and (2)
Do I
really want to think those things?

No, no, no! Let me repeat: No! Keep me away from myself.

You know what it's like when your brain gets a little bit too pushy. You
start thinking, Why am I with this person and not this other person?
Why am
I doing this with my work? When I'm 90, will I have all my hair and
teeth?
(Insert a loud scream here.)

We live in a time of overstimulation. There's not a moment when we're
not
"on something" - such as the TV, radio, CD player, or cordless
whatever. I'
ve gotten to the point where I can't take a bath for more than ten
minutes -
just me and some bubbles - I also have to be on the phone, watching
TV, or
flipping through the pages of Newsweek. Suddenly, I'm not thinking about
myself.

Maybe we're all a little afraid of our own thoughts. Maybe afraid is
too big
a word - we're just leery of them. So now I force myself to be alone
with
the one person I should know better than anyone - me. Try forcing
yourself:
Get on a stationary bike, or take a walk, without any other
stimulation than
your own thoughts. You'll be surprised at what comes to mind - and
usually
those are the important things.

I'll confess that I figured out this trick one day while I was way,
way up
in the canyons walking, and the most horrible thing on earth happened to
me - the batteries in my Walkman died. And even a little battery
prayer -
"Please spirit of Duracell, let them work" - didn't help. I was in a
panic,
wondering, Oh my God, what am I going to think about for the next 20
minutes? It was the beginning of self-discovery.

Simple Thought:

"My greatest strength is common sense.
I'm a standard brand,
like Campbell's soup or Baker's chocolate."
Katharine Hepburn

This article was excerpted from the book Simple Things, by Jim Brickman,
with Cindy Pearlman. It is reprinted with permission of the publisher,
Hay
House, and is available at all bookstores, by phone 800-654-5126, or
via the
Internet. www.hayhouse.com

About The Author:
Jim Brickman's dazzling piano artistry and clever songwriting skills
have
led to sales of more than three million albums. Hits such as
"Valentine" and
"The Gift" have helped build his reputation as America's most romantic
songwriter. Jim's Website is: www.JimBrickman.com

Cindy Pearlman is a nationally syndicated entertainment writer for the
New
York Times Syndicate and the Chicago Sun Times. Over the past 15
years, she
has interviewed Hollywood's biggest stars, who appear in her column
"The Big
Picture."

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

A Farewell Letter

If for an instant God were to forget that I am a rag doll and gifted
me with
a piece of life, possibly I wouldn't say all that I think, but rather I
would think of all that I say. I would value things, not for their
worth but
for what they mean.

I would sleep little, dream more, understanding that for each minute we
close our eyes we lose sixty seconds of light. I would walk when
others hold
back, I would wake when others sleep.

I  would listen when others talk, and how I would enjoy a good
chocolate ice
cream! If God were to give me a piece of life, I would dress simply,
throw myself face first into the sun, baring not only my body but also
my
soul. My God, if I had a heart, I would write my hate on ice, and wait
for
the sun to show.

Over the stars I would paint with a Van Gogh dream a Benedetti poem,
and a
Serrat song would be the serenade I'd offer to the moon. With my tears I
would water roses, to feel the pain of their thorns, and the red kiss of
their petals... My god, if I had a piece of life... I wouldn't let a
single
day pass

Without telling the people I love that I love them. I would convince
each
woman and each man that they are my favorites, and I would live in
love with
love. I would show men how very wrong they are to think that they
cease to
be in love when they grow old, not knowing that they grow old when they
cease to be in love!

To a child I shall give wings, but I shall let him learn to fly on his
own.
I would teach the old that death does not come with old age, but with
forgetting. So much have I learned from you, oh men...

I have learned that everyone wants to live on the peak of the mountain,
without knowing that real happiness is in how it is scaled. I have
learned
that when a newborn child squeezes for the first time with his tiny
fist his
father's finger, he has him trapped forever. I have learned that a man
has
the right to look down on another only
when he has to help the other get to his feet.

  From you I have learned so many things, but in truth they won't be of
much
use, for when I keep them within this suitcase, unhappily shall I be
dying.

GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
A QUICK BIO ON THE MASTER:

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

I came to this program to save my ass and found out it was
attached to my soul.--Anonymous

             God gets our attention in a lot of different ways.  For
a great many of us, it was through accident or illness, coming close to
death.  All of us come to this program frightened for our life or our
sanity or both.  God has our attention.
             And now we are learning about the spiritual aspect of
our life, the one we had so long neglected.  Now we are partaking of
God's love---soul food---and discovering that the spiritual life is
fuller and more rewarding than anything we thought possible.  Nothing
we do to please our body can compare to the joy of unconditional love.
When we elnd a lvoing hand to anyone, we realize once again that the
pain we suffered was worth it to bring us to this awareness.

Today I will look for ways to help others----and bless my soul!

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

Getting Rid of Disappointment

A great many people are disappointed because of unrealistic
expectations.

Walking up to a department store's fabric counter, an attractive
young woman said, "I want to buy this material for a new dress.
How much does it cost?"
"Only one kiss per yard," replied the smirking male clerk.

Not to be taken back by the harassment, the woman said, "That's
fine! I'll take ten yards."

With expectation and anticipation written all over his face, the
clerk hurriedly measured out and wrapped the cloth, then held it
out teasingly, leaning forward to receive his "payment."

The woman snapped up the package and pointed to a little old man
standing beside her. "Grandpa will pay the bill," she smiled.

He was no doubt disappointed. But in the course of living, many
people are disappointed when others do not live up (or down, in
this case!) to their expectations. In order to be happy, some
expectations must be dropped. These unrealistic and unhealthy
expectations are three of the main culprits.

1. Do not EXPECT appreciation. When others say, "Thank you," or
in any way show their gratitude, be happy. It is a gift!

2. Do not EXPECT others to make you happy. They simply cannot do
that. Make yourself happy and share your joy with others.

3. Do not expect NOT to be let down. At times, people will simply
not come through for you in the way you need. Forgive them and
move on.
Get rid of these three expectations and you will be getting rid
of daily disappointment!

Steve Goodier

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

I Looked For Years

I looked for years
But could not see
That all my mistakes
Were caused by me
I looked for years
But could not see
All the love that surrounded me
Traveled so many different ways
Trying to justify those evil days
I looked for years
But could not see
I was an addict
Drowning in me
I used everything I could find
I was way out of my mind
I looked for years
But could not see
Farther than my nose
I was near sighted
and
God knows
Self centered
and
Selfish
As can be
Just another addict
Who was not free
Chains bound my spirit
Back in those days
Held prisoner
By
Lust
Greed
Alcohol
Drugs
Held tight
Did not know
To get free
I had to let go
Looked for years
But could not see
My biggest problem was me
Altered reality kept me blind
I look for years but could not find
Any peace or serenity
Guilt and shame
Was all I could see
Sick and tired
Of
Being sick and tired
I turned to the fellowship
The place where love abides
No one there needs to hide
Honest
Open
Willing
I started to see
Opened my eyes
To reality
No longer bound
I was now free
I thank my God
For helping me to see
Peace
Serenity
Humility
Now dwells
Inside of me
Thanks to my
Sponsor
And God
I can now see

Daniel M Corkery
12/18/2000
DMCDREAMER@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

In the game called life, everybody's on the playing field.
If we don't understand the rules, life can feel happenstance,
leaving us uncertain of the direction we're headed.
By knowing the "rules," practicing these principles,
and making conscious choices to interact lovingly with other players,
our lives become filled with meaning and purpose.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.
Raymond Lindquist

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

People who truly love themselves do not become
destructively self-centered.
They do not abuse others.
They do not stop growing and changing.
People who love themselves well, learn to love others well too.
They continually grow into healthier people,
learning that their love was appropriately placed.
Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go

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

"Baruch Bashan" is a statement that means "the blessings already are" --
that blessings are present,
and all we have to do is to partake of them,
enjoy them, and appreciate them.

That is what a genuine relationship with God and Spirit is really all
about:
The blessings of God are present and available.
John Morton
From: The Blessings Already Are

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

Having a resentment is like drinking poison
and waiting for someone else to die.

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

Had the eyes no tears,
the soul would have no rainbow.

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

God will heal your broken heart,
if you will give Him all the pieces.

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

Seven days without a meeting makes one weak.

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

If you don't keep coming,
Your going to keep going....

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
advertisements that may appear in this daily mailing.
Advertising is the price that we pay for a free list server
that yahoo groups and google groups provides.

Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

Created in 1997 , "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit" is intended to give
readers , inspiring and thoughtful messages. To help fulfill our primary
purpose which is to carry the message to the alcoholic/addict
who still suffers. A spiritual adventure, a journey inwards this
has a vision of opening and touching, each and everyone,
with the Loving Power and Presence of the Spirit within."
We invite you to share the writings by forwarding today's
message to others. Share "12 Step Soul Food for the Spirit"
with friends and loved ones: Please keep passing this along to
online recovery friends  "We can only keep what we have by
giving it away."

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to:

twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or
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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 the group
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or just email me YOUnMEnHP@...
and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

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http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
http://www.groups.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

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. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

Scott’s Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp
http://younmenhp.multiply.com/

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en

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

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



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

Tradition 3
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad03.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is April, the 4th month, PLEASE share on the 4th step
If you haven’t done the 4th step with your sponsor
Please share on honesty and courage...

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 7
I am moving towards my goals today
with just the right energy that I need.
My progress will be perfect and I have the faith and
trust that all the steps I take along the way
will become clear when it is necessary.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Energy for Your Self Growth

Better I feel
Though I did not fall.
Search I do
Wonder where for all?
Hope
I care.
Making marks
Parallel lives will join.
Knowledge I find-knowing of Intuition discovered.
Expansion of soul and minding exploding across all space and time.
Splashing into the mass consciousness of life.
Healing ourselves is healing each other.
This is the struggle of life, the self discovery.
The beauty of existence.

Heather T
Nemo011@...

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

Free Yourself
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=435

Mars & Mars in Sobriety
www.anonymityone.com/story44.htm

Musician's Assistance Program
MAP makes it possible for members of the music industry to
receive treatment for drug and alcohol addiction,
regardless of their financial condition
www.grammy.com/MusiCares

We’re a non-profit organization comprised of music industry
professionals
whose lives have been touched by drug and alcohol addiction
www.roadrecovery.com

A.A. 1st Edition Big Book
www.silkworth.net/bb/contents.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm

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

Just For Today
April 7                                      The Value Of The Past

"This firsthand experience in all phases of illness and recovery is of
unparalleled therapeutic value. We are here to share it freely with
any addict who wants to recover."     Basic Text p. 10

Most of us came into the program with some serious regrets. We had
never finished high school, or we had missed going to college. We had
destroyed friendships and marriages. We had lost jobs. And we knew
that we couldn't change any of it. We may have thought that we'd always
be regretful and simply have to find a way to live with our regrets.

On the contrary, we find that our past represents an untapped gold mine
the first time we are called on to share it with a struggling newcomer.
As we listen to someone share their Fifth Step with us, we can give a
special form of comfort that no one else could provide - our own
experience. We've done the same things. We've had the same feelings
of shame and remorse. We've suffered in the ways only an addict can
suffer. We can relate - and so can they.

Our past is valuable - in fact, priceless - because we can use all of it
to help the addict who still suffers. Our Higher Power can work through
us when we share our past. That possibility is why we are here, and its
fulfillment is the most important goal we have to accomplish.

Just for today: I no longer regret my past because, with it, I can
share with other addicts, perhaps averting the pain or even death of
another.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A.A.'s Freedoms

We trust that we already know what our several freedoms truly are;
that no
future generation of AA's will ever feel compelled to limit them.  Our
AA
freedoms create the soil in which genuine love can grow.  .  .  .
LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p. 303

I craved freedom.  First, freedom to drink; later, freedom from
drink.  The
A.A. program of recovery rests on a foundation of free choice.  There
are
no mandates, laws or commandments.  A.A.'s spiritual program, as
outlined
in the Twelve Steps, and by which I am offered even greater freedoms, is
only suggested.  I can take it or leave it.  Sponsorship is offered, not
forced, and I come and go as I will.  It is these and other freedoms
that
allow me to recapture the dignity that was crushed by the burden of
drink,
and which is so dearly needed to support an enduring sobriety.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 7th

A.A. Thought for the Day

In A.A. alcoholics find a way to solve their personality
problems.  They do this by recovering three things.
First, they recover their personal integrity.  They pull
themselves together.  They get honest with themselves
and with other people.  They face themselves and their
problems honestly, instead of running away.  They take
a personal inventory of themselves to see where they
really stand.  Then they face the facts instead of making
excuses for themselves.  Have I recovered my integrity?

Meditation for the Day

When trouble comes, do not say:  "Why should this happen
to me?"  Leave yourself out of the picture.  Think of other
people and their troubles and you will forget about your
own.  Gradually get away from yourself and you will know
the consolation of unselfish service to others.  After a while,
it will not matter so much what happens to you.  It is not so
important any more, except as your experience can be used
to help others who are in the same kind of trouble.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may become more unselfish.  I pray that I
may not be thrown off the track by letting the old
selfishness creep back into my life.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 07

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

Those Old Time Feelings

I still have bad days. But thats okay. I used to have bad years.
Anonymous

Sometimes, the old feelings creep back in. We may feel fearful,
ashamed, and hopeless. We may feel not good enough,
unlovable, victimized, helpless, and resentful about it all. This
is codependency, a condition some describe as soul sickness.

Many of us felt this way when we began recovery. Sometimes, we
slip back into these feelings after weve begun recovery. Sometimes
theres a reason. An event may trigger these reactions, such as
ending a relationship, stress, problems on the job, at home, or
in friendships. Times of change can trigger these reactions. So
can physical illness.

Sometimes, these feelings return for no reason.

A return to the old feelings doesnt mean were back to square
one in our recovery. They do not mean weve failed at recovery.
They do not mean were in for a long, painful session of feeling
badly. They just are there.

The solution is the same: practicing the basics. Some of the
basics are loving and trusting our self, detachment, dealing
with feelings, giving and receiving support in the recovery
community, using our affirmations, and having fun.

Another basic is working the Steps. Often, working the Steps is
how we become enabled and empowered to practice the other
basics, such as detachment and self-love.

If the old feelings come back, know for certain there is a way out
that will work.

Today, if I find myself in the dark pit of codependency, I will work
a Step to help myself climb out.

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

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

Like Attracts Like
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/04/like-attracts-like.htm

Small Victories
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1999/January/0199-11.htm

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with
DEEPAK CHOPRA, MD
www.intouchmag.com/chopra.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Signs When You Need Them by Alan Cohen

While driving home one day, I noticed that someone had posted
some cardboard signs along the roadside, leading guests to a
party on my street. I live out in the country where there are no
city blocks, with many curving roads and irregular intersections.

I saw that the person who had posted the signs, placed them at
the crucial intersections. At every important choice point, there
was a sign. I drove for long stretches past numerous smaller
intersections, where there were no posters. Then, when I again
reached a crucial intersection, there was another clear marker.

It occurred to me that this is how Spirit gives us guidance we get
signs when we need them. Whenever you arrive at a critical choice
point, information shows up to help you decide. If you are not getting
a sign, you are probably not at a crucial intersection. That's the time
to just keep going and enjoy the ride. When you are ready to know,
you will. If you don't know, it is not time yet. In the meantime, just
breathe, trust, and find the blessing where you are.

If you are seeking direction, pray for guidance. Then let the
universe deliver your answer in the right way, place, and time.
If, upon completing your prayer, you do not hear a voice boom
from heaven, shout your name, and bellow, "This is what you must
do!" don't freak out. Give the Great Spirit a chance to deliver
your message when you most need it. It will come.

Guidance often arrives in uncanny and synchronistic ways. I met
a fellow who prayed for a sign to help him decide whether or not
to accept a promotion that would require him to relocate his home
and family to a distant city. Then one night he came home late and
saw a "For Sale" sign on his lawn. Since his wife was already
sleeping, he did not want to wake her. The next morning he asked
her about the sign. "What sign?" she asked him. "The one on the lawn,"
he told her. The two walked outside, and no sign was to be found.
The fellow deduced that he had indeed been given a sign. He took
the job, and the move ultimately turned out to be a success for
everyone.

A man at a seminar told me he prayed for direction one morning, and
then that afternoon as he walked out of a restaurant, the wind blew
a piece of paper against his knees. He picked it up and discovered it
was a flyer for my seminar that evening. He attended, and subsequently
his life changed.

Another friend decided he wanted to become independently wealthy
and retire at a young age. He prayed for help with this project. The
next morning when he went out to jog, as he turned a corner he saw a
book someone had left on top of a trashcan: Your Money or Your Life.
He took the book, read it, and found the wisdom he needed. Now he is
well on his way to riches and early retirement.

If you act anxiously to hasten your answer, you inhibit your ability to
receive guidance, and delay its arrival. In such a situation your wisest
move is to step back from frenetic activity and return to peace. I once
needed to find a particular document to resolve a financial snafu. I
searched for it nervously, and only grew more confused and frustrated.
Finally I realized I was getting nowhere and decided to sit down and
meditate to clear my mind. I let go of trying to locate the paper, and
relaxed. Toward the end of my meditation, an image popped into my
mind, showing me a certain folder toward the rear of a file cabinet.
I looked in the folder and there was the document.

I use a very successful method to receive guidance. I call it "The Truth
Smoke-Out." Whenever I am not sure what to do, I say to the universe,
"Just show me what I am to do here. I am willing to do whatever is in
the best interest of everyone involved. Give me a clue, and I will
follow."
Then I release the situation. I give up any preconceived notion about
how this is supposed to turn out, and when I am supposed to know.
Sometimes the answer comes instantly, and sometimes it takes a while.
But it always comes.

In the Greek version of the Bible, the first translation from the
original
Aramaic, two different words are used for our word "time." One is
chronos, which is equivalent to our understanding of time in seconds,
Œminutes, and hours. The other word is kairos, which can best be
translated as "in God's time" or "at the right time" or "when the time
is ripe." In our culture we are used to living in chronos. But there
is an
entirely more important element of time, which is timing. That's kairos.
Practice living in kairos, and answers arrive at the perfect time. God
is
at least as smart as the person who put the signs up for the party.

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@....

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

"There is an abundance of value hidden inside of you, more than you
could
possibly imagine. Yet as long as you continue to follow the same old
routine, seeing the same people every day, sitting in front of the TV,
never
venturing out of your comfort zone, that value will remain hidden and
unreachable. The way to uncover your hidden value is to put yourself
on the
line, to get involved in life. Attempt something challenging, meet new
people, stretch your limits, see new places, and subject yourself to new
experiences. Challenge and intensity will uncover in you skills,
talents,
abilities and interests you never knew you had. You are full of
wonderful
possibilities. Do something with them. The most painful regrets, those
which
never go away, are regrets for things not done, things never attempted.

"There is a strength in you that has never been used. There are ideas
you've
formed which have never been articulated. There is a passion in you
which
has never been allowed to burn. There are possibilities in you which
have
never been considered. There is wisdom in you which you've never
touched. No
matter what your age or experience, there are aspects of your life
which lie
hidden because you have not yet learned to value them. The more you
value
something, the more you get out of it. That is particularly true when it
comes to your own life. What value do you place on your time, your
learning,
your commitments, your skills? Your values are evidenced not by wishful
thinking, but by the actions you take day after day. And your values are
evidenced by the results you get. Value your wonderful, creative self.
You
have more abundance than you could ever want or need, if only you'll
value
it enough to make the most of it.

"Every day is an opportunity to live, to really live and experience.
Grab
that opportunity today, and make the most of it. Live the abundance
that you
already have. Claim the richness of life that is yours even now. Be the
passionate, fully alive person you were born to be. Live your unique
value
and delight in the wonder and beauty of it all."

Ralph Marsten of http://GreatDay.com:
Words of wisdom from motivational author and publisher, Ralph Marsten.

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

The Sandpiper
by Robert Peterson

She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I
live.
I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the
world
begins to close in on me.  She was building a sandcastle or something
and
looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.
"Hello," she said.
I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small
child.
"I'm building," she said.
"I see that.  What is it?" I asked, not really caring.
"Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand."
That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.
A sandpiper glided by.
"That's a joy," the child said.
"It's a what?"
"It's a joy.  My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy."
The bird went gliding down the beach.  Good-bye joy, I muttered to
myself,
hello pain, and turned to walk on.  I was depressed, my life seemed
completely out of balance.
"What's your name?" She wouldn't give up.
"Robert," I answered.  "I'm Robert Peterson."
"Mine's Wendy...  I'm six." "Hi, Wendy." She giggled.
"You're funny," she said.
In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on.  Her musical giggle
followed me.  "Come again, Mr.  P," she called.  "We'll have another
happy
day."
After a few days of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings, and an
ailing mother.  The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out
of
the dishwater.  I need a sandpiper, I said to myself, gathering up my
coat.

The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me.  The breeze was
chilly
but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.
"Hello, Mr.  P," she said.  "Do you want to play?"
"What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.
"I don't know, you say."
"How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.
The tinkling laughter burst forth again.  "I don't know what that is."
"Then let's just walk."
Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face.  "Where
do you
live?" I asked.
"Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.
Strange, I thought, in winter.
"Where do you go to school?" "I don't go to school.  Mommy says we're on
vacation."

She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my
mind was
on other things.  When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy
day.
Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.

Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic.  I
was in
no mood to even greet Wendy..  I thought I saw her mother on the porch
and
felt like demanding she keep her child at home.
"Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with
me, "I'd
rather be alone today." She seemed unusually pale and out of breath.
"Why?" she asked.
I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" and thought, My
God,
why was I saying this to a little child?
"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day."
"Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and--oh, go away!"
"Did it hurt?" she inquired.
"Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with myself.
"When she died?"
"Of course it hurt!" I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in
myself.  I
strode off.

A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't
there..
Feeling guilty, ashamed and admitting to myself I missed her, I went
up to
the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door.  A drawn looking
young
woman with honey-colored hair opened the door.
"Hello," I said, "I'm Robert Peterson.  I missed your little girl
today and
wondered where she was."
"Oh yes, Mr.  Peterson, please come in.  Wendy spoke of you so much.
I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you.  If she was a nuisance, please,
accept my apologies."
"Not at all -- she's a delightful child." I said, suddenly realizing
that I
meant what I had just said.

"Wendy died last week, Mr.  Peterson.  She had leukemia.  Maybe she
didn't
tell you."
Struck dumb, I groped for a chair.  I had to catch my breath "She
loved this
beach so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no.
She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy
days.
But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly..." Her voice faltered,
"She
left something for you ...  if only I can find it.
Could you wait a moment while I look?"
I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely
young
woman.  She handed me a smeared envelope with "MR.  P" printed in bold
childish letters.  Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a
yellow
beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird.

Underneath was carefully printed: A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.
Tears welled up in my eyes and a heart that had almost forgotten to love
opened wide.  I took Wendy's mother in my arms.  "I'm so sorry, I'm so
sorry, I'm so sorry," I muttered over and over, and we wept together.
The
precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study.  Six
words --one for each year of her life -- that speak to me of harmony,
courage, and undemanding love.  A gift from a child with sea blue eyes
and
hair the color of sand -- who taught me the gift of love.


NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson. It happened
over 20 years ago and the incident changed his life forever. It serves
as a reminder to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy
living and life and each other. The price of hating other human
beings is loving oneself less. Life is so complicated, the hustle
and bustle of everyday traumas can make us lose focus about what
is truly important or what is only a momentary setback or crisis.
This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by
all means, take a moment...even if it is only ten seconds, to stop
and smell the roses. This comes from someone's heart,
and is shared with many and now I share it with you.

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

LOOKING FOR DIAMONDS

Albert Einstein said "In the middle of every difficulty lies
opportunity." Once discovered, such opportunities are like
valuable diamonds hidden in the sand.

When I was a church pastor, a man stopped by my office to see me.
He held out his hand and in it was a small, plastic gem stone. "I
stepped on this gem stone when I was leaving church last Sunday,"
he explained. "It became lodged in the soul of my shoe. You had
spoken about how we are surrounded by diamonds -- we only need
to recognize them. I put the plastic stone in my pocket to remind
me to recognize the "diamonds" that I need.

"I have been trying to sell my business. On Monday morning, a man
stopped by who seemed interested in purchasing my stock. I
thought, 'Here's my diamond - don't let it get away!' I sold the
entire stock to him by noon.

"Now," he said through a broad smile, "my next diamond is to find
a new job!"

Not long afterward, he did find his new job. And he resolved to
keep his gem stone with him from then on as a reminder to look
for diamonds in every situation.

Richard DeVos is accurate when he points out, "This is an
exciting world. It is cram-packed with opportunity. Great moments
wait around every corner." Those moments are diamonds that, if
left unrecognized, will be forever lost.

Are you looking for diamonds every day? If not, you may easily
pass them by!

Perhaps there is a diamond of opportunity hidden in that
difficulty you're experiencing now.

© 2001 Steve Goodier

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

A kindergarten teacher was observing
her classroom of children while they drew.
She would occasionally walk around to see each child's artwork.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently,
she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."

The teacher paused and said, "but no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat or looking up from her drawing
the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

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

Recovery

I came to detox without a wink of sleep,
looking only at you, and not at me.
Thinking you were the problem, it wasn't me.
You belong here, I don't! You kidding me?
A junkie! A drunk! I just couldn't be.
But when I heard your story, I thought of me.
In a few more days, without any sleep,
my eyes were open, now I could see
that there wasn't a price, or even a fee
to sit here with you, and look at me.
God, Give me the strength to wonder,
to wonder if I'm free.
Give me a sense of wonder
to know that I can be me.
I'll take off my mask and let you see
all these defects, that make up me.
Each and every day, I see
I can't, but can WE?
And they say that it's God,
through you, he's helping me.

anonymous

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

Just beyond the night,
another day is breaking,
bringing hope to all.
D. Hockaday (haiku)

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

Raindrops fall down hard
Cooling off the hot pavement
Rainbows shine for me
J. Williams (haiku)

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

You are the only
flower of meditation
in the wilderness.
Bobbylips (haiku)

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

Newness opens eyes
Be in love at peace with all
Travel to know joy
Tara (haiku)

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

Recovery is not for the people who need it,
it's not even for the people who want it,
it's for the people who DO it.

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

If faith without works is dead;
Willingness without action is fantasy

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

Give it up,
Clean it up,
Make it up,
Keep it up.

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

Trace it,
Face it,
Erase it,
Replace it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

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

Depressed Anonymous
www.depressedanon.com

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
www.naranon.com

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
www.spenders.org/home.html

Suicide Anonymous
www.geocities.com/samemphis

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*@¿@*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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         ==  ==      "we are each of us angels
    <^\()/\()/^>       with but one wing,
        \/  \/  \/       and can only fly by
         /  \/  \        embracing each other"
         `""``""`

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

Tradition 2
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/trads2002/trad02.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
Each month we will share on a step and spiritual principles of the step.
Since it is April, the 4th month, PLEASE share on the 4th step
If you haven’t done the 4th step with your sponsor
Please share on honesty and courage...

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 otherwise your emails will bounce

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 is a SLAMMING, STRONG support group with
a whole lot of EXPERIENCE, LOVE and HOPE that is available to you.
This a message bulletin board meeting, where people post on the
weekly topic. It takes only 1 minute to enter a password and
username. Please go this page on the upper right hand corner and click
the join club link, sign in and go to the left hand side and click
messages to read what others have shared and click on the post link,
now you can share on the topic of the week or whatever you would like.
There is a lot of good experience, strength and hope in here as well
as newcomers who need our support and love, PLEASE stop by,
we will leave the light on in the room and there is coffee in the
back :)
Thanks for your participation and support !!!

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

April 6
Today I am breaking out of old patterns,
rewriting old tapes and letting my life flow with joy and love.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
www.spirithaven.com
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Walking In The Light

Today only by Gods grace
I am walking in the light
Today by Gods grace
I live my life right
Each day
That God grants me
I try give to Him my best
Then as the sun goes down
I say a prayer and get my rest
I try to give Him honor
In all of my ways
Walking in the light
I give to Him my praise
These are truly better times you see
I learned how to live like this in recovery
It is by Gods love
Inside His mercy and grace
That I am able today to live free
It takes time for us to see
We are truly blessed
Inside of recovery
Walking in the light
We carry this message
Of love strength and hope
Teaching others how we cope
Walking in the light

Daniel M Corkery
4/3/2004
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Detox (A poem for relapse prevention)
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=429

Who Invented A.A. ?
gsowatch.aamo.info/1938/index.htm

The Circle & Triangle
www.anonymityone.com/story60.htm

Comes A Dawn
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=518

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.bluesbuddha.com/home.html

One Day At A Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iIq3Tm44A

Recovery Gifts, Bracelets, T-Shirts, Mugs and other GREAT gifts
http://www.serenityquest.org/60.html

Spiritual Greeting Cards, Bookmarks & Spirit Stones
http://www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Ruth Fishel Books and Tapes
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksa.htm
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Make A Meeting*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just For Today
April 6                                             Growing Honestly

"On a practical level, changes occur because what's appropriate to
one phase of recovery may not be for another."   Basic Text p. 101

When we first came to Narcotics Anonymous, many of us had no
legitimate occupation. Not all of us suddenly decide we're going
to become honest and productive model citizens the moment
we arrive in NA. But we soon find, in recovery, that we are not
so comfortable doing many of the things we once
did without a second thought when we were using.

As we grow in our recovery, we begin to be honest in matters that
probably hadn't bothered us when we used. We start returning
extra change a cashier may have given us by mistake, or
admitting when we hit a parked car Wen find that if we can begin
to be honest in these small ways the bigger tests of our honesty
become much easier to handle.

Many of us came here with very little capacity to be honest. But
we find that as we work the Twelve Steps, our lives begin to
change. We are no longer comfortable when we benefit at the
expense of others. And we can feel good about our newfound
honesty.

Just for today: I will examine the level of honesty in my life and
see if I'm comfortable with it.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Food For Thought Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

Each Day a New Beginning (Women) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_eachday

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_touchstone

Meditation of the Day
http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/thought.view

Viking Thought of the Day
http://www.gorm.com/cgi-local/daily.pl

Elder's Meditation of the Day
http://www.whitebison.org/meditation/

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

Daily Zen
http://www.dailyzen.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Teaching Is Never Ever

Abandon yourself to God as you understand God.  Admit your faults to Him
and to your fellows.  Clear away the wreckage of your past.  Give
freely of
what you find and join us.  We shall be with you in the Fellowship of
the
Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of
Happy
Destiny.  May God bless you and keep you-until then.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 164

These words put a lump in my throat each time I read them.  In the
beginning it was because I felt, "Oh no! The teaching is over.  Now
I'm on
my own.  It will never be this new again." Today I feel deep affection
for
our A.A. pioneers when I read this passage, realizing that it sums up
all
of what I believe in, and strive for, and that -- with God's blessing --
the teaching is never over, I'm never on my own, and every day is
brand new.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ April 6th

A.A. Thought for the Day

All alcoholics have personality problems.  They drink to
escape from life, to counteract feelings of loneliness or
inferiority, or because of some emotional conflict within
them, so that they cannot adjust themselves to life.
Alcoholics cannot stop drinking unless they find a way to
solve their personality problems.  That's why going on
the wagon doesn't solve anything.  That's why taking the
pledge usually doesn't work.  Was my personality problem
ever solved by going on the wagon or taking the pledge?

Meditation for the Day

God irradiates your life with the warmth of His spirit.  You
must open up like a flower to this divine irradiation.  Loosen
your hold on earth, its cares, and its worries.  Unclasp your
hold on material things, relax your grip, and the tide of
peace and serenity will flow in.  Relinquish every material
thing and receive it back again from God.  Do not hold on
to earth's treasures so firmly that your hands are too
occupied to clasp God's hands as He holds them out to you
in love.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be open to receive God's blessing.  I pray
that I may be willing to relinquish my hold on material things
and receive them back from God.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

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

Today's Thought
APRIL 06

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

Patience

How sick and tired we may become of people telling us to be
patient or to learn patience. How frustrating it can be to want
to finally have something, or to move forward, and then not
have that happen. How irritating to have someone tell us to
wait while our needs have not been met and were in the
midst of anxiety, frustration, and inaction.

Do not confuse the suggestion to be patient with the old rule
about not having feelings.

Being patient does not mean we go through the sometimes-
grueling process of life and recovery without having feelings!
Feel the frustration. Feel the impatience. Get as angry as you
need to about not having your needs met. Feel your fear.

Controlling our feelings will not control the process!

We find patience by surrendering to our feelings. Patience
cannot be forced. It is a gift, one that closely follows
acceptance and gratitude. When we work through our feelings
to fully accept who we are and what we have, we
will be ready to be and have more.

Today, I will let myself have my feelings while I practice patience.

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

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

Causes Of Eating Disorders
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/04/eating-disorders.htm

Nothing Short of Passion, Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/1999/January/0199-10.htm

An Exclusive Interview by Veronica M. Hay with
MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
www.intouchmag.com/marianne.html

Inspirational movie, about 3 minutes long
http://www.lightmovie.com/

Inspirational Spiritual Flash Movies
http://www.inspiringthots.net/m-all.htm

Has Anyone Told You
http://www.hasanyonetoldyou.com/

meditationroom
http://www.lime.com/meditation_room

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Bashing Down Walls
by Marie T. Russell

Marie T. RussellSometimes when things don't go the way I want, rather
t