A MUST WATCH MUSIC VIDEO
Joe Walsh - The Eagles- One Day at a Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5M41auTyX8


Dating in Recovery
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/dating.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 December the 12th month, PLEASE share
on the 12th step If you haven’t done the 12th step with your
sponsor Please share on Service, Selflessness and Commitment.....

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

December 2
No matter what is going on in my life today,
I can always find something for which to be grateful.
When I stop and think about this and make a gratitude list,
there is no room for depression or self pity.
There is so much to be grateful for today.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Please Listen
By Dr. Neil Chadwick

When I ask you to listen to me and you start giving me
advice, you have not done what I asked.

When I ask you to listen to me and you begin to tell me
why I shouldn't feel that way, you are trampling on my
feelings.

When I ask you to listen to me and you feel you have to
do something to solve my problem, you have failed me,
strange as that may seem.

Listen! All I ask is that you listen. Don't talk or do -
just hear me. Advice is cheap; 20 cents will get you
both Dear Abby and Billy Graham in the same newspaper.

And I can do for myself; I am not helpless. Maybe
discouraged and faltering, but not helpless.

When you do something for me that I can and need to do
for myself, you contribute to my fear and inadequacy.

But when you accept as a simple fact that I feel what I
feel, no matter how irrational, then I can stop trying
to convince you and get about this business of
understanding what's behind this irrational feeling.

And when that's clear, the answers are obvious and I
don't need advice. Irrational feelings make sense when
we understand what's behind them.

Perhaps that's why prayer works - because God seldom
speaks in an audible voice, and He doesn't force His
way.

God listens and lets you work it out with His caring
assistance.

So please listen, and just hear me. And if you want to
talk, wait a minute for your turn - and I will listen
to you.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Definition of Unconditional Love
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=920

The Right Spiritual Path
www.barefootsworld.net/aafullcontact.html

Time To Learn
www.storybin.com/sponsor/sponsor100.shtml

A Happy Cat
www.storybin.com/sponsor/sponsor101.shtml

A call for better communication
N.A. Way Magazine 4/1999
www.na.org/naway/en/naway162-7.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
December 2                               Recovery: Our First Priority

"We have to keep our recovery first and our priorities in order"
    Basic Text p. 79

   Before coming to NA, we used many excuses to justify our use
of drugs: "He yelled at me" "She said this." "My partner left." "I got
fired." We used these same excuses for not seeking help for our
drug problem. We had to realize that these things kept happening
because we kept using drugs. Only when we made recovery our
first priority did these situations begin to change.

   We may be subject to the same tendency today, using excuses
for not attending meetings and being of service. Our current
excuses may be of a different nature: "I can't leave my kids."
"My vacation wore me out." "I have to finish this project so I can
impress my boss." But still, if we don't make recovery our first
priority, chances are that we won't have to worry about these
excuses anymore. Kids, vacations, and jobs probably won't be
in our lives if we relapse.

   Our recovery must come first. Job or no job, relationship or no
relationship, we have to attend meetings, work the steps, call our
sponsor, and be of service to God and others. These simple actions
are what make it possible for us to have vacations, families, and
bosses to worry about. Recovery is the foundation of our lives,
making everything else possible.

Just for today: I will keep my priorities in order. Number One on
the list is 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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

LET GO AND LET GOD

. . . praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to
carry
that out.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 96

When I "Let Go and Let God," I think more clearly and wisely. Without
having to think about it, I quickly let go of things that cause me
immediate pain and discomfort.  Because I find it hard to let go of the
kind of worrisome thoughts and attitudes that cause me immense
anguish, all I need do during those times is allow God, as I understand
Him, to release them for me, and then and there, I let go of the
thoughts, memories and attitudes that are troubling me.

   When I receive help from God, as I understand Him, I can live my life
one day at a time and handle whatever challenges that come my way.
Only then can I live a life of victory over alcohol, in comfortable
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 / December 2nd

A.A. Thought for the Day

The thoughts that come before having a slip seem to
be partly subconscious.  And yet it is likely that at least
part of these thoughts get into our consciousness.  An
idle thought connected with drinking casually pops into
our mind.  That is the crucial moment.  Will I harbor that
thought even for one minute or will I banish it from my
mind at once?  If I let it stay, it may develop into a
daydream.  I may begin to see a cool glass of beer or a
Manhattan cocktail in my mind's eye.  If I allow the
daydream to stay in my mind, it may lead to a decision,
however unconscious, to take a drink.  Then I am headed
for a slip.  Do I let myself daydream?

Meditation for the Day

Many of us have a sort of vision of the kind of person God
wants us to be.  We must be true to that vision, whatever
it is, and we must try to live up to it, by living the way we
believe we should live.  We can all believe that God has a
vision of what He wants us to be like.  In all people there
is a good person whom God sees in us, the person we could
be and that God would like us to be.  But many a person
fails to fulfill that promise and God's disappointments
must be many.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may strive to be the kind of a person that God
would have me be.  I pray that I may try to fulfill God's
vision of what I could be.

"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
DECEMBER 02, 2005

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

Putting Our Life on Hold

We cannot afford to put our needs on hold, waiting for another
person to fulfill us, make our life better, or come around and
be who and what we want that person to be. That will create
resentment, hostility, an unhealthy dependency, and a mess
to deal with later on.

If we have decided we want a particular relationship or want to
wait about making a decision in a particular relationship, then
we must go on with our own life in the interim.

That can be hard. It can feel natural to put our life on hold. That
is when we get caught up in the codependent beliefs: That
person can make me happy... I need that particular person to
do a particular thing in order to be happy....

That's a circumstance that can hook our low self-esteem, our
self-doubt, and our tendency to neglect ourselves.

We can get into this situation in a number of ways. We can do
this waiting for a letter, waiting for a job, waiting for a person,
waiting for an event.

We do not have to put our life on hold. There will be
repercussions from doing this. Go on with your life. Take life a
day at a time.

What is something I could be doing now to take care of myself,
make myself feel better, get my needs met in an appropriate,
healthy way?

How can I own my power to take care of myself, despite what
the other person is or isn't doing?

What will happen if I break the system and begin taking care
of myself?

Sometimes, we get the answer we want immediately.
Sometimes, we wait for a while. Sometimes, things don't work
out exactly the way we hoped. But they always work out for
good, and often better than we expected.

And in the meantime, we have manifested love for ourselves
by living our own life and taking the control away from others.
That always comes back to us tenfold, because when we
actually manifest love for ourselves, we give our Higher Power,
other people, and the Universe permission to send us the love
we want and need. Stopping living our life to make a thing
happen doesn't work. All it does is make us miserable,
because we have stopped living our life.

Today, I will force myself, if necessary, to live my own life. I will
act in my own best interest, in a way that reflects self-love. If
I have given power or control of my life to someone other than
myself, and someone besides a Power greater than myself, I
will take it back. I will begin acting in my own best interests,
even if it feels awkward to do that.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Living with REAL Spirit…
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/11/real-spirit.htm

The U.S. Department of Peace Campaign and the Spiritual Path
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2006/December/feature2.html

Manifesting… Redefining The Boundaries
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2005/12/manifesting.htm

ANNUAL SELF-NURTURING
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/June/vissell.htm

What Is Love? , Alan Cohen
www.expressionsofsoul.com/article-Alan-WhatIslove.htm

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Numb And Number
by Alan Cohen

I have a confession to make. I went to see the movie, Dumb
and Dumber. Even more astounding, I liked it. Even beyond
belief: I found at least two metaphysical lessons (which
proves that God must be everywhere). There is a scene in
which Jim Carrey declares his love to the woman of his dreams.
On the heels of his revelation he asks her, "What are my chances
with you -- one in ten?" She thinks for a moment and answers,
"More like one in a million." Garrey becomes very serious
and begins to breathe deeply. The woman steps back in fear
that he may hurt her. Instead, a huge grin spreads over his
face as he gleefully spouts, "Wow! I have a chance!"
Sometimes, dumb is smarter.

Our purpose is not to go out
and hustle up our good,
but to accept the blessings
being showered upon us now.

And sometimes it is not. In a later scene, Carrey and his
sidekick,  Jeff Daniels (It's hard to tell who is actually dumber)
are stranded along the side of a desert road, when a busload
of bikini-clad beauties pulls over.

Three awesome babes descend and ask the duo where they
can find two guys to travel with the bus for a few months and
spread oil on the ladies before their suntan lotion
demonstrations. Dumb (or was it dumber?) tells the ladies,
"There's a town three miles down the road that way." The babes,
disappointed that these guys didn't take the hint, chug off, leaving
our anti-heroes in a cloud of dust. Carrey turns to his buddy
and says, "You know, Harry, some guys have all the luck. I
hope and pray that one day the same good fortune might come
to us."

Set No Limits

Sometimes the opportunity we have been waiting for is trying to
crawl into our lap. If, however, we have a preconceived notion
about how it should be, or if our attention is elsewhere, or if we
are in fear, we may not recognize it. Sometimes our good is
rushing to us from all angles, and we do not know it. Our
purpose is not to go out and hustle up our good, but to accept
the blessings being showered upon us now.

Arthur Boem was an Australian developer who dreamed of
constructing a great pipeline to carry water from a mountain
reservoir to the dry Perth desert. For years, Arthur planned
the project, negotiated funding, and engaged in a long and
arduous construction project. Finally the day came when the
valves were to be opened to the current flow that would
change the life of Perth forever. Boem and his associates
stood at the end of the pipeline to enjoy the momentous
beginning of the stream. But there was no water. The
pipeline was a failure, Boem reasoned. Embarrassed and
frustrated, Boem went into despair and the next day someone
found him dead at his own hand. His sense of failure was so
great that he could not go on living.

But that is not the end of the story. The next day someone
noticed a few drops of water at the mouth of the pipeline.
And the next day, more. Within a short time the water was
gushing in great abundance. The pipeline, you see, was
actually a success; it just took longer for the water to come
through the channel than Boem expected. Sadly, he was
not there to see his achievement flourish.

Often we may pray or work toward a dream without
apparent results. The key word here is apparent. Sometimes
it takes a while for our dreams to be delivered, often with
good reason. We must trust that Spirit has a timing that
supersedes our own idea of how and when things should
happen.

Personal Lessons Abound

When I was writing The Healing of the Planet Earth, I set a
deadline for when the book was to be finished. (The word
deadline is aptly chosen; often it is the noose that strangles
our spirit.) As the time approached, I worked more and more
feverishly with diminishing returns. The quality of the material
was weakened and I became ill. On the day I had chosen
for the book's completion, I was in bed with the flu; I had
run my batteries down, and the universe forced me to stop
trying to buck the tide of life.

Fortunately, I got the message and surrendered.. I gave up
my idea of how and when it should happen, and allowed God
to take over the project. I continued to work on the book at a
more relaxed pace, and soon the quality of material returned
to a high and rewarding standard. Eventually the book came
out, and I understood why it had to wait. During the time I
continued to write it, I grew so much that my next stage of
consciousness was imbued in the pages. If I had forced the
book to come out in my time schedule, there would have
been no improvement over my last rendering; it would have
just been the same material in a different form -- and what is
the use of doing the same thing again? I would rather do
nothing until I could do it better.

Because we are created in the image and likeness of God, we
cannot be dumb; but because we have free will, we can be
numb. Kabir said, "I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water
is thirsty." At this moment we are literally swimming in a sea
of blessings; let us not miss them. Let us say yes to love.

Alan Cohen, M.A., is the author of 20 bestselling inspirational
books and CD's, including the best-selling The Dragon Doesn't
Live Here Anymore and the award-winning A Deep Breath of
Life. He is a contributing writer for the New York Times
bestselling series Chicken Soup for the Soul. Alan's syndicated
column, From The Heart, appears in new thought magazines
internationally. Visit his website at www.alancohen.com.

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

Learn The Way

Welcome to the program of recovery
Welcome to the world of discovery
This is the path
We used to break free
This is the path
We used to clearly see
Come sit for awhile and listen
We'll show you
What you've been missing
Welcome and here have  a seat
In here we do not compete
Just stop using
What ever you've been abusing
For today
We can do anything
This way
First we learn to listen
Then before long
We listen to learn
We will love you
An help you to stay
Until you learn
To give it away
Turn to the God
Of your understanding
He will be the one
Who will be handing
You the keys to break free
This program is
For you and me
Learn to do it just for today
Before to long
You to will say
It is great to be free
By Gods grace today
I can be me

Daniel M Corkery
DMCDREAMER@...
7/10/2001
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

I Had a Friend

I Had a friend
A beautiful friend
She fed me when I was hungry
She clothed me when I had nothing
She gave of herself
I gave her my heart

A disease attacked my friend
Ravaged her soul
Stolen her Spirit
Took away her heart
It could have destroyed her body
Taken her from this earth

I told her she was sick
Now she is angry
I know she is hurt
I cannot repair what the disease destroyed
Only she can do that
I hurts to loose her

I had another friend
She too saw her disease
She gave me much too
I had her for awhile
Now she too is angry
I fear I have lost her too

She is gone into anger
I never meant to hurt her
It wasn't the middle I meant to put her
I asked as someone who still cares
Who still loves that which has been lost
To her I am sorry

I couldn't watch my friend hurt
I shared with her my fears
I wanted her to get help
I couldn't watch my friend die
I cannot fix her pain
For her I pray each day

For my other friend too
I will pray for her each day
I am sorry she feels hurt
I cannot make that go away
For myself too I should pray
That a little more each day
I will find the hope
That my friends so freely gave before
That a loving Father God
Will guide us on our way

Portia Nelson
"I walk down a different street"
pattikelli@...

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

Appreciative words are the most powerful force for good on earth!
George W. Crane

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

When life seems just a dreary grind;
and things seem fated to annoy;
say something nice to someone else and
watch the world light up with joy.
Unknown

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

Love is not neutral.
It takes a stand.
It is a commitment to the attainment of the conditions of peace
for everyone involved in a situation.
Marianne Williamson

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

Psychologists tell us that every one of us
thinks an average of between
65,000 and 70,000 thoughts a day and 90 to 95%
of those thoughts are repetitive.
They're the same thoughts we've always thought
and they become the patterns of our thinking.
Thought patterns create the experiences of our lives.
Listen to your thoughts today.
Are they negative, self-limiting, self-diminishing?
Or are they radiant with joy and life and creativity?
We can change our thinking,
and we can change the pattern of our lives.
Herein lies the secret to authentic power.
   Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Put as much energy into Letting Go
as you have in trying to control.
You'll get much better results.

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

Awareness, Acceptance, Action

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

Hope is the thing with feathers...
that perches in the soul...
and sings the tune without words...
and never stops, at all.
Emily Dickinson

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

Instead of pointing a finger,
we should hold out our hand.

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

If it is going to help me stay clean,
Then I am sharing about it ! ! !
It is NOT an outside issue,
It is an INSIDE JOB !

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

My love is unconditional,
My emotions are not.

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

Feelings aren't facts,
But it's a fact that I feel.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

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

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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12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
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Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
YOUnMEnHP@...

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 7000 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
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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
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http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves
For we shall never cease to be amused.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 December the 12th month, PLEASE share
on the 12th step If you haven’t done the 12th step with your
sponsor Please share on Service, Selflessness and Commitment.....

(((Family))) a BIG hug to you ALL
I am guilty and have not posted on the weekly topic
in a LONG time, I am grateful for those who have
contributed and helped lift my spirits by carrying the message.
Sometimes I carry the message,
Sometimes the message carrys me.
I think it is VERY important for me to share on this topic
the 12th step, Service, Selflessness and Commitment
at this point in time, before the holidays.
They told me if I had the step in my life and I wasn't sharing on it,
Then I was STEALING, and if you steal you lose.
We can only keep what we have by giving it away.
  From where I came from,
96 lbs., homeless, penniless, hopeless, worthless
compared to where I am today, by the Grace of God
It is a MIRACLE,
Spiritual awakenings were many along the way

When the people in the Rooms of NA remembered my name at
my second meeting That was a spiritual awakening!

When people in the meeting asked me for my phone # and called
me even though I didn't call you.
That was a spiritual awakening!

When you nominated me to have a commitment at a group
That was a spiritual awakening!

When someone asked me to read How it Works at their birthday
celebration, That was a spiritual awakening!

When I had a little over 90 days clean and it was the end of the
day and I didn't think about using that whole day
That was a spiritual awakening!

There were many spiritual awakenings along the way
The 12th step talks about Having had a spiritual awakening
as a result of the steps.
When I came in the rooms, I thought so badly about myself,
that I thought that this program would work for you but it wouldn't
work for me.
The spiritual awakening that I had as a result of the steps
was that this program worked for me.
When I say I am an addict named Scott
I am letting you know I WAS a loser, who kept on trying
and YOU people believed in me and wanted to help me in my
recovery.

The second part of this step talks about that we "TRIED" to carry
this message to addicts and practice these principles in all of
our affairs. In steps 10, 11, and 12 the 3 most important words
from those steps are...
10- CONTINUED  , 11- IMPROVE  , 12- TRIED
This shows us, that it is about PROGRESS not perfection
and that this is a process not an event.

There are many ways that I can carry "THE" message
not my message, "THE message"

What is "THE message",
"THE message" is......
That an addict
ANY addict
Can Stop using
lose the desire to use
and find a new way to live.


I can carry "THE message" by being in a meeting and listening.

I can carry "THE message" by being in a meeting
and sharing that I want to use.
How is that carrying the message?
Because I am WILLING not to use (by sharing)
more than I want to use!!!!

I can carry "THE message" by making myself AVAILABLE to
someone in need, a newcomer or an oldtimer

I can carry "THE message" by LISTENING to someone,
so many times we ask people "How are you?"
and we don't even stick around and listen for the answer
we just keep walking.

I can carry "THE message" by ALWAYS saying YES when the
fellowship asks something from me.

I can carry "THE message" by GIVING people rides to and from
meetings

I can carry "THE message" by being AVAILABLE for the
meeting after the meeting

I can carry "THE message" by being involved in SERVICE.
As many different people are in the rooms of our 12 step fellowships
Just that many ways, are there to be involved in service,
The most important thing is that we as individuals
find an area that we are comfortable with and participate.
(Homegroup service, Coffee, secretary, chairperson, treasurer, greeter,
or being there for the newcomer and calling them each day to let someone
know that YOU care!!! Area or District service, Hospitals and
Institutions,Public Information, Events and Activities, Conventions
Committees, Literature Review and Outreach are just a few other ways
to get involved)

The other part of this step talks about that we "TRIED"
to practice these principles in all of our affairs.
Its real easy to work the program on a good day.
Its real easy to be grateful when ya got a pocketful of money.
But how are you are working it when things get tough.
Once again, this is a program of progress,
and sometimes in order to make progress, we regress.
We take one step forward and 2 steps back,
But with the love of the people, that God puts in our lives
who encourage us to take the next step, and He puts the path beneath
our feet. We make it through, and then learn to be there for the next
guy.
It was told to me if you cant practice these principles in ALL of your
affairs, then you have too many affairs!!!!

I am hoping that others in this group will jump in and share their GIFTS
with the 12th step or the alternative topics.
This is the SEASON and the GIFT is in the GIVING!!!!!

If nobody told you that they love you today,
I do,
BUT also check who you are hanging out with!!!!

Keep Stepping
AND Stay in the Light,
In loving service,
Scott H. from N.Y. ~ cleandate 10/27/88
YOUnMEnHP@...

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

December  1
I am okay about me today and that is terrific.
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Outside Issue

in a fancy ballroom celebrating world AIDS day
there were only two recovered addicts with HIV
the others never made it, and jumped again to a needle
including the one who disclosed his status on the telly
money in his pocket, he threw his 3 months clean

in the fancy ballroom eight religious leaders led the prayers
together for the souls of those who died of AIDS
I tried to remember when did they ever lead prayers
together for all the addicts who overdosed and died
all asked for forgiveness of those who strayed from the path

but how wrong could kids stray from the path?
they never knew the way in the first place,
they jumped into that first drag and needle for the love of their
friends and oh, didn't we forget to tell them about life of drugs
and oh, we forgot to tell them about HIV and HCV

psst ... it's an outside issue, some addicts whisper
how can it be an outside issue, another shot back
bob and bill just never had to work with HIV nor HCV
how can a spiritual program not talk of life and death
and this outside issue is insane to begin with ....

that no addicts seeking recovery need to die
still, is life and death is an outside issue?
God forgive us for we do not see
we do not hear, we do not do
we do not care ... only wanting to want to care

when the Monk led the prayers, one
positive addict wrote to my cellphone,
what do we do now to get the others clean if
they can't talk about that ourside issue,
after all 'we' are all positive

when the priest led the prayer, another
positive addict wrote he lost his wife last night
could it be that she was also positive?
now the pretty 20 months old baby won't sleep
she kept calling her now rigid mother

recovering life ...
how and what do we recover ?
shards of the glass of life strewn
in chaos within the darkness without dawn
darkness without days that go straight into sun sets

candles burn into the night
melting with tears and finally died
however brief the candles were lit
let us celebrate life for this one night
and our spirits roam touching the love God

live and let live
love and be loved
in the drama of life and living
the Spirit touches the Love of God
that does not hate and does judge

December 1, 2002
World AIDS Day, Indonesia
written by Dania for YOUnMEnHP

www.joinred.com/news.asp
www.worldaidsday.org/default.asp
www.unaids.org/en/default.asp

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 AIDS Epidemic
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1060

Spirituality Is A Simple Way Of Living
www.barefootsworld.net/aaspiritualway.html

Gratitude Master Key
www.gogratitude.com/masterkey/

Something for everyone Members from around the
world converge on San Jose for WCNA-27
N.A. Way Magazine 4/1999
www.na.org/naway/en/naway162-6.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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


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

Just For Today
December 1                                      Life's rewards

"We begin to pray only for God's will for us. That way, we get
only what we are capable of handling."   Basic Text p. 47

   Imagine what might happen if God gave us everything we
wanted.  A fabulous new car, straight A's, a triple salary raise-
all ours without effort, just for the asking.

   Now imagine the problems that come along with unearned
riches, new luxury cars, and unmerited scholastic recognition.
What would we do with a huge salary raise that had been
granted for no reason? How would we handle our new
financial responsibilities? And how would we live up to that
raise? Could we ever make it appear that we deserve such pay
when we know we don't?

   What about that fantastic new car? Most come with expensive
insurance premiums and hefty maintenance costs. Are we
prepared to care for what we've asked for?

   Academic honors? Could we perform like A students after
we'd been given high marks we hadn't earned? What would
we do if we were exposed as frauds?

   When we talk to God, we need to remember that we live in the
real world. We earn rewards and learn to handle them as we
do. Confining our prayers to requests for knowledge of God's
will, the power to carry it out, and the ability to live with the
consequences will ensure that we get no more than we can
handle.

Just for today: I will pray only for knowledge of God's will and the
power to carry that out in the real world.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

Going With The Flow

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious
contact with God as we understood Him. .
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 96

The first words I speak when arising in the morning are, "I arise,
O God, to do Thy will." This is the shortest prayer I know and it is
deeply ingrained in me. Prayer doesn't change God's attitude toward
me; it changes my attitude toward God. As distinguished from
prayer, meditation is a quiet time, without words. To be centered is
to be physically relaxed, emotionally calm, mentally focused and
spiritually aware. One way to keep the channel open and to improve
my conscious contact with God is to maintain a grateful attitude.
On the days when I am grateful, good things seem to happen in my
life. The instant I start cursing things in my life, however, the flow
of good stops. God did not interrupt the flow; my own negativity did.

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 / December 1st

A.A. Thought for the Day

The thoughts that come before having a slip are
often largely subconscious.  It is a question whether
or not our subconscious minds ever become entirely
free from alcoholic thoughts as long as we live.  For
instance, some of us dream about being drunk when
we are asleep, even after several years of sobriety
\in A.A.  During the period of our drinking days, our
subconscious minds have been thoroughly conditioned
by our alcoholic way of thinking and it is doubtful if
they ever become entirely free of such thoughts during
our lifetime.  But when our conscious minds are fully
conditioned against drinking, we can stay sober and our
subconscious minds do not often bother us.  Am I still
conditioning my conscious mind?

Meditation for the Day

Having sympathy and compassion for all who are in
temptation, a condition that we are sometimes in, we
have a responsibility toward them.  Sympathy always
includes responsibility.  Pity is useless because it does
not have a remedy for the need.  But wherever our
sympathy goes, our responsibility goes too.  When we
are moved with compassion, we should go to the one in
need and bind up his wounds as best we can.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have sympathy for those in temptation.
I pray that I may have compassion for others' trials.

"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
DECEMBER 01

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

Letting People Be There for Us

Sometimes, we need nurturing. Sometimes, we need people to
support us.

Many of us have been deprived of support and nurturing for
so long we may not realize it's something we want and need.
Many of us have learned to block our stop ourselves from
getting what we want and need.

We may not reach out to have our needs met. We may be in
relationships with people who cannot or will not be available
to meet our needs. Or we may be in relationships with people
who would be happy to respond to a direct request from us.

We may have to give up something to do this. We may have
to let go of our martyr or victim role. If we ask for what we
want and need, and get those needs met, we will not be able
to punish people, or push them away later on, for disappointing
us.

We may have to let go of our fears enough to experience the
intimacy that will occur when we allow someone to love and
support us. We may even have to learn, one day at a time,
how to be happy and content.

Learn to let others be there for us.

Today, I will be open to identifying what I need from people,
and I will ask for what I want directly. I will let others be there
for 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dialing In Dates
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2007/11/alan-cohen.htm

Then What Will You Do?
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2005/12/alan-cohen.htm

Who I Am DOES Make A Difference
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2005/12/make-a%20difference.htm

You Already Know, Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/June/cohen.htm

A Public Proposal , By Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/07/alan-cohen.htm

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

The Recovery Process for inner child healing - through the fear

"It is not about getting "there" - not about destination.  It is about
learning and growing on our journey - it is about making enough
progress to have the capacity to enjoy "here" as much of the time
as possible.  Balance is a shifting, changing, constantly
fluctuating dance that we are learning to relax into - it cannot be
forced, it cannot be restricted by some arbitrary and rigid beliefs
about right and wrong.  It is about each of us following our own
path, our own Truth, in learning to align with the Truth that is Love."

"Because our ego was programmed to react to life from fear,
negativity, scarcity, and lack (again due to emotional trauma
we experienced, and the messages and role modeling of the
adults around us) the disease focuses on and magnifies fear -
and then it scrambles around trying to find something to cover
up and repress the very fear it is generating.  The disease
blows the fear way out of proportion and then leads us to
addictive and/or compulsive behavior as a way of stuffing
the fear.

This is the essence of the dysfunction.  We live our life reacting
to fear, and shame, that the disease empowers and then
"helps" us avoid by causing us to focus on something outside
of ourselves as the cause and/or the cure for the core place
within us where we feel empty - where we feel unlovable and
unworthy."

"I had to learn to accept, and honor, my fears and my resistance -
in order to stop fighting the growth process so much.  Then I
could start to align myself with the growth process and make
my experience of life easier and more enjoyable.  Then I could
start to understand that faith is not the absence of fear - faith is
having the courage to face my fears and walk through them
so that I can reach the next level of growth."

Emotional Balance - through the fear
By Robert Burney
http://www.joy2meu.com/Fear.html

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

Permission to Cry

Alone in the wheel of light at the dining room table,
surrounded by an otherwise darkened house, I sat
in tears.

Finally, I’d succeeded in getting both kids to bed.
A relatively new single parent, I had to be both
Mommy and Daddy to my two little children. I got
them both washed, accompanied by shrieks of delight,
crazy running around, laughing and throwing things.
More or less calmed down, they lay in their beds as
I gave each the prescribed five minutes of back rubs.
Then I took up my guitar and began the nighttime ritual
of folk songs, ending with "All the Pretty Little Horses,"
both kids’ favorite. I sang it over and over, gradually
reducing the tempo and the volume until they seemed
fully engaged in sleep.

A recently divorced man with full custody of his
children, I was determined to give them as normal and
stable a home life as possible. I put on a happy face
for them. I kept their activities as close to how they
had always been as I could. This nightly ritual was just
as it had always been with the exception that their
mother was now missing. There, I had done it again;
another night successfully concluded.

I had risen slowly, gingerly, trying to avoid making
even the least sound which might start them up again,
asking for more songs and more stories. I tiptoed out
of their room, closed the door part way, and went
downstairs.

Sitting at the dining room table, I slumped in my
chair, aware that this was the first time since I
came home from work that I’d been able to just sit
down. I had cooked and served and encouraged two
little ones to eat. I had done the dishes while
responding to their many requests for attention. I
helped my oldest with her second grade homework and
appreciated my youngest’s drawings and oohed over his
elaborate construction of Lego blocks. The bath,
the stories, the backrubs, the singing and now, at
long last, a brief moment for myself. The silence
was a relief, for the moment.

Then it all crowded in on me: the fatigue, the weight
of the responsibility, the worry about bills I wasn’t
sure I could pay that month. The endless details of
running a house. Only a short time before, I’d been
married and had a partner to share these chores,
these bills, these worries.

And loneliness. I felt as though I were at the bottom
of a great sea of loneliness. It all came together and
I was at once lost, overwhelmed. Unexpected,
convulsive sobs overtook me. I sat there,
silently sobbing.

Just then, a pair of little arms went around my
middle and a little face peered up at me. I looked
down into my five-year-old son’s sympathetic face.

I was embarrassed to be seen crying by my son.
"I’m sorry, Ethan, I didn’t know you were still
awake. " I don’t know why it is, but so many people
apologize when they cry and I was no exception.
"I didn’t mean to cry. I’m sorry. I’m just a
little sad tonight."

"It’s okay, Daddy. It’s okay to cry, you’re
just a person."

I can’t express how happy he made me, this little
boy, who in the wisdom of innocence, gave me permission
to cry. He seemed to be saying that I didn’t have to
always be strong, that it was occasionally possible to
allow myself to feel weak and let out my feelings.

He crept into my lap and we hugged and talked for a
while, and I took him back up to his bed and tucked
him in. Somehow, it was possible for me to get to sleep
that night, too. Thank you, my son.

By Hanoch McCarty from A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1997 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Hanoch
McCarty & Meladee McCarty

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

Living the N.A. Way

Come in, Sit down
Unburden your heart
You'll laugh, you'll cry
You'll make a clean start.

Just listen and learn
  From those with advice,
Maybe something you hear
Might just save your life.

For what they have learned
They are willing to share
Their openness & Honesty
Are the badges they wear.

With hope for the future,
And Just for Today,
I've found a new life
Living the NA Way.

written by ~ Jean O.   10/18/02
Renabrat81194@...

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

For it is not physical solitude that
actually separates one from others,
not physical isolation, but spiritual isolation.
It is not the desert island nor the stony wilderness
that cuts you from the people you love.
It is the wilderness in the mind,
the desert wastes in the heart through which
one wanders lost and a stranger.

When one is a stranger to oneself then one is
estranged from others too.  If one is out of touch
with oneself, then one cannot touch others.

Only when one is connected to one's own core
is one connected to others, I am beginning to discover.
And, for me, the core, the inner spring, can best
be refound through solitude.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Gifts From the Sea
1955

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

Lost Time

Smoke a joint, drink a beer
Try this next, we call it crack
Oh my God, that stuff was great
I tried it once and never looked back

I thought I could handle it
All my life I was tough
But my life got out of hand
More and more was never enough

My addiction enslaved me
Wrapped me up in its chain
I had nowhere to turn
All I had was the pain

I couldn't get out
I didn't have a choice
I had nothing left
Only the sound of the devil's voice

How did it happen
I was always so strong
The only words I knew
Were words to the devils song

He knew he owned me
He had me in his hold
I never had to struggle
For to him my soul was sold

I was lifted into heaven
And spent my life in hell
He had it all worked out
He played me so well

I could never break free
I knew I should have ran
But I gave myself to him
And he became my man

I made it out alive
Did what I had to do
I had to get out
Gave the devil his due

I put the pipe down
Forged a new path alone
Now live a clean life
Beyond the forbidden zone

I found my way out
I found my way free
Not using today
A new life to see

I don't have to go back
Now I live another way
I'm living drug free
Just for today

I do not talk of fiction
What I speak of is true
For if it happened to me
It can happen to you

KAREN H
KSAK@...

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

God Set Me Free

God let His light shine on me
He loved me enough to set me free
I've tried for so many  years
To over come my fears
Fear of people, places and things
In freedom my soul now sings
I was a drunk that stumbled about
I wanted freedom but could not get out
Jails, institutions and death waited for me
I was blind I could not see
First I learned to listen
Then listened to learn
I gave my God my soul
With AA and Him I'm finally whole
I was not blessed at the start
For I still had a lustful heart
It took years for this old man
To finally give up and understand
I was very sick and thick
I felt I needed to stay hip slick
I always felt I was so cool
My God knows I was a fool
Then one day God let His light shine on me
After years I could finally see
All I really wanted to be
Was me

Daniel M Corkery
10/30/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

He who loses money, loses much;
He who loses a friend, loses much more;
He who loses faith, loses all.
Eleanor Roosevelt

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*When We Hug We Pray*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Always teach by example.
John-Roger
(From: Walking with the Lord)

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

Meister Eckhardt said, "If there was only one prayer you could give,
one prayer, it should be 'Thank you, God.'"
Gratitude is more than good manners;
it is the means by which we exercise our heart,
giving thanks for what we formerly took for granted.
We can say, "Thank you, God, for helping a kid learn to read,"
or "Thank you for being there.
Even when everything seems to go wrong in my life,
I can still feel your Presence."
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

An error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.
Orlando A. Battista

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

The task ahead of us is never as great
as the Power within us.

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

No one can choose your mountain or tell you when to climb.
It's yours alone to challenge, at your own pace and time.

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

Life's precious moments don't have value,
unless they are shared.

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

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

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

The goal of recovery is balance,
but sometimes we get there by going to extremes.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

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

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

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

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

Anyone can subscribe to this free daily  e-zine by sending an
Email message to me and write subscribe in the subject line.

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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 7000 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
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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
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http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Contact
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/contact.html

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Have you finish working the 12 steps  ?
What did you work on next ?
Do you believe youve got a handle on the spiritual
principles behind the steps ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 30
Today I know my journey to
peace and serenity begins with me.
Today I have the faith and trust
to seek my answers from within.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Praying Hands

Back in the fifteenth century,
in a tiny village near Nuremberg,
lived a family with eighteen children.

Eighteen! In order merely to keep food
on the table for this mob,
the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession,
worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade
and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood.

Despite their seemingly hopeless condition,
two of Albrecht Durer the Elder's children had a dream.
They both wanted to pursue their talent for art,
but they knew full well that their father
would never be financially able to send
either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.

After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed,
the two boys finally worked out a pact.
They would toss a coin.
The loser would go down into the nearby mines and,
with his earnings, support his brother
while he attended the academy.
Then, when that brother who won the toss
completed his studies, in four years,
he would support the other brother at the academy,
either with sales of his artwork or,
if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.

They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church.
Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg.

Albert went down into the dangerous mines and,
for the next four years, financed his brother,
whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation.
Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils
were far better than those of most of his professors,
and by the time he graduated,
he was beginning to earn considerable fees
for his commissioned works.

When the young artist returned to his village,
the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn
to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming.
After a long and memorable meal,
punctuated with music and laughter,
Albrecht rose from his honored position
at the head of the table to drink a toast
to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice
that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition.

His closing words were, "And now, Albert,
blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn.
Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream,
and I will take care of you."

All heads turned in eager expectation
to the far end of the table where Albert sat,
tears streaming down his pale face,
shaking his lowered head from side to side
while he sobbed and repeated, over and over,
"No ...no ...no ...no."

Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks.
He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved,
and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek,
he said softly, "No, brother.
I cannot go to Nuremberg.
It is too late for me.

Look ... look what four years in the mines
have done to my hands!
The bones in every finger have been smashed
at least once, and lately I have been suffering
from arthritis so badly in my right hand
that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast,
much less make delicate lines on parchment
or canvas with a pen or a brush.
No, brother ... for me it is too late."

More than 450 years have passed.
By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits,
pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors,
charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings
hang in every great museum in the world,
but the odds are great that you,
like most people, are familiar with only one
of Albrecht Durer's works.

More than merely being familiar with it,
you very well may have a reproduction
hanging in your home or office.

One day, to pay homage to Albert
for all that he had sacrificed,
Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew
his brother's abused hands with palms together
and thin fingers stretched skyward.

He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands,"
but the entire world almost immediately
opened their hearts to his great masterpiece
and renamed his tribute of love

"The Praying Hands."

The next time you see a copy
of that touching creation,
take a second look. Let it be your reminder,
if you still need one,
that no one - no one - - ever makes it alone!

~Source 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Creed To Live By
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=954

Why Alcoholics Anonymous Is Spiritual ?
www.barefootsworld.net/aaspiritual.html

Starting Points
www.thegreatillusion.com/start.html

Fountain of Youth
www.thegreatillusion.com/fountain.html

Cause & Effect
www.thegreatillusion.com/cause&effect.html

NA in South Africa: A diamond in the rough
N.A. Way Magazine 4/1999
www.na.org/naway/en/naway162-5.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 30                                 Sharing The Real Me

"Sharing with others keeps us from feeling isolated and alone."
    Basic Text p. 81

   Intimacy is the sharing of our innermost thoughts and feelings with
another human being. Many of us long for the warmth and
companionship intimacy brings, but those things don't come without
effort. In our addiction, we learned to guard ourselves from others lest
they threaten our using. In recovery, we learn how to trust others.
Intimacy requires us to lower our defenses. To feel the closeness
intimacy brings, we must allow others to get close to us-the real us.

   If we are to share our innermost selves with others, we must first
have an idea of what those innermost selves are truly like. We regularly
examine our lives to find out who we really are, what we really want,
and how we really feel. Then, based on our regular inventories of
ourselves, we must be as completely and consistently honest with our
friends as we can be.

   Intimacy is a part of life, and therefore a part of living clean-and
intimacy, like everything in recovery, has its price. The painstaking
self-scrutiny intimacy calls for can be hard work. And the total honesty
of intimacy often brings its own complications. But the freedom from
isolation and loneliness that intimacy brings is well worth the effort.

Just for today: I seek the freedom from isolation and loneliness that
intimacy brings. Today, I will get to know "the real me" by taking a
personal inventory, and I will practice being completely honest with
another person.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

Avoiding Controversy

All history affords us the spectacle of striving nations and groups
finally torn asunder because they were designed for, or tempted
into, controversy.  Others fell apart because of sheer
self-righteousness while trying to enforce upon the rest of
mankind some millennium of their own specification.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 176

As an A.A. member and sponsor, I know I can cause real damage if
I yield to temptation and give opinions and advice on another's
medical, marital, or religious problems.  I am not a doctor, counselor,
or lawyer.  I cannot tell anyone how he or she should live; however,
I can share how I came through similar situations without drinking,
and how A.A.'s Steps and Traditions help me in dealing with my life.

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 / November 30th

A.A. Thought for the Day

We have slips in A.A. It has been said these are not
slips but premeditated drunks, because we have to
think about taking a drink before we actually take one.
The thought always comes before the act.  It is
suggested that people should always get in touch with
an A.A. before taking that first drink.  The failure to
do so, makes it probable that they had decided to take
the drink anyway.  And yet the thoughts that come before
taking a drink are often largely subconscious.  People
usually don't know consciously what made them do it.
Therefore, the common practice is to call these things
slips.  Am I on guard against wrong thinking?

Meditation for the Day

"The eternal God is thy refuge."  He is a sanctuary, a
refuge from the cares of life.  You can get away from the
misunderstanding of others by retiring into your own place
of meditation.  But from yourself, from your sense of
failure, your weakness, your shortcomings, whither can
you flee?  Only to the eternal God, your refuge, until the
immensity of His spirit envelops your spirit and it loses
its smallness and weakness and comes into harmony again
with His.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may lose my limitations in the immensity of
God's love.  I pray that my spirit may be in harmony with
His spirit.

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

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

Today's Thought
NOVEMBER 30

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

Detachment

One day, my son brought a gerbil home to live with us. We put it
in a cage. Some time later, the gerbil escaped. For the next six
months, the animal ran frightened and wild through the house.
So did we - chasing it.

"There it is. Get it!" we'd scream, each time someone spotted the
gerbil. I, or my son, would throw down whatever we were working
on, race across the house, and lunge at the animal hoping to
catch it.

I worried about it, even when we didn't see it. "This isn't right,"
I'd think. "I can't have a gerbil running loose in the house.
We've got to catch it. We've got to do something."

A small animal, the size of a mouse had the entire household in
a tizzy.

One day, while sitting in the living room, I watched the animal
scurry across the hallway. In frenzy, I started to lunge at it,
as I usually did, then I stopped myself.

No, I said, I'm all done. If that animal wants to live in the nooks
and crannies of this house, I'm going to let it. I'm done worrying
about it. I'm done chasing it. It's an irregular circumstance, but
that's just the way it's going to have to be.

I let the gerbil run past without reacting. I felt slightly
uncomfortable with my new reaction - not reacting - but I stuck
to it anyway.

I got more comfortable with my new reaction - not reacting. Before
long, I became downright peaceful with the situation. I had
stopped fighting the gerbil. One afternoon, only weeks after I
started practicing my new attitude, the gerbil ran by me, as it had
so many times, and I barely glanced at it. The animal stopped in its
tracks, turned around, and looked at me. I started to lunge at it. It
started to run away. I relaxed.

"Fine," I said. "Do what you want." And I meant it.

One hour later, the gerbil came and stood by me, and waited. I
gently picked it up and placed it in its cage, where it has lived
happily ever since. The moral of the story? Don't lunge at the
gerbil. He's already frightened, and chasing him just scares him
more and makes us crazy.

Detachment works.

Today, I will be comfortable with my new reaction - not reacting.
I will feel at peace.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

God's Wings
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/11/gods-wings.htm

Additional Commandments To Live By
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/11/additional-commandments.htm

Accepting Your Inner Monster
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2005/October/vissell.htm

Take What You Have and Make What You Want , By Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/06/alan-cohen.htm

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

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

The Dance

I have sent you my invitation,
The note inscribed on the palm of my hand by the fire of living.
Don't jump up and shout, "Yes,this is what I want!  Let's do it!"
Just stand up quietly and dance with me.

Show me how you follow your deepest desires,
Spiraling down into the ache within the ache,
And I will show you how I reach inward and open outward
To feel the kiss of the Mystery, sweet lips on my own, every day.

Don't tell me you want to hold the whole world in your heart.
Show me how you turn away from making another wrong without
Abandoning yourself when you are hurt and afraid of being unloved.

Tell me a story of who you are,
And see who I am in the stories I am living.
And together we will remember that each of us always has a choice.

Don't tell me how wonderful things will be someday.
Show me you can risk being completely at peace,
truly okay with the way things are right now in this moment,
And again in the next and the next and the next.

I have heard enough warrior stories of heroic daring.
Tell me how you crumble when you hit the wall,
The place you cannot go beyond by the strength of your  own will.
What carries you to the other side of that wall,
To the fragile beauty of your own humanness?

And after we have shown each other how we have set and kept the
Clear, healthy boundaries that help us live side by side with each
other,
Let us risk remembering that  we never stop silently loving
Those we once loved out loud.

Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance,
The places where you can risk letting the world break your heart,
And I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet
And the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again.

Show me how you take care of business
Without letting business determine who you are.
When the children are fed but still the voices within and around us
Shout that soul's desires have too high a price,
Let us remind each other that it is never about the money.

Show me how you offer to your people and the world
The stories and the songs you want our children's children to remember,
And I will show you how I struggle,
Not to change the world, but to love it.

Sit beside me in long moments of shared solitude,
Knowing both our  absolute  aloneness  and our undeniable belonging.
Dance with me in the silence and in the sound of small daily words,
Holding neither against me at the end of the day.

And when the sound of all the declarations of our sincerest
Intentions has died away on the wind,
Dance with me in the infinite pause before the next great inhale
Of the breath that is breathing us all into being,
Not filling the emptiness from the outside or from within.

Don't say,"Yes!"
Just  take my hand and dance with me.

Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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

Reflections

The possibilities you see in others, are possible for you as well.
The beauty you see around you, is your beauty.
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.

Author Unknown

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

WHEN?

When did you last lie on your back to read the clouds floating
in a sea of blue or watch a little beetle crawl up a blade of grass?

When did you last splash happily through puddles or talk to
buttercups?

When did you last kiss your smiling image in the mirror or hold a
cool frog in your hands?

When did you last just sit, and watch the world go by in wonder
believing in the magic of it all?

You see, the playful child in you knows all the doors to peace
of mind and innate bliss.

cb


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

God does not ask your ability,
Or your inability.
He asks only your availability.

Mary Kay Ash

Reasons for gratitude are easy to find. If we're breathing, we can
think of
people hooked up to oxygen tanks. If our skin is smooth, we can remember
people suffering in burn units. If we ran into a store for a minute to
buy a
gallon of milk today, we can remember the long lines people in other
cultures endure for the same errand.

And we exist! That alone is miraculous! Some have survived chronic,
often
fatal diseases. For many of us, life is better because we've found a new
appreciation for life, a new depth and peace, a new calmness. And we can
continue to grow each beautiful day that is given to us. Today babies
across
the world are being born, bringing millions of hopeful and exciting
possibilities into our world.

Now, we're ready to take our place in the sun as one of the world's new
hopeful possibilities. We live and breathe and feel and think, and we
are
watched over by a Higher Power who loves us and has a plan for our
lives.

Today let me look for the good in my world and be thankful.

from the book: Body, Mind, and Spirit by Anonymous

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

With Gods Help

All my faith comes from above
The ability to help
The ability to love
I only follow my heart
After I think it out
My God keeps His hand upon me
I thank Him daily for now I see
I was like a shooting star with no destination
Blazing a trail since my creation
Then several years ago
AA change my fate
I gave up anger and hate
Replaced resentment with forgiveness
For my fellow man
Today I really can understand
NO one is perfect no ones a saint
We come together on recovery's path
No man is an island
No man stands alone
We are all apart of a family
The earth is our home
Never to be lonely
Never to roam
I smile at all who cross my pathway
God has given me love and happiness today
Like the trees that shed there leaves in the fall
Only to grow them back and bless us all
Each man has a beauty deep inside
If he only would come out
  From where he hides
Share his experience, strength and hope
Help teach the others how to cope
God gives us the ability when we surrender

Daniel M Corkery
10/26/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/

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

There is only one corner of the universe
you can be certain of improving
and that's your own self.
Aldous Huxley

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

A smile is the light in your window that tells
others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.

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

How can God work in all these unseen realms at the same time,
being fully available to each of us?
We simply cannot get our minds around this mystery,
and the truth is, we're not meant to know.
Who would want a God so easily understood?
When we embrace, instead of dissecting mystical experiences,
we become more in tune with this infinite, loving Presence we call God.
   Mary Manin Morrissey

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

We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that
deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy
of our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity,
wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the
human spirit.
e. e. cummings

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

If the only tool you have is a hammer,
you tend to see every problem as a nail.
Abraham Maslow

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

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow.
It empties today of its strength.

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

What lies behind us and what lies before us
are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

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

Forgiveness is the fragrance that the flower
leaves on the heel of the one that crushed it.

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

Serenity isn't freedom from the storm;
it's peace within the storm.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Congratulations Charlie B. on your 19 Year Clean
drballzini@...
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

Condition
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/condition.html

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Have you finish working the 12 steps  ?
What did you work on next ?
Do you believe youve got a handle on the spiritual
principles behind the steps ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 29
I am very grateful for the gift of this day.
It is mine to do exactly what I choose
and I choose to use it for good 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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Joy

A cooling breeze;
A leaf fluttering to the ground;
The early morning sound of silence.

I am awakened by it.
I am surrounded by it.
I am comforted by it.

It's another day,
But not just another day.
It is THIS day.

Finally, not to be feared,
Finally, to be welcomed.

Not that the night was long,
But that this day, this day of hope
Was so long in coming.

The wind teases my hair,
Leaves brush against my feet,
Playfully, along their journey into this day.

Motion. Sound. Awareness. Promise.
God's love, expressed in nature's beauty.

It's time now; time to begin.
I've waited so long; but I am ready,
At last, to seek, find and accept.

Joy.

written by Jeff Bingham
jbingham1@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Child's Voice
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=968

On Religion and Spirituality
www.barefootsworld.net/aareligionspirituality.html

Narcotic Anonymous INTERNATIONAL Literature
www.na.org/ips/

Relationship Guide Index
www.relationshipweb.com/odat/odatind.htm

Growing and changing
N.A. Way Magazine 4/1999
www.na.org/naway/en/naway162-4.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 29                               Our Higher Power's Care

"We believe that our Higher Power will take care of us."
Basic Text p. 55

   Our program is based on the idea that the application of simple
principles can produce profound effects in our lives. One such
principle is that, if we ask, our Higher Power will care for us.
Because this principle is so basic, we may tend to ignore it. Unless
we learn to consciously apply this spiritual truth, we may miss out
on something as essential to our recovery as breathing is to life
itself.

   What happens when we find ourselves stressed or panicked? If
we have consistently sought to improve our relationship with our
Higher Power, we'll have no problem. Rather than acting rashly,
we will stop for a moment and briefly remind ourselves of particular
instances in the past when our Higher Power has shown its care
for us. This will assure us that our Higher Power is still in charge
of our lives. Then, we will seek guidance and power for the situation
at hand and proceed calmly, confident that our lives are in God's
hands.

   "Our program is a set of principles;' our White Booklet tells us. The
more consistently we seek to improve our conscious appreciation
of these principles, the more readily we will be able to apply them.

Just for today: I will seek to improve my conscious contact with the
Higher Power that cares for me. When the need arises, I know I
will be able to trust in that care.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

Live and Let Live

Never since it began has Alcoholics Anonymous been divided by
a major controversial issue. Nor has our Fellowship ever publicly
taken sides on any question in an embattled world. This, however,
has been no earned virtue. It could almost be said that we were born
with it. . . .  "So long as we don't argue these matters privately,
it's a
cinch we never shall publicly. "
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 176

   Do I remember that I have a right to my opinion but that others don't
have to share it?  That's the spirit of "Live and Let Live."  The
Serenity
Prayer reminds me, with God's help, to "Accept the things I cannot
change."  Am I still trying to change others?  When it comes to
"Courage to change the things I can," do I remember that my opinions
are mine, and yours are yours?  Am I still afraid to be me?  When it
comes to "Wisdom to know the difference," do I remember that my
opinions come from my experience? If I have a know-it-all attitude,
aren't I being deliberately controversial?

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 / November 29th

A.A. Thought for the Day

The A.A. way is the way of sobriety, and yet there
are slips.  Why do these slips occur?  Why don't we
all accept A.A. and stay sober from then on?  There
are many reasons, but it has been proved without
exception that once we have become alcoholics we
can never drink successfully again.  This has never
been disproved by any case we know of.  Many alcoholics
have tried drinking after a period of sobriety from a
few days to a few years and no one that we know of has
been successful in becoming a normal drinker.  Could I
be the only exception to this rule?

Meditation for the Day

"We are gathered together in Thy name."  First, we are
gathered together, bound by a common loyalty to God and
to each other.  Then, when this condition has been fulfilled,
God is present with us.  Then, when God is there and one
with us, we voice a common prayer.  Then it follows that our
prayer will be answered according to God's will.  Then, when
our prayer is answered, we are bound together in a lasting
fellowship of the spirit.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be loyal to God and to others.  I pray that
my life today may be lived close to His and to theirs.

"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
NOVEMBER 29

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

Step Twelve

The Twelfth Step says that having had a spiritual awakening, we
try to carry this message to others. Our message is one of hope,
love, comfort, health - a better way of life, one that works.

How do we carry it? Not by rescuing. Not by controlling. Not by
obsessing. Not by becoming evangelists for the recovery cause.

We carry the message in many small, subtle, but powerful ways.
We do our own recovery work and become a living demonstration
of hope, self-love, comfort, and health. These quiet behaviors
can be a powerful message.

Inviting (not ordering or demanding) someone to go to a meeting
is a powerful way to carry the message.

Going to our meetings and sharing how recovery works for us is a
powerful way to carry the message.

Being who we are and allowing our Higher Power to guide our
actions are powerful ways to carry the message. Often, we
find ourselves carrying the message more effectively than we
do when we set out to reform, convince, or coerce someone into
recovery.

Caretaking and controlling are not ways to carry the message.
All those behaviors carry is codependency.

Still, the most powerful form of helping others comes down to
helping ourselves. When we do our own work and are honest
and open about it, we impact others more than by our most
well intentioned "helping" gesture. We cannot change others,
but when we change ourselves, we may end up changing the
world.

Today, I will strive to carry the message in ways that work. I will
let go of my need to "help" people. Instead, I will concentrate on
helping and changing myself. If an opportunity comes up to
share my recovery with someone, I will do so quietly. God, help
me show others comfort, empowerment, and hope. I can be a
channel to help others when I am ready. I do not have to force
this; it will happen naturally.

©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 Woman & The Stone
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/11/woman-stone.htm

F.R.O.G.
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/11/FROG.htm

That's So Fake
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2005/October/cohen.htm

Alan Cohen’s Secrets
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/05/alan-cohen.htm]

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

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Inner Self Signs When You Need Them
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, ‘minutes, 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.

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

Paradoxes in Life

1. What you resist persists.

   Exactly what you are trying to avoid, is exactly what you are
attracting to yourself. You know that things you don't want to
happen, they happen just because you put so much energy
into trying not to let them happen.

2. Your complaint about others is really a fear you have about
yourself.

   When you are always putting someone, or some group, down,
it means there is something that person or group represents
about yourself that you can't accept. Fear of being stupid, ugly,
devalued by society, ostracized, worthless, self-centered,
penniless, etc.

3. Opposites attract.

   The more I learn about how men and women are wired
differently, the more amazed I am that any of us ever get together
and stay together happily. It really is a miracle how that works!

4. The core belief that you're not good enough.

   We ALL walk around thinking some version of "I'm not good
enough, I don't matter, I'm worthless, I'm bad, I'm unlovable."
How can all of us be unacceptable? Ha! The joke is on us!

5. Out with the old, in with the new.

   To allow something new into your life, you need to let
something go. Often we are holding onto the old (relationships,
jobs, etc.) until the new shows up ... but more often it isn't until
you simply let go of the old that the new has space to come
into your life.

6. Look inside for what you seek outside.

   Whatever you are seeking outside yourself, you are certain
never to find. If you are seeking love, approval, security, or
validation from external circumstances, such as educational
degrees, intimate partners, social status, and all the "trappings"
of the good life, you are likely to end up empty. Only when you
learn to give these things to yourself first can you experience
them consistently since they are under your control. You can
give yourself love at any moment, but how many of us do?

7. AND

   We are seemingly opposing forces in the same entity. We are
both male and female energy, light and dark, happy and sad,
angry and peaceful. We embody all these things, yet we often
try to be only one or the other. We are both ends of the
spectrum and the in between. I took on a word of the year--
AND. Every time there seems to be a black and white choice
in my life, I say the word AND, then look for how to create
integration.

8. The Answer.

   We are all searching for the answer. I believe this is just
part of being human and having these highly intelligent minds.
But answers are relative. Relative to the context, the people
involved, the timing, the decade, etc. Watch out for the trap:
even if you say you aren't searching for the answer, that is
your answer...not to search. Get it? You can't escape.

9. What you repress, comes out anyway.

   Our society supports an unemotional human existence. We
are taught that being emotional is weak, and that logic and
rationality rule. However, emotions are one part of our 4-part
beings: spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional. And all four
parts provide intelligence. Cutting off or repressing any one
part, cuts off additional information and intelligence for you.
When you repress your emotions, they don't just go away, no
matter how much you wish or believe that. They get stuck
inside you energetically and can make you ill, keep you from
achieving success in other areas of your life, and/or burst out
in extreme ways. You can only bury emotions for so long, they
always get out somehow. And often in destructive ways for you
and those you love around you. Don't kid yourself. Learn to feel
and express your emotions, regardless of what society or your
peer group says.

10. The Attraction Principle

   Intention + Surrender = Attraction. The more you can be
intentional about what you want AND surrender the outcome,
the more attractive you become, and the more likely you are to
receive what you want.

Author Unknown (Honorably Thanked)

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

Discovery of Recovery

Chasing the man, trying to score,
Just one more fix, then no more.
So many years, hiding the pain,
Staying high, just to maintain.
Thought I had my life under control,
What I had was a very empty soul.
Angel of darkness stayed by my side,
Couldn’t see the light for foolish pride.
My spirit is dead, this must end,
Where to start, so I can begin.
Surrendering, I made a great discovery,
A new way of life they called Recovery.
A journey beyond my wildest hope,
No more, will I ever need to use dope.
God leads me the way just for today,
And all I ever had to do was Pray.
Narcotics Anonymous has become my home,
They give me Love I’ve never known.
I am so blessed for this second chance to see,
The freedom of life meant to be.

written by ~ Stella Marie Kendall

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

Nothing Can Stop Me Now

"Nothing, no not a thing, not ANY thing...
can stop me now.
I'm running wild.
I'm loose.
I'm free.
There are no chains binding me.
No, nothing can stop me now.

I held myself back.
I let myself be...
A limited, frightened, unsure me.
But I woke up, and now I see...
Nothing can ever stop me ~ no how.

I reach for the top.
I stand up tall.
Now I can see clear over the wall.
Nothing, no nothing, can ever stop me...
but me!

Do you challenge my words?
Do you think I'm absurd?
Just go ahead and try...
No, you  and no on else could ever stop me.

I'm fine.  I'm blessed.
I pass every test.
With God, all things are possible...
And so, with praise I beat my chest.
Nothing, no way, can stop me now."


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

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

Enhance

Your life by letting go
of worry and regret
Smooth out the wrinkles of your days
by doing things you love
Take time to consider
yourself
amid the pullings and pushings
of duty, work, routine and obligations

Enhance your mind by Stopping
the rush of worrying, anxious thoughts
crowding the waking moment
Look inwards to the heart
Ask it this question:
“Is this the best I can do for myself at this moment?”
Listen to the answer
Give yourself a break
Let go of guilt (it’s a useless thing)
Don’t harbour any expectations

Make one commitment today
Enjoy this moment
and the next
to enhance
your heart, mind, body and soul
be your true self: calm, content, accepting
You have only one ~
Enhance it!


Love
Stella © 2003 Stella Raymonde Savoie Johnson
stellaraymonde@...

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

The best thing to spend on your children is your time.
Louise Hart

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

It's an actual fact that if you've been moping in unhappiness,
you  can choose to be joyous instead and,
by effort, lift yourself into joy.
If you tend to be fearful,
you can overcome that misery by choosing to have courage.
Even in darkest grief you have a choice.

The whole trend and quality of anyone's life is determined
in the long run by the choices that are made.
Norman Vincent Peale (1898 - 1993)

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

Remember that happiness is a way of travel,
not a destination.
Roy Goodman

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

I think the one lesson I have learned is
that there is no substitute for paying attention.
Diane Sawyer

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

Do I believe that I can give out one kind of behavior
and yet receive another?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It doesn't hurt to cry.

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

If you think life's lessons are hard...
try addiction.

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

Seven days with no meetings
Makes one weak.

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

If you don't keep coming,
Your gonna 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/

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

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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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

V.I.P.
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/vip.html

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Have you finish working the 12 steps  ?
What did you work on next ?
Do you believe youve got a handle on the spiritual
principles behind the steps ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 28
Today I know that I am nothing alone.
I am willing to let go of any struggle that
keeps me on a path of doing things my way.
I know that all I have to do is ask for help
and it is there for me.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Leftovers

          "The day after Thanksgiving ~ and, if your house is like most,
there's a bunch of leftovers in the fridge because of yesterday's
bounty.  Most people love Thanksgiving leftovers (well, I think
most people love them for one more meal, anyway...:)  Leftovers
are great if the original meal was.  And, then, only for a time.
Heating up leftovers over and over again ~ eventually, they're
not that appetizing anymore ~ they become dried up, lose their
flavor, etc.

   How do you feel about leftovers?  What about leftovers in other
areas of life besides meals?  How do you feel about having
leftover affection, leftover attention, leftover opportunity, leftover
civility, leftover recognition?  In all these situations, you may
have been the recipient of leftovers at some point in time.  Maybe
in a career situation, you find yourself having made a major
contribution to a project or coming up with a novel idea and when
the recognition is being portioned out, your superiors take most
of the credit and you end up with some tiny honorable mention at
the end of a memo to the file. Maybe leftovers are your thing in
love relationship, where the one you love is so damaged from
something in the past that that person can only give you leftovers
of affection, absent the desire or ability to love you for your
wonderful self in a new and fresh way.  Or maybe you're the
recipient of leftover civility ~ people showing you polite
indifference in day-to-day living situations, such as service reps
and store clerks who show you a painted on smile to cover up a
belligerent attitude that your radar picks up loud and clear.  Do
you really like leftovers all that much?

   If you find yourself always the recipient of leftovers, you have
to ask yourself ~ do I want more?  Do I deserve something fresh
that's made just for me?  Or do I always deserve second best ~
leftovers that keep losing their flavor over time?  Only you know
your palate; what do you think you really want?"

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


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

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

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

The Stone
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1298

Leftovers
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1307

Understanding Anonymity
www.barefootsworld.net/aaanonymity.html

A.A. History Trivia
www.aahistory.com/trivia1.html

Parents Anonymous
www.parentsanonymous.org

So you want to change NA?
N.A. Way Magazine 4/1999
www.na.org/naway/en/naway162-3.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 28                                          Being Ourselves

"To be truly humble is to accept and honestly try to be ourselves."
    Basic Text p. 35

   Humility is a puzzling concept. We know a lot about humiliation, but
humility is a new idea. It sounds suspiciously like groveling, bowing,
and
scraping. But that's not what humility is at all. True humility is,
simply, acceptance of who we are.

   By the time we reach a step that uses the word "humbly;' we have
already started to put this principle into practice. The Fourth Step
gives us an opportunity to examine who we really are, and the Fifth
Step helps us accept that knowledge.

   The practice of humility involves accepting our true nature, honestly
being ourselves. We don't have to grovel or abase ourselves, nor must
we try to appear smarter, wealthier, or happier than we really are.
Humility simply means we drop all pretense and live as honestly as we
can.

Just for today: I will allow knowledge of my true nature to guide my
actions. Today, I will face the world as myself. pg. 346

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

Global Sharing

The only thing that matters is that he is an alcoholic who has found a
key to sobriety. These legacies of suffering and of recovery are easily
passed among alcoholics, one to the other. This is our gift from God,
and its bestowal upon others like us is the one aim that today animates
A.A.'s all around the globe.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151

The strength of Alcoholics Anonymous lies in the desire of each
member and of each group around the world to share with other
alcoholics their suffering and the steps taken to gain, and maintain,
recovery.  By keeping a conscious contact with my Higher Power,
I make sure that I always nurture my desire to help other alcoholics,
thus insuring the continuity of the wonderful fraternity of 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 / November 28th

A.A. Thought for the Day

The A.A. way is the way of sobriety.  A.A. is known
everywhere as a method that has been successful
with alcoholics.  Doctors, psychiatrists, and the
clergy have had some success.  Some men and women
have gotten sober all by themselves.  We believe that
A.A. is the most successful and happiest way to sobriety.
And yet A.A. is, of course, not wholly successful.  Some
are unable to achieve sobriety and some slip back into
alcoholism after they have had some measure of sobriety.
Am I deeply grateful to have found A.A.?

Meditation for the Day

Gratitude to God is the theme of Thanksgiving Day.
The pilgrims gathered to give thanks to God for their
harvest which was pitifully small.  When we look around
at all the things we have today, how can we help being
grateful to God?  Our families, our homes, our friends,
our A.A. fellowship: all these things are free gifts of
God to us.  "But for the grace of God," we would not
have them.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be very grateful today.  I pray that
I may not forget where I might be but for the grace of God.

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

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

Today's Thought
NOVEMBER 28, 2005

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

Back to the Steps

Go back to the Steps. Go back to a Step

When we don't know what to do next, when we feel confused,
upset, distraught, at the end of our rope, overwhelmed, full of
self will, rage, or despair, go back to the Steps.

No matter what situation we are facing, working a Step will help.
Focus on one, trust your instincts, and work it.

What does it mean to work a Step? Think about it. Meditate on it.
Instead of focusing on the confusion, the problems, or the
situation causing our despair or rage, focus on the Step.

Think about how that Step might apply. Hold on to it. Hang on
as tightly as we hang on to our confusion or the problem.

The Steps are a solution. They work. We can trust them to work.

We can trust where the Steps will lead us.

When we don't know what step to take next, take one of the
Twelve.

Today, I will concentrate on using the Twelve Steps to solve
problems and keep me in balance and harmony. I will work a
Step to the best of my ability. I will learn to trust the Steps, and
rely on them instead of on my protective, codependent
behaviors.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Patches & Prisons of the Heart
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/11/patches.htm

The Paradox Of Our Time
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/11/paradox.htm

Simple Meditation
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2005/October/opinion.htm

You’ve Got To Believe Me , by Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/03/alan-cohen.htm

Life’s Dream Quiz
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/11/dream-quiz.htm

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

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

The Challenge of Creativity
by Micheline Brierre
Micheline Brierre

When people see my art, they often exclaim, "You are so
creative! I cannot even draw a straight line!" My answer is
the same, "I cannot draw a straight line either; when I need
one, I get a ruler!" Creativity has nothing to do with art,
although it can invade the art field.

Creativity is about the dynamic forces and impulses within
us. It is the constant catalyst that generates so many aspects
of living, the beautiful, ever changing flow of life. We generally
do not learn this in kindergarten and we need to, because it
would reinforce and confirm what all healthy toddlers know
instinctively. Little ones usually do not have big bullies who
attack their creative life force. They don't have to battle (yet)
poor self-esteem, routines, and mental tapes; they don't have
an image to project and protect, no ego to feed, and addictions
to satisfy. They are free; simple stuff. They deal with imaginary
worlds, they see angels, light tunnels, they remember past
lives, they can be cat, mimes, or superman; they live their
dreams.



It may not last forever; this glorious state of beingness is soon
trapped by various shapes of parental and societal molds.
Soon, the freedom gives into carefully analyzed programs
handed down through generations. Whole codes and rituals
develop and become law. The early child shrinks into dark
recesses of the psyche and the adult comes to rule. Does the
adult remember where the child has gone? I believe that in the
measure, the adult can remember and rise with the little one in
plain daylight, to laugh at the sun and dance in the air...
creativity is still at hand.

Creativity & Children

I knew a child who pinned his mom's nightgown on his
shoulders and ran through the garden with the uniquely
charged power of delight and discovery. He had just read
"The Little Prince". He had power. He led his cousins to
great games from the lofty perspective of a large ficus tree.
When this child found himself in an adult body, he
demanded to be heard. He guided the adult toward paint,
brushes, canvases; together they created art and made
movies. Unless caught up in a negative environment,
children are all artists, they are poets, actors, performers,
and yes, as such, they so delight us!

My little cousin heard her mom mention a sigh... strange
word. She had never heard it before. Like a new lollipop,
she tried it, turned it around her tongue and her mind, then
stored it like a fresh treasure close to her heart. When the
family went out for dinner that night, she was asked what
she wanted to eat... so, out came the wish, very deliberate,
"I want a sigh!"

Feeding on Beauty

My daughter recently told me how she reacted to the beads
in my jewelry studio. "When I found a bead that was truly
beautiful, I took it in my hands, then in my mouth, then I
swallowed it!" Good grief? Am I glad I only just found out,
now that she is safely twenty-four! Yet, fed on beauty, the
soul thrives. So how do we keep this sense of awe, the
ability to see anew, to discover, to question, to act intuitively,
to create, to investigate, to treasure, the ability to make things
happen; not just anything, but the ones that truly matter to the
heart, the ones that put laughter on our faces and joy in our
eyes?

Somewhere in our development, we let go of that wide eyed,
wondrous child. It is not hard to do. How often have we heard,
"You are not a baby any more." "When are you going to act
like a responsible adult?" "Grow up!"

Eventually, we do, which is O.K. -- but in doing so, we also shut
the inner child and the creative power we possess. I often
suspect that teenagers act so sullen and angry because they
have crossed the bridge from childhood to adulthood without
enough help to handle the new role. Without grace and ease,
they become resentful. They get stuck in an interim time of
awkward reticence and rebelliousness. Teenagers are rushed
toward the serious world while they grieve the creative power
lost. Must it be this way? Must we give up such a vital part of
our creative beingness to live in our society?

Creativity -- Let It Flow!

In a planet charged with challenges, disease, violence,
disasters, fears, and frustration, I sense a great cosmic need
for major creativity to team with all of what we know spiritually.
We need to question our leading concepts and find new
approaches to education, health, life itself. Now this is a creative
challenge! Can we look at creativity as the expression of our
higher self, guiding us through our life purpose? May it be in
parenting, in public service, in the finance world, in teaching,
in playing, in dreaming -- we need a fresh way to respond, which
means we need a fresh way to think.

Human emotions are deep and lead us to identify with their
passion. We say it everyday, "I am angry, I am scared!" Am I?
I feel anger, I feel pain but am I these emotions? We need to
free ourselves of the many molds and limiting formulas we
have accumulated over the centuries. The dogma of civilization
weigh heavily upon our daily lives. We are so easily indoctrinated
into a whole set of concepts and routines that fossilization
sneaks in, and we take it at face value.

Sometimes I listen to the radio when I work. The weather
news reflects a set of concepts about good and bad. Gray
days are all bad. Rainy days are worse. Nothing short of
sunny is good -- yet days don't judge themselves. They are
just being whatever they are. Storms do challenge us greatly,
but are they bad? When someone dies we do hurt, we grieve,
but is death bad because we hurt? Do our concepts of good
and bad enhance our well-being or do they perpetuate a
set way of thinking that dictates crippling responses? Imagine
waking up to a few clouds and discovering all the rich tones
of gray, the cool, refreshing shade, the sense of quiet as we
go within to find our center of peace.

Creativity Is You

Creativity has no formulas and no dogma. Creativity fuels
happenings, finds solutions, heals and empowers. It keeps us
fresh, young! You embody it as surely as the life force within you.
All you need to do is give it permission to be, to speak for itself,
and it will. I need to warn you that once you do so, you may find
yourself on the edge of an exhilarating world -- your inner self
and wisdom.

Maybe the better message is not to grow up after all, but just to
grow wise. Creativity teamed with wisdom will challenge your
assumptions, question your habit patterns, dispel many myths
and plunge you into the domain of personal references and
experiences where your intuition and inner guidance reign
supreme. You may start acting like yourself. You may stop
buying many things to make your own; and if you never liked
office work, you may take up flying. Go dream now, and cry too,
then sing on rainy days, that's what the frogs do.

Micheline Brierre is an artist, jewelry designer, metaphysical
teacher, freelance writer, a Universal Brotherhood Minister
and is listed in the "Who's Who of American Women." She can
be reached at michelinebrierre@... e-mail address
is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript
enabled to view it . You may communicate with her in French,
English, and/or Spanish. Visit her website at
www.michelinebrierre.com

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

Thank You

By Oprah Winfrey

I live in the space of thankfulness and have been rewarded a
million times over for it. I started out giving thanks for small
things, and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty
increased.

That’s because what you focus on expands, and when you focus
on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities,
relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be
grateful no matter what happened in my life.

“Say thank you!” Those words from my friend and mentor Maya
Angelou turned my life around. One day about ten years ago, I
was sitting in my bathroom with the door closed and the toilet lid
down, booing and ahooing on the phone so uncontrollably I was
incoherent.

“Stop it! Stop it right now and say thank you!” Maya chided.
“But ? You don’t understand,” I sobbed.

To this day, I can’t remember what it was that had me so far
gone, which only proves the point Maya was trying to make. “I
do understand,” she told me. “I want to hear you say it now.
Out loud.”

“Thank you.” Tentatively, I repeated it: “Thank you - but what
am I saying thank you for?”

“You’re saying thank you,” Maya said, “because your faith is so
strong that you don’t doubt that whatever the problem, you’ll
get through it. You’re saying thank you because you know that
even in the eye of the storm, God has put a rainbow in the clouds.

You’re saying thank you because you know there’s no problem
created that can compare to the Creator of all things.
Say thank you!”

So I did - and still do. Only now I do it every day. I kept a
gratitude journal, as Sarah Ban Breathnach suggests in Simple
Abundance, listing at least five things that I’m grateful for. My
list includes small pleasures: the feel of Kentucky bluegrass
under my feet (like damp silk); a walk in the woods with all nine
of my dogs and my cocker spaniel Sophie trying to keep up;
cooking  fried green tomatoes with Stedman and eating them
while they’re hot;  reading a good book and knowing another
awaits.

My thank-you list also includes things too important to take for
granted: an “okay” mammogram, friends who love me, 25 years
at the same job (and loving it more than the first day I started), a
chance to share my vision for a better life, staying centered,
having financial security.

I won’t kid you, having money for all the things I want is a
blessing. But as I look back over my journals, which I’ve kept
since I was 15 years old, 99% of what brought me real joy had
nothing to do with money (It had a lot to do with food, however.)

It’s not easy being grateful all the time. But it’s when you feel
least thankful that you are most in need of what gratitude can
give you.

PERSPECTIVE

Just knowing you have that daily list to complete allows you to
look at your day differently, with an awareness of every sweet
gesture and kind thought passed your way. When you learn to
say thank you, you see the world anew. And as Meister Eckhart
so eloquently stated:

“If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is ‘Thank you
God,’ that would suffice.”

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

Hold on to faith;
It is the source of believing that all things are possible.
It is the fiber and strength of a confident soul.

Hold on to hope;
It banishes doubt and enables
Attitudes to be positive and cheerful.

Hold on to trust;
It is at the core of fruitful relationships
That are secure and content.

Hold on to love;
It is life's greatest gift of all,
For it shares, cares, and gives meaning to life.

Hold on to family and friends;
They are the most important people in your life,
And they make the world a better place.
They are your roots and the beginnings that you grew from;
They are the vine that has grown
through time to nourish you,
Help you on your way, and always remain close by.

Hold on to all that you are; and all that you have learned,
For these things are what make you unique.
Don't ignore what you feel and what you believe
is right and important;
Your heart has a way of speaking louder than your mind.

Hold on to your dreams;
Achieve them diligently and honestly.
Never take the easy way or surrender to deceit.
Remember others on your way and
take time to care for their needs.
Enjoy the beauty around you.
Have the courage to see things differently and clearly.
Make the world a better place one day at a time,
And don't let go of the important things
that give meaning to your life.

Author unknown

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

The Art of Giving

Remember to be gentle with yourself and others.
We are all children of chance,
and none can say why some fields will blossom
and others lay brown beneath the August sun.
Care for those around you.
Look past your differences.
Their dreams are no less than yours,
their choices in life no more easily made. and give.
Give in any way you can, of whatever you possess.
To give is to love. To withhold is to wither.
Care less for your harvest than how it is shared,
and your life will have meaning,
and your heart will have peace."

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

Your End

If your down and feeling confused
All tied up and tired of being used
If your at a point and want to quit
And you've had enough of it
I know a place where you can go
Friendliest people that I know
We are all on a spiritual path
No religion and no wrath
You have the right to choose
Really you have nothing to lose
Try us for ninety days
See if you don't like our ways
Love us or leave us
It's your choice
We will never
Take away your voice
We will teach you
Our peaceful ways
Help you find much better days
It's all in our 12 steps to freedom
That we all go through
Then if it's not for you
We will give you back your misery
All we say is give yourself a chance
At a better way of living
At a new dance

Daniel M Corkery
10/19/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

Your End

If your down and feeling confused
All tied up and tired of being used
If your at a point and want to quit
And you've had enough of it
I know a place where you can go
Friendliest people that I know
We are all on a spiritual path
No religion and no wrath
You have the right to choose
Really you have nothing to lose
Try us for ninety days
See if you don't like our ways
Love us or leave us
It's your choice
We will never
Take away your voice
We will teach you
Our peaceful ways
Help you find much better days
It's all in our 12 steps to freedom
That we all go through
Then if it's not for you
We will give you back your misery
All we say is give yourself a chance
At a better way of living
At a new dance

Daniel M Corkery
10/19/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

As we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson

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

Life is not a “brief candle.”
It is a splendid torch that I want to make burn
as brightly as possible before handing on to future generations.
George Bernard Shaw

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

It is the nature of things near and dear to us that they pass away.
Be a lamp unto yourself, a light to show the path for others to follow.
The Buddha (on his death, to Ananda his beloved disciple)

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

At moments in our lives when we really need help,
the universe moves to support us in ways that may seem strange to us.
Angels sometimes show up in our lives in odd bodies,
odd shapes, odd forms, odd experiences.
Our job is to keep our hearts open to angels in disguise.
   Mary Manin Morrissey

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

A C T I O N = Any Change To Improve Our Nature

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

Happiness is not a place you arrive at,
but the way you travel.

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

If God is your co-pilot, switch seats!

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

First things first.
If you put anything before your recovery,
or you will surely lose it and everything else.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

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

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
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Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
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."
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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

I hope that your Thanksgiving is FILLED with sweetness.
Enjoy your day,
Stay in the light,
Love,
Scott

Today is Ruth Fishel's 35th Sobriety Anniversary
11/27/73
PLEASE send her an email card
http://www.recoverygreetings.com/cards/index.html#anniversary
Her address is
spirithaven@...
THANKS for all that YOU do for US
(((Ruth))) a BIG hug to you :)
I LOVE YOU!!!

*~*~*Gratitude is the Way I Walk the Walk*~*~*

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance,
chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast,
a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
Gratitude makes sense of our past,
brings peace for today,
and creates a vision for tomorrow.
Melody Beattie


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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Have you finish working the 12 steps  ?
What did you work on next ?
Do you believe youve got a handle on the spiritual
principles behind the steps ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 27
Today I choose to stay in the reality
of my life and feel all there is to feel.
I am willing to feel the pain so that I can feel the 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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Lets Give Thanks

Take a moment to remember
those who fell along the way
though they're not really gone
we're still missing them today
and we send our love to heaven's doors
on the sun's bright shining rays
where our loved ones watch us from above
through the tear stained autumn haze
and we give thanks
thanks for every tear
and every memory in our mind
that keeps our loved ones near
and come that bright tomorrow
when we're joined with our old friends
we'll hold tight to one another
and give thanks to God again

we will give thanks once again.

Now look around in gladness
at the loved ones by your side
those close friends who help you bear your load
and share the joy that's in your life
your arms linked in solidarity
you can withstand any tide
and with this much love surrounding you
your head's held high with pride
so lets give thanks
thanks for every cheer
and every moment in our lives
that keeps our loved ones near
we can face any tomorrow
with our loved ones and our friends
so lets thank God once again

lets all thank God once again

©John Hathaway 2001
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gratitude
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1304

Thanksgiving Traditions
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2005/11/thanksgiving.htm

Be Thankful
www.inspiringthots.net/movie/be-thankful.php

What Am I Thankful For
www.inspiringthots.net/movie/thankful-for.php

N.A. Way- Service Whats New
www.na.org/naway/en/oct05/en-naway0510-sect5.htm

Original 1938 Multilith Manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous
www.barefootsworld.net/aaorigmanuscript.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 27                                  Seeking God's Help

"At times during our recovery, the decision to ask for God's help
is our greatest source of strength and courage." Basic Text p. 26

   When we take the Third Step, we decide to allow a loving Higher
Power to guide us and care for us in our daily lives. We make the
decision to allow this guidance and care into our lives. Some of
us believe that, once we've made the Third Step decision, God
leads us; from that point on, it's just a matter of paying attention to
where we are led.

   The Third Step decision is an act of faith, and asking for God's
help is a way of renewing that act of faith. Putting faith to work in
our daily lives gives us all the courage and strength we need,
because we know we have the help of a loving Higher Power.
We trust that our needs will be met. We can tap into that faith
and trust just by asking.

Just for today: I will remind myself that I'm not alone by asking my
Higher Power for help each step of the way.   pg. 345

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

One Ultimate Authority

For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving
God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 132

When I am chosen to carry some small responsibility for my fellows,
I ask that God grant me the patience, open-minded ness, and
willingness to listen to those I would lead.  I must remind myself that
I am the trusted servant of others, not their "governor," "teacher," or
"instructor."  God guides my words and my actions, and my
responsibility is to heed His suggestions.  Trust is my watchword, I
trust others who lead.  In the Fellowship of A.A., I entrust God with
the ultimate authority of "running the show."
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 / November 27th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Continuing our thoughts about the rewards that have
come to us as a result of our new way of living, we have
found that we have gotten rid of any of our fears,
resentments, inferiority complexes, negative points of
view, self-centeredness, criticism of others, over
sensitiveness, inner conflicts, the habits of
procrastination, undisciplined sex, wasting money,
boredom, false perfectionism, jealousy, and envy of
others.  We are glad to be rid of our drinking, and we
are also very glad to be rid of these other things.  We
can now go forward in the new way of life, as shown us by
A.A.  Am I ready to go forward in the new life?

Meditation for the Day

"He that has eyes to see, let him see."  To the Seeing Eye,
the world is good.  Pray for a Seeing Eye, to see the
purpose of God in everything good.  Pray for enough faith
to see God's care in His dealings with you.  Try to see how
He has brought you safely through your past life so that
now you can be of use in the world.  With the eyes of faith
you can see God's care and purpose everywhere.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have a Seeing Eye.  I pray that with the
eye of faith I may see God's purpose everywhere.

"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
NOVEMBER 27

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

We can Trust Ourselves

For many of us, the issue is not whether we can trust another
person again; it's whether we can trust our own judgment again.

"The last mistake I made almost cost me my sanity," said one
recovering woman who married a sex addict. "I can't afford to
make another mistake like that."

Many of us have trusted people, who went on to deceive, abuse,
manipulate, or otherwise exploit us because we trusted them.
We may have found these people charming, kind, and decent.
There may have been a small voice that said, "No - something's
wrong." Or we may have been comfortable with trusting that
person and shocked when we found our instincts were wrong.

The issue may then reverberate through our life for years. Our
trust in others may have been shaken, but our trust in ourselves
may have been shattered worse.

How could something feel so right, flow so well, and be such a
total mistake? We may wonder. How can I ever trust my selection
process again, when it showed itself to be so faulty?

We may never have the answers. I believe I needed to make
certain "mistakes" to learn critical lessons I'm not certain I would
have otherwise learned. We cannot let our past interfere with our
ability to trust ourselves. We cannot afford to function with fear.

If we are always making the wrong decision in business or in
love,  we may need to learn why we insist on defeating
ourselves.

But most of us do improve. We learn. We grow from our
mistakes.  Slowly, in increments, our relationships improve.
Our business choices improve. Our decisions about how to
handle situations with friends or children improve. We benefit
from our mistakes. We benefit from our past. And if we have
made mistakes, we needed to make them in order to learn
along the way.

Today, I will let go of my fears about trusting myself because I
have made mistakes in the past. I understand that these fears
only serve to impair my judgment today. I will give my past,
even my mistakes, validity by accepting and being grateful for
it all. I will strive to see what I've gained from my mistakes. I
will try to look at all my good decisions too. I will keep a
watchful eye for improvement, for overall progress, in my life.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love Is The Answer
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/11/love.htm

The Birth of Spirit
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2000/11/spirit.htm

The Search for Meaning
Mastering your life means being an active participant
in your own life rather than a passive one.
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/June/feature1.htm

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Thank You for Everything
by Alan Cohen

The story is told about a woman Zen master named Sono who
taught one very simple method of enlightenment. She advised
everyone who came to her to adopt an affirmation to be said
many times a day, under all conditions. The affirmation was,
“Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.”

Many people from all arenas of life came to Sono for healing.
Some were in physical pain; others were emotionally distraught;
others had financial troubles; some were seeking soul liberation.
No matter what their distress or what question they asked her,
her response was the same: “Thank you for everything. I have
no complaint whatsoever.” Some people went away
disappointed; others grew angry; others tried to argue with her.
Yet some people took her suggestion to heart and began to
practice it. Tradition tells that everyone who practiced Sono's
mantra found peace and healing.

Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever. My
friend Lisa, an attractive woman in her late 30's, came to one of
my seminars after I had not seen her for a number of years. She
informed the group that a year earlier she had been diagnosed
with a brain disorder that required immediate surgery. The surgery
was done, a steel plate was inserted in her head, and her doctor
keeps her under close observation. Lisa reported that now she
lives from day to day. Privately I told Lisa that I was sorry she
had gone through this whole ordeal. “Oh, don't be sorry,” she
told me emphatically. “I'm not sorry at all. This was one of the
best things that has ever happened to me. It really got me to
appreciate my life and relationships. I married a wonderful guy
and we are thinking about having children. I wouldn't trade the
experience if I could.” Thank you for everything. I have no
complaint whatsoever.

Can you imagine what your life would be like if you simply
dropped your complaints? It's a radical proposal, since most
of us have been trained to question, analyze, and criticize
everything we see. But then we end up questioning, analyzing,
and criticizing ourselves. Then we miss out on joy, the only
true measure of success.

The ecstatic mystic poet Hafiz proclaimed, “All a sane man
can ever think about is giving love.” One evening I received
a phone call from my friend Cliff, a Jewish man from Brooklyn
who discovered A Course in Miracles and became a world-
class love exuder. Cliff just went around finding good and
beauty in everyone he met. On the phone, Cliff told me, “I
just called to tell you how much I love and appreciate you.”

“Well, thank you Cliff,” I answered, delighted. “I really appreciate
that . . . What prompted you to call me at this moment?”

“My knee was hurting me, and I knew that the only way I could
feel better would be to give more love. So I began to think of
the people in my life who I care about, and you came to mind.”
Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.

As we approach the holiday of Thanksgiving, many of us will
be getting together with our families. Perhaps family issues may
come to the fore and we might be tempted to fall into a pattern
of rehashing old resentments and arguments. Wouldn'tit be
fabulous if, as we sat with our relatives, we held in mind, “Thank
you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.” Imagine
what this Thanksgiving would be like if we decided that no
matter how much mom complained about dad; how much dad
bugged us about getting a real job; or how unspiritual our ex is,
we chose to be an unstoppable appreciation machine and found
the good in our loved ones. Indeed this would be a triumphant
Thanksgiving to remember!

Yes, I know, there is a voice inside you objecting, “But if I did not
complain, people would walk all over me and selfish opportunists
would genetically manipulate my food and terrorists would keep
crashing airplanes into buildings and . . . and. . .” Got it. Now if you
went to Sono, her response would be, “Thank you for everything.
I have no complaint whatsoever.” I am simply suggesting that we
practice the mantra for an entire Thanksgiving day. And then
maybe one day a week. Then we might start to feel so good and
our lives will become so effective that we want to turn every day
into Thanksgiving.

In my book Handle with Prayer I state that the highest form of
prayer is gratitude. Instead of asking God for stuff, start thanking
God for stuff, and you will find that God has already given you
everything you could want or need, including the adventure of
discovering more riches every day. Life is a big treasure hunt.
Eventually we grow weary of seeking treasures outside ourselves,
and we begin to look within. There we discover that the gold we
sought, we already are. The beauty we overlooked because we
were focusing on what was missing, still lives and awaits us like
an anxious lover. As T. S. Eliot nobly noted, “The end of all our
exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place
for the first time.”

Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever. Have
a great Thanksgiving.

Alan Cohen is the author of the best-selling Why Your Life Sucks
and What You Can Do About It, A Deep Breath of Life, and the
newly published collection of his best articles, Looking in for Number
One. To order it or request a free catalog of Alan's books, tapes,
seminars, and Mastery Training in Maui, call 1-800-568-3079, visit
www.alancohen.com, email admin@..., or write
P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708.

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

Giving Thanks
Virjinja

Here we are, Lord, standing before you with grateful hearts,
unable to contain our great joy ~ for Your generous abundance
is upon us. Today and every day, we acknowledge how very
blessed we are. With Your guidance, the seeds of Love, Peace,
Joy, Health and Prosperity were planted in the fertile grounds of
our well-prepared souls. By Faith, we now enjoy the great harvest
here in our hearts, in our families, our church, our friendships and
relationships, our community and our world.
We see how vast is Your reach, Loving Father,
for the Goodness of Life is spilling over
as an endless waterfall pouring forth Your infinite blessings.
How great Thou art, Dearest Lord ~
it is Your Holy Spirit that dwells here in each of our hearts!
We give thanks for the bounty of life, for all the gifts of Your Grace.
As beneficiaries of Your loving generosity,
we extend our benevolence with compassion and fellowship,
further blessing the lives of all people within our reach.
This is our gratitude in action, Father ~ our Happy Thanksgiving.
And so shall it forever be.
Amen!

Copyright ©  2003 ~ Virginia Santoro ~ All Rights Reserved
MorningMusings@...
www.myspace.com/morningmusings
www.hometown.aol.com/morningmusings

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

Giving Thanks
by Sri Daya Mata

   "A national day of Thanksgiving for God's blessings in our lives
is a beautiful tradition.  Individual and national expressions of
gratitude strengthen our connectedness with the Divine.  Each
time we offer our heart's appreciation to the Heavenly Provider
and renew our realization of His boundless grace, we cannot
but wonder at the abundance - spiritual and material - that flows
from Him unto ourselves, our families, our country, our world.

   Paramahansaji often said that though God is so great - the
Infinite Sustainer of the universe - He is exceedingly humble,
hiding Himself behind the countless manifestations of nature
and human existence.  But those who look for Him with devotion
begin to perceive His presence working throughout creation and
dwelling in the soul of every being.  The more we yearn to know
Him, the more we will become aware of His expressions of love:
perhaps through an unsought encouraging word or thoughtful
gesture from someone, some experience that broadens our
understanding, or an insightful answer to a prayer for guidance.
If we recognize these treasures as God-given, frequently saying,
"My beloved God, thank You!" we will know Him as the Source
of all, the Giver behind the gifts that sweeten this temporal life.
The things and conditions of this world are subject to change;
but the love of the One who cares for us in so many hidden ways
and through so many channels is constant and everlasting.

   A very real part of recognizing the bounty we receive from the
Eternal One is a wish to share His love with others.  Make
yourself an instrument of His kindness and care, offering gifts of
food or other material assistance for the less fortunate in the
community.... And create opportunities to express to your family,
friends, and acquaintances how much you appreciate them; a few
sincere words or some loving service you can render will mean
more to them than you can imagine...that special joy that comes
from reaching out to the God in others.

   Enjoy this Thanksgiving with an open heart of gratitude and
sharing; make it the beginning of a permanent habit, and it will
fill your consciousness with a continual wondrous perception:
God in everything, God in everyone."

Copyright 1999
Self-Realization Fellowship

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

God provide me the wisdom and courage to do what
is right for your children on earth.  Walk beside me
and guide me as I try to do what I perceive is your will.
Allow me to see beyond today and into tomorrow so that
I may make wise choices and not disturb your master plan.

Shield me from harm under the shelter of your grace.
But gently rebuke me and pull me back to your teachings
if I cause harm.  Provide me the gift of vision and wisdom
so that I may determine proper courses of action. While
all those around me cry for war instead of peace remind
me that "The meek shall inherit the earth" and "Blessed
are the Peacemakers for they shall be called the children
of God!"

Please light my path with a rainbow and sky full of stars so
that even during the darkest hours I may see the illumination
of your divine soul so that my journey may end with peace and
love.  For I may need reminding that "Peace begins with me"
and that if peace is to prevail then I must be a peacemaker
and speak out.

For although you provide guidance and a path to follow it
is my choice.  I pray that you allow me to act with wisdom and
faith.  Faith that allows me to choose and advocate peace.
Peace for all peoples and nations.

I ASK THIS IN YOUR NAME.  AMEN.

Dr. Doug Rokke
A health physicist who was in charge of Gulf War clean-up
of uranium238 (DU)...and is presently speaking around the
country about the effects of U238
(commonly called depleted uranium)

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

I'm Grateful... but...
by Marie T. Russell

As l reflect on the tradition of Thanksgiving, I am reminded that
Thanksgiving needs to take place every day, and every single
moment of the day. Maybe that's what mindful meditation is all
about... remembering to be grateful and appreciative for every
single thing in every moment. Like what, you say? We can start
being grateful for every breath which gives us life. We can give
thanks for the magnificence of our body which transports us,
transforms the raw materials we eat into energy, etc. We can
feel wonder at the magic of the blessings of each day... food to
eat, loving beings around us, the possibility of creating the life
that we dream of. Do you have a dream? Be thankful for the
imagination that helps you envision that reality, and be grateful
that your dream will come true in as much as you are willing
to believe in it.

'Yes, but', I hear. It seems, that even as we express gratitude,
that little babbler inside says, 'yes, but...' If I express gratitude
for my body, it says, 'yes, but' it is not as healthy or in shape
as it 'should' be... If I give thanks for the food I eat, it says, 'yes
but' it is grown with chemicals.. When I say I'm grateful for the
loving beings around me, my little babbler says, 'yes but'
they're not always loving. And so on and so forth.

Upon reflection, I see that the 'yes but' comes from the ego.
And even though we have given the ego a 'bum rap' it really
is there for a divine purpose - as with every thing and every
one else we encounter in our journey of life. The ego's 'yes
but' reminds us that as Divine beings (or children of a
beneficent Universe or Loving Father, if you prefer) we can
aspire to greater heights than we now have attained. The 'yes
but' reminds us that we need not settle for what we have
attracted so far, but that we can indeed look forward to creating
heaven on earth. So, when I express my gratitude and hear
'yes but', I realize that it is not putting down or diminishing in
any way my appreciation at the bounty of the Universe. It is
simply pointing me towards the next step.

We as humans never seem to be satisfied. Maybe that is the
inner prodding of Spirit guiding us to rediscover our perfection
and to recreate the Eden that was provided for us all. We
might consider that we are indeed blessed, and that we don't
even know the best of it. We have unlimited treasures at our
beck and call, and to reach them we simply need to open the
door and walk through to the other side.

What is the other side? That is the side where we have absolute
faith and trust that whatever we desire (from a Higher perspective)
is provided for us. It is the knowledge that we are safe... that there
is no need to worry, no need to fear. We simply need to do our
best, to live our life with the best of intentions towards ourselves
and all living things, and we will be "re-reimbursed" in kind
through the Law of Cause and Effect.

Take time to be grateful first thing in the morning... count your
blessings. And then repeat the process often during the day,
and at least once again before going to sleep. Give thanks for
the love in your life, the support, the blessings, even the small
blessings. Thank the Universe, thank Life, thank the Sun for its
energy and light, thank the trees for their supply of oxygen, thank
your car for transporting you ('yes, but' the pollution), give thanks
that electric cars are becoming a reality. There is so much to be
grateful for. We simply need to change our focus from what we
don't have, to being grateful for what we do have, and the
miracles of life will reveal themselves to us.

So in this month of Thanksgiving, focus on what you have and
what you desire, not what you don't have and what you don't
want. Remember, what you focus on expands - so if you focus
on crime, lack, cataclysm, you can expect more of that to affect
you directly. I have found it much more productive and peace-
enhancing to focus on love, peace, healing, prosperity, and all
those good things... and I can see that my world is getting much
more loving, peaceful, abundant, and happy. And if the 'yes but'
is saying that's selfish and unrealistic, on the contrary. The more
you focus on love and healing, the more love and healing there
will be, not only in your life, but in the lives of the people you
meet, and in the whole world.

We can create a better world... It starts with each one of us.
`Think positive" is more than a slogan, it is a way of life. So
choose your thoughts, your attitudes, your words carefully.
They are the seeds for your tomorrows, and for the tomorrows
of the world around you. Have a "great full" month.

Love to you All! Thanks for being here!

About The Author:
Marie T. Russell is the publisher of InnerSelf Magazine (first
published in 1985 as Mighty Natural Magazine). 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. http://www.innerself.com

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

The Law Of Life

Whatever you give away today,
Or think or say or do;
Will multiply about ten fold,
And then return to you.

It may not come immediately,
Nor from the obvious source;
But the law applies unfailingly,
Through some invisible force.

Whatever you feel about another,
Be it love or hate or passion;
Will surely bounce back to you,
In some clear or secret fashion.

If you speak about some person,
A word of praise or two;
Soon tens of other people,
Will speak kind words of you.

Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul,
Not secrets of the brain;
Kind ones bring us happiness,
Petty ones, untold pain.

Giving works as surely as,
Reflections in a mirror;
If hate you send, hate you'll get back,
But loving brings love nearer.

Remember, as you start this day,
And duty, crowds your mind;
That kindness comes so quickly back,
To those who first are kind.

Let that thought and this one,
Direct you through each day;
The only things we ever keep,
Are the things we give away.

Unknown Author

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

Gratitude Is....
by Julie Jordan Scott

       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

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It In The NOW*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buyer Beware

They sell what you buy
Their pockets get fatter
They make you a deal
And you just don't matter

They sell it on the corner
Dash your hopes and your dreams
What you buy with your money
Is not as it seems

What they sell on the street
Steals all your desires
What you buy in a bottle
Only intensifies fires

What they sell through the window
Takes away your loving child
What you put in a needle
Makes the quiet go wild

What they sell to you
Isn't worth buying
What they sell to you
Isn't worth dying

What they sell in the dark
Is a handful of lies
For the deal is over
When everyone dies
Don't buy their hype
What they sell is a lie
The lie is now dead
You don't have to buy

written by Karen H
KSAK@...

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

When a person doesn't have gratitude,
something is missing in his or her humanity.
A person can almost be defined by
his or her attitude toward gratitude.
Elie Wiesel

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

To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means
to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and
value the kind that will stand behind the action.
Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course.
Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you.
Train yourself never to put off the word or action
for the expression of gratitude.
Albert Schweitzer

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

Let us remember that, as much has been given us,
much will be expected from us,
and that true homage comes from the heart
as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.—1901
Theodore Roosevelt

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

If the only prayer you say in your whole life
is 'thank you,' that would suffice.
Meister Eckhart

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

As we express our gratitude,
we must never forget that the highest appreciation
is not to utter words, but to live by them.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant,
to enact gratitude is generous and noble,
but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.
Johannes A. Gaertner

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

Generosity is giving more than you can,
and pride is taking less than you need.
Kahlil Gibran

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

A Thanksgiving Prayer

We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water.
We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of
our
diseases.
We return thanks to the moon and stars, which have given to us their
light when the sun was gone.
We return thanks to the sun, that has looked upon the earth with a
beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in Whom is embodied all
goodness, and Who directs all things for the good of Her children.

Iroquois Prayer


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Home Group
www.na.org/naway/en/Oct06/en-naway0610-sect7.htm

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Have you finish working the 12 steps  ?
What did you work on next ?
Do you believe youve got a handle on the spiritual
principles behind the steps ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 26
Today I let go of all things
that keep me from growing on a spiritual path.
Today I am willing to push aside all things
that stand between me 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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Come in, Sit down

Come in, Sit down
Unburden your heart
You'll laugh, you'll cry
You'll make a clean start.

Just listen and learn
  From those with advice,
Maybe something you hear
Might just save your life.

For what they have learned
They are willing to share
Their openness & Honesty
Are the badges they wear.

With hope for the future,
And Just for Today,
I've found a new life
Living the NA Way.

Jean O.   10/18/02

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Past
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1301

Moral Inventory Checklist
www.barefootsworld.net/aamoralinventory.html

Trust
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/trust.html

Kahlil Gibran on Giving
www.katsandogz.com/ongiving.html

Kahlil Gibran On Love
www.katsandogz.com/onlove.html

N.A. Way- Home Group
www.na.org/naway/en/oct05/en-naway0510-sect7.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 26
Responsibility

"A lot happens in one day, both negative and positive. If we do
not take the time to appreciate both, perhaps we will miss
something that will help us grow."         IP No.8, "Just For Today"

Responsibility, responsibility-the responsibilities of life are
everywhere. We're "supposed to" wear seat belts. We're
   "supposed to" clean our homes. We're "supposed to" do
certain things for our spouse, our children, the people we
sponsor. On top of all this, we're "supposed to" go to
meetings and practice our program as best we can. It's no
wonder that, sometimes, we want to run from all these tasks
and escape to some far-off island where we're not "supposed
to" do anything!

At times like these, when we've become overwhelmed with our
responsibilities, we have forgotten that responsibility need not
be burdensome. When we have a desire to run away from our
responsibilities we need to slow down, remember why we have
chosen them, and pay attention to the gifts they bring. Whether
it's a job we normally find challenging and interesting, or a
partner whose personality we are usually excited by, or a child
whom we naturally like to play with and care for, there is joy
to be found in all the responsibilities of our lives.

Just for today: Each moment is special. I will pay attention, grateful
for my responsibilities and the special joys they bring.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

Since recovery from alcoholism is life itself to us, it is imperative
that we preserve in full strength our means of survival.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 177

The honesty expressed by the members of A.A. in meetings has
the power to open my mind. Nothing can block the flow of energy
that honesty carries with it.  The only obstacle to this flow of
energy is inebriation, but even then, no one will find a closed door
if he or she has left and chooses to return.  Once he or she has
received the gift of sobriety, each A.A. member is challenged
on a daily basis to accept a program of honesty.

   My Higher Power created me for a purpose in life.  I ask him to
accept my honest efforts to continue on my journey in the spiritual
way of life.  I call on Him for strength to know and seek His will.
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 / November 26th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Continuing our thoughts about the rewards that have
come to us as a result of our new way of living, we have
found that we have gotten rid of any of our fears,
resentments, inferiority complexes, negative points
of view, self-centeredness, criticism of others, over
sensitiveness, inner conflicts, the habits of procrastination,
undisciplined sex, wasting money, boredom, false
perfectionism, jealousy, and envy of others.  We are glad
to be rid of our drinking, and we are also very glad to be
rid of these other things.  We can now go forward in the
new way of life, as shown us by A.A.  Am I ready to go
forward in the new life?

Meditation for the Day

"He that has eyes to see, let him see."  To the Seeing Eye,
the world is good.  Pray for a Seeing Eye, to see the purpose
of God in everything good.  Pray for enough faith to see
God's care in His dealings with you.  Try to see how He has
brought you safely through your past life so that now you
can be of use in the world.  With the eyes of faith you can
see God's care and purpose everywhere.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have a Seeing Eye.  I pray that with the
eye of faith I may see God's purpose everywhere.

"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
NOVEMBER 26

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

Letting Go of Self Criticism

Look how far we've come!

It's good to focus on the task ahead, on what remains to be
done. It's important to stop and feel pleased about what we've
accomplished too.

Yes, it may seem that the change has been slow. At times,
change is grueling. Yes, we've taken steps backward. But
we're right  where we're supposed to be. We're right where we
need to be.

And we have come so far.

Sometimes by leaps, sometimes with tiny steps, sometimes
kicking and screaming all the while, sometimes with sleeves rolled
up and white knuckles, we've learned. Grown. Changed.

Look how far we've come.

Today, I will appreciate my progress. I will let myself feel good
about what has been accomplished.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Two Sides of a Prison Wall
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/alan-cohen.htm

Running Through The Rain…
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/rain.htm

The True Power of Water
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2005/October/feature1.html

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

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Bigger Than Hope

Last summer I set out with a group of friends on a sailboat
excursion to camp on the mystical island of Molokai. En route
we met a tropical storm during which we treaded water for an
hour amidst imposing swells. Quite a few of our retinue made
pilgrimages to the rail, and by the time the squall abated and
we reached shore, numerous would-be sailors had waxed
green-faced and swore to take a plane next time.

Fortunately, the weather improved and we went on to enjoy
a magnificent sojourn on the exotic isle. As we prepared to
leave the next day, several people were anxious about the
prospect of hitting bad weather again. Someone suggested
we gather for a group prayer for easy passage, and I spoke
a strong affirmation that peace was indeed with us. Together
we visualized a smooth, easy, and delightful trip, and we
came into the vibration of positive expectation until the anxiety
had lifted.

As soon as we opened our eyes, a young man in our midst,
new to the spiritual path, blurted out, "Yeah, and let's hope
we don't hit any more storms!" His statement crashed
awkwardly against the vision we had just co-created.

Afterward I took the fellow aside and explained to him an
important principle:

Once we have prayed for something, we must step fully into
the new vibration and not go backward into thoughts, words,
or actions that affirm the condition we were praying to heal.
We are always affirming what we want or what we don't want,
and everything we think, say, or do is directing our energy in
one direction or another.

When I was studying with master healer Hilda Charlton, during
a class we prayed for a woman named Loni who was seeking
to be healed of a particular disease. After the prayer session
a man approached Loni and suggested she try a certain herbal
treatment. At the following week's class Hilda passionately
admonished the fellow and the group: "How dare you undo
the healing work we did! We spent a long time and a lot of
energy bringing this woman into the consciousness of
wholeness, and you speak to her as if she needs help! If she
is not sick, as we declared her to be, why would you tell her
what to do to erase her illness? Don't you ever do this again!"

Hilda was not against medicine (on many occasions she
recommended that students take it), and she was extremely
compassionate with people who were suffering. That night
Hilda was using the incident to underscore an important point,
one which has stayed with me and helped me immensely over
many years: To be an effective healer, speak to the place in
your client that is whole, and treat each person as if they are
already who they would like to be. As Dale Carnegie
advised, "Give them a reputation to live up to."

In the famous biblical story, God advised Lot and his family to
leave Sodom because the city was about to be destroyed; God
told the family to leave quickly and not look back. On their road
to freedom, Lot's wife turned to see what was happening back
there, and she turned into a pillar of salt. Certainly this did not
happen physically—the story is a metaphor, a grand piece of
advice for all times: Don't get involved with what you are leaving
behind. Your past may be loaded with pain, suffering, and
difficulty, but you are trying to build a new life. Leave the past
where it was, and turn your attention fully toward where you
are going. Jesus advised simply, "Turn the other cheek."

This is the time of rebirth, signified in the legends of our major
religions. In Judaism we commemorate Passover, representing
the ascension from slavery to freedom. In Christianity we
celebrate the resurrection of Christ. We have paid far too much
attention to scenes of slavery and crucifixion; we have played
them out time and again. Now it is time for us to focus on what
happens next. The more we delve into how we got where we
are, the more we stay where we were. The more we analyze
what is not working, the more things do not work. And the more
we consider how we would like it to be, the more things become,
as we would have them. The choice is ours.

Real spirituality is beyond hope. Hope means there is a chance
things may turn out as we wish, and if we are lucky we may get
what we want. Inner knowing, on the other hand, proceeds from
the awareness that love is present now, well-being is our natural
state, and all is really well.

Yes, we may have hit a storm on way over, but that does not
mean we have to hit one on the way back. Our history is not
our destiny, and our destiny begins now.

Alan Cohen
Alan Cohen is the author of many popular inspirational books,
including the best-selling Why Your Life Sucks and What You
Can Do About It, the award-winning A Deep Breath of Life and
his newest is the prosperity guide Relax into Wealth. Join Alan
next March 9-152008 in Maui for a life-changing Mastery
Training. For information on this program and others, or to receive
Alan's free daily inspirational quote and monthly newsletter, visit
www.alancohen.com, email info@.... For information
and a free catalog of Alan's books, tapes, and seminars, phone
800.568.3079 or write P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708.

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

Expressions of Gratitude

For the rise and set of the sun each day...
I am thankful.

For the bounty and beauty of mother earth...
I am thankful.

For the home where the heart of my family resides...
I am thankful.

For the enduring devotion of steadfast friendships...
I am thankful.

For the pleasure of unrestricted laughter and silly moments...
I am thankful.

For the numerous shoulders that share the weight of my sorrows...
I am thankful.

For the pages of memories in my book of time...
I am thankful.

For all I have and all I am able to give...
I am thankful.

For the setting aside of an eminent day to gather in love, to pause
and say:
"I am grateful for the abundance of blessings in my life.
I am thankful.

Copyright © 1999 Terri McPherson
Wise Hearts! Weaving Small Wisdoms Through The Fabric of life
www.wisehearts.com

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

Recipe
(from an article by Emmet Fox)

Here is a great recipe, suitable for any occasion . . .

If you were to make a cake, you know that whatever you put into
your mixing bowl will appear in the cake itself, and, if you leave
out a specific ingredient, it will not appear in the finished product.

The thoughts and beliefs that we choose to fill our minds
ultimately will appear in our experience, and if we realize this,
we can save ourselves a lot of trouble.  No one would put the
wrong ingredient in the mixing bowl because no one wants it
in the cake, for everyone knows that, if it's in the bowl, it's in
the cake!

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

Gratitude Is....

by Julie Jordan Scott

        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

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

Blessed Today

In this day I shall rejoice
Because now I have a choice
My God has saved me
Now I can see
I've been blessed from day to day
Now it's time to share my way
I'll greet the new comer at the door
Offer my them hope
And so much more
Take the pigeon under my wing
Give my time so he can sing
I can only offer my hand
Share my experience and understand
But I can't keep no one sober
That's up to God above
I can show them how I did it
Teach them to surrender
Tell them to give it to God above
All I can do is share the love
That was given to me long ago
Teach them right
So that they'll know
Within our room we have hope
Show them just how we cope

Daniel M Corkery
10/22/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

Courage is reclaiming your life after a devastating event
robs you of your confidence and self-esteem.
It is facing tomorrow with a firm resolve to reach deep
within yourself to find another strength, another talent...
It is taking yourself to another level of your own existence
where you are once again whole, productive, special..
Catherine Britton

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

Human is that moment when the universe becomes aware of itself.
Teilhard de Chardin

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

If you want to leave footprints in the sands of time,
don't drag your feet.
Annot L. Sheppard

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

What God expects us to attempt,
He also enables us to achieve.
Stephen Olford

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

Be careful what you pray for...
you just might get it.

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

My mind is out to get me!

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

The world ain't gonna kiss my ass just because I'm clean.

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

Don't let the limits of your imagination
block you from what God can do for you.

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

You would be paranoid too,
If everyone was after 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/

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

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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Stark Raving Clean
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/starkravingclean.html

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
My Sponsor is telling me that I am in relapse
and I haven't used drugs..........
What is a relapse?
I’m scared of these upcoming holidays !!!
My family get togethers are a trigger.

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November  25
Today I celebrate all of me exactly as I am.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

The Promise of the Rainbow

On bended knee, I crossed the sea
Of heartache and despair.
Through tear filled eyes, I saw the skies,
It seemed no one was there.
For many years, I cried such tears,
That I could hardly see.
Then one gloomy day, it came to me,
And solved the mystery.
Now, I have a choice, I must rejoice,
This thing that did appear!
So still, it seemed, it was a dream,
A rainbow, bright and clear!
I know it now, I made a vow,
To change my life that day.
The promise of the rainbow,
Taught me a better way!

Sharlett Hunt ©
Sharlette863@...

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

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

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

The Stone
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1298

A Guide to the Study of The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
www.barefootsworld.net/tabltalk.html

Public Relations
www.na.org/naway/en/Oct06/en-naway0610-sect6.htm

YOU are a MIRACLE
www.wisehearts.com/yaam.html
This is one of my favorites :)

There is a Way Out
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/OUT.html

N.A. Way- Primary Purpose
www.na.org/naway/en/oct05/en-naway0510-sect4.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 25
Meditation

"Quieting the mind through meditation brings an inner peace that
brings us into contact with the God within us."    Basic Text p. 45

As our recovery progresses, we often reflect on what brought us to
Narcotics Anonymous in the first place and are able to appreciate
how much the quality of our lives has improved. We no longer have
to fear our own thoughts. And the more we pray and meditate, the
more we experience a calm sense of well-being. The peace and
tranquility we experience during our quiet times confirms that our
most important needs-our spiritual needs-are being met.

We are able to empathize with other addicts and strengthen our
conscience in the process. We learn to avoid judging others and
experience the freedom to be ourselves. In our spiritual reflection,
we intuitively find "the God within us" and see that we are in
harmony with a Power greater than ourselves.

Just for today: I will reflect upon the gift of recovery and listen
quietly for my Higher Power's guidance.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

An Unbroken Tradition

We conceive the survival and spread of Alcoholics Anonymous
to be something of far greater importance than the weight we
could collectively throw back of any other cause.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 177

   How much it means to me that an unbroken tradition of more
than half a century is a thread that connects me to Bill W. and
Dr. Bob.  How much more grounded I feel to be in a Fellowship
whose aims are constant and unflagging.  I am grateful that the
energies of A.A. have never been scattered, but focused instead
on our members and on individual sobriety.

   My beliefs are what make me human; I am free to hold any opinion,
but A.A.'s purpose -- so clearly stated fifty years ago -- is for me to
keep sober.  That purpose has promoted round-the-clock meeting
schedules, and the thousands of inter-group and central service
offices, with their thousands of volunteers.  Like the sun focused
through a magnifying glass, A.A.'s single vision has lit a fire of faith
in sobriety in millions of hearts, including mine.

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 / November 25th

A.A. Thought for the Day

I am not so envious of other people, nor am I so jealous
of other people's possessions and talents.  When I was
drinking, I was secretly full of jealousy and envy of those
people who could drink normally, who had the love and
respect of their families, who lived a normal life and
were accepted as equals by their friends.  I pretended
to myself that I was as good as they were, but I knew it
wasn't so.  Now I don't have to be envious any more.  I
try not to want what I don't deserve.  I'm content with
what I have earned by my efforts to live the right way.
More power to those who have what I have not.  At least,
I'm trying.  Have I got rid of the poison of envy?

Meditation for the Day

"My soul is restless till it finds its rest in Thee."  A river
flows on, until it loses itself in the sea.  Our spirits long for
rest in the spirit of God.  We yearn to realize a peace, a
rest, a satisfaction that we have never found in the world
or its  pursuits.  Some are not conscious of their need, and
shut the doors of their spirits against the spirit of God.
They are unable to have true peace.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may feel the divine unrest.  I pray that my soul
may find its rest in 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
NOVEMBER 25

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

Awareness

When we first become aware of a problem, a situation, or a
feeling, we may react with anxiety or fear. There is no need to
fear awareness. No need.

Awareness is the first step toward positive change and growth.
It's the first step toward solving the problem, or getting the need
met, the first step toward the future. It's how we focus on the next
lesson.

Awareness is how life, the Universe, and our Higher Power get
our attention and prepare us for change. The process of
becoming changed begins with awareness. Awareness,
acceptance, and change - that's the cycle. We can accept the
temporary discomfort from awareness because that's how we're
moved to a better place. We can accept the temporary discomfort
because we can trust God, and ourselves.

Today, I will be grateful for any awareness I encounter. I will
display gratitude, peace, and dignity when life gets my attention.
I will remember that it's okay to accept the temporary discomfort
from awareness because I can trust that it's my Higher Power
moving me forward.

©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 Hour Of Power
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/asoka-selvarajah.htm

Letters of Wisdom and Affirmation, Louise Hay
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/July/hay.htm

What To Ask For by Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/02/alan-cohen.htm

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

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Digging in the Dung
by Ajahn Brahm

Ajahn BrahmWhen I was a schoolteacher, my attention was drawn
to the student in my class of thirty who came bottom in the end-of-
year exams. I could see that he was depressed as a result of his
performance, so I took him aside.

I said to him: 'Someone has to come thirtieth in a class of thirty.
This year, it happens to be you who has made the heroic
sacrifice, so that none of your friends have to suffer the ignominy
of being bottom of the class. You are so kind, so compassionate.
You deserve a medal.

We both knew that what I was saying was ridiculous, but he
grinned. He didn't take it as such an end-of-the-world event any
more.

He did much better the next year, when it was someone else's
turn to make the heroic sacrifice.

Unpleasant things, like coming bottom of our class, happen in life.
They happen to everyone. The only difference between a happy
person and one who gets depressed is how they respond to
disasters.

Imagine you have just had a wonderful afternoon at the beach with
a friend. When you return home, you find a huge truckload of dung
has been dumped right in front of your door. There are three things
to know about this truckload of dung:

     1. You did not order it. It's not your fault.
     2. You're stuck with it. No one saw who dumped it, so you cannot
	 call anyone to take it away.
     3. It is filthy and offensive, and its stench fills your whole
house.
	 It is almost impossible to endure.

In this metaphor, the truckload of dung in front of the house stands
for the traumatic experiences that are dumped on us in life. As with
the truckload of dung, there are three things to know about tragedy
in our life:

     1. We did not order it. We say 'Why me?'
     2. We're stuck with it. No one, not even our best friends, can take
	 it away (though they may try).
     3. It is so awful, such a destroyer of our happiness, and its pain
	 fills our whole life. It is almost impossible to endure.

There are two ways of responding to being stuck with a truckload
of dung. The first way is to carry the dung around with us. We put
some in our pockets, some in our bags, and some up our shirts.
We even put some down our pants. We find when we carry dung
around, we lose a lot of friends! Even best friends don't seem to
be around so often.

'Carrying around the dung' is a metaphor for sinking into
depression, negativity, or anger. It is a natural and understandable
response to adversity. But we lose a lot of friends, because it is also
natural and understandable that our friends don't like being around
us when we're so depressed. Moreover, the pile of dung gets no
less, but the smell gets worse as it ripens.

Fortunately, there's a second way. When we are dumped with a
truckload of dung, we heave a sigh, and then get down to work.
Out come the wheelbarrow, the fork, and the spade. We fork the
dung into the barrow, wheel it around the back of the house, and
dig it into the garden. This is tiring and difficult work, but we know
there's no other option. Sometimes, all we can manage is half a
barrow a day. We're doing something about the problem, rather
than complaining our way into depression. Day after day we dig
in the dung. Day after day, the pile gets smaller. Sometimes it
takes several years, but the morning does come when we see
that the dung in front of our house is all gone. Furthermore, a
miracle has happened in another part of our house. The flowers
in our garden are bursting out in a richness of colour all over the
place. Their fragrance wafts down the street so that the neighbours,
and even passers-by, smile in delight. Then the fruit tree in the
corner is nearly falling over, it's so heavy with fruit. And the fruit
is so sweet; you can't buy anything like it. There's so much of it
that we are able to share it with our neighbours. Even passers-by
get a delicious taste of the miracle fruit.

'Digging in the dung' is a metaphor for welcoming the tragedies as
fertilizer for life. It is work that we have to do alone: no one can
help
us here. But by digging it into the garden of our heart, day by day,
the pile of pain gets less. It may take us several years, but the
morning does come when we see no more pain in our life and,
in our heart, a miracle has happened. Flowers of kindness are
bursting out all over the place, and the fragrance of love wafts
way down our street, to our neighbours, to our relations, and
even to passers-by. Then our wisdom tree in the corner is bending
down to us, loaded with sweet insights into the nature of life. We
share those delicious fruits freely, even with the passers-by, without
ever planning to.

When we have known tragic pain, learnt its lesson, and grown our
garden, then we can put our arms around another in deep tragedy
and say, softly, 'I know.' They realize we do understand.
Compassion begins. We show them the wheelbarrow, the fork, and
the spade, and boundless encouragement. If we haven't grown our
own garden yet, this can't be done.

I have known many monks who are skilled in meditation, who are
peaceful, composed and serene in adversity. But only a few have
become great teachers. I often wondered why.

It seems to me now that those monks who had a relatively easy
time of it, who had little dung to dig in, were the ones who didn't
become teachers. It was the monks who had the enormous
difficulties, dug them in quietly, and came through with a rich
garden that became great teachers. They all had wisdom, serenity
and compassion; but those with more dung had more to share
with the world. My teacher, Ajahn Chah, who for me was the
pinnacle of all teachers, must have had a whole trucking
company lined up with their dung at his door, in his early life.

Perhaps the moral of this story is that if you want to be of service
to the world, if you wish to follow the path of compassion, then
the next time a tragedy occurs in your life, you may say,
'Whoopee! More fertilizer for my garden!'

This article was excerpted from: Opening The Door Of Your Heart
by Ajahn Brahm.

(North American edition published under the title: "Who Ordered
this Truckload of Dung?: Inspiring Wisdom for Welcoming Life's
Difficulties" published by Wisdom Publications. ©2004.
www.wisdompubs.org )



Ajahn BrahmAjahn Brahm is the abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery
in Western Australia and the Spiritual Director of the Buddhist
Society of Western Australia. He is widely regarded as a meditation
master with great insight and humor, known for his inspiring and
enlightening talks. He regularly teaches in Australia, Malaysia
and Singapore and visits many other countries as a guest teacher
and motivational speaker. For the past twenty one years, he has
taught the timeless Buddhist philosophy to Westerners from all
walks of life, led meditation groups in Australian prisons, and
counseled the distressed, the sick and the bereaved.

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

Talk to Me

"Talk to me, gentle voice within.
I'm listening for your guidance,
the message that you bring.

Talk to me, when my heart is sad and blue.
Give me words of comfort,
so I can be renewed.

Talk to me, whisper in my ear.
Softly tell me what to do,
Quietly, I wait to hear.

Talk to me, when it's time for me to decide.
Intuition is your gentle voice,
guiding me from inside.

Talk to me, I'm looking for the Truth.
I know the path You lead me to
is blessed and sure and good."

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

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

Big B

     I nicknamed him Big B; he was my older brother. We were
total opposites and drove each other crazy, but we also
shared much, creating an unbreakable bond between us. We
both know what it was like to believe that nothing we did,
no matter how hard we tried, felt like it was good enough.
Everyone who knew Big B adored him. He had a huge heart
and believed in everyone else's goodness - except his own.

     Big B tutored hundreds of kids who had been labeled by
society as stupid, lazy, undisciplined or mentally
challenged. My brother saw within them an ability to make a
difference. He himself had a learning disability; it was his
secret. Together he and his students knew what it felt like
to be different in a world that had yet to understand.

     In the last year of Big B's life he had another
challenge to face, his absolute refusal to believe he was
worthy of love. Big B was a beacon of light to all he
touched and everybody knew it - everybody but him.

     I was determined to prove to him that he was worthy of
love. As cancer ravaged his body for the sixth and last
time, he finally allowed me to enter his world of pain and
confusion. During the last weeks of his life, only 80 pounds
remained of his once 190-pound frame. His eyelids would not
close, he was too weak to blink and his voice was a whisper.
All I could do was hold him in my arms and love him. All he
could do was accept it.

     Big B was pampered around the clock and he came to love
that. When he was too weak to talk, he would tap his fingers
to motion me to hold his hand. My brother finally knew how
to ask for and receive love! Decades of fights,
misunderstandings and the helplessness of each feeling the
other was unreachable had vanished. In the end, he totally
surrendered to the wisdom of a higher power to help him
understand the strange concept of self-love.

     During one of our last conversations he secretly
whispered to me, "I really am loved, aren't I?" It was the
missing piece to his life's puzzle. He finally realized that
he had the right to be loved.

By Paula Petrovic from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry
Spilchuk

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

I am grateful that November is Gratitude month.
The weather has brought about runny noses
but doesn't stop me from smelling the roses.

I am grateful for the family I have.
They may not be who I want them to be
But they are the people God chose for me.

I am grateful for my job.
Have to pay the bills and buy the food
Earning that money sure feels good.

I am grateful for my husband.
He can be an ass when he has a bad day
And take me in his arms and love me anyway.

I am grateful for my friends.
They know when I'm busy and the phone doesn't ring
They know when I'm lonely and have the best timing.

I am grateful for my recovery.
I came to the rooms wanting a way out
I was taught what living is really about.

I am grateful for my feelings.
  From accomplished to over whelmed, and satisfied to over stressed
Just accept them and feel them and know I am blessed.

I am grateful for the weather.
I live in the best and the worst of the seasons
The worst compliments the best with good reasons.

I am grateful for this group.
When there isn't a meeting to go anywhere
I can log on anytime and know you are here.

I am grateful for who I am.
Finally at last it's okay to be me
I deserve to live Happy, Joyous and FREE!

Bonnie
steve-bonnie-cope@...

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

New Home

For many years
I would run and hide
I was so dishonest
Full of false pride
For years I looked
For peace and serenity
It could never find it
It always eluded me
For today I walk in Gods grace
I find peace and serenity
Where ever I go its in every place
For today I am truly blessed you see
By Gods grace I now have a victory
Today I am full of hope
As I teach others to cope
I see myself in everyone
In recovery the work is never done
In recovery we are all the same
We really stop playing the game
Since I've come to the fellowship
I'm never alone
Today recovery
Is my new home

Daniel M Corkery
7/14/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

Is God a spare tire in your life, or is God the steering wheel?
Do you just use God to limp along when you've lost faith
in your ability to control your world,
or do you allow God to guide and support and love you in every moment?
Do you turn to God only when you are desperate, or
do you share all the little joys and mundane happenings in your life?
When we consciously connect with God,
all of our lives are enriched and expanded.
Today, share everything with God.
   Mary Manin Morrissey

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

To laugh often and much,
to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
Ralph Waldo Emerson(1803-82)

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

Worrying often gives a small thing a big shadow.
Swedish proverb

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

However far the stream flows, it never forgets its source.
Nigerian Proverb

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

Get a sponsor
who is louder than the voices in your head!

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

The value of the average conversation could
be enormously improved by the constant use of
four simple words, 'I do not know.

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

Fear knocked on my door.
Faith opened it and there was nobody there.

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

If you refuse to accept anything but the best,
you very often get it.

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

If you don't keep coming,
your gonna 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/

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

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
www.workaholics-anonymous.org

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

12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit does not endorse any of the
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Putting together these Daily Recovery Emails has been such
a blessing for me, Thanks for your support and contributions,
"What I can't do alone we can do together." If you have any
original poetry or submissions that you would like to send to
me you can email me at
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,
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,
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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

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

I am back home off of my 2 week road-trip, which ended with a sponsor
sponsee weekend gathering in Ellenton, Fl. It was a weekend of
courageous men, taking risks and being there for each other. I am
blessed and grateful to be home....
Scott


Boot Camp
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/bootcamp.html

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
My Sponsor is telling me that I am in relapse
and I haven't used drugs..........
What is a relapse?
I’m scared of these upcoming holidays !!!
My family get togethers are a trigger.

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November  24
I immediately release everything I am struggling with today.
I release everything to my Higher Power,
knowing that I am getting all the help that I need today.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

These Things

Sitting here pondering this question today,
About things in my life that were taken away,
Looked up at the sky and I asked Him above,
The answer was that He replaced it with love.

The problems I've had with my fellow man,
Carefully placed in my life so I'd understand.
I've cried out in anguish, I've cried out in woe,
Just learning these things that He wants me to know.

And when I get tired and I think it's all done,
My problems are over, the war has been won,
Those times I am weary and can't think at all,
He solves all my problems, no matter how small.

The things that He gives me are only a test,
To never be perfect and just do my best.
Though hardships are many and get in the way,
"This too shall pass" and there'll be a new day!

Sharlett Hunt 11/21/03
Sharlette863@...


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

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

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

I Choose Joy
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1294

Eleventh Step Morning and Nightly Prayers
www.barefootsworld.net/aa11thmornnight.html

Opinion - Clarity
www.na.org/naway/en/Oct06/en-naway0610-sect5.htm

Its Up to You
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/ItsUptoYou.html

Hold On
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/HoldOn.html

N.A. Way- Picture This A Global Perspective
www.na.org/naway/en/oct05/en-naway0510-sect3.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 24                                            Gratefully
recovering

"We entertained the thought that staying clean was not paying
off and the old thinking stirred up self-pity, resentment, and
anger:" Basic Text p. 98

   There are days when some of us wallow in self-pity. It's easy to do.
We may have expectations about how our lives should be in recovery,
expectations that aren't always met. Maybe we've tried unsuccessfully
to control someone, or we think our circumstances should be different.
Perhaps we've compared ourselves with other recovering addicts and
found ourselves lacking. The more we try to make our life conform to
our expectations, the more uncomfortable we feel. Self-pity can arise
from living in our expectations instead of in the world as it actually
is.

   When the world doesn't measure up to our expectations, it's often
our expectations that need adjusting, not the world. We can start by
comparing our lives today with the way they used to be, developing
gratitude for our recovery. We can extend this exercise in gratitude by
counting the good things in our lives, becoming thankful that the world
does not conform to our expectations but exceeds them. And if we
continue working the Twelve Steps, further cultivating gratitude and
acceptance, what we can expect in the future is more growth, more
happiness, and more peace of mind.

   We've been given much in recovery; staying clean has paid off.
Acceptance of our lives, just for today, frees us from our self-pity.

Just for today: I will accept my life, gratefully, just as it is.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

A.A.'s Heartbeat

Without unity, the heart of A.A. would cease to beat; . . .
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 125

Without unity I would be unable to recover in A.A. on a daily basis.
By practicing unity within my group, with other A.A. members and at
all levels of this great Fellowship, I receive a pronounced feeling of
knowing that I am a part of a miracle that was divinely inspired.
The ability of Bill W. and Dr. Bob, working together and passing it
on to other members, tells me that to give it away is to keep it.
Unity is oneness and yet the whole Fellowship is for all of us.

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 /November 24th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Instead of pretending to be perfectionists, in A.A. we
are content if we are making progress.  The main thing
is to be growing.  We realize that perfectionism is only
a result of false pride and an excuse to save our faces.
In A.A. we are willing to make mistakes and to stumble,
provided we are always stumbling forward.  We are not
so interested in what we are as in what we are becoming.
We are on the way, not at the goal.  And we will be on the
way as long as we live.  No A.A. has ever "arrived."  But
we are getting better.  Am I making progress?

Meditation for the Day

Each new day brings an opportunity to do some little thing
that will help to make a better world, that will bring God's
kingdom a little nearer to being realized on earth.  Take
each day's happenings as opportunities for something you
can do for God.  In that spirit, a blessing will attend all that
you do.  Offering this day's service to God, you are sharing
in His work.  You do not have to do great things.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that today I may do the next thing, the unselfish
thing, the loving thing.  I pray that I may be content with
doing small things as long as they are right.

"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
NOVEMBER 24

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

Surrender

Surrender means saying, "Okay, God. I'll do whatever You want."
Faith in the God of our recovery means we trust that, eventually,
we'll like doing that.

Today, I will surrender to my Higher Power. I'll trust that God's plan
for me will be good, even if it is different than I hoped for or
expected.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Gratitude: A State of Mind
by Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.

   "I believe that gratitude is a state of mind, rather than a
condition of life related to health or wealth.  Let me say that
some of my great gratitude teachers are the people I call the
prisoners of life.  What do I mean by that?  I mean the people
who are imprisoned in bodies or institutions and yet are grateful
for life.  I believe that once you are grateful for life, seeing it
as an opportunity to give love, your life is changed and lived as
it was meant to be lived by our Creator.  Examples of this are
people I know with a variety of diseases and handicaps whom I
call healthy.  Why are they healthy?  They have learned what
my associate's father (a general practitioner) once said: 'True
good health is the ability to live without it.'

   Carl Jung, I am told, would tell those friends who reported a
tragic event, 'Let us open a bottle of wine.  Something good will
come of this.'  If they reported some wonderful event, he would
say, 'That's too bad, but if we stick together, maybe we can get
you through this!'  You may laugh, but over 90 percent of lottery
winners, three to five years after winning, are complaining that
it ruined their lives.

       The Bible says that the son of man comes not to be served,
but to serve and to ransom his life for the good of many.  The
Talmud tells us that he who rejoices in the afflictions that are
brought upon the self brings salvation to the world.  Other
religions also teach us of the gift or lesson that may be found in
an affliction or adversity.  Even in Job we learn that afflictions
heal,  and adversity opens you to a new reality.

   Over God's desk are 'Her' favorite sayings that will help you to
lighten your burden and feel grateful for life as an opportunity to
give love in your unique way.  The first one says, 'Don't feel totally,
personally, irrevocably, eternally responsible for everything.
That's my job.'  And it's signed 'God.'  The other says, 'Everything
you remember, I forget; and everything you forget, I remember.'

   So here we are living among all the difficulties and pain, and
what is it that really makes us grateful and teaches us what a
treasure life is? Our mortality.  Yes, without our physical and
emotional pain, we would not survive.  They protect us and
awaken us to care for our needs and the needs of those we love.
Our mortality teaches us of our limited time here, and heightens
our awareness of what a treasure life is.  I can only share with
you that I am grateful for life and the chance to share in all the
wonder of creation, at the same time feeling and knowing much
pain.  Most of all, I am simply grateful to awaken in the morning
and be aware of the world around me.  I know that there are
others who would choose not to awaken the next morning, and
why do we differ?

   I think that underlying the difference is the love I have received
from the moment of my birth, and that makes it easier for me to
feel grateful.  I ask all of you, please treat each other the way a
loving mother would, so we can all be grateful for life.  How you
love I leave up to you.  Just choose your way of serving out of love,
and whenever you meet people, please express that love.  Let us
love life, our fellow living things, and be grateful.

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

Mosaic

There are broken parts in all of us
little bits laying about randomly
discarded, spare parts left behind
in the past of our life

They seem to only bleed forgotten pain
which we'd rather forget
While other parts are welcome memories
skills, beliefs, coping mechanisms
which we use daily and cherish as 'wanted'

Cast your soft eyes upon them both
they comprise the sum total of your Self
A kaleidoscope of multicolours & multilayers
of a soul that's trying to piece itself
together to make a Big Picture

Take a long look at the whole panoramic view
of the landscape within
If you only wish to keep the 'good' parts
the healthy bits, the acceptable pieces
Then you are missing half of the Whole

Take the unwanted blocks
and join them with, connect them to
all the other blocks that frame your conscious mind
Let them touch each other ~ You'll find
at first the jagged edges scratch and chafe
but soon they will fall/fit together naturally
Especially when viewed from a high distance

For they all belong, every single one
co-energising and sharing power
Each paying tribute
to the masterpiece that we are – One
total being: a mosaic of Together-Joy
entwined synergistically
for optimum understanding and
mature personal Growth
in the Whole Person
We are meant to be

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

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

I Listen
A wholesome poem by Chuck R.

I Listen to the trees, and they say:

"Stand tall and yield.
Be tolerant and flexible.
Be true to yourself.
Stand alone, and stand together.
Be brave.
Be patient.
With time, you will grow."
I Listen to the wind, and it says:

"Breathe.
Take care of yourself --
body, mind, and spirit.
Take time.
Be quiet.
Listen from your heart.
Forgive."
I Listen to the sun, and it says:

"Nurture others.
Let your warmth radiate for others to feel.
Give yourself without expectations."
I Listen to the creek, and it says:

"Relax; go with the flow.
Tend to what's really important,
and let the rest go by.
Keep moving -- don't be hesitant or afraid.
Lighten up -- laugh, giggle."
I Listen to the mountains, and they say:

"Be there.
Be honest.
Be trustworthy.
Do what you say you're going to do.
Be true, genuine, and real.
Speak from the heart.
Don't cheat."
I Listen to the birds, and they say:

"Set yourself free.
Sing."
I Listen to the clouds, and they say:

"Be creative.
Be expressive.
Let your spirit run free.
Let yourself be light and gay,
but let yourself be heavy and sad.
Cry when you feel like it."
I Listen to the sky, and it says:

"Open up.
Let go of the boundaries and barriers
which you have created to protect yourself.
Experience change.
Fly."
I Listen to the flowers and small plants, and they say:

"Be humble.
Be simple.
Respect the beauty of small things.
Respect the beauty of humility and truth.
Let go of perfectionism.
Love yourself as you are; it opens the door to change.
Practice acceptance."
I Listen to the bugs and flying insects, and they say:

"Work.
Be productive.
Use your hands.
Focus on what's in front of you.
Ignore the pa- touch and caress.
Allow yourself to be loved.
Be gentle, kind, and understanding.
Use candles."
I Listen to the stars, and they wink and say:

"Play.
Dance, be silly, have fun."
I Listen to the earth, and it says:

"I am your mother.
I give you life.
Respect all that is around you.
Find beauty in all things -- living and not -- including
yourself; for we are all one -- not separate.
Be especially respectful to the very young and the very old,
for they are both very near God.
Give up the belief that you are a higher form of life;
there is no higher form of life.
We are equal because we are the same.
When you return to me, I will welcome you,
and I will set your spirit free.
Love and nurture your children; cook good food for them,
and hold them very close to you often.
Hold me close to you often as well,
and I will hold you in return; I will support you.
Have faith.

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

First Day of The End

The first day of the ending,
The first day of real "good-bye".
How does it feel, this day of dawning
Following the long, long, endless night of pain?

Freedom--the first word that comes to mind.
Free at last from the raging storm of doubts and fears
Free at last from endless wringing of hands and tears.
Free from the bondage of my own will, my own wants,
That I thought--so wrongly--were needs.

A sense of light; a sense of awareness.
A feeling like life and nature coursing through my veins.

Healing. Gashes in my soul closing, mending.
Holes in my heart filling, sealing life in, forcing death out.
Shattered nerves, twisted feelings, severed strings of life,
All coming together, forming a renewed whole...a better me.

Possibilities. Discoveries. Promise. Adventures feared dead.
A world--no, a universe--full of things to feel, and learn,
and come to know.

People. Friends. Companions.
Fellow travelers who went before me down the path of pain.
Found again, waiting patiently for my return;
Arms outstretched to hold me, comfort me, heal me.

Love. Not the love that was sought, thought found, and lost.
Not the love that set the stage for all the heartache and agony.
Not the love that was never really there;
could not, then, be returned.
But love, pure and perfect. Warm and peaceful love.
God's love.

Life. Renewed, rejuvenated, resuscitated, reborn.
New eyes to see the world in a different way.
Simple things. Beautiful things. Missed things.
Welcomed back into this new life that's just barely begun.

Today. The First Day of The End.

written by ~ Jeff B.
jbingham1@...

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

Now I Live

I was dead but now I live
Show my gratitude as I give
I had a hole I could not fill
Down deep inside of me
I was stoned
I could not see
What was happening to me
I drank like a sponge
All I could get
So many blackouts I regret
When that stop working
I turned to drugs
Trying to fill that hole
I came mighty close
To killing my soul
My drug of choice
Was more, more, more
Of anything I could score
  From acid to pot and pills
I thought I found a lot of cheap thrills
They enhanced the alcohol I drank
I watched my life as it sank
By the grace of God I did not die
I was so lonely
Yet I could not cry
Watching my life pass me by
All I could do was deny
Then I got honest
Faced my ways
With the help of the 12 step program
God brightened my days
Now I live to give it away
I'm so grateful and blessed today
I work my program from
Morning until night
No longer do I rebel and fight
I have this peace deep inside
No longer do I dwell in false pride

Daniel M Corkery
10/22/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/

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

Your vision will become clear
only when you look into your heart.
Who looks outside, dreams.
Who looks inside, awakens.
Carl Jung

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

There are those of us who are always about to live.
We are waiting until things change, until there is more time,
until we are less tired, until we get a promotion,
until we settle down -- until, until, until.
It always seems as if there is some major event that must occur
in our lives before we begin living.
George Sheehan

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

He who has never tasted what is bitter
does not know what is sweet.
German Proverb

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

Love is a fruit in season at all times,
and in reach of every hand.
Mother Teresa

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

Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness.
It is not attained through self-gratification,
but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.
Helen Keller

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

Love is not neutral.
It takes a stand.
It is a commitment to the attainment of the
conditions of peace for everyone involved in a situation.
Marianne Williamson

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

God will heal your broken heart
if you give Him all the pieces.

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

We're sick people trying to get better,
not bad people trying to be good.

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

Change only happens when the pain of holding on
is greater than the fear of letting go.

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

You cannot save your ass and your face at the same 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/

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

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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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
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http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Non-alcoholic beer is for Non-alcoholics.

Please note, I will be out of town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
My Sponsor is telling me that I am in relapse
and I haven't used drugs..........
What is a relapse?
I’m scared of these upcoming holidays !!!
My family get togethers are a trigger.

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November  23
It feels so good to like myself today.
It feels so good to accept myself today.
It feels so good to know that I am exactly where I need to be,
doing what is right for me in this day.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Poor Me

Have you ever not liked yourself very much?
Put yourself down for being a dummy and such?

I grew up and lived most of my life wondering why I had been born.
   Seeking attention anyway I could get it if only to be scorned.

Always wanting to be someone else or any other place.
Having these feelings inside, life I didn't want to face.

Seems I was always day dreaming that someday things would be changed.
Not knowing that all this time my life was already being rearranged.

God had not made a mistake when He created me.
He took great pains, it was I who had failed, not He.

But with all "my" defects it was so much easier to blame
God and others than to blame me.
It was much easier to run from life, because then,
I just couldn't handle any responsibility.

So since I was to be in this world, I would try to exist.
I would try to please others especially when they would insist.

When I finally got tired of existing and tried to bring it to an end,
the arranging had came about.
God stepped in and life was about to begin.

He sent me to a place where there were people who had felt just like me,
   They said, "come let us help you to feel happy, joyous and free".

I looked at them and then at me and thought they'll never understand,
but they kept calling and saying, "let us help you, here take my hand."

It took a long time for me to understand,
I can't blame anyone but me,
My problems are of my own making and that's hard to accept,
but I have to you see.

I don't want to go back the way I used to be,
full of self-loathing and fear.
But I had to have this all happen to me so I could appreciate
all the things I now hear.

If I can remain grateful for just one day,
The rewards that I reap would cause some people dismay.

There are those days when poor lil ole me will try to think,
I better be careful, it could cause poor me to pour me another drink.

But as long as I keep in touch with God and my friends to show me how,
To have the awareness to overcome the poor me's, it brings me back to
the
now.

This is the answer to all my prayers,
all I ever wanted was to be happy you see,
And all I had to do was listen to these people and work 12 steps,
and God took away all the misery.

Fiji B. 8-7-75/9-6-99
Mary Yelvington
mly@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Stone
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1298

A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous
  From AA Group No. 1, Akron, Ohio, 1940 Dr. Bob's Home Group
www.barefootsworld.net/aamanual.html

Alanon Sayings
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/6794/alanonsayings.html

Favorite slogans submitted by our users
www.recoverygreetings.com/slogans.html

N.A. Way- OPINION On Medication
www.na.org/naway/en/oct05/en-naway0510-sect6.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November
23                                                               God's
will

"The relief of 'letting go and letting God' helps us develop a life
that is worth living."     Basic Text p. 26

   In our addiction, we were afraid of what might happen if we
didn't control everything around us. Many of us made up
elaborate lies to protect our use of drugs. Some of us
manipulated everyone around us in a frenzied attempt to get
something from them so we could use more drugs. A few of
us went to great lengths to keep two people from talking to
each other and perhaps discovering our trail of lies. We took
pains to maintain an illusion of control over our addiction and
our lives. In the process, we kept ourselves from experiencing
the serenity that comes with surrender to a Higher Power's will.

   In our recovery, it is important to release our illusion of control
and surrender to a Higher Power, whose will for us is better than
anything we can con, manipulate, or devise for ourselves. If we
realize that we are trying to control outcomes and are feeling
afraid of the future, there is action we can take to reverse that
trend. We go to our Second and Third Steps and look at what we
have come to believe about a Higher Power. Do we truly believe
that this Power can care for us and restore us to sanity? If so,
we can live with all of life's ups and downs-its disappointments,
its sorrows, its wonders, and its joys.

Just for today: I will surrender and let a Higher Power's will
happen in my life. I will accept the gift of serenity this surrender
brings.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

By Faith and By Works

On anvils of experience, the structure of our Society was hammered
out. . .
. Thus has it been with A.A.   By faith and by works we have been able
to
build upon the lessons of an incredible experience.  They live today
in the
Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, which  -- God willing --
shall
sustain us in unity for so long as He may need us.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 131

God has allowed me the right to be wrong in order for our Fellowship to
exist as it does today.  If I place God's will first in my life, it is
very
likely that A.A. as I know it today will remain as it is.

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 / November 23

A.A. Thought for the Day

I no longer refuse to do anything because I cannot do it
to perfection.  Many of us alcoholics use the excuse of
not being able to do something perfectly to enable us to
do nothing at all.  We pretend to be perfectionists.  We
are good at telling people how a thing should be done, but
when we come to the effort of doing it ourselves, we balk.
We say to ourselves: "I might make a mistake so I'd
better let the whole thing slide." In A.A. we set our goals
high, but that does not prevent us from trying.  The mere
fact that we will never fully reach these goals does not
prevent us from doing the best we can.  Have I stopped
hiding behind the smoke screen of perfectionism?

Meditation for the Day

"In the world ye shall have tribulation. But be of good
cheer.  I have overcome the world."  Keep an undaunted
spirit.  Keep your spirit free and unconquered.  You can
be undefeated and untouched by failure and all its power,
by letting your spirit overcome the world; rise above
earth's turmoil into the secret chamber of perfect
peace and confidence.  When a challenge comes to you,
remember you have God's help and nothing can wholly
defeat you.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have confidence and be of good cheer.
I pray that I may not fear the power of failure.

"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
NOVEMBER 23

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

Healthy Sexuality

Many areas of our life need healing.

One important part of our life is our sexuality. Our feelings and
beliefs about our sexuality, our ability to nurture, cherish, and
enjoy our sexuality, our ability to respect ourselves sexually, our
ability to let go of sexual shame and confusion, may all be
impaired or confused by our codependency.

Our sexual energy may be blocked. Or for some of us, sex may
be the only way we learned to connect with people. Our sexuality
may not be connected to the rest of us; sex may not be connected
to love - for others or ourselves.

Some of us were sexually abused as children. Some of us may
have gotten involved in sexuality addictive behaviors - compulsive
sexual behaviors that got out of control and produced shame.

Some of us may have gotten involved in sexual codependency:
not paying attention to what we wanted, or didn't want, sexually;
allowing ourselves to get involved sexually because it was what
the other person wanted; shutting off our sexuality along with our
other feelings; denying ourselves healthy enjoyment of ourselves
as sexual beings.

Our sexuality is a part of ourselves that deserves healing attention
and energy. It is a part of us that we can allow to become
connected to the whole of us; it is a part of us that we can stop
being ashamed of.

It is okay and healthy to allow our sexual energy to open up and
become healed. It is connected to our creativity and to our heart.
We do not have to allow our sexual energy to control our
relationships or us. We can establish and maintain healthy,
appropriate boundaries around our sexuality. We can discover
what that means in our life.

We can enjoy the gift of being human beings who have been given
the gift of sexual energy, without abusing or discounting that gift.

Today, I will begin to integrate my sexuality into the rest of my
personality. God, help me let go of my fears and shame around
my sexuality. Show me the issues I need to face concerning my
sexuality. Help me open myself to healing in that area of my life.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So Close To Freedom
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/so-close-to-freedom.htm

Overcoming "Minnesota Nice", by Lynn Woodland
What we find terrifying about telling each other the truth about our
annoyances and hurt feelings is that it requires engaging more deeply.
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/June/feature4.htm

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

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

The Hundreth Human
By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

You might just be the one person needed to change the way
human beings function in the world. You may have the power
to change human nature...your own as well as humankind's.
The phenomenon of the "hundredth monkey" may save the
human species from going the way of the dinosaurs. This
phenomenon is documented in a book by Lyle Watson, entitled,
"Lifetide." Here is the story.

On a group of Japanese islands, there lives a specie of monkey
called the Macaca Fuscata. These monkeys have been observed
in the wild since the end of World War II. In 1952, on the island
of Koshima, scientists were providing the monkeys with sweet
potatoes to enhance their diet. The monkeys seemed to like the
taste of the potatoes, but found the sand and dirt on them to be
very unpleasant.

An 18-month-old female named "Imo" discovered she could
remove the sand from the potatoes by washing them in a nearby
stream. She taught her mother the solution to the problem. She
also taught her playmates, who in turn, taught their mothers.

Gradually, the youngsters of the entire colony of monkeys
learned this cultural innovation. By 1958, all the young monkeys
had learned to wash sweet potatoes before eating them. Only
the adults who imitated their children learned this social
improvement observed by many scientists. Other adult monkeys
kept right on eating dirty sweet potatoes.

In the Fall of 1958, the startling phenomenon of the "hundredth
monkey" occurred. It went something like this. By then, a certain
number of the monkeys on Koshima were washing their sweet
potatoes. The exact number is not known, but scientists postulated
that there were 99 monkeys washing their food that Autumn
morning. They further supposed that later that morning, the
hundredth monkey learned how to wash potatoes. It was at that
critical moment, the moment the hundredth monkey learned to
wash food that...it happened.

Within two or three hours, almost everyone in the tribe of
monkeys was washing sweet potatoes before eating them.
The last bit of energy provided by the learning of the hundredth
monkey had somehow created a cultural breakthrough! The
most stunning event observed by the scientists was that the
habit of washing sweet potatoes then spontaneously jumped
over the sea.

Colonies of Macaca Fuscata monkeys on other islands as well
as the troop on the mainland at Takasakiyama, all began
washing their sweet potatoes. It was as if, when the hundredth
monkey changed her awareness about sweet potatoes, dirt,
and how to solve the problem, the entire species achieved the
new awareness.

Scientists have concluded that when a certain critical number
of beings in a given specie achieves an awareness, this new
awareness may be communicated from mind to mind and
group to group, without direct observable contact.

The "Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon" means that when only
a limited, but critical number of people know a new way of
functioning; this new awareness may remain only of in the
consciousness of these certain people. But there comes a
point at which, if only one more person "tunes in to the new
awareness," an "energy field" is modified so that the
awareness reaches almost everyone in the specie.

The experiments of Dr. J. B. Rhine at Duke University have
repeatedly demonstrated that individuals can communicate
private information to each other even though located in
different places. Carl Jung postulated the existence of a
human "collective unconscious" from which comes much of
the individual  unconscious motivation and behavior we
usually refer to as  "instinctive." We now know that the
strength of this collective unconscious can be modified or
amplified to a powerfully effective level when the
consciousness of the "hundredth person" is added.

Your individual consciousness can become the "hundredth"
needed to change our human awareness about life, war,
peace, survival, growth, enjoyment and love. You could be
the final one necessary to create the critical number of humans
necessary to create a brand new world for human life. What are
you doing to create/modify your own awareness along new
and vital models? What are you learning and doing to become
the "hundredth human?"

Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D. has 30+ years experience as a Life
Coach and Licensed Psychologist. He is available for coaching
in any area presented in "Practical Psychology." Initial coaching
sessions are free. Contact him: (970) 568-0173 or E-mail:
DrLloyd@... or LJTDAT@....

Dr. Thomas also serves on the faculty of the Institute For Life
Coach Training and the International University of Professional
Studies. He recently co-authored (with Patrick Williams) the
book: *Total Life Coaching: 50+ Life Lessons, Skills and
Techniques for Enhancing Your Practice*and Your Life!*
(W.W. Norton 2005) available at your local bookstore or on
Amazon.com.

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

Eight Winds Of Buddha

Buddha teaches there are eight different types of wind,
Blowing around us, whether unruly or disciplined.
Each wind has a gift for us, or a sting in the tail,
Upon which wind will you choose to set sail?

Perhaps you will favour the wind of gain,
Believing that this one will remove all pain.
Or may be you will pick its brother loss,
Thinking that your life has lost its gloss.

Praise is another you could select from,
Its caress so sweet, so loving and warm.
Ridicule its counterpart may take you away,
On a hurricane of abuse, every single day.

The wind of credit may surround you with merit,
Honours bestowed, the world yours to inherit.
But on its heels may be the wind of blame,
Whipping around you, carrying years of shame.

Oh for the wind of joy, bringer of pure delight,
A breeze of happiness, all worry it does smite.
Beware of the bleakness of the wind of sorrow,
It may take away your wish to see tomorrow.

Don't let any of the winds around you deceive,
Taking you into a fantasy world of make-believe.
Look to the grass on the prairie, standing tall,
Not caring if the wind even blows at all.

The grass dances and bends, for it knows,
It will survive, no matter what wind blows.

Copyright Catherine Seiler 28.08.2000

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

   As I look back over my life, I recognize that everything that has
ever happened to me has contributed to the person I am now.
While I have gone through different professions, living situations,
travels, and relationships, I see that each of them bestowed me
with a gift.  Even the painful or difficult times taught me lessons
that make me a better person now.  All of it has been a blessing.

      It is important that we hold our past in a sense of reverence,
along with the people we have known.  If we resent our former
spouse, employer, or friends, we are tied t the pain and unable
to move forward.  The hardship of the past will stay with us until
we find a way to make it a gift; then it will empower us to move
ahead.

      Make a list of significant past events and relationships, and
next to each entry note the gifts you received from that person or
experience.  If you are willing to find the good, you will.  Assume
that everyone who shows up in your life is here to bless you in
some way.  The other person may not know their role in your
awakening, and they may serve you in ways quite unrelated to
the reason you thought you interacted with them. Spirit’s
intentions go far beyond human planning.

      Then write a note or letter of gratitude to each person on your
list. Thank them for the gifts they brought to you r life, and
specifically describe how you have grown and improved your
life as a result of your interaction with them.  Be sure to include
those who challenged you.  While this writing is for our own
illumination, you may send letters to the people when appropriate.
By the time you finish your writing, you will be bursting with so
much peace and joy that you will wonder how you could have
ever thought anyone was your enemy.

      Gratitude is the key to happiness: apply it to your past, and you
will find friends you never knew you had.

Alan Cohen, A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE

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

Filling the Emptiness

       “I hate Sundays when I'm not in love,” a friend once told me.
“They seem so empty.   I get depressed.”

       Most people want the weekend to get here, but some people
want the weekend to be over.   Empty spaces can be unbearable
until we discover the power of silence.   We are deeply afraid of
the silence, the void, the emptiness.   That is because a
materialistic prejudice thinks that what cannot be touched does
not exist.   The void is not material; it is a FORCE.

    The void is where God is.   Empty places, empty moments are
not really empty; they're pregnant.   God is the potential fullness
gushing out from every empty space, the ever-present possibility
of a magic moment or miraculous thought.   Off the blank page
jumps a cosmic summons to write your own names.   Out of
that silence came the opening chords of Beethoven's Fifth.

       We try to consume the external, to give us a feeling of internal
satisfaction.   And yet we cannot satisfy that yearning, because
nothing outside of us is the stuff for which we hunger.   The more
we grab, the less centered we are.   And so we disintegrate; we
do not grow.   We take on the characteristics of neurotic, needy
people, for that is who we decide to be when we look to the
world for what the word cannot give us.

       It is imperative, therefore, that we give time each day, each
week, to silence, to the internal search, to honoring God before
the world.   WE must embrace the void instead of resisting it.
That is the way of the mystic.   It is the only way we can heal.

Marianne Williamson

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

A Part of My Life...

I remember the lonely life I had
in the disease that we all share
I have proof of the struggle to walk alone
In the scars that I now bear
I turned my back on the God I knew
Out of fear of the live I lived
I didn't know how to forgive myself
So how then could He forgive?
With my back still turned on my only hope
I had lost any will to survive
And it took me til now to understand
I know that He kept me alive
To give me a chance to share with you
That miracles are born of strife
And God, who had never left my side
is now a part of my life.

Written by ~ NINI

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

God is closer to us than we are to ourselves,
for God is the breath or spirit that gives life to the billions
of different bodies that make up God's body.
But God is also the source, power, and goal of everything that is,
for the creation depends utterly upon God.
Sally McFague

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

We can react negatively to the demands made on us
or we can choose to live abundantly,
to transform the negative into the meaningful.
Attitude is all.
If I do not endow my life and my work with meaning,
no one will ever be able to do it for me.
Sarah Ban Breathnach

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

Develop an attitude of gratitude,
and give thanks for everything that happens to you,
knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving
something bigger and better than your current situation.
Brian Tracy

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

Believe as a child believes
and the magic will find you.
Teresa Langdon

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

Take your problems to God,
then take God to your problems.

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

It is virtually impossible to be both
hateful and grateful in the same pair of jeans,
choose one, choose wisely.

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

It's easy to feel grateful when we receive a raise,
meet the love of our life or watch our children succeed,
but spiritual gratitude is not circumstantial.
It arises from a true knowing that God is our Source.
We can feel thankful for every day, even in the middle
of life's challenges.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Attitudes are contagious.
Is yours worth catching?

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

Gratitude is a necessary Attitude


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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,
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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
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http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance,
chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast,
a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
Gratitude makes sense of our past,
brings peace for today,
and creates a vision for tomorrow.
Melody Beattie

Please note, I will be out of town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
My Sponsor is telling me that I am in relapse
and I haven't used drugs..........
What is a relapse?
I’m scared of these upcoming holidays !!!
My family get togethers are a trigger.

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 22
Today I am thinking about all the things I have
to be grateful for and will write them down.
I will make a gratitude list,
adding to it every time I think of something new.
By doing this I will be more aware of
the things I have to be grateful for and
will always have something about which I can feel good,
no matter what is going on 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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Listen

Listen to the wind,
Listen to it blow,
What it will say,
Your heart will know.

Listen to the birds,
Their song they sing,
About the joy
This moment brings.

Listen to the sky,
In different hues,
The rainbow's
Yellows, reds and blues.

Listen to the rain,
A soothing sound,
Melodies of splashing,
On the ground.

Listen to your soul,
Inside will be,
The answers only
God can see.

Sharlett Hunt  11/23/03
Sharlette863@...

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

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

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

The Stone
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1298

The Legacy of Recovery with Bill Wilson
www.barefootsworld.net/aalegacyofrecovery.html

AIDS.ORG - Quality Treatment Information
www.aids.org/index.html

AIDS Treatment Internet links
www.aidsnews.org

Hepatitis C Resources & Information
www.hepcnet.net/

Hepatitis C Information Center
www.hepatitis-central.com

How NA world services promotes and supports
the growth of local NA communities
N.A. Way Magazine 4/1999
www.na.org/naway/en/naway162-1.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 22                               Foundation First

"As we begin to function in society, our creative freedom helps
us sort our priorities and do the basic things first." Basic Text p. 83

   No sooner do we get clean than some of us begin putting other
priorities ahead of our recovery. Careers, families, relationships-
all these are part of the life we find once we've laid the
foundation of our recovery. But we can't build a stable life for
ourselves before we do the hard, basic work of laying our
recovery foundation. Like a house built on sand, such a life will
be shaky, at best.

   Before we begin putting all our attention to rebuilding the
detailed framework of our lives, we need to lay our foundation.
We acknowledge, first, that we don't yet have a foundation,
that our addiction has made our lives utterly unmanageable.
Then, with the help of our sponsor and our home group, we
find faith in a Power strong enough to help us prepare the
ground of our new lives. We clear the wreckage from the site
upon which we will build our future. Finally, we develop a deep,
working familiarity with the principles we will practice in our
continuing affairs: honest self-examination, reliance upon our
Higher Power's guidance and strength, and service to others.

   Once our foundation is prepared, then we can go full steam
ahead to put our new lives together. But first we must ask
ourselves if our foundation is secure, for without our foundation,
nothing we build can stand for long.

Just for today: I will take care to lay a secure foundation for my
recovery. Upon such a foundation, I can build for a lifetime in
recovery.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

What We Know Best

"Shoemaker, stick to thy last!" . . . better do one thing supremely well
than many badly. That is the central theme of this Tradition
[Five].  Around it our Society gathers in unity.  The very life of our
Fellowship requires the preservation of this principle.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 150

The survival of A.A. depends upon unity.  What would happen if a
group decided to become an employment agency, a treatment center
or a social service agency?  Too much specialization leads to no
specialization, to frittering of efforts and, finally, to decline.  I
have
the qualifications to share my sufferings and my way of recovery with
the newcomer.  Conformity to A.A.'s primary purpose insures the
safety of the wonderful gift of sobriety, so my responsibility is
enormous.  The life of millions of alcoholics is closely tied to my
competence in "carrying the message to the still-suffering alcoholic."

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 / November 22

A.A. Thought for the Day

I have gotten rid of most of my boredom.  One of the
hardest things that a new member of A.A. has to
understand is how to stay sober and not be bored.
Drinking was always the answer to all kinds of boring
people or boring situations.  But once you have taken
up the interest of A.A., once you have given it your
time and enthusiasm, boredom should not be a problem
to you.  A new life opens up before you that can be
always interesting.  Sobriety should give you so many
new interests in life that you shouldn't have time to be
bored.  Have I gotten rid of the fear of being bored?

Meditation for the Day

"If I have not charity, I am become as sounding brass
or a tinkling cymbal."  Charity means to care enough
about other people to really want to do something for
them.  A smile, a word of encouragement, a word of love,
goes winged on its way, simple though it may seem,
while the mighty words of an orator fall on deaf ears.
Use up the odd moments of your day in trying to do some
little thing to cheer up another person.  Boredom comes
from thinking too much about yourself.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that my day may be brightened by some little
act of charity.  I pray that I may try today to overcome
the self-centeredness that makes me bored.

"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
NOVEMBER 22

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

The Magic of Gratitude and Acceptance

Gratitude and acceptance are two magic tricks available to us in
recovery. No matter who we are, where we are, or what we have,
gratitude and acceptance work.

We may eventually become so happy that we realize our present
circumstances are good. Or we master our present circumstances
and then move forward into the next set of circumstances.

If we become stuck, miserable, feeling trapped and hopeless, try
gratitude and acceptance. If we have tried unsuccessfully to alter
our present circumstances and have begun to feel like we're
beating our head against a brick wall, try gratitude and acceptance.

If we feel like all is dark and the night will never end, try gratitude
and acceptance.

If we feel scared and uncertain, try gratitude and acceptance.

If we've tried everything else and nothing seems to work, try
gratitude and acceptance.

If we've been fighting something, try gratitude and acceptance.

When all else fails, go back to the basics.

Gratitude and acceptance work.

Today, God, help me let go of my resistance. Help me know the
pain of a circumstance will stop hurting so much if I accept it. I
will practice the basics of gratitude and acceptance in my life,
and for all my present circumstances.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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

Love Is The Answer
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/11/love.htm

The Birth of Spirit
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2000/11/spirit.htm

The Search for Meaning
Mastering your life means being an active participant
in your own life rather than a passive one.
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/June/feature1.htm

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Can Meditation Be Fun?
by Alan Watts

Alan WattsWhat we call meditation or contemplation -- for want
of a better word -- is really supposed to be fun. I have some
difficulty in conveying this idea because most people take
anything to do with religion seriously -- and you must understand
that I am not a serious person. I may be sincere, but never
serious, because I don't think the universe is serious.

And the trouble comes into the world largely because various
beings take themselves seriously, instead of playfully. After all,
you must become serious if you think that something is
desperately important, but you will only think that something is
desperately important if you are afraid of losing it. In one way,
however, if you fear losing something, it isn't really worth having.
There are people who live in dread, and then drag on living
because they are afraid to die. They will probably teach their
children to do the same, and their children will in turn teach
their own children to live that way. And so it goes on and on.

But let me ask you, if you were God, would you be serious?
Would you want people to treat you as if you were serious?
Would you want to be prayed to? Think of all the awful things
that people say in their prayers. Would you want to listen to that
all the time? Would you encourage it? No, not if you were God.

In the same way, meditation is different from the sort of things
that people are supposed to take seriously. It doesn't have any
purpose, and when you talk about practicing meditation, it's not
like practicing tennis or playing the piano, which one does in
order to attain a certain perfection. You practice music to become
better at it, maybe even with the idea that you may someday go
on stage and perform. But you don't practice meditation that way,
because if you do, you are not meditating.

THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION

The only way you can talk about practice in the context of
meditation is to use the word practice in the same way as
when somebody says that they practice medicine. That is their
way of life, their vocation, and they do it nearly every day.
Perhaps they do it the same way, day after day -- and that's
fine for meditation too, because in meditation there is no right
way and there is no idea of time.

In practicing and learning things, time is usually of the essence.
We try to do it as fast as possible, and even find a faster way of
learning how to do things. In meditation a faster way of learning
is of no importance whatsoever, because one's focus is always
on the present. And although growth may occur in the process,
it is growth in the same way that a plant grows.

THE ESSENTIAL PROCESS

This is the beginning of meditation. You don't know what you're
supposed to do, so what can you do? Well, if you don't know
what you're supposed to do, you watch. You simply watch what
is going on.

When somebody plays music, you listen. You just follow those
sounds, and eventually you understand the music. The point
can't be explained in words because music is not words, but
after listening for a while, you understand the point of it, and
that point is the music itself.

In exactly the same way, you can listen to all experiences,
because all experiences of any kind are vibrations coming at
you. As a matter of fact, you are these vibrations, and if you
really feel what is happening, the awareness you have of
you and of everything else is all the same. It's a sound, a
vibration, all kinds of vibrations on different bands of the
spectrum. Sight vibrations, emotion vibrations, touch vibrations,
sound vibrations -- all these things come together and are
woven, all the senses are woven, and you are a pattern in the
weaving, and that pattern is the picture of what you now feel.
This is always going on, whether you pay attention to it or not.

Now instead of asking what you should do about it, you
experience it, because who knows what to do about it? To
know what to do about this you would have to know
everything, and if you don't, then the only way to begin is to
watch.

Watch what's going on. Watch not only what's going on
outside, but what's going on inside. Treat your own thoughts,
your own reactions, your own emotions about what's going
on outside as if those inside reactions were also outside things.
But you are just watching. Just follow along, and simply observe
how they go.

Now, you may say that this is difficult, and that you are bored by
watching what is going on. But if you sit quite still, you are simply
observing what is happening: all the sounds outside, all the
different shapes and lights in front of your eyes, all the feelings
on your skin, inside your skin, belly rumbles, thoughts going on
inside your head -- chatter, chatter, chatter. "I ought to be writing
a letter to so-and-so.... I should have done this" -- all this bilge
   is going on, but you just watch it.

You say to yourself, "But this is boring". Now watch that too.
What kind of a funny feeling is it that makes you say it's
boring? Where is it? Where do you feel it? "I should be
doing something else instead." What's that feeling? What
part of your body is it in? Is it in your head, is it in your belly,
is it in the soles of your feet? Where is it? The feeling of
boredom can be very interesting if you look into it.

Simply watch everything going on without attempting to change
it in any way, without judging it, without calling it good or bad.
Just watch it. That is the essential process of meditation.


This article is excerpted from:
\Still The Mind: An Introduction to Meditation,
by Alan Watts, ©2000.

Alan WattsAlan Watts was one of the most famous and
endearing writers and speakers of the twentieth century on
the subjects of Eastern thought and meditation. He was born
in  England in 1915 and died in his home in northern
California in 1973. In all, Watts wrote more than twenty-five
books and recorded hundreds of lectures and seminars.
He became widely recognized for his Zen writings and for
The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are.
For more info, visit www.alanwatts.com and
www.audiowisdom.com

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

The Hand

At first it sounded like a thanksgiving story, but the more I
reflected on it, the more appropriate it seemed for any time of
the year. The way I heard it, the story went like this:

Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her
class a fun assignment -- to draw a picture of something for
which they were thankful.

Most of the class might be considered economically
disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday
with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These,
the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her
student's art. And they were.

But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was
a different kind of boy. He was the teacher's true child of
misery, frail and unhappy. As other children played at recess,
Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only
guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes.

Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture
of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand.
Nothing else. Just an empty hand.

His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers.
Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand
of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. Another
suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care
for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God
feeds us. And so the discussion went -- until the teacher almost
forgot the young artist himself.

When the children had gone on to other assignments, she
paused at Douglas' desk, bent down, and asked him whose
hand it was. The little boy looked away and murmured, "It's
yours, teacher."

She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked
with him here or there, as she had the other students. How often
had she said, "Take my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside." Or, "Let
me show you how to hold your pencil." Or, "Let's do this together."
Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand.

Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.

The story speaks of more than thankfulness. It says something
about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends
showing friendship, and how much it means to the Douglases
of the world. They might not always say thanks. But they'll
remember the hand that reaches out.

By Steve Goodier © 2001 (reprinted)

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

Bridges of Growth

When your mind's conscious awareness changes
is made more complex by an experience
then you have undergone inner growth
Transition happens in our be-ing
and amazement replaces a blasé attitude
The psychic bridge we cross in this process
is usually a challenge to our emotional beliefs
Without feelings attached to the experience
no growth can occur ~ we need passion
Whatever label we attach to the experience
we are transported to a higher state
Our point of view changes...
Maybe our way of seeing the world does too
The soul's residence undergoes renovation
There is no end to the challenges
our psyche presents for us
if we will but allow it
With our permission the chasm to
enlightenment is breached
Acquiescing to emote, to become passionate
we cross the bridge
To the other side where awaits a deeper life
Find empathy; bear new acceptance and growth
Life is trying to capture your attention
Your bridges span the gap from the ordinary
to an exciting adventure into discovery
Only exhilaration and freedom
await on the other side
Won't you accept the invitation?

Love
Stella
© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

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

I "Heard" the Love

   When I was growing up I do not recall hearing the words
"I love you" from my father. When your father never says
them to you when you are a child, it gets tougher and
tougher for him to say those words as he gets older. To tell
the truth, I could not honestly remember when I had last
said those words to him either. I decided to set my ego
aside and make the first move. After some hesitation, in our
next phone conversation I blurted out the words, "Dad . . .
I love you!"

    There was a silence at the other end and he awkwardly
replied, "Well, same back at ya!"

    I chuckled and said, "Dad, I know you love me, and when
you are ready, I know you will say what you want to say."

    Fifteen minutes later my mother called and nervously
asked, "Paul, is everything okay?"

    A few weeks later, Dad concluded our phone conversation
with the words, "Paul, I love you." I was at work during
this conversation and the tears were rolling down my cheeks
as I finally "heard" the love. As we both sat there in tears
we realized that this special moment had taken our
father/son relationship to a new level.

    A short while after this special moment, my father
narrowly escaped death following heart surgery. Many times
since, I have pondered the thought, If I did not take the
first step and Dad did not survive the surgery, I would have
never "heard" the love.

By Paul Barton from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry Spilchuk

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

Reflection for the Day

One of the best ways to get out of the self-pity trap is to do some "
instant bookkeeping." For every entry of misery on the debit side of
our ledger, we can surely find a blessing to mark on the credit side:
the health we enjoy, the illnesses we don't have, the friends who
love us and who allow us to love them, a good day's work. If we
but try, we can easily list a whole string of credits that will far
outweigh the debit entries which cause self-pity. Is my emotional
balance on the credit side today?

Today I Pray

May I learn to sort out my debits and credits and add it all up. May
I list my several blessings on the credit side. May my ledger show
me, when all is totaled, a fat fund of good things to draw on.

Today I Will Remember

I have blessings in my savings.

from the book: A Day at a Time, by Anonymous

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

We're all going to have winds and waves in our lives
but nothing that happens can destroy your life
unless you allow it to destroy what's in you.
Work on building conscious contact with God
that is stronger than anything in the world,
so you don't look to the world as your guidance.
Look within and you will find the power and love of God.
   Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying,
'Make me feel important.'
Never forget this message when working with people.
Mary Kay

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

The sweetest of all sounds is praise.
   Xenophon

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

Start living now.
Stop saving the good china for that special occasion.
Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes.
Every day you are alive is a special occasion.
Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God.
   Mary Manin Morrissey

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

People who don't go to meetings aren't around to hear
about what happens to people who don't go to meetings.

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

You can't think your way into right living,
you must live your way into right thinking.

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

If you want to make God laugh,
tell Him your plans for the day.

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

Whatever you are willing to put up with,
is exactly what you will have.

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

Success stops when you do.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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

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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Big or Basic
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/bigorbasic.html


Please note, I will be out of town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
My Sponsor is telling me that I am in relapse
and I haven't used drugs..........
What is a relapse?
I’m scared of these upcoming holidays !!!
Get togethers with my family are a trigger.

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 21
I trust God's plan for me today.
I know that I am being guided at all times.
I know all I need to know in any given 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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

The Stairs

Oh long and dark the stairs I trod,
With stumbling feet to find my God.
Gaining a foothold bit by bit
Then slipping back and losing it.
There came a certain time when I
Loosened my hold and fell thereby,
Down to the lowest step my fall
As if I had not climbed at all.
And as I lay despairing there,
There came a footfall on the stairs
And "lo" when hope had ceased to be
My God came down the stairs to me.

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

The Fern and The Bamboo
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1291

Index to Working The Steps
www.barefootsworld.net/aaworkstepsintro.html#index

Did You Know???
www.na.org/naway/en/Oct06/en-naway0610-sect4.htm

The Pattern Of Life
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/PatternOfLife.html

Lifes Tug of War
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/LifesTugofWar.html

N.A. Way- Sharing Member to Member
www.na.org/naway/en/oct05/en-naway0510-sect2.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 21                                Letting Our Defects Go

"If [character defects] contributed to our health and happiness,
we would not have come to such a state of desperation."
Basic Text p. 34

   Getting started on the Sixth and Seventh Steps isn't always easy.
We may feel as though we have so much wrong with us that we
are totally defective. We might feel like hiding under a rock. Under
no circumstance would we want our fellow addicts to know about
our inadequacies.

   We will probably go through a time of examining everything we
say and do in order to identify our character defects and make
sure we suppress them. We may look back at one particular day,
cringing at what we're certain is the most embarrassing thing
we've ever said. We become determined to be rid of these
horrible traits at all costs. But nowhere in the Sixth or Seventh
Steps does it say we can learn to control our defects of character.
In fact, the more attention we focus on them, the more firmly
entrenched they will become in our lives. It takes humility to
recognize that we can't control our defects any more than we can
control our addiction. We can't remove our own defects; we can
only ask a loving God to remove them.

   Letting go of something painful can be as difficult as letting go of
something pleasant. But let's face it-holding on is a lot of work.
When we really think about what we're holding onto, the effort just
isn't worthwhile. It's time to let go of our character defects and ask
God to remove them.

Just for today: I'm ready to have my defects removed. I will let go
and allow a loving Higher Power to care for me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

True Tolerance

Finally, we begin to see that all people, including ourselves, are to
some extent emotionally ill as well as frequently wrong, and then
we approach true tolerance and see what real love for our fellows
actually means.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 92

The thought occurred to me that all people are emotionally ill to
some extent.  How could we not be?  Who among us is spiritually
perfect?  Who among us is physically perfect?  How could any of
us be emotionally perfect?  Therefore, what else are we to do but
bear with one another and treat each other as we would be treated
in similar circumstances?  That is what love really is.

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 / November 21st

A.A. Thought for the Day

I no longer waste money, but try to put it to good use.
Like all of us, when I was drunk, I threw money around
like I really had it.  It gave me a feeling of importance
--- a millionaire for a day.  But the morning after, with
an empty wallet and perhaps also some indecipherable
checks, was a sad awakening.  How could I have been
such a fool?  How will I ever make it up?  Thoughts like
these get you down.  When we are sober, we spend our
hard earned money as it should be spent.  Although
perhaps some of us could be more generous in our A.A.
giving, at least we do not throw it away.  Am I making
good use of my money?

Meditation for the Day

You were meant to be at home and comfortable in the
world.  Yet some people live a life of quiet desperation.
This is the opposite of being at home and at peace in the
world.  Let your peace of mind be evident to those around
you.  Let others see that you are comfortable, and seeing
it, know that it springs from your trust in a Higher Power.
The dull, hard way of resignation is not God's way.  Faith
takes the sting out of the winds of adversity and brings
peace even in the midst of struggle.

Prayer for the Day I pray that I may be more comfortable
in my way of living.  I pray that I may feel more at home and
at peace within myself.

"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
NOVEMBER 21

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

Financial Fears

I sat in the car, looking at the sign on the door of the food shelf
office:
"Closed until Friday." It was Wednesday. I had two hungry children
and myself; I had no money.

I laid my head on the steering wheel. I couldn't take it anymore.

I had been so strong, so brave, so trusting for so long. I was a single
parent with two children, recently divorced. I had worked so
courageously at being grateful for what I had, while setting financial
goals and working at believing I deserved the best.

I had put up with so much poverty, so much deprivation. Daily, I
worked the Eleventh Step. I worked so hard at praying for
knowledge of God's will for me only, and the power to carry it
through. I believed I was doing what I needed to do in my life. I
wasn't lollygagging. I was doing my best, working my hardest.

And there just wasn't enough money. Life had been a struggle
in many ways, but the financial struggle seemed endless.

Money isn't everything, but it takes money to solve certain
problems.  I was sick of "letting go" and "letting go" and "letting
go." I was sick of "acting as if" I had enough money. I was tired
of having to work so hard daily at letting go of the pain and fear
about not having enough. I was tired of working so hard at being
happy without having enough. Actually, most of the time I was
happy. I had found my soul in poverty. But now that I had my
soul and my self, I wanted some money too.

While I sat in the car trying to compose myself, I heard God speak
to me in that silent, still voice that whispers gently to our souls.

"You don't ever have to worry about money again, child. Not unless
you want to. I told you that I would take care of you. And I will."

Great, I thought. Thanks a lot. I believe you. I trust you. But look
around. I have no money. I have no food. And the food shelf is
closed. You've let me down.

Again I heard His voice in my soul: "You don't have to worry about
money again. You don't have to be afraid. I promised to meet all
your needs.

I went home, called a friend, and asked to borrow some money.
I hated borrowing, but I had no choice. My breakdown in the car
was a release, but it didn't solve a thing - that day. There was no
check in the mailbox.

But I got food for the day. And the next day. And the next. Within
six months, my income doubled. Within nine months, it tripled. Since
that day, I have had hard times, but I have never had to go without -
not for more than a moment in time.

Now, I have enough. Sometimes I still worry about money because
that seems to be habitual. But now I know I don't have to, and I know
I never did.

God, help me work hard at what I believe is right for me in my life
today, and I'll trust You for the rest. Help me let go of my fears about
money. Help me turn that area over to You. God. Take away the
blocks and barriers in my life to financial success.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Getting Kids Involved in Thanksgiving
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/f3.htm

Thanksgiving Facts
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/f4.htm

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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


Too Busy for Our Own Good
by Alexander J. Berardi

For some reason, those of us who inhabit the more industrially
developed nations of the world seem to believe that doing more
will somehow yield us more. When we mistakenly enter into
this thought pattern, we come dangerously close to mistaking
activity for accomplishment. Despite what most of us have been
unconsciously conditioned to believe, the two are not necessarily
connected.

As I drove to the office this morning, a young woman reminded
me of our propensity to cram every waking moment of our
existence with projects and tasks in hopes that we might gain
more control over our lives. The young woman was driving a
car in the lane next to me. As we headed down the expressway,
I couldn't help notice her: It was the first time I have ever seen
anyone eat breakfast, talk on the phone, apply eye makeup, and
sort through papers while driving a car at sixty-five miles per hour.

This woman wasn't alone in her pursuit of multitasking nirvana,
either. The fellow driving just behind her was reading a
newspaper, drinking coffee, and yelling at three arguing kids
seated in the backseat. This perpetual multitasking is not a
problem we succumb to only while driving. Just this morning,
as I sat in Central Park enjoying the shade of a 200-year-old
oak tree, I happened to catch sight of a jogger talking on his
cell phone and fiddling with his Palm Pilot while he ran. Similar
observations by friends in Europe and Asia suggest this is not
just an American ill; it seems to be part of a worldwide
phenomenon.

We're all too busy for our own good. Most of us live as if we will
be judged at our final reckoning according to the number of
crossed-off items on our cosmic to-do list. I'm not sure what it
is that causes otherwise rational people to think that, by working
harder, faster, and longer, they'll get everything done, when
they know by experience the exact opposite is true.

Often the harder, faster, or longer we work at a task the less
effective we become, and in most cases getting "everything
done" is a human impossibility. We're just not built to move
at the pace most of us tend to push ourselves to.

The technology we once thought would make our lives simpler
is actually producing the obverse effect. Cell phones, PDAs
(Personal Digital Assistants) with satellite capabilities, voice
mail, E-mail, and the like, bring the world within our reach.
Unfortunately, they also bring us within the reach of the world.

Our tender senses are assaulted every moment by billions of
new and changing sights, sounds, smells, and other sensations.
More information is hurled at our minds today than at any time
in history, and we are reacting negatively to the overload. The
human attention span is shrinking in response to the ever-
increasing number of demands being placed on it, and our
nerves are raw from wear. To maintain our sanity and
preserve a small scrap of solitude, we learn to block most of
the sensations that we deem nonessential. In consequence,
all that is sensuous and spiritual ricochets off the impenetrable
wall we have erected.

Such is another of life's follies: In a vain attempt to quiet our
tired minds and draw closer to the sound of our souls, we
strain out the very things that will bring us peace, joy, and the
spiritual connection we seek. The absurdity is this: The more
we fail in attaining peace through filtration, the harder we try.
Until one day we have blocked so much from our lives, we
find that we're not really living at all; we're merely alive.

In order to draw closer to our soul, we need less in our lives,
not more. Instead of hurrying to fill the voids in our schedule
with more activity, we need to take time to experience the
sensual and spiritual side of life: We need to nourish the
relationship with our soul and allow it to grow.

Sensuality is akin to the soul. We need to bring sensuality
back into our everyday lives. When was the last time you lay
in fresh-cut grass and felt the warmth of the sunshine on your
face and the softness of the breeze on your skin? Can you
remember the last time you spent the entire day in bed with
your lover, or ate spaghetti with your hands?

We seem to be able to make time for everything else, but we
need to make time for the sensual things in life, the things
that really make life worth living. We need to make time for
doing nothing at all, so we can once again experience the
joy of serenity. We need to slow down a bit, so we can become
in synch with nature. We need to feed our souls with sensuality,
quiet, and reflection so we can better communicate with God.

Because God dwells deep within us, we need to allow
ourselves the time to experience one another on a much
deeper level, to see the similarities rather than the differences,
and to get past the small talk and share with each other the
deep human experiences we all have every day.

To help us get to know each other better, we need to share
things like the gift of humor with each other. We also need to
take time to share an honest compliment or a simple hug with
everyone we meet. I believe these are the mechanisms by
which God's comfort can pass through our soul to the soul
of another. We need to tear down the walls that we have built
between our souls and the souls of others. Only then will we
begin to see a glimmer of evidence of the God that lives
within all of us.

This article is excerpted from Never Offer Your Comb to a Bald
Man, ©2001, by Alexander J. Berardi. Reprinted with
permission of the publisher, New World Library.
http://www.newworldlibrary.com


About the Author
Alexander J. Berardi is a high-level healthcare industry
entrepreneur, owner of seven successful companies, a
professional speaker and trainer, and a leader of more
than 700 employees. Each of his companies serves either
an ailing element of society (elderly, sick, or poor) or those
who serve them. He walks his talk, and the success of his
companies lead major hospitals and healthcare
organizations to solicit his advice. Now, he speaks to hospital
presidents, nurses, administrators, doctors, and other healthcare
workers on his topic, servant leadership.

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

I Am The Center Of My Universe

But I do not live here alone.
Each move I make creates a ripple in someone else's ocean.
Each breath I take affects the air all around me.
Each word I utter falls on someone else's ears.
That which I touch is felt by another.
That which I do will certainly affect another.
That which I do not, will also affect another.
We never know how far reaching something we say or do really
is until it returns to us.
And it always does.
ALL THINGS IN LIFE FORM A CIRCLE
Whether we see the circle or not.

Author Unknown

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

Time To Learn

A young but earnest Zen student approached his teacher, and asked the
Zen Master:
"If I work very hard and diligent how long will it take for me to find
Zen."
The Master thought about this, then replied, "Ten years."

The student then said, "But what if I work very, very hard and really
apply myself to learn fast -- How long then ?"
Replied the Master, "Well, twenty years."

"But, if I really, really work at it. How long then ?" asked the
student.
"Thirty years," replied the Master.

"But, I do not understand," said the disappointed student. "At each time
that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do
you
say that ?"

Replied the Master," When you have one eye on the goal, you only have
one
eye on the path."

Author Unknown

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

I Pray

I pray for peace
And it is given.
I pray for hope
And it is there.
I Pray for forgiveness
For how I've been living.
I pray to God
And know He cares.
So if I pray for love
I know I'll receive
And pray for faith
I start to believe
That He has come
Into my life,
and will always
Be with me.

written by ~ Meg M.
meg4how@...

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

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder,
he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it,
rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery
of the world we live in.
Rachel Carlson

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

Loving can cure all.
John-Roger

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

To understand the heart and mind of a person,
look not at what he has already achieved,
but at what he aspires to.
Kahlil Gibran

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

Friendships begin because, even without words,
we understand how someone feels.
Joan Walsh Anglund

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

Self-discipline is when your conscience tells you to do something
and you don't talk back.
W. K. Hope

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

If you're not moving away from a drink or drug,
you're moving closer to it.

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

My worst day clean is better
thank my best day using.

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

N.A. does not teach you how to get clean,
it teaches you how to live clean.

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

The reason I'm here is
because I'm not all there.

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

There's a difference between being in a meeting
and being at a meeting ! ! !


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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
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 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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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 town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Why is diversity important to our fellowship ?
What was the first "attraction" you saw in the rooms ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 20
Today I know that I have done the best I can with my life.
Today I know that I am at choice,
and what I choose right now creates new memories.
Today I choose to continue to do the very best.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Don't Stop Praying

One night, years ago while I was drinking
I was talking to my mother on the phone
We were again talking about my drinking
I told her how much I hated it

She started crying
Saying she didn't know what else to do
She had been praying for me for many years
And God didn't seem to be answering her prayers

How I hated that I was making my mother cry
That I was the cause for her sadness
I told her Mom, I know what you can do
Please, don't stop praying

God is the only one
Who can help me out of this mess
I have faith that He will
But it will be in His time not ours
Just don't stop praying

My mother continued to pray
As did many others for me
No - God didn't answer the prayers immediately
But He did answer them eventually

For today, you see
With the help of God, AA, friends and family
I am sober and clean
I am finally free

So whatever you do
Don't stop praying.

Written by:  Tammy B.  3/5/04
bluidkiti@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Higher Power
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1288

Intro to "Working the Steps"
www.barefootsworld.net/aaworkstepsintro.html

Feature and Sharing / 84 Days is a MUST READ!!!
NA Way Magazine
www.na.org/naway/en/Oct06/en-naway0610-sect2.htm

No Matter What Happens
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/NoMatterWhatHappens.html

Always Have a Dream
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/AlwaysHaveDream.html

Atmosphere of Recovery
www.na.org/naway/en/oct05/en-naway0510-sect1.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 20                                 Finding Fulfillment

"We weren't oriented toward fulfillment; we focused on the
emptiness and worthlessness of it all"  Basic Text p. 86

   There were probably hundreds of times in our active addiction
when we wished we could become someone else. We may
have wished we could trade places with someone who owned
a nice car or had a larger home, a better job, a more attractive
mate-anything but what we had. So severe was our despair that
we could hardly imagine anyone being in worse shape than
ourselves.

   In recovery, we may find we are experiencing a different sort
of envy. We may continue to compare our insides with others'
outsides and feel as though we still don't have enough of
anything. We may think everyone, from the newest member
to the oldest old-timer, sounds better at meetings than we do.
We may think that everyone else must be working a better
program because they have a better car, a larger home, more
money, and so on.

   The recovery process experienced through our Twelve Steps
will take us from an attitude of envy and low self-esteem to a
place of spiritual fulfillment and deep appreciation for what we
do have. We find that we would never willingly trade places with
another, for what we have discovered within ourselves is
priceless.

Just for today: There is much to be grateful for in my life. I will
cherish the spiritual fulfillment I have found in recovery.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

Just For Today
November 20                                 Finding Fulfillment

"We weren't oriented toward fulfillment; we focused on the
emptiness and worthlessness of it all"  Basic Text p. 86

   There were probably hundreds of times in our active addiction
when we wished we could become someone else. We may have
wished we could trade places with someone who owned a nice
car or had a larger home, a better job, a more attractive mate-
anything but what we had. So severe was our despair that we
could hardly imagine anyone being in worse shape than
ourselves.

   In recovery, we may find we are experiencing a different sort
of envy. We may continue to compare our insides with others'
outsides and feel as though we still don't have enough of
anything. We may think everyone, from the newest member
to the oldest old-timer, sounds better at meetings than we do.
We may think that everyone else must be working a better
program because they have a better car, a larger home, more
money, and so on.

   The recovery process experienced through our Twelve Steps
will take us from an attitude of envy and low self-esteem to a place
of spiritual fulfillment and deep appreciation for what we do have.
We find that we would never willingly trade places with another,
for what we have discovered within ourselves is priceless.

Just for today: There is much to be grateful for in my life. I will
cherish the spiritual fulfillment I have found in recovery.

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

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

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden / November 20th

A.A. Thought for the Day

I no longer try to escape life through alcoholism.
Drinking built up an unreal world for me and I tried
to live in it.  But in the morning light the real life
was back again and facing it was harder than ever,
because I had less resources with which to meet it.
Each attempt at escape weakened my personality
by the very attempt.  Everyone knows that alcohol,
by relaxing inhibitions, permits a flight from reality.
Alcohol deadens the brain cells that preside over our
highest faculties and we are off to the unreal world
of drunkenness.  A.A. taught me not to run away, but
to face reality.  Have I given up trying to escape life?

Meditation for the Day

In these times of quiet meditation, try more and more to
set your hopes on the grace of God.  Know that whatever
the future may hold, it will hold more and more of good.
Do not set all your hopes and desires on material things.
There is weariness in an abundance of things.  Set your
hopes on spiritual things so that you may grow spiritually.
Learn to rely on God's power more and more and in that
reliance you will have an insight into the greater value of
the things of the spirit.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may not be overwhelmed by material things.
I pray that I may realize the higher value of spiritual things.

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

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

Today's Thought
NOVEMBER 20

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

Wants and Needs`

So many of us have been brainwashed to think that we can't
have what we want in life. That is the belief of the martyr. It is
born of deprivation and fear.

Identifying what we want and need, then writing it down, sets
in motion a powerful chain of events. It indicates that we are
taking responsibility for ourselves, giving God and the
Universe permission to supply our wants and needs.

The belief that we deserve to have a change in character, a
relationship, a new dimension to an existing relationship, a
possession, a certain level of health, living, loving, or success,
is a powerful force in bringing that desire to pass.

Often, when we realize that we want something, that feeling is
God preparing us to receive it!

Listen. Trust. Empower the good in your life by paying attention
to what you want and need. Write it down. Affirm it mentally.
Pray about it. Then, let it go. Give it to God, and see what
happens.

The results may be better than you think.

Today, I will pay attention to what I want and need. I will take
time to write it down, and then I will let it go. I will begin to
believe I deserve the best.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Running Through The Rain…
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/rain.htm

Faith and Destiny
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/11/skye-thomas.htm

To Forgive # To Forget
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/July/cyberweave.htm

Women
www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/women/index.shtml

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Becoming An Agent of Change
by Janeanne Narrin



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One Degree Beyond - A Reiki Journey into Energy Medicine" by
Janeanne NarrinThis article is excerpted from the introduction of
the book "One Degree Beyond - A Reiki Journey into Energy
Medicine" by Janeanne Narrin. Excerpted with permission from
the publishers: Little White Buffalo Publishing Cottage, Seattle,
WA. www.onedegreebeyond.com

Janeanne Narrin, MA, CSW, Reiki Master/Teacher and artist, is a
management consultant with a corporate practice which focuses
on issues of Right Livelihood. She is also a REALTOR, professional
educator, and parent. She presently has a real estate business,
Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, in western North Carolina.
Visit her realtor website at http://www.janeanne.com


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

Metamorphosis

To emerge from our shell, our cocoon, our walls we have built
Takes time patience and love.
We start to grow and stretch, pull our head out and are amazed
To see beauty and light above
As the Hope and acceptance start to sink in, we tell ourselves,
Maybe, just maybe I can win.
We stretch and shove, on the walls we start to beat,
Finally, finally they fall and we stand on our feet,
Facing feelings and fears and filled with doubt,
Our wings start to emerge and our beauty comes out.
Wanting to be held and loved, yet filled with confusion,
Trying to trust, not understanding and comes delusion.
When you feel like you are sinking, remember to shove,
My spirit is with you and so is my love.
Take a deep breath, have faith, stretch out your butterfly wings,
Fill them with beauty and love, let your heart sing!

Dennis
Dennis9817@...

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

Paula Fairlie in 'The Virago Book of Spirituality'

While grappling with the question of God's indwelling
and our efforts at praying, I wrote the following:

' . . . and let the questing mind be still . . .'
In the ground of your being I have my home,
so do not seek me in the world apart.
Within your spirit true communion lies.
You are no homeless stranger in a land afar,
no alien on a foreign shore,
for I am with you.
Do but be still and know that I am God.
I look upon the world with your dark eyes;
I feel the flowing air on your cool cheek.
I hear the twittering in the moving trees,
for with your senses I perceive.
I am with you, I am within you.
So do not turn away but come to rest in me.
Within you is our meeting place.
Be but still, and I will speak in silence
to your loving, wayward heart.

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

Walk in Humility

    "Little children are humble. Their whole being reflects a humility
that
is simple and honest. They do not try to be something they are not, but
are content to be who God made them to be. They are aware of their
physical limitations and their need to be cared for and told what to do.
They may not always like it, but at the end of the day they know that
they are only little and need help with so many things. I believe their
honest sense of neediness beautifully portrays humility in its purist
form.

   Many adults struggle with this idea of humility. Some of us try to be
humble by putting ourselves down while others of us cloak our pride in a
false display of humility. But true humility doesn't come from our
self-degradation or by our false portrayals of a lowly attitude. It is a
heart issue and only comes when we realize the truth of how little we
are and how big God is.

    If we can grasp this truth we will not have to pretend to be
anything.
We can just be comfortable with our neediness and God's desire to
meet all our needs and humility will be the by product. May we all truly
embrace the humility of a little child."

Barry Adams

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

Damn Loneliness

I came here many years ago
So damn lonely
That I did not know
This damn loneliness is in my soul
In my self centered ways
I would feel whole
My whole world was upside down
Chasing that ultimate glow
Round and round
I was so full of self-pity and guilt
I swear never do it again
I've said a thousand times
Then
The night mare goes on and on
I've tried hard to run away
But with no where to go
I would just stray
It will be better when I get there
It will be different then I'll care
If we just move to another state
I'll quit
Just wait
I'll change my destiny
Lets pack
Come on lets go and see
I can't say how
I just know it will be
Things always stayed the same
As I played this drunken game
I was so lonely
In a room full of people
My disease kept me apart
As I longed for more in my heart
That was yesterday
I now can say
I've been freed in AA
Now I'm happy
Joyous and free
That I'm living
The 12 steps to victory

Daniel M Corkery
10/21/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

However many holy words you read,
However many you speak,
What good will they do you
If you do not act upon them?
Buddha

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

Care more than others think wise.
Risk more than others think safe.
Dream more than others think practical.
Expect more than others think possible.
Howard Schultz,
CEO Starbucks Coffee

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

Humility comes from the root word humus, which means,
"close to the ground; lowly."
If something is close to the ground and lowly,
it can grow.  And so can we.
When we know we have much to learn,
our minds and hearts open to the possibilities.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Don't try to be a great person, just try to be a good person.
And if you can succeed at being a good person,
then you have found greatness.
Don Heitkamp

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

There are two ways of spreading light...
to be the candle,
or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton

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

Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell.
Spirituality is for people who have been there
and don't want to go back.

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

A.A./N.A. won't get me the key to Heaven,
but it sure opened up the gates of hell and let me out.

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

When I'm alone in my head,
I'm behind enemy lines.

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

The only mistakes
are those you learn nothing from.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
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http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Gary and Pete
Two alcoholics walk into a tavern at the same time. They step up to the
bar and they each order a beer. As they strike up a conversation, they
become quite excited:

Gary: Gee, you look familiar. Are you from around here?
Pete: Sure am. Lived here all my life. Grew up over on Truman Street.
Gary: Is that so. I grew up on Truman, What school did you attend?
Pete: I went to North Side Elementary and then Washington High
School.
Gary: Same here! This is amazing. I graduated in 1946.
Pete: Now that is something. I graduated in '46 too! My home room
teacher was Miss Arnold.
Gary: Well I'll be. Miss Arnold was my home room teacher, too!!

Just then, the phone rang and the bartender answered. It was his wife.
"Are there many customers today?", she asked. "Naw", answered the
bartender. "The only people here are me and the Johnson twins."


Please note, I will be out of town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Why is diversity important to our fellowship ?
What was the first "attraction" you saw in the rooms ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 19
I am so full of love and joy today.
I see it everywhere I look,
and feel it with every breath that I take
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Hard Times

Can harden hearts
Showing the heart
How
You can depend on
Not
Depending on
Any one
Or thing.

Hard times teach.

And if there is a God
You hope and pray
That
He is indeed a spirit
And not
Like anyone
You already know
Or love.

Hard times generate hope.

The hope is
There is something
Better than
What you know.

Something
Better than
The nothing
You now have.

Hard times create

A yearning
For
Something different
Something better

A desire to
Do more than
Just survive

Hard times

Can harden hearts
But
With God and recovery
It doesn‚t have to.

Lynn B
jahsbabe@...
Copyrighted 10/21/05

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Diversity Creed
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1286

H&I Service Bulletin #5
Men working with Men, Women working with Women
www.na.org/h-i/hi-bull5r99.htm

So You Are Going Through The Steps Again
www.barefootsworld.net/aastepsagain.html

Donate Free Mammograms
www.thebreastcancersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites

Alchemy Project.net presents worldwide links!
www.alchemyproject.net/Links/links.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 19                            The Language of Empathy

".... the addict would find from the start as much identification
as each needed to convince himself that he could stay clean,
by the example of others who had recovered for many years".
Basic Text p. 85

   Many of us attended our first meeting and, not being entirely
sure that N.A. was for us, found much to criticize. Either we
felt as though no one had suffered like we had or that we
hadn't suffered enough. But as we listened we started to hear
something new, a wordless language with its roots in recognition,
belief, and faith: the language of empathy. Desiring to belong,
we kept listening.

   We find all the identification we need as we learn to understand
and speak the language of empathy. To understand this special
language, we listen with our hearts. The language of empathy
uses few words; it feels more than it speaks. It doesn't preach or
lecture-it listens. It can reach out and touch the spirit of another
addict without a single spoken word.

   Fluency in the language of empathy comes to us through practice.
The more we use it with other addicts and our Higher Power, the
more we understand this language. It keeps us coming back.

Just for today: I will listen with my heart. With each passing day,
I will become more fluent in the language of empathy.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

Solace for Confusion

Obviously, the dilemma of the wanderer from faith is that of
profound confusion.  He thinks himself lost to the comfort of any
conviction at all.  He cannot attain in even a small degree the
assurance of the believer, the agnostic, or the atheist.  He is the
bewildered one.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 28

The concept of God was one that I struggled with during my early
years of sobriety.  The images that came to me, conjured from my
past, were heavy with fear, rejection and condemnation.  Then I
heard my friend Ed's image of a Higher Power: As a boy he had
been allowed a litter of puppies, provided that he assume
responsibility for their care.  Each morning he would find the
unavoidable "byproducts" of the puppies on the kitchen floor.
Despite frustration, Ed said he couldn't get angry because "that's
the nature of puppies."  Ed felt that God viewed our defects and
shortcomings with a similar understanding and warmth.  I've often
found solace from my personal confusion in Ed's calming concept
of God.

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 / November 19th

A.A. Thought for the Day

In A.A. we do not speak much of sex.  And yet putting
sex in its proper place in our lives is one of the rewards
that has come to us as a result of our new way of living.
The Big Book says that many of us needed an overhauling
there.  It also says that we subjected each sex relation
to this test --- was it selfish or not?  "We remembered
always that our sex powers were God-given and therefore
good, neither to be used lightly or selfishly, nor to be
despised or loathed."  We can ask God to mold our ideals
and to help us to live up to them.  We can act accordingly.
Have I got my sex life under proper control?

Meditation for the Day

"I will lift up my eyes unto the heights whence cometh
my help."  Try to raise your thoughts from the depths
of the sordid and mean and impure things of the earth
to the heights of goodness and decency and beauty.
Train your insight by trying to take the higher view.
Train it more and more until distant heights become
more familiar.  The heights of the Lord, whence cometh
your help, will become nearer and dearer and the false
values of the earth will seem farther away.

Prayer for the Day I pray that I may not keep my eyes
forever downcast.  I pray that I may set my sights on
higher things.

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

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

Today's Thought
NOVEMBER 19, 2005

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

Accepting Our Feelings

Why do we struggle so with our feelings? Why do we work so
hard to deny our emotions, especially concerning other people?
They are only feelings!

In the course of a day, we may deny we feel frustrated in
reaction to someone who is selling us a service.

We may deny that we feel frustrated, angry, or hurt in reaction
to a friend.

We may deny feelings of fear, or anger, toward our children.

We may deny a whole range of feelings toward our spouse or
the person with whom we're in a love relationship.

We may deny feelings provoked by people we work for, or by
people who work for us.

Sometimes the feelings are a direct reaction to others.
Sometimes people trigger something deeper - an old sadness
or frustration.

Regardless of the source of our feelings, they are still our
feelings. We own them. And acceptance is often all that is
necessary to make them go away.

We don't have to let our feelings control our behavior. We don't
have to act on each feeling that passes through us. We do not
need to indulge in inappropriate behavior.

It does help to talk about our feelings with someone we trust.
Sometimes we need to bring our feelings to the person who is
triggering them. That can breed intimacy and closeness. But
the most important person we need to tell is ourselves. If we
allow our feelings to pass through us, accept them, and
release them, we shall know what to do next.

Today, I will remember that feelings are an important part of
my life. I will be open to my feelings in family life, in friendships,
in love, and at work. I will feel my feelings without judging 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Hour Of Power
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/asoka-selvarajah.htm

Being Lucky In Everything
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2005/11/being-lucky.htm

Letters of wisdom and affirmation, Louise Hay
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/August/hay.htm

Eating Disorders
http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/eating/index.html

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Handling Changes
By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

A couple weeks ago, I resolved to make some changes in my
lifestyle. Perhaps you did too.  I think we have to change.
Change is what Kevin Cashman wrote about in his book,
"Leadership From The Inside Out."  He described change as
"the price of admission to life."

Stability in our lives is non-existent.  Every moment our atoms
are changing; our cells are changing; our thoughts, feelings
and behavior are changing; our relationships are changing;
and the world is changing.

Change, even if it is chosen (like a New Year's resolution), is
always stressful.  We naturally resist it because it requires a
lot of energy to adapt to change.  Since change is constant
and ongoing,  adaptations require new thoughts, new habits,
new ways of functioning. Is it any wonder that we don't keep
our resolutions?  Making the necessary adaptations to make
our resolutions become a reality, simply seems too hard.
Besides, just when we think we've "got it," somebody goes
and "moves it."

Regarding being open and flexible in our adaptations to
change, Cashman goes on to write, "Learning to be open to
the purposeful learning contained in [and new adaptations
required by] all change is no small task.  Quite often we are
dragged 'kicking and screaming' to every lesson."

Regardless of the content of any given change, the process
of change evokes strong emotions in us.  These emotions are
actually the body's way of providing us with the energy to
cope with whatever change is occurring.  In a few weeks, my
precious daughter-in-law, Lara, will formally change her life
forever.  She is due to deliver a baby! Despite her excitement
and delight over this life-altering event, she is highly emotional
about the transition (change) from being half of a couple and
spouse, to being a third of a threesome and spouse and a
parent!  She will change.  Her lifestyle will dramatically change.
The relationship she has with our son will never be the same.
Someone once said, "People change more often because they
feel the heat than because they see the light."

Most people tend initially to deny that any change is occurring.
Psychological denial is our first attempt to protect ourselves from
the change.  It allows us a little more time to "get used to it."  It
also allows time for gearing up to adapt to the new aspects of
our lives that are being brought about by the change.

Immediately following denial, the "reality" of the change begins
to dawn on us.  We may feel helpless, depressed or out of
control. During this phase of coping with change, we may
question everything. We may become angry or upset at our
apparent inability to control what happens in our lives.  This is
the time to be OK with our feelings, whatever they are.

Next, it is important to "let go of" the past and it's "status quo."
The sooner we stop brooding over what life was like prior to
this change, the sooner we can turn our attention to responding
to the present process of change.  If Lara focuses on creating a
new life-style as a parent, she will cope with that change in a
much more creative manner.

Once we let go of historical habits, we discover we have more
enthusiasm for trying out new ways of behaving, new thoughts
and feelings surrounding the change.  We develop a sense of
self-confidence and "being in charge" of our lives once again.
We begin to "test the limits" of the new circumstances evoked
by this change.

Finally, we learn about the implications of this new situation
created by change.  We tend to become more objective about
our new discoveries and new experiences.  We begin to give
meaning to our new thoughts and feelings.  And we begin to
integrate new behaviors into our daily living.  With practice, new
activities become "automatic" and will remain in place until the
next change occurs.  Then the process of handling change
begins all over again.

As for Lara and her change?  I hope she remains open to
everything that comes along within her new lifestyle.  By doing
so, I know she will be able to grow in knowledge and wisdom,
in courage and flexibility.  I hope the changes she encounters
will benefit her and that her changed life will be filled with
laughter and love, hope and happiness, joy and delight.  That is
one of my hopes for the new year.

Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D. has 30+ years experience as a Life
Coach and Licensed Psychologist.  He is available for coaching
in any area presented in "Practical Psychology."  As your Coach,
his only agenda is to assist you in creating the lifestyle you
genuinely desire. The initial coaching session is free.  Contact
him: (970) 568-0173 or E-mail:
DrLloyd@... or LJTDAT@....

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

Life's Dead Ends
Virjinja

Hardships come in different forms,
often difficult to accept...
You cry out, 'Oh, Lord, why me...
why must I have this test?'
Relationships unravel,
health wavers and sometimes you fall...
finances dry up,
and you feel you can't go on.
There is a reason for every season
in every life that's lived.
Not every day will be a summer dream...
cold and barren winters are also gifts.
Storms come, blizzards blow,
and your whole world may be covered in snow.
The omnipresent, all powerful and knowing Lord,
the One in whom your faith keeps you strong...
will lead you, because He precedes you,
through every trial you go.
If He didn't leave you a shovel ~ to dig you out of your trouble ~
rest assured He created the Spring ~ to thaw you back to living ~
and once again, my dear sweet friend,
you are delivered... from another of life's dead ends.

Copyright ©  2003 ~ Virginia Santoro ~ All Rights Reserved
MorningMusings@...
www.myspace.com/morningmusings
www.hometown.aol.com/morningmusings

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

With Each Day...

May I positively impact the life of another, and smile more than frown;
Put service and compassion before my own renown;
Meet adversity with courage, sorrow with hope;
Have Faith to face uncertainty, and resiliency to cope;
With joy as my companion, and truth as my guide;
May I walk the path of excellence, gaining knowledge with each stride;
To see the good that lies within each person in suppression;
And through love and understanding, bring it forth into expression;
Though this day may bring new challenges, yet not manifest;
May I ever be reminded how much my life is blessed.

Robert Akers

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

In Times of Chaos

Out of chaos comes order, comes creation.
Out of chaos comes cleansing of old worn out habits
And attitudes that have served there purpose and
Are no longer required.

Out of chaos comes a lightening of the burdens we hold
So dear as attachments.

Out of chaos comes a healing of wounds so long held
In the mind as judgments, spite, revenge
And concepts of victimization.

In their place forgiveness and forgetting leave vacant
The vessel that will soon hold the Light of
A deeper understanding and a nearer drawing to Truth.

And with this lighter path Peace becomes our companion.

John and Rev. Ananda McIntosh
1998 - 2001© Copyright - Teach Only Love

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

Take Charge of Your Battery First

If a battery has not been charged, no work can be
extracted from it.  If there is no electricity,
nothing plugged into it will operate.  If I don't
take care of myself, how can I then take care of
anybody else?  If I feel I am responsible for
other people, I'm bound to disappoint or hurt
someone, because I'm denying them responsibility
for themselves.

We are each born with one mind, one heart, and one
self.  If I try to negate that by being
responsible for other people at the expense of
taking care of, and being responsible for myself
first, then I am setting myself up for failure and
unhappiness.

We are each a unique being, and our happiness does
not depend on what others can do for us, or what
others think of us.  If it does, then we are not
happy, but dependent and needy.  Being responsible
is by definition a self-qualitative adjective.
The Response-Ability belongs to those from whom
the Response is required.  If Life demands of my
neighbour that he/she be responsible for their
lives and actions, it would be irresponsible for
me to interject and fulfill that responsibility
for them. Were I to do this, I would be encouraging
a non-proactive attitude in my neighbor's
mind-view and life expectations. That is NOT being
responsible in the true, integral sense of the
word.

I may feel compassion and wish to help my
neighbour in his/her time of genuine need, and
that is what brings joy to our own hearts as well.
It is in being mindful that I am not responsible
for their psychological or emotional healing that
I do not hurt those I am caring for. At best, I
can suggest through example the rewards of taking
responsibility for their own lives, and be there
with support, encouragement, and love. My wisdom
does not extend to knowing what is good for other
people, only to what is good for me.

Therefore be at peace with yourself and you will
find that it comes naturally to be at peace with
everyone around you.  Your peace shall seek its
own level and contentious people, places and
things will no longer attract you.  Instead you
will answer to the voice of your spirit within that
directs you to what is the best, the ultimate in
choices and decisions.  And that is where your
happiness and responsibility lie.

Love
Stella
© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

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

Come Ye All

It makes no difference
What nationality you are
What kind of house you live in
What kind of car
We do not look at things like this
We just want to give you
A chance you do not want to miss
Inside our program
We are all the same
We all got tired of playing
The addiction game
Some one is always near
To help you lighten your fear
We can not do this alone
So we help each other along the way
Working our program
Just for today
In here we come from all walks of life
Helping each other
To overcome strife
We have 12 steps that are suggested
In a short time you'll be vested
We work them from day to day
Telling each other along the way
This is how I work it out
Let me help you with your bout
Freedom is surely in our hand
We are just like you
We understand
We all follow the same path
We all suffer the same wrath
Now we are free
And we want you to enjoy
A new destiny
Stay here with us
We need you
We are for real
And yes we are true

Daniel M Corkery
10/21/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

What we can easily see is only a small percentage of what is possible.
Imagination is having the vision to see what is just below the surface;
to picture that which is essential, but invisible to the eye.

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

Every flower must grow through dirt.
Unknown

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

A sure way to lift oneself up is by helping to lift someone else.
Booker T. Washington

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

Life is a great big canvas,
and you should throw all the paint on it you can.
Danny Kaye

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

Religion is sitting in a church thinking about fishing.
Spirituality is fishing and thinking about God.

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

We're only as sick as our secrets.

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

When you're home by yourself,
you're behind enemy lines.

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

N.A. is not for people who need it,
it's for people who want 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/

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

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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Awakenings
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/awakenings.html

Please note, I will be out of town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Why is diversity important to our fellowship ?
What was the first "attraction" you saw in the rooms ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 18
Today I can handle whatever comes up,
knowing that I am surrounded
by all the positive energies of the universe.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

How the Program Works

      Here is a story that I am very fond of. I heard it many years ago
at a recovery meeting around Christmas. It really made me stop
and think.

   There was a business man, several years in recovery, who was
taken out of town on an important business trip just days before
Christmas. He needed to travel out of state, all the way to
California, and would not be able to return until Christmas Eve.
He hadn't done any Christmas shopping for his family yet, and
was a little concerned, but decided he could get his business
out of the way in the morning, and do his shopping in the
afternoon before his flight back.

   It would work out perfect, he thought, because an old
"sponsor" friend of his was now living in that part of California.
He called up the friend and explained that he would be in
town for the day, and could he meet up to do some last minute
Christmas shopping and visiting. The sponsor friend met him
at the airport, waited for him to finish his business, and then
took him around town to finish his shopping. Everything fell in
to place perfectly. His shopping was even finished a few hours
early. And so they both decided to sit down at a nearby
restaurant for a bite to eat before the return flight.

   After a great meal and a wonderful visit, they headed out to
the airport to make his scheduled flight. As the business man
was checking his baggage, he noticed that he didn't have any
of the presents with him. Oh No, he thought ! What will I do
now ? It's too late to buy more presents before the flight, and
when I finally get back home everything will be closed. I won't
have any presents for my family on Christmas morning.

   But soon, the man realized that he must have left the presents
at the restaurant. I was having such a good time with the visit,
I just forgot them, he thought. Looking at his watch, the sponsor
friend suggested they had enough time to hurry back to the
restaurant and see if the presents were still there. I hope they're
still there, thought the man. What if someone took them. What
if .. but the sponsor friend just reassured him, and drove back
to the restaurant.

   When they arrived at the restaurant, they found it closed. Oh
No, thought the man. The owner has closed up and went home
for Christmas Eve. Now I won't have any presents for sure.

   But, again, the sponsor friend, quietly reassured him. "I happen
to know the owner," he said. "I'll just call him up and see if he
can come unlock his restaurant so we can look for your presents."

   And so the owner drove all the way back to his restaurant, on
Christmas Eve, with sincere willingness to help out his friend.

   When the doors were opened the business man rushed over to
the table where they had been sitting, and there underneath the
table, just where he left them, were the Christmas presents for
his family.

   The business man sighed a big relief, and remarked to his
sponsor friend, "You know, that's how the program works ! When
everything just falls into place like that."

   Again, his sponsor friend, quietly reassured him, "No, my friend.
The program works when the presents aren't there."

   Heard at a meeting

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Ultimate High
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1283

Thirty-Six Tips For Newcomers For Working The Steps
www.barefootsworld.net/aa36tips.html

Marianne Williamson
www.marianne.com/

4 Things to Remember
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/24things.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 18                                           Self-Discovery

"The Tenth Step can help us correct our living problems and
prevent their recurrence."     Basic Text p. 41

   Our identities, how we think and feel, have been shaped by
our experiences. Some of our experiences have made us
better people; others have caused us shame or
embarrassment;  all of them have influenced who we are today.
We can take advantage of the knowledge gained in examining
our mistakes, using this wisdom to guide the decisions we'll make
today.

   Acceptance of ourselves means accepting all aspects of ourselves
-our assets, our defects, our successes, and our failures. Shame
and guilt left unaddressed can paralyze us, preventing us from
moving forward in our lives. Some of the most meaningful amends
we can make for the mistakes of our past are made simply by acting
differently today. We strive for improvement and measure our
success by comparing who we used to be with who we are now.

   Being human, we will continue making mistakes; however, we
need not make the same ones over and over again. By looking over
our past and realizing that we have changed and grown, we'll find
hope for the future. The best is yet to come.

Just for today: I will do the best I can with what I have today.
Each day I'll learn something new that will help me tomorrow.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

A.A.'s "Main Taproot"

The principle that we shall find no enduring strength until we first
admit complete defeat is the main taproot from which our whole
Society has sprung and flowered.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 21-22

Defeated, and knowing it, I arrived at the doors of A.A., alone
and afraid of the unknown.  A power outside of myself had picked me
up off my bed, guided me to the phone book, then to the bus stop,
and through the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous.  Once inside A.A. I
experienced a sense of being loved and accepted, something I had
not felt since early childhood.  May I never lose the sense of wonder
I experienced on that first evening with A.A., the greatest event of
my entire life.

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 / November 18th

A.A. Thought for the Day

I have gotten over my procrastination.  I was always
putting things off till tomorrow and as a result they
never got done.  "There is always another day" was
my motto instead of "Do it now."  Under the influence
of alcohol, I had grandiose plans.  When I was sober
I was too busy getting over my drunk to start anything.
"Someday I'll do that"-but I never did it.  In A.A. I
have teamed that it's better to make a mistake once
in a while than to never do anything at all.  We learn by
trial and error.  But we must act now and not put it off
until tomorrow.  Have I learned to do it now?

Meditation for the Day

"Do not hide your light under a bushel.  Arise and shine,
for the light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen
in thee."  The glory of the Lord shines in the beauty of
your character.  It is risen in you, even though you can
realize it only in part.  "Now you see as in a glass darkly,
but later you will see face to face."  The glory of the Lord
is too dazzling for mortals to see fully on earth.  But some
of this glory is risen in you when you try to reflect that
light in your life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may try to be a reflection of the Divine Light.
I pray that some of its rays may shine in 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
NOVEMBER 18

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

Allowing Ourselves to be Nurtured

Let yourself be nurtured and loved. Let people be there for
you. Allow yourself to be held when it would feel good. Let
someone listen to you, support and encourage you when you
need that. Receive comfort from someone's physical presence
when you need that. Allow yourself to be supported
emotionally and cared about.

For too long, we've stood in the background, attending to
the needs of others and claiming we have no needs of our
own. We've shut off, for to long, the part of us that longs to be
nurtured.

It is time, now, to claim those needs, to identify them, and to
understand that we deserve to have them met.

What are our needs? What would feel good? What kinds of
ways would we like others to nurture and support us? The
clearer we can be about our needs, the greater the possibility
they will be met.

Hugs. A listening ear. Support. Encouragement. The physical
and emotional presence of people who care about us. Doesn't
that sound good? Tempting?

Someone once said to me, "The eighties have been a 'me'
decade. Now, maybe the nineties can be a 'you' decade."

My reply was immediate. "Let's make the nineties a 'me' and
'you' decade."

No matter how long we've been recovering, we never outgrow
our need for nurturing and love.

Today, I will open to recognizing my needs for nurturing. I will
be open to the needs of those around me too. I can begin
taking a nurturing, loving attitude toward myself and by taking
responsibility for my needs in relationships.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So Close To Freedom
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/so-close-to-freedom.htm

  From Should to Would
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/August/cohen.htm

Sports & Performance Psychology
http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/sports/index.shtml

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Poverty Consciousness
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2005/11/poverty.htm

A Father's Apology to his Son
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/August/vissell.htm

TRAUMATIC STRESS
www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/trauma/index.shtml

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

Always A Reflection
by Shakti Gawain

Difficulties we are having in our relationships often mirror parts
of ourselves that we need to heal. Such difficulties may involve
a family member, a close friend, a coworker, or even people with
whom we have only a brief encounter, such as a clerk in a store.
If you are having difficulty with a present relationship, or if you
frequently encounter certain kinds of difficult people -- for
example, a needy person or a person who doesn't respect your
boundaries -- take a moment to look closely at what they are
reflecting.

The following meditation will help you do that. Begin by closing
your eyes and relaxing for a few moments.... Then bring to mind
a difficult relationship.... Think about what, exactly, bothers you
about this person. What quality or trait does this person have that
makes you uncomfortable or that you judge?

Once you have identified the quality or qualities that bother you,
ask yourself what the positive aspect or essence of that quality
might be. For example, if you see them as lazy, what could be the
positive aspect of laziness? It could be the ability to relax....

Ask yourself how it might benefit you to develop a bit more of that
quality in yourself.... . Could it help you find more balance in your
life? If you are judging someone as lazy, chances are you are a
very active, driven type of person who could benefit from
developing a greater ability to relax. This person is a mirror,
reflecting the disowned quality of relaxation to you, so that you
can become more aware of what you need to develop....

Here are some other examples: If you find someone too needy,
they may be reflecting the disowned part of you that has emotional
needs. You may be too identified with strength and self-sufficiency
and need to get more in touch with your vulnerability. If you find
someone too domineering, perhaps you are overly timid and
need to develop more assertiveness. If you judge someone as
selfish, it's possible that you are too giving.

Remember that you don't need to become like this person. They
may be too far to the extreme or expressing themselves in a
distorted way. However, you can use the discomfort of this
relationship to help you discover the essential qualities you
need to develop in order to feel more whole and fulfilled.

Once you have identified what quality this person is reflecting to
you, imagine yourself having integrated more of that quality in
yourself.... Imagine yourself more able to relax, for example, or
more able to show your vulnerability in close relationships, or
more assertive, or more able to receive....

This article is excerpted from Meditations (Revised and
Expanded), ©1991, 2002, by Shakti Gawain. Reprinted with
permission of the publisher, New World Library.

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

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

Seeking Perfection

I was told when young to become
as 'perfect' as I possibly could
I think this advice needs rewording

I tell myself instead
The height that I can reach
trying to be the whole person
that I am meant to be
is the best that is possible for me
not the most perfect...

For there exists no such person
no such state to be found in all humanity
Seeking perfection is not a goal
it's a bargain you make
with mental, spiritual and emotional enslavement

Rather, embrace life
in all its facets and meanings
For the process brings you
initiation, ascent and descent
increase and decline
birth and death
Not perfection, but progression
As it should

Throughout our aspiring
in the midst of our hopes and dreams
If we meet each day with the conviction
that reality means possibility
that things are as they should be
for our growth

Then the path to wholeness
is assured, progressing
As it should

Love
Stella

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

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

Be Yourself!

One way to make a sincere impression on others is to just be you!
Being you is what you do best.
Try not to impress others by acting like
someone you are not.
The measure of a person comes from substance.
I'm almost certain that there is substance within you, and it is
impressive.
Just let that substance show.
You have your own experiences, your own
thoughts, your own interests, knowledge, passions, desires, integrity
and a great sense of humor.
You are very special.
So be who you are.  Be you.
Our world is waiting to throw its arms around
the genuine, valuable person you know you are.

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

Who I am

In telling you who I am ~ I am taking a risk
in revealing my inner most self,
I am proud in my stand,
and gratitude is my wealth!

For years, I lived in darkness, anger,
resentment and fear,
I hid my heart and soul and wouldn't let anyone near,
I was consumed by addiction ~
a mental, physical and spiritual affliction!

I suffered from no self-esteem, low self -worth,
could not justify a reason for my birth,
Addiction took me to some awful destinations,
"Sleeping it off," was my only vacation!

Grateful am I for the days filled with gloom ~
for where I ended up, was in the rooms,
What a journey it has been,
the blessing is ~ it will never end!

Since I started down the path of recovery ~
God has opened my heart, mind and
and my eyes can see.
The promises, love and friendship
now available to me.

"Progress not perfection"...a thought I keep ever so close,
I cling to it whenever I am hurting the most.
Today my life is different, more than I
ever thought it could be,
And it's only made possible through
God and recovery!

Today I am living,
joyous and free ~

Discovering what it's like to truly be me!

Ava E. ©1998
worthywoman@...

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

Trusting Growth

It is possible to appear
To be moving backwards,
While actually moving forward.

It is similar to walking up
The down escalator...
At a slightly faster pace.

At the end of the cycle
We are amazed to discover
We have made measurable progress
While seemingly in the
Grip of error.

John and `Ananda" Jo Ann McIntosh
Copyright©  2004

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

Reflection for the Day

One of the best ways to get out of the self-pity trap is to do some
"instant
bookkeeping." For every entry of misery on the debit side of our
ledger, we
can surely find a blessing to mark on the credit side: the health we
enjoy,
the illnesses we don't have, the friends who love us and who allow us to
love them, a good day's work. If we but try, we can easily list a whole
string of credits that will far outweigh the debit entries which cause
self-pity. Is my emotional balance on the credit side today?

Today I Pray

May I learn to sort out my debits and credits and add it all up. May I
list
my several blessings on the credit side. May my ledger show me, when
all is
totaled, a fat fund of good things to draw on.

Today I Will Remember

I have blessings in my savings.

from the book: A Day at a Time, by Anonymous

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

Affirmation: I came into the world whole, complete, and perfect.
Through environment, education and experience I came to believe
that I was inadequate, unworthy, and unlovable.
I developed a worldly reality that hid my spiritual reality.
I put on a mask to conform to the world hiding my true nature.
I now know I Am whole, complete, and perfect blessed
with the potential to manifest my authentic Self.
edwardg

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

Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.
I may not reach them, but I can look up and see the beauty,
believe in them and try to follow where they lead.
Louisa May Alcott

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

Look forward, not backward.
Be a leader, not a follower.
Focus on your successes and learn from your failures.
Stay away from people who try to belittle  your ambitions.
Trust your hopes, not your fears.
Go the extra mile at your job.
Alexander Lockhart

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

Looking back, I have this to regret,
that too often when I loved, I did not say so.
David Grayson (1890-1990)

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

Perfectionism is the highest form of self-abuse.

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

Character is what you have when no one is looking.

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

God can't fill someone who is full of self.

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

Be on guard against the unguarded moment.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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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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://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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Anonymity
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/anonymity.html

Please note, I will be out of town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Why is diversity important to our fellowship ?
What was the first "attraction" you saw in the rooms ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November  17
Today I am doing the best that I can
with the guidance that I get.
I leave the results to my Higher Power
and trust that they are for the greatest good.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Used To Be

I used to be addicted you see
I was chained to altering reality
My addiction only knew more and more
This was truly the only reason I lived for
If one felt good I always wanted two
I could not tell false from true
I would be running from
Morning until night
I was always
Angry
I always wanted to fight
Then Gods mercy
Also Hs grace
Had led me to recovery
By Gods grace and mercy
I lived differently I could now see
Back then it was hard to look myself in the eye
Way back then all I could do was deny
Working the steps one by one each day
God the steps along with a sponsor
Helped me to change my way
Today I am grateful to be free
With God my sponsor
Also the steps
I can now be free
Today by Gods grace
I am all that God
Meant me to be
What I used
To be is now gone
Day by day my life moves on
Today I am far from what I used to be
Today I live a life that is totally free

Daniel M Corkery
1/2/2003
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Discovery Recovery
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1279

4th Step Tips
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aa4thsteptips.html

Sober Moms
www.sobermoms.com

Drug Test
www.channel4.com/health/microsites/D/drugs_test

Priceless Things
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/PricelessThings.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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


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

Just For Today
November 17                              Walking Through the Pain

"We never have to use again, no matter how we feel. All
feelings will eventually pass."         Basic Text p. 79

It hurts like never before. You get out of bed after a sleepless
night, talk to God, and still don't feel any better. "It will pass;' a
little voice tells you. "When?" you wonder, as you pace and
mutter and get on with your day.

You sob in your car and turn the radio all the way up so you
can't hear your own thoughts. But you go straight to work,
and don't even think about using drugs.

Your insides feel as though they've been torched. Just when
the pain becomes unbearable, you go numb and silent. You
go to a meeting and wish you were as happy as other
members seem to be. But you don't relapse.

You cry some more and call your sponsor. You drive to a
friend's  house and don't even notice the beautiful scenery
because your inner landscape is so bleak. You may not feel
any better after visiting your friend-but at least you didn't visit
the connection instead.

You listen to a Fifth Step. You share at a meeting. You look
at the calendar and realize you've gotten through another
day clean.

Then one day you wake up, look outside, and realize it's a
beautiful day. The sun is shining. The sky is blue. You take a
deep breath, smile again, and know that it really does pass.

Just for today: No matter how I feel today, I'll go on with 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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

An Open Mind

True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith . . .
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 33

My alcoholic thinking led me to believe that I could control my
drinking, but I couldn't.  When I came to A.A., I realized that
God was speaking to me through my group.  My mind was open just
enough to know that I needed His help.  A real, honest acceptance
of A.A. took more time, but with it came humility.  I know how
insane I was, and I am extremely grateful to have my sanity
restored to me and to be a sober alcoholic.  The new, sober
me is a much better person than I ever could have been without A.A.

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 / November 17th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Everyone has two personalities, a good and a bad.  We
are all dual personalities to some extent.  When we were
drinking, the bad personality was in control.  We did
things when we were drunk that we would never do when
we were sober.  When we sober up, we are different
people.  Then we wonder how we could have done the
things we did.  But we drink again, and again our bad side
comes out.  So we are back and forth, always in conflict
with our other selves, always in a stew.  This division of
our selves is not good; we must somehow become unified.
We do this by giving ourselves wholeheartedly to A.A. and
to sobriety.  Have I become unified?

Meditation for the Day

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant.  Enter into the
joy of Thy Lord."  These words are for many ordinary people
whom the world may pass by, unrecognizing.  Not to the
world-famed, the proud, the wealthy, are these words
spoken, but to the quiet followers who serve God unobtrusively
yet faithfully, who bear their crosses bravely and put a smiling
face to the world.  "Enter into the joy of Thy Lord."  Pass into
that fuller spiritual life, which is a life of joy and peace.

Prayer for the Day I pray that I may not desire the world's
applause.  I pray that I may not seek rewards for doing what
I believe is right.

"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
NOVEMBER 17

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

Grief and Action

     Trust in God and do something.
     --Mary Lyon

It's important to let ourselves grieve as a passage between
yesterday and tomorrow. But we do not have to be controlled
unduly by our grief, or our pain.

There are times when we have grieved, surrendered to the
heaviness, tiredness, and weariness of a circumstance long
enough. It becomes time to break out. It comes time to take
action.

We will know when it's time to break the routine of grieving.
There will be signs within and around us. We will become tired
of the heaviness. An idea will occur; an opportunity will present
itself. We may think: No. Too much effort... Do it anyway. Try
something. Reach out. Stretch. Do something unusual,
something different, and something special.

A new activity may help trigger the transformation process.
Stay up two hours later than usual! Make an appointment to
do something for yourself that is different from what you
usually do. Visit someone you haven't seen in years. Do
something to encourage and help the new energy coming
your way.

We may not feel like breaking out of grief. It may feel safer,
easier, to remain in our cocoon. Begin pushing out anyway.

Test the walls of your cocoon. Push. Push a little harder. It may
be time to emerge.

Today, I will trust God and the process, but I will also take
action to help myself feel better.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

CLEARING AND ENHANCING THE ENERGY IN YOUR HOME AND WORKSPACES
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/clearing.htm

God Did Not Desert You, By Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2005/11/alan-cohen.htm

  From Should to Would
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/August/cohen.htm

Sports & Performance Psychology
http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/sports/index.shtml

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

7 SECRETS To a Great Life
By Kathy Gates

         A great life doesn't happen by accident. A great life is the
result of allocating your time, energy, thoughts, and hard work
towards what you want your life to be. Stop setting yourself up
for stress and failure, and start setting up your life to support
success and ease. A great life is the result of using the 24/7
you get in a creative and thoughtful way, instead of just what
comes next. Customize these "secrets" to fit your own needs
and style, and start creating your own great life today!

         1. S - Simplify. A great life is the result of simplifying your
life. People often misinterpret what simplify means. It's not a
way to remove work from your life. When you focus on
simplifying your life, you free up energy and time for the work
that you enjoy and the purpose for which you are here. In order
to create a great life, you will have to make room for it in yours
first.

         2. E - Effort. A great life is the result of your best effort.
Creating a great life requires that you make some adjustments.
It may mean re-evaluating how you spend your time, or
choosing to spend your money in a different way. It may mean
looking for new ways to spend your energy that coincide with
your particular definition of a great life. Life will reward your
best effort.

         3. C - Create Priorities. A great life is the result of creating
priorities. It's easy to spend your days just responding to the
next thing that gets your attention, instead of intentionally
using the time, energy and money you have in a way that's
important to you. Focus on removing the obstacles that get in
the way of you making sure you are honoring your priorities.

         4. R - Reserves. A great life is the result of having reserves
- reserves of things, time, space, energy, money. With reserves,
you acquire far more than you need - not 6 months living
expenses, but 5 years worth; not 15 minutes of free time, 1
day. Reserves are important because they reduce the fear of
consequences, and that allows you to make decisions based
on what you really want instead of what the fear decides for
you.

         5. E - Eliminate distractions. A great life is the result of
eliminating distractions. Up to 75% of your mental energy
can be tied up in things that are draining and distracting you.
Eliminating distractions can be a difficult concept to many
people, since they haven't really considered that there is
another way to live. Look around at someone's life you
admire. What do they do that you would like to incorporate
into your own life? Ask them how they did it. Find ways to
free up your mental energy for things that are more important
to you.

         6. T - Thoughts. A great life is the result of controlling your
thoughts so that you accept and allow for the possibility that it
actually can happen to you! Your belief in the outcome will
directly dictate how successful you are. Motivated people have
specific goals and look for ways to achieve them. Believing
there is a solution to the same old problems you encounter
year after year is vitally important to creating a life that you love.
Whatever you think and believe, you create. Listen to what
you're telling yourself, and adjust that voice if you need to.

         7. S - Start! A great life is the result of starting. There's
the
old saying everyone's familiar with "a journey of a thousand
miles begins with a single step." In order to even move from
the couch to the refrigerator, you have to start. There's no
better time to start than today. Don't wait for a raise, or until
the kids get older, or the weather is better. Today, right now,
is the right day to start to take a step in the direction of your
heart's desires. It's what you do TODAY that will make a
difference in your life tomorrow.

         Kathy Gates is a Personal Life Coach who believes that "Life
Rewards Action". Visit www.reallifecoach.com for more information,
or email Kathy@..., or 480.998.5843.

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

A Happy Cat

There is a story told about a cat who
discovered that happiness was in his tail.
He kept trying over and over to get it,
but all he could do was run around in circles.
Exhausted and frustrated,
with this endless pursuit,,
he eventually stopped.
And then, he discovered that if he'd just go on about his life
then it would follow him wherever he went.

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

I Am Not That
             (an Affirmation)

I am not the achievement award upon my wall
nor the letters after my name.

I am not the functions I perform nor the status
Bestowed upon me by my  possessions

I am not a color nor a gender, and I am not this body
That restricts most of the limitlessness that I am in Truth.

I am beyond description or parameters for I am fluid,
Ever changing while unchangeable in essence.

I can be found everywhere without identifying
With anything.

In my heart of hearts I know these things to be True,
Yet the identity masks I have fastened to my face hide
This Truth from me and my world.

I resolve Now to be ever vigilant in my attention upon
The Truth of my Oneness with All that Is.

John McIntosh and Jo Ann "Ananda" Polito
Copyright © Teach Only Love

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

Big Mud Puddles and Yellow Dandelions

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see
a bunch of weeds that are going
to take over my yard. My kids see flowers
for Mom and blowing white fluff
you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles
at me, I see a smelly,dirty
person who probably wants money and I
look away. My kids see someone
smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry
a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit
self-consciously and listen. My kids feel the beat and
move to it. They sing out the words. If they
don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself
against it. I feel it messing
up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.
My kids close their eyes,
spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall
to the ground laughing.

When I see a mud puddle I step around it.
I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets. My kids sit in
it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross and
worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or
to learn from?

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day
you may look back and realize
they were the big things.

I wish you BIG MUD PUDDLES and
SUNNY YELLOW DANDELIONS

Author Unknown

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

The place where you are.....

The place where life happens is the place where you are. The
place where you build success and achievement is the place
where you are.

You cannot change the places where you came from, and you've
not yet arrived at the places you'll be. The place where you
are is the only place where you can think and act and make
life happen in the way you intend.

If you spend your time wishing you were someplace else, then
you lose the opportunity to get there. Instead, see the
power and the possibilities of the place where you are, and
tap into the real value of what you now have.

If you fill the place where you are with worry, frustration,
anxiety or anger, you put needless limitations on what you
can do. Instead, fill this moment, this set of circumstances
with joy, love, gratitude and enthusiasm for the positive
possibilities.

Give the best that you can to the place where you are. For
your world is determined not by what you hope to do on some
distant someday, but by how you live right here and now.

This is the place where you are. Live it for all that it is.

Ralph Marston

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

Don't sit in judgment of your own lack of awareness or anyone else's.
The action of judging demonstrates lack of awareness.
John-Roger
(From: The Way Out Book)

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

The curious paradox is that
when I accept myself just as I am,
then I can change.
Carl Rogers

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

In the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life,"
God tells second-class angel Clarence:
"There's a man on earth who needs your help,"
to which Clarence responds,
"If I help him, will I get my wings?"
Clarence is a lower-rank angel because he's still focused on,
"What's in it for me?"
He ultimately receives his wings after discovering that true service
is about gratitude, giving without expecting anything in return.
Today, choose to be in service to others
simply for the feeling of knowing you served well today.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

We must know definitely and consistently that the universe
is for us and not against us.
Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind

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

I'm only responsible for the thoughts that I keep.

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

Growth always moves from the inside out.

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

Faith flourishes in the garden of gratitude.

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

Focusing on the moral weaklings of others
is a terrific way of not looking at yourself.

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

The JOY is in the Journey



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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
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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

"A few hours later, Bill W. said goodbye:  'I went down the steps
and then turned to look back.  Bob stood in the doorway, tall and
upright as ever. . . This was my partner, the man with whom I  never
had a hard word.  The wonderful, old, broad smile was on his face
as he said almost jokingly,  'Remember, Bill, let's not louse this thing
[general service conference] up.  Let's keep it simple!'  I  turned
away, unable to say a word.  That was the  last time I ever saw him.'

"Dr. Bob died at noon the following Thursday,  November 16, 1950"
["Pass It On," page 342]

www.silkworth.net/aabiography/roberthsmith.html
www.silkworth.net/mitchellk/articles/drb_lastdrink.html

*We should all take a moment to reflect
and be grateful for ALL of our predecessors  :)



Area Service
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/areaservice.html

Please note, I will be out of town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Were you ready to stop when you finally stopped ?
How long did you continue to use after you no longer wanted to use ?
What made you take the final step ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 16
Today I know that it does not matter
if I cannot see the end of the road.
I have absolute faith and trust
that I am walking in the right direction
and that I am being guided along the way.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Rules of the Game

My throat dry and scratchy, I adjust my hat,
Walk up to the plate, cause it's my turn to bat.
Trying hard to ignore the attention of the crowd,
My mind racing madly, my heart beating loud.
The bases are loaded, I take a deep breath.
I always remember, this is life or death.
For whatever words God wills me to say.
My eye on the ball, I can't look away.
Recalling my past, the loss of all hope,
Remembering the pain, I try not to choke.
One day at a time, it's been a good year.
I've hit a homerun, the crowd starts to cheer!
I'll never be rich, no fortune or fame,
Cause I give it away to stay in the game!

Sharlett Fay Hunt
Sharlette863@...
Copyright ©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Discovery Recovery
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1279

On Steps 8 and 9
www.barefootsworld.net/aaonsteps89.html

The Complete Serenity Prayer
www.thecompleteserenityprayer.com/presentation.html

Flow of Life
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/FlowofLife.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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


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

Just For Today
November 16                                Alone No More

"We gradually and carefully pull ourselves out of the isolation
and loneliness of addiction and into the mainstream of life."
Basic Text p. 35

   Many of us spent much of our using time alone, avoiding other
people-especially people who were not using-at all costs. After
years of isolation, trying to find a place for ourselves in a bustling,
sometimes boisterous fellowship is not always easy. We may
still feel isolated, focusing on our differences rather than our
similarities. The overwhelming feelings that often arise in early
recovery-feelings of fear, anger, and mistrust-can also keep us
isolated. We may feel like aliens but we must remember, the
alienation is ours, not NA's.

   In Narcotics Anonymous, we are offered a very special
opportunity for friendship. We are brought together with people
who understand us like no one else can. We are encouraged to
share with these people our feelings, our problems, our triumphs,
and our failures. Slowly, the recognition and identification we
find in NA bridge the lonely gap of alienation in our hearts.
As we've heard it said-the program works, if we let it.

Just for today: The friendship of other members of the fellowship
is a life-sustaining gift. I will reach out for the friendship that's
offered in NA, and accept 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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

A Daily Tune-Up

Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into
all of our activities.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85

How do I maintain my spiritual condition?  For me it's quite simple:
on a daily basis I ask my Higher Power to grant me the gift of sobriety
for that day!  I have talked to many alcoholics who have gone back to
drinking and I always ask them: "Did you pray for sobriety the day
you took your first drink?"  Not one of them said yes.  As I practice
Step Ten and try to keep my house in order on a daily basis, I have
the knowledge that if I ask for a daily reprieve, it will be granted.

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 / November 16th

A.A. Thought for the Day

I have gotten rid of most of my inner conflicts.  I was
always at war with myself.  I was doing things that I
did not want to do.  I was waking up in strange places
and wondering how I got there.  I was full of
recklessness when I was drunk and full of remorse
when I was sober.  My life didn't make sense.  It was
full of broken resolves and frustrated hopes and plans.
I was getting nowhere fast.  No wonder my nerves were
all shot.  I was bumping up against a blank wall and I was
dizzy from it.  A.A. taught me how to get organized and
to stop fighting against myself.  Have I gotten rid of
inner conflicts?

Meditation for the Day

"When two or three are gathered together in My name,
there am I in the midst of them."  The spirit of God
comes upon His followers when they are all together at
one time, in one place, and with one accord.  When two
or three consecrated souls are together at a meeting
place, the spirit of God is there to help and guide them.
Where any sincere group of people are together,
reverently seeking the help of God, His power and His
spirit are there to inspire them.

Prayer for the Day I pray that I may be in accord with
the members of my group.  I pray that I may feel the
strength of a consecrated group.

"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
NOVEMBER 16

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

The Victim Trap

The belief that life has to be hard and difficult in the belief that
makes a martyr.

We can change our negative beliefs about life, and whether
we have the power to stop our pain and take care of ourselves.

We aren't helpless. We can solve our problems. We do have
power - not to change or control others, but to solve the problems
that are ours to solve.

Using each problem that comes our way to "prove" that life is
hard and we are helpless - this is codependency. It's the victim
trap.

Life does not have to be difficult. In fact, it can be smooth. Life
is good. We don't have to "awfulize" it, or ourselves. We don't
have to live on the underside.

We do have power, more power than we know, even in the
difficult times. And the difficult times don't prove life is bad;
they are part of the ups and downs of life; often, they work out
for the best.

We can change our attitude; we can change ourselves;
sometimes, we can change our circumstances.

Life is challenging. Sometimes, there's more pain than we asked
for; sometimes, there's more joy than we imagined.

It's all part of the package, and the package is good.

We are not victims of life. We can learn to remove ourselves as
victims of life. By letting go of our belief that life has to be hard
and difficult, we make our life much easier.

Today, God, help me let go of my belief that life is so hard, so
awful, or so difficult. Help me replace that belief with a healthier,
more realistic view.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Patches & Prisons of the Heart
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/11/patches.htm

A World Gone Insane
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2006/11/editorial.htm

The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself
by Dr. Eric Pearl
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/August/feature2.htm

Sexuality
www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/sex/index.shtml

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Hints On Raising Children
by Louise Frechette

How you ask your children to listen, and what you choose to
see in them will help determine their response to you. Don't
allow your ego to make you feel guilty for not doing it perfectly.
The myth of the perfect parent is as much a myth as that of the
perfect child. A Course In Miracles reminds us that no one
comes into this world without an ego and their own agenda.

What we need to stop thinking is that the monumental task of
parenting and educating our children is solely in our hands. It
isn't. It's a joint venture, a sacred trust between ourselves, our
children, and God. We are together because our lessons of
forgiveness are the same. We can be grateful to them for
reminding us of our own unhealed guilt and fears.

   We don't have a magic formula with which to raise our children,
but we have been blessed with a miracle formula handed down
to us by the only Perfect Parent. "To follow the Holy Spirit's
guidance is to let yourself be absolved of guilt. It is the essence of
the Atonement. It is the core of the curriculum. The imagined
usurping of functions not your own is the basis of fear ... To return
the function e to the One to Whom it belongs is I thus the escape
from fear. And it is this that -lets the memory of love return to YOU."
Raising Them Day By Day

Here are a few ideas and a very brief summary of the main
methods that have worked miracles for me and which I hope will do
the same for you:

     1. Start out the day by asking the Holy Spirit to help you and
your children to be more willing to listen to His Guidance. Follow
it with a prayer of forgiveness for any grievances you may be
holding towards your child or anyone.

     2. Motivate your children with kind words of trust' that reflect
your
decision to see their loving Self rather than their ego. Which voice
you listen to within yourself brings them closer or farther from
wanting to listen to you.

     3. Disciplining children calls for love and boundaries. Start with
love, then add the boundaries as they are called for. If you are not
able to start with love, then start with boundaries, then add the love.
When boundaries are set out of love they bring sanity, not guilt.

     4. When your children don't listen to you, see it first as a call
for
communication, not an attack on you. Let them know how you feel
in a non-condemning way and listen to their feelings.- Do they
understand your need? And do you understand their need? Your
greater wisdom as a parent will determine what is negotiable and
what isn't.

     5. When kind words and patience don't work, it is because your
children are identified with their ego and don't value the love you're
giving them .Don't wait until you have run out of patience before
giving them a choice between listening or facing a consequence.
They need the boundary of a consequence rather than a threat, to
stop the lack of cooperation before it brings more fear to you and to
them. Consequences provide the way in which children learn one
of the most fundamental laws of the mind - the power of their own
choices Be consistent and follow through with exactly what you
say the consequence is going to be. It is not meant to control them,
but to lead them away from the control their ego has on them so
they can be more free to love.

     6. Time out can be misused and overused way if we aren't
careful. But when nothing else works, it is unavoidable. Its
purpose should never be to punish a child, but to shift the
focus from conflict to one of giving them time to reflect on their
choice and to help them see the value of cooperating. It should
be no more than a few minutes long, then followed up with
peaceful discussion to allow love to replace guilt.

     7. The best and most powerful way to minimize the need for
consequences or time out is devote time every day to
teaching your children who their real Self is. They need to be
taught how to ask for the Help that is within their mind and how
to correct their mistakes by practicing time and time again gentle,
loving, and respectful ways of being. As Jesus reminds us of
our lack of commitment: "The problem is not one of concentration;
it is the belief that no one, including yourself [and your children],
is worth consistent effort. Side with me consistently against this
deception, and do not permit this shabby belief to pull you back

Remember - you can't fail. You can make mistakes, but you can't
fail. You're a child of Love and your Innocence and your children's
Innocence is guaranteed by God.

Louise Frechette, a student of A Course in Miracles since 1978,
offers valuable insights and support in the area of child rearing
and personal understanding. She operated the Child Light
Daycare in Minneapolis for ten years where she applied the
principles of the Course to raising and educating children. Louise
can be reached at: 1027 13th Avenue, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414.
The above article was first printed in 'The Holy Encounter Newsletter'
and is reprinted by permission of The Miracle Distribution Center,
1141 East Ash Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92631.

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

The Gift of Giving

You get little in life without a whole lot of giving.
Successful people in all walks of life know this as a fact.
They live by the rule that the “more you give the more you get"
and give more of themselves than is expected.

The giving of gifts to family and friends need
not be an expensive experience.
Giving can be mutually rewarding and the most precious
of gifts never cost a cent.
A good gift comes from the heart and makes a
statement that you love and care for the other person,
feelings which no amount of monetary value can gauge.

A simple note of appreciation for the little things a person has
done, said or achieved in their personal life tells the other that
you care for them and are in your thoughts.
A quick personal phone call will deepen friendships.

Giving the gift of your time, to be there for the other when
needed and giving the gift of really listening to other people,
are very inexpensive presents that can only enrich your life
and the lives of others.

Reward yourself by giving meaningful gifts.
You will receive so much love in return.

John Hodgkin

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

I Have Chosen

My heart is on standstill right now
There's a threat of incoming powerlessness
about to surround me and my world
that I find hard to acknowledge:
Life is not what I want it to be...

I could be angry about that
I could pace and let my frustration
fill me to the brim
I could surround myself with activity
keeping busy and raving and fixing
I could...

I have chosen instead to ride the wave
that threatens to crash my calm shores
I wait therefore
and I know the tide to turn
I wait for the moon
to exert her gravitational pull
upon the dull emotional state of
my perception, of my world in stasis
I wait instead
therefore I am still resident in the calm
between the ebb and flow
I still have the power that I need
in full potential mode

My heart is on standstill
I maintain my connection
remain surrounded by my power
Because
I have chosen

{What choices have you made today
that concern taking nurturing care of yourself?}

Love,
Stella

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

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

As with expeditions into the wilds when we have endured storms
and rapids, cold and sleet, and sometimes lack of food, it is
ultimately the good things we remember, not the bad.
-- Sigurd F. Olson

In our daily lives we often take a very short perspective. We see
what is worrisome today, what is pressing hardest, or what is
most  frightening or confusing. Eventually, we may look back
and have a totally different idea about what was truly important
on this day.

Let us take a moment now to remember what does endure, what
we value most, what counts in the long run. For a brief quiet time
we can let go of all the anxieties of this moment. During these few
quiet moments, we will identify our tensions and then place them
totally into the hands of our Higher Power. This is our time to let
go of our worries and be refreshed. It will provide a background of
serenity for our day.

Hazelden Foundation

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

Be Good To You

Be Yourself -- Truthfully
Accept Yourself -- Gracefully
Value Yourself -- Joyfully
Forgive Yourself -- Completely
Treat Yourself -- Generously
Balance Yourself -- Harmoniously
Bless Yourself -- Abundantly
Trust Yourself -- Confidently
Love Yourself -- Wholeheartedly
Empower Yourself -- Prayerfully
Give Yourself -- Enthusiastically
Express Yourself -- Radiantly

Author Unknown

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

A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot.
It has to go through the white heat of the furnace
to become porcelain.
Mildred W. Struven

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

We are not promised that when we have a relationship with God,
nothing bad will ever happen to us.
That's a very immature kind of idea about God.
A more mature relationship is,
"No matter what happens in my life,
my relationship with You, God, is greater."
Partnering with God gives us a strength and perception
that tells us the kind of power within is greater than
what's happening in the world and we know the truth,
that we are not alone.
   Mary Manin Morrissey

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

Always remember others may hate you
but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them.
And then you destroy yourself.
Richard M. Nixon

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

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just is some of us; it's in everyone.
Marianne Williamson

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

The trouble with my point of view is that
I can't see the point from which I view it.

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

Who then can so softly bind up the wounds of another,
as he who has felt the same wound himself?
Thomas Jefferson

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

Resentment destroys the container it's kept in.

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

A relapse begins with fault finding.

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

You spot it,
You got 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/

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

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,
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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Allergy
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/allergy.html

Please note, I will be out of town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Were you ready to stop when you finally stopped ?
How long did you continue to use after you no longer wanted to use ?
What made you take the final step ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 15
Today I am learning to think and act in a positive way
that is healthy for my mind, body and spirit.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

The World Is A Puzzle

      There was a man who had a little boy that he loved very much.
Everyday after work the man would come home and play with the
little boy. He would always spend all of his extra time playing with
the little boy.

   One night, while the man was at work, he realized that he had
extra work to do for the evening, and that he wouldn't be able to
play with his little boy. But, he wanted to be able to give the boy
something to keep him busy. So, looking around his office, he saw
a magazine with a large map of the world on the cover. He got an
idea. He removed the map, and then patiently tore it up into small
pieces. Then he put all the pieces in his coat pocket.

   When he got home, the little boy came running to him and was
ready to play. The man explained that he had extra work to do
and couldn't play just now, but he led the little boy into the
dining room, and taking out all the pieces of the map, he spread
them on the table. He explained that it was a map of the world,
and that by the time he could put it back together, his extra work
would be finished, and they could both play. Surely this would keep
the child busy for hours, he thought.

   About half an hour later the boy came to the man and said, "Okay,
it's finished. Can we play now.?"

   The man was surprised, saying, "That's impossible. Let's go see."
And sure enough, there was the picture of the world, all put
together, every piece in it's place. The man said, "That's amazing !
How did you do that ?" The boy said, "It was simple. On the back
of the page was a picture of a man. When I put the man together
the whole world fell into place."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Diversity Creed
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1286

On Steps 4, 5, 6 and 7
www.barefootsworld.net/aaonsteps4567.html

Quotations Recovery
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/QuotationsRecovery1.html

The Difference Between Strength and Courage
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/StrengthCourage.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 15                                 Letting Go

"Take my will and my life. Guide me in my recovery. Show me how
to live."   Basic Text p. 25

   How do we begin the process of letting our Higher Power guide
our lives? When we seek advice about situations that trouble us,
we often find that our Higher Power works through others. When
we accept that we don't have all the answers, we open ourselves
to new and different options. A willingness to let go of our
preconceived ideas and opinions opens the channel for spiritual
guidance to light our way.

   At times, we must be driven to the point of distraction before
we are ready to turn difficult situations over to our Higher Power.
Anxiously plotting, struggling, planning, worrying-none of these
suffice. We can be sure that if we turn our problems over to our
Higher Power, through listening to others share their experience
or in the quiet of meditation, the answers will come.

   There is no point in living a frantic existence. Charging through
life like the house is on fire exhausts us and gets us nowhere. In
the long run, no amount of manipulation on our part will change a
situation. When we let go and allow ourselves access to a Higher
Power, we will discover the best way to proceed. Rest assured,
answers derived from a sound spiritual basis will be far superior
to any answers we could concoct on our own.

Just for today: I will let go and let my Higher Power guide my life.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

Throughout Each Day

This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84

During my early years in A.A. I saw Step Ten as a suggestion that I
periodically look at my behavior and reactions.  If there was
something wrong, I should admit it; if an apology was necessary, I
should give one.  After a few years of sobriety I felt I should
undertake a self-examination more frequently.  Not until several
more years of sobriety had elapsed did I realize the full meaning of
Step Ten, and the word "continued."   "Continued" does not mean
occasionally, or frequently.  It means throughout each 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 / November 15th

A.A. Thought for the Day

I am less sensitive and my feelings are less easily hurt.
I no longer take myself so seriously.  It didn't used to
take much to insult me, to feel that I had been slighted
or left on the outside.  What happens to me now is not so
important.  One cause of our drinking was that we
couldn't take it, so we escaped the unpleasant situation.
We have learned to take it on the chin if necessary and
smile.  When I am all wrapped up in A.A., I do not notice
the personal slights so much.  They do not seem to matter
so much.  I have learned to laugh at self-pity because it's
so childish.  Am I less sensitive?

Meditation for the Day

God's miracle-working power is as manifest today as it
was in the past.  It still works miracles of change in lives
and miracles of healing in twisted minds.  When a person
trusts wholly in God and leaves to Him the choosing of the
day and hour, there is God's miracle-working power
becoming manifest in that persons life.  So we can trust
in God and have boundless faith in His power to make us
whole again, whenever He chooses.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may feel sure that there is nothing that
God cannot accomplish in changing my life.  I pray that
I may have faith in His miracle-working power.

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

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

Today's Thought
NOVEMBER 15

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

Benefits of Recovery

There are two benefits from recovery: we have short-term gains
and long-term gains.

The short-term gains are the things we can do today that help
us feel better immediately.

We can wake up in the morning, read for a few minutes in our
meditation book, and feel lifted. We can work a Step and often
notice an immediate difference in the way we feel and function.
We can go to a meeting and feel refreshed, talk to a friend and
feel comforted, or practice a new recovery behavior, such as
dealing with our feelings or doing something good for ourselves,
and feel relieved.

There are other benefits from recovery, though, that we don't
see immediately on a daily or even a monthly basis. These are
the long-term gains, the larger progress we make in our life.

Over the years, we can see tremendous rewards. We can watch
ourselves grow strong in faith, until we have a daily personal
relationship with a Higher Power that is as real to us as a
relationship with a best friend.

We can watch ourselves grow beautiful as we shed shame, guilt,
resentments, self-hatred, and other negative buildups from our
past.

We can watch the quality of our relationships improve with family,
friends, and spouses. We find ourselves growing steadily and
gradually in our capacity to be intimate and close, to give and
receive.

We can watch ourselves grow in our careers, in our ability to be
creative, powerful, productive people, using our gifts and talents
in a way that feels good and benefits others.

We discover the joy and beauty in ourselves, others, and life.

The long-term progress is steady, but sometimes slow,
happening in increments and often with much forward and
backward movement. Enough days at a time of practicing
recovery behaviors and piling up short term gains leads to
long-term rewards.

Today, I will be grateful for the immediate and long-term rewards
of recovery. If I am new to recovery, I will have faith that I can
achieve the long-term benefits. If I've been recovering for a
while, I will pause to reflect, and be grateful for my overall
progress.

©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 Hour Of Power
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/asoka-selvarajah.htm

How Long Healing Takes
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2006/November/Cohen.html

Creating a Holy and Loving Relationship
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/August/feature1.htm

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Challenges to a Lasting Relationship
by Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil
continued from Part 1

Can this relationship be saved?

The vast majority of relationships can and should be saved and
revived. In almost every case, couples can learn how to keep
their relationships alive and growing, and reap the rich rewards
of real and lasting love. Twenty-two years of family therapy
practice has given me the certainty that almost any relationship
can be turned into a great one if the people involved are willing.

I realize these are bold statements, but the statistics of my family
therapy practice speak for themselves.

      More than 98 percent of the married couples in my practice
who learn the skills (which I also teach in my book), make up
instead of break up, and have very happy and love-filled
partnerships.

      More than 98 percent of the singles who use these same skills
enter committed relationships or get married to partners they love.

Perhaps even more striking is the success rate of my couples
who have experienced adultery. Whereas infidelity causes 65
percent of breakups nationwide, this statistic can be cut down to
2 percent if couples learn the skills to get to the root of the
problem and work through it. I know it's possible because 98
percent of the couples in my therapy practice who have
experienced adultery discover their relationship is worth keeping.
These couples stay together because they wake up their love and
need for each other and make a conscious choice to commit to
the relationship, move toward forgiveness, and stay together.

Dead ends are turning points

Those of you who believe you've reached a dead end in your
relationship or in your dating are actually at the perfect point to
turn things around. Whether you're struggling with a relationship
stalemate, wounded by adultery, frustrated by not being able to
get past the third date, concerned about your long-distance
relationship, or grinding gears instead of enjoying the shifts and
changes that go hand in hand with relationship building — you
can learn how to make up, stay together, and move forward
toward real and lasting love. The success rate of my patients who
use these tools and skills in their relationships is so dramatically
higher than the national averages that I felt compelled to share
this information with as many people as I could — so that you can
have as much success in your relationships as my patients are
having.

Too many people break up before they make up a solid couple.
At the onset of a relationship or marriage, there's fascination, the
promise of untold happiness, and the thrill of the chase. But at
some point things begin to change. One partner may begin to
withdraw for no obvious reason, leaving the once-pursued
confused and insecure. At this point many relationships stop
before they've really started. There comes a point in every
relationship where we either wake up, or we break up.

Every relationship holds the potential for "sudden shutdowns".
What's both exciting and stunning is that this turn of events can
actually solidify your partnership — if you know what to do.
There is no perfect relationship or person out there, so stop
looking for perfection and work with the partner you have —
or the one you're about to start a relationship with. Don't wait
for the "right time", move now! Every relationship offers the
experience we need to perfect our skills. In fact, the relationship
process offers the perfect opportunity for personal as well as
relationship growth.

Most relationships can be saved but you have to wake up,
shake up — and possibly even break up — before you can
make up. Married couples can learn how to stay together and
reap the harvest of real and lasting love. Singles can learn
how to keep a relationship growing, instead of stopping it
before it starts. The truth is that men and women are actually
very much alike even though the ways we behave and express
ourselves can make it seem like "men are from Mars and women
are from Venus." Both men and women are from Earth and we
can all learn to change — and enjoy the ride!

Forget the rule books

The first step in beating the odds is to throw away your rule
books! Misguided rules like "Don't make the first move", "Don't
sleep with him (or her) until you get what you want", or the flip
side of that: "Seduce him (or her) to get what you want", "Make
her jealous", "Make him chase you", "Wait at least one week
before you call back for another date", and "Play Hard to Get",
are leading us further away from each other, instead of bringing
us together. These rules may appear to work while you're dating,
but after you're married, just try playing "Hard to Get" when it's
time to take out the garbage or the baby is crying!

When you use rules that don't work, your anxiety level goes
way up! We don't need rules, we need tools: straight answers,
skills, dialogue, and action steps that work! I call these tools
Smart Heart Skills because we must use our heads and our
hearts to create the relationships we'd love to have.

Forget the rigid rules if you want to create and sustain a
love-filled relationship. Thousands more relationships would
be in full swing right now if women would give up rules such
as "Men have to make the first move". Women are more
prepared in many ways to make the first move. Our socialization
and upbringing makes us more comfortable with connection skills.
As children, while we were orchestrating a night on the town for
our Barbie and Ken dolls, the boys were making battle plans
with their GI Joes. While we were having tea parties, they were
having plastic sword fights! In short, we've learned different skills
and have strengths and weaknesses in different areas. That's
why men and women complement each other in a relationship.

For single women, making the first move might be giving a man
your business card or phone number, inviting him out for a date,
asking him to dance, or sending a drink to his table at a restaurant
or night club.

For married women, making the first move might be inviting your
husband for a romantic evening, bringing home travel brochures
to plan your next vacation, or calling him at work to tell him you
have a fun surprise ready for him when he gets home.

Another old rule that wreaks havoc in a relationship is the idea
of "using sex" to get what you want. Women have been unwisely
taught to use sex as a way to get men to comply with their wishes.
This is one of the most destructive rules around. Sex is a way to
build intimacy and give each other pleasure. Having sex and
withholding sex may work as a form of manipulation early on in
a relationship, but sooner or later this technique will create
resentment and bitterness.

Let go of your old rules and ways that don't work for you — or for him
— and be creative in taking the initiative to get things going and keep
them going strong. Remember, tools not rules!

So don't break up; wake up and make up!

This article was excerpted from
"Make Up, Don't Break Up - Finding and Keeping Love for Singles
and Couples " by Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil.

Bonnie Eaker Weil, Ph.D. is one of America's best-known
relationship experts. She has appeared on the Today show,
Oprah!, A Current Affair, The View, Sally, Ricki Lake, Montel,
Maury Povich, and Extra. New York magazine has named Dr.
Weil one of the city's top therapists, and her work has been
featured in Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, USA
Today, Cosmopolitan, Ladies Home Journal, and New Woman.
She is also the author of Adultery: The Forgivable Sin. This
article was excerpted with permission from her book Make Up,
Don't Break Up, published by Adams Media Corporation,
www.adamsmedia.com  The author can be reached at
212-606-3787 for information regarding sessions, lectures,
and seminars; or through her websites www.doctorbonnie.com
www.makeupdontbreakup.com   www.smarthearttherapy.com

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

There's A Hole In My Sidewalk In Five Easy Chapters

Chapter One
I walk down a street and there's a big hole.
I don't see it and fall into it.
It's dark and hopeless and it takes me a long time to find my
way out. It's not my fault !

Chapter Two
I walk down the same street.
There's a big hole and I can see it, but I still fall in.
It's dark and hopeless and it takes me a long time to get out.
It's still not my fault.

Chapter Three
I walk down a street.
There's a big hole.
I can see it, but I still fall in.
It's become a habit.
But I keep my eyes open and get out immediately.
It is my fault.

Chapter Four
I walk down a street.
There's a big hole.
And I walk around it.

Chapter Five
I walk down a different street.

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

How to Be Happy For a Lifetime

Someone said this about happiness:

To be happy for an hour -- take a nap.
To be happy for a day -- go shopping.
To be happy for a week -- take a vacation.
To be happy for a month -- get married.
To be happy for a year -- inherit a fortune.
To be happy for a lifetime -- help others.

You and I may argue with a couple of points on that list, but the
author is exactly right about how to be happy for the rest of
your life. Lasting contentment can always be found in helping
others. It is truly a secret that many people have never
discovered!

Marion Preminger stumbled upon it and wrote about where
lasting happiness is to be found in her autobiography ALL I
WANT IS EVERYTHING. Born in Hungary in 1913, Marion
was raised in a castle, surrounded by wealth, servants and
the notoriety of an aristocratic upbringing.

At a Viennese ball, she met a handsome young man, the son
of an Italian doctor. They rushed into a marriage that lasted
only a year.

She returned to Vienna to embark on a career of acting. There
she fell in love with the German director Otto Preminger. They
married and she followed him to America where he began a
promising career as a Hollywood movie director. But her new
Hollywood lifestyle could not sustain her marriage and
Preminger eventually divorced her.

Marion returned to Europe to live the life of a Parisian
socialite until 1948. Then everything changed when she read
that Dr. Albert Schweitzer was visiting Europe from his home
in Africa. She determined to meet with the notable missionary
doctor.

She first encountered Schweitzer doing one of the things he
loved to do best while visiting Europe -- playing a church organ
for his own enjoyment. He invited her to dine with him. After the
meal, Marion knew she had finally found what she'd been
looking for. She accompanied Schweitzer every day during the
remainder of his European visit. He invited to come back to Africa
with him and work as an untrained staff member in the Lamberene
hospital.

She left her life of status and ease and moved to Africa.
There...the girl who was raised like a princess became a
servant. She changed bandages, bathed bodies and fed lepers.
She gave her life away to the poor, and because of it, found the
happiness she'd craved for so long.

It was Albert Schweitzer who asserted, "One thing I know: the
only ones among you who will be really happy are those who
will have sought and found how to serve."

However, wherever and whomever you choose to help is
unimportant. There are those in need everywhere. But when
you figure out how to help other people, you'll have also
learned how to be happy for a lifetime.

© 2002 Steve Goodier

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

One day I took a walk in the mountains and totally submerged
myself in nature. Something in the trees, flowers, and wildlife
around me silently spoke to me. I realized that I simply had to give
up and ask for help. I wanted guidance from the life force that I felt
all around me.

For the first time I can remember, I began to pray out loud. I was
looking at the mountains and the sky as I was praying, addressing
myself to "the creator of life" or what other people might call
"God."

I said, "I can't do this by myself. I took on my current job in
order to do God's will, and it's only fair that God be with me
at this moment."  I prayed and cried for at least a half hour.
When I was done I felt that  I had opened up a relationship
with the divine that I'd never had before.

When I look back at that encounter, I realize that it was a
classic spiritual experience. I know that they tend to come
when we're unhappy and at the end of our tether, when
we're finally ready to surrender and willing to ask for help.
All of the great and creative spiritual leaders have had
experiences like this, of realizing that they need assistance
from something larger than themselves.

from the book: Tending the Earth, Mending the Spirit
by Connie Goldman & Richard Mahler

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

Heavy Load

I was sick and tired
Of being sick and tired
Wanting to escape the doom
I entered into the AA room
You welcomed me
With hugs and love
I felt the spirit
  From God above
You gave me steps
Directions to reach the goal
Shared with me
How you got whole
Helping me to become aware
I could tell you were sincere
I thank God I found your way
You helped me live in today
No longer do I carry a heavy load
I joined you on the road
To recovery

Daniel M Corkery
6/17/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/

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

We are fragments of something whose size and
shape we do not know, but as fragments of it, we
are essential to its wholeness.  This means that
you and I have an assignment, an opportunity,
a call to the light.  There are dark places where
love is not yet felt and known and expressed
in our world, and it is our opportunity to
bring the light into those places.  It is in this
way that we begin to discover and feel God's
presence, and we begin to find a
deeper relationship with God.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands.
You seek problems because you need their gifts.
Richard Bach

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

If at first you don't succeed, you're running about average.
M. H. Alderson

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

The wisest person is not the one who has the fewest failures
but the one who turns failures to best account.
Richard R. Grant

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

Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity:
it must be produced and discharged and used up
in order to exist at all.
William Faulkner

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

Work to become rather than acquire.

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

Don't give up before the Miracle happens.

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

Humility is not thinking less of yourself,
but thinking of yourself less.

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

I don't stay clean on yesterday's recovery.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

RESEARCH
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/alcoholicmice.html


Please note, I will be out of town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Were you ready to stop when you finally stopped ?
How long did you continue to use after you no longer wanted to use ?
What made you take the final step ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 14
Today I know that whatever ability, talents and energy
I have are perfect for this moment.
Today I know that God gives me all that I need
to do what he wants me to do in this day.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Wisconsin State NA Convention Eulogy

WSNAC is a time each year when we gather together with friends to catch
up on each other's lives, celebrating our recovery. A place to find new
friends we haven't met yet. Here we find the true meaning of the phrase
„we are never alone. Our presence here speaks to our gratitude, showing
when we care and share that NA way. We seek recovery and find a better
way to live. We share how we face life's changes, living and dying.
Leaving footprints on each other's hearts

   I was approached a few months ago to say a few words tonight about a
member of our fellowship who has passed away. This member was involved
in many of the changes we as a fellowship have grown through. God placed
him in our lives to make a difference and he changed the way I looked at
the world. As I pondered this point I realized we all have someone who
changed our perspective of life. Our higher power placed people in our
path for one reason, to change us forever. We never know where the
message is going to come from, and usually it's from where we least
expect it. Sometimes it was the members who accepted us as we were
showed us the unconditional love our fellowship thrives on. Sometimes it
was the members who, just never seemed to get it. That revolving door,
swinging so fast we wondered if this was the last time we would see them
again.

   To many of us, dealing with death in recovery, gets us in touch with
feelings we never felt before. The ability to care about another human
being unconditionally for the first time can be over whelming. Feelings
were sometimes the very thing we used over. Now when people who we just
were beginning to trust are taken away, we become caught up in this
whirlwind of emotions. We may feel, what's the use of staying clean! It
just leads to more suffering. Members reassure us ,Our H.P. will not
give us more than we can handle.

   Death comes to us in two forms in this fellowship: Members who died
clean and those who have died ,of the disease. Of those who have the
disease, we say, „They picked up so that I didn't have to. They're
actions remind me that my old life is out there anytime I want it. I
often wonder what I could have done differently? Should I have listened
more? Talked more? Done anything MORE? Their struggle here has given us
more understanding of life than we could ever appreciate in our
lifetime.

   And then there are those who died clean. -They never have to worry
about
picking up again. They never have to face another day making that
choice. Their devotion to life has given us proof it can be done. They
have started this unfinished work; we must become dedicated to advancing
it. The vision of hope has been passed on to us.

   We would like to thank all of them, for giving us the new you! I liked
the way they did it during the World Convention in Atlanta. I'm going to
pause for a few moments and would like to ask anyone who has had a
person that has died by going out for more research, or that has died
clean. please shout out their name as the spirit moved you. (Pause).
And many more in our hearts, with a day, a week, a year, or multiple
years of recovery, they will live there forever. I've heard it said,
"Some have to die so that others may live." I like to say, "We live, so
that others don't have to die!" I also believe God has placed each and
every one of you, here for a reason. All of you will leave some
footprints on my heart. I don't know if you will float across my path
like a butterfly or tromp across with combat boots. The trail you leave
will be a part of my life from now on. This will be reflected in how I
live, I grow, and I act toward people around me. It is my hope that none
of these members needed to Die in vain. We shall all have a new birth of
freedom. I pray our Higher Power will show through all of us that age-
old
saying No addicts need die from the horrors of addiction without
finding a better way to LIVE.

John H
mryow@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Ultimate High
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1283

On Steps 1, 2 and 3
www.barefootsworld.net/aaonsteps123.html

ASCII-ART
www.ascii-art.de

N.A. WORLD SERVICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BULLETIN #30
Theft of NA funds
www.na.org/bulletins/bull30-r.htm

12 Step Graphics
www.d21c.com/kiddlehopper/12stepgraphicspage1.html
www.d21c.com/kiddlehopper/12stepgraphicspage2.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 14                         Not Just Surviving

"When we were using, our lives became an exercise in survival.
Now we are doing much more living than surviving."
Basic Text p. 50

   "I'd be better off dead!" A familiar refrain to a practicing addict,
and with good reason. All we had to look forward to was more
of the same miserable existence. Our hold on life was weak at
best. Our emotional decay, our spiritual demise, and the crushing
awareness that nothing would ever change were constants. We
had little hope and no concept of the life we were missing out on.

   The resurrection of our emotions, our spirits, and our physical
health takes time. The more experience we gain in living, rather
than merely existing, the more we understand how precious and
delightful life can be. Travelling, playing with a small child, making
love, expanding our intellectual horizons, and forming
relationships are among the endless activities that say, "I'm
alive:' We discover so much to cherish and feel grateful to have
a second chance.

   If we had died in active addiction, we would have been bitterly
deprived of so many of life's joys. Each day we thank a Power
greater than ourselves for another day clean and another day of
life.

Just for today: I am grateful to be alive. I will do something today
to celebrate.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

My Checklist, Not Yours

Gossip barbed with our anger, a polite form of murder by character
assassination, has its satisfactions for us, too.  Here we are not
trying to help those we criticize; we are trying to proclaim our own
righteousness.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.67

   Sometimes I don't realize that I gossiped about someone until the
end of the day, when I take an inventory of the day's activities,
and then, my gossiping appears like a blemish in my beautiful day.
How could I have said something like that?  Gossip shows its ugly
head during a coffee break or lunch with business associates, or I
may gossip during the evening, when I'm tired from the day's
activities, and feel justified in bolstering my ego at the expense of
someone else.

   Character defects like gossip sneak into my life when I am not
making a constant effort to work the Twelve Steps of recovery.
I need to remind myself that my uniqueness is the blessing of my
being, and that applies equally to everyone who crosses my path
in life's journey. Today the only inventory I need to take is my own.
I'll leave judgement of others to the Final Judge -- Divine Providence.

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 / November 14th

A.A. Thought for the Day

A better way than judging people is to look for all the
good in them.  If you look hard enough and long enough,
you ought to be able to find some good in every person.
In A.A. I learned that my job was to try to bring out
the good, not criticize the bad.  Every alcoholic is used
to being judged and criticized.  That has never helped
anyone to get sober.  In A.A. we tell people they can
change.  We try to bring out the best in them.  We
encourage their good points and ignore their bad points.
People are not converted by criticism.  Do I look for
the good in people?

Meditation for the Day

There must be a design for the world in the mind of God.
We believe His design for the world is a universal
fellowship of men and women under the fatherhood of
God.  The plan for your life must also be in the mind of
God.  In times of quiet meditation you can seek for God's
guidance, for the revealing of God's plan for your day.
Then you can live this day according to that guidance.
Many people are not making of their lives what God meant
them to be, and so they are unhappy.  They have missed
the design for their lives.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may try to follow God's design for today.
I pray that I may have the sense of Divine Intent in
what I do today.

"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
NOVEMBER 14

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

Letting Our Anger Out

It's okay to be angry, but it isn't healthy to be resentful.
Regardless of what we learned as children, no matter what we
saw role modeled, we can learn to deal with our anger in ways
that are healthy for us and for those around us. We can have
our angry feelings. We can connect with them, own them, and
feel them, express them, release them, and be done with them.

We can learn to listen to what anger is telling us about what
we want and need in order to take care of ourselves.

Sometimes we can even indulge in angry feelings that aren't
justified. Feelings are just feelings; there is no morality in the
feeling, only in our behavior. We can feel angry without hurting
or abusing others or ourselves. We can learn to deal with anger
in ways that benefit our relationships instead of ways that harm
them.

If we don't feel our angry feelings today, we will need to face
them tomorrow.

Today, I will let myself feel my anger. I will express my anger
appropriately, without guilt. Then I will be done with it.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So Close To Freedom
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/so-close-to-freedom.htm

Animal Spirit Guides: Hawk Brings Focus
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2006/November/feature2.html

Letters of Wisdom and Affirmation, Louise Hay
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/September/hay.htm

Psychotherapy
www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/psychotherapy/index.shtml

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Living in the Moment
by Jacob Liberman with Erik Liberman.

We often talk about "wanting to be spiritual," but being
spiritual and taking care of our everyday affairs are exactly
the same thing. There is no difference. With clarity we
become ordinary -- simply taking care of whatever comes
before us. In this process, we develop trust that whatever
shows up in our lives, we will meet it.

When we don't take care of things in the moment, they get
backed up and we feel overwhelmed. But life never brings us
anything at the wrong time! That's why everything in nature
works so miraculously. Notice how the tides move, the earth
rotates, and the trees grow. Notice how everything is perfectly
timed -- how our bodies work, how a child develops. God never
makes a mistake.

So, when something enters our awareness, that's the moment
to take care of it. Don't pay that bill tomorrow, take out the
trash later, or make the bed when you get back. When you see
it, do it! Don't prioritize anything -- life has already done that for
you.

Take care of what's in front of you, and the universe will take
care of you.

Human Beings
Imagine that life is simply about taking care of ourselves.
Feeding ourselves, bathing ourselves, tending to whatever
comes before us, and in that way, just being.

For most of us, the being side of life is underused, and the
doing side is weighted down. When we are being, we are
humane and very much in touch with everything in life. When
we are doing, we forget the essence of our humanity and
narrowly focus our minds on "making things happen." We
forget that everything in life is already happening!

Our lives today are complex because we have lost sight of
what is essential. We've developed technologies to handle
the complexities we have created, but still have no time for
living!

Living successfully isn't about making a lot of money. It is
about embracing life, and responding to it honestly in each
moment. This alone is the true source of our prosperity,
because in this practice, we evolve from human doings to
human beings.

When I do less, more things happen. When I do nothing
everything happens.

Non-Doing
In the East, there is a state between doing and being called
wu-we-wu, or action without action. I call it "non-doing." When
I speak of non-doing, most people don't know what I'm talking
about. They think I mean "laying back" and "hanging out" --
a lethargic lifestyle.

But non-doing is not the opposite of doing! It is neither passive
nor active, but a state of optimal presence and sensitivity. It is
a fluid response to life, rather than a branding iron applied to
life to get it to move "our way." Competitive athletes refer to
non-doing as "the zone." In this state, an appropriate response
to any situation originates from our core and is not edited by the
intellect. It defines response-ability, rather than react-ability.
Non-doing happens when we trust that life always has the first
move -- that in reality, we are living in a state of "not knowing" --
and therefore, our actions are not isolated initiations based on
our own desires, but responses to life's invitations.

Non-doing means that we are ready to respond to whatever life
brings us, yet feel no need to initiate anything. It is the exquisite
experience of being guided effortlessly and surprised by the
miracle called life.

Animals live in the Kingdom of God. We occasionally visit on
weekends.

Being Normal Isn't Natural
Many of us pride ourselves on being "normal," but what we call
normal may not be very natural -- let alone healthy! If you're
"normal," you will probably experience cancer, arthritis, vision
loss, or heart disease sometime during your life, and your
natural process of saging will be reduced to aging.

If you want to view life in its natural state, go into nature and
observe animals. Wild animals live effortlessly in the Kingdom
of God. They are always present -- never doing anything early
or late, excessively or deficiently. Their behavior is a model of
the word "responsibility," meaning they respond to life with
presence and awareness at all times.

When they're hungry, they eat. When they're not hungry, they
don't worry about where their next meal will come from. You
never see a bear looking for a job, doing aerobics, or taking
a cigarette break! We are the only species with concepts of
unemployment, exercise, and addiction.

In order to reclaim our natural connection with life, we must
begin living with greater presence, respect, and gratefulness.
We have been living under the illusion that evolution has
ended with us at its helm. Perhaps the dinosaurs thought that,
too!


This article is excerpted from Wisdom from an Empty Mind, ©2001,
by Jacob Liberman with Erik Liberman. Reprinted with permission
of the publisher, Empty Mind Publications.

About the Authors:
Dr. Jacob Liberman, author of the internationally acclaimed
books, Light: Medicine of the Future and Take Off Your Glasses
and See, shares his teachings of grounded spirituality in lectures
and workshops around the world.  Erik Liberman is an award-
winning actor and writer living in Los Angeles. Visit Jacob
Liberman's  website at www.jacobliberman.com

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

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow,
sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day,
comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

    Disappointments are like road humps, they slow you down a
bit but you enjoy the smooth road afterwards. Don't stay on the
humps too long. Move on!

    When you feel down because you didn't get what you want,
just sit tight and be happy, because God is thinking of
something better to give you. When something happens to you,
good or bad, consider what it means. There's a purpose to life's
events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too hard.
You can't make someone love you, all you can do is be someone
who can be loved, the rest is up to the person to realize your
worth.

    What the heart gives away is never gone... It is kept in the
hearts of others. Remember that great love and great
achievements involve great risks. Secure a special place in your
heart. A certain place only you can enter. For there will come
a time when you need to find yourself and only your heart will
show you the way.

    The measure of love is when you love without measure. In life
there are very rare chances that you'll meet the person you love
and loves you in return. So once you have it don't ever let go, the
chance might never come your way again. It's better to lose your
pride to the one you love, than to lose the one you love because
of pride. We spend so much time looking for the right person to
love or finding fault with those we already love, when instead we
should be perfecting the love we give.

When you truly care for someone, you don't look for faults, you
don't look for answers, you don't look for mistakes. Instead, you
fight the mistakes, you accept the faults, and you overlook
excuses.

Five rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

AMEN AND GOD BLESS YOU.
God doesn't CALL the QUALIFIED,
He QUALIFIES the CALLED.

Rev. Sandi Lee

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

Helping You Remember

by Alan Cohen

While exiting a grocery store I noticed an unusual poster
announcing, "You already know how to meditate. Let me
help you remember." Ah, what an empowering offer, I thought
-- a sharp contrast to the many advertisements for products
and services that tell us that we are stupid or broken and
need intelligence or fixing.

How wonderful it feels -- and how powerfully it works -- to
regard ourselves and each other as innately wise, capable
of accomplishing anything we choose, greater than any task
or challenge before us. Wouldn’t you like to be regarded as
magnificent?

A few years ago I signed up for a "You Fly" airplane flight
which promised that I would be able to take the stick of a
small airplane and control the plane myself. Flying an
airplane had been one of my long-time dreams, so I eagerly
registered for the flight, a three-hour jaunt over three Hawaiian
islands. What a treat, I imagined, to be in charge of the aircraft
for a few minutes in mid-air.

On the appointed day I drove to the commuter terminal at the
Maui airport, where I met the pilot, Scott. I informed Scott that
I had never piloted a plane before, and he told me that would
be no problem. Scott guided me out on the tarmac to a small
twin-engine Cessna, and he gave me a brief rundown about
the various instruments on the control panel. Scott strapped
himself into the seat next to mine and told me, "Now here’s
how you take off..."

Excuse me, I thought, I don’t remember the advertisement
saying anything about taking off. I started to open my mouth
to say, "Perhaps you didn’t hear me say that I’ve never flown
before." But when I looked over at Scott he was on the radio
setting up our takeoff with the control tower. Suddenly I
understood what was happening: he thought I could do it.
To Scott, taking off was not too much to ask of me. So, in
spite of my hesitation, I decided to keep my mouth shut. I
decided that if I had a choice between me being right about
my inability or Scott being right about my ability, I would rather
choose his opinion. I would rather fulfill his expectations of my
greatness than my expectations of my ineptitude. I decided to
believe in his belief. I followed Scott’s careful instructions,
and within a few minutes we were airborne.

I flew the airplane nearly three hours that day. I flew over
the dramatic north shore of Maui, past the thousand-foot
sweeping verdant cliffs of Molokai, across the golden sand
beaches of Lanai, then over whales and dolphins cavorting
in the rich blue ocean channel back to Maui. There we buzzed
my house and made our way back to the airport. For nearly
all that time I controlled the airplane, with Scott stepping in
occasionally to make minor corrections. Eventually my
nervousness had given way to exhilaration, and my doubts
yielded to confidence.

As we approached the airport, Scott surprised me again. "Now
here’s how you land," he told me in a nonchalant way. Now wait
just a minute, I felt like saying, à la Barney Fife. Taking off and
flying is one thing, but landing -- now that’s outright dangerous.
Then I remembered a lesson from one of my favorite flyers,
Richard Bach, who suggested, "Argue for your limits, and sure
enough they’re yours." I kept my mouth shut.

As I guided us in according to Scott’s instructions, the Cessna
was rocked by a gust of wind. "Sure is windy here," Scott
laughed. "I’ve seen pilots who got their license on the mainland
come here and try to deal with these trade winds, and realize
they didn’t really know how to land." Yow! Okay, just breathe,
I thought. I kept following Scott’s direction until he took over
the stick just before touchdown.

As I left the airport that day, I felt higher than our flight. Scott’s
belief in me brought out the best in me. The airplane flight was
three hours, the lesson was for a lifetime.

Then I remembered the powerful film Stand and Deliver, in
which James Edward Olmos dramatized the true story of
Jaime Escalente, a math teacher who went into the Los
Angeles barrios and decided to teach calculus to some of
the school’s lowest-functioning students. When the math
department chairwoman criticized Jaime, he boldly told her,
"The students will live up to the teacher’s expectations!"
Everyone in Jaime’s class went on to pass the state calculus
test.

At any given moment we have two voices in our head: one
which tells us we can’t, and another which tells us we can.
Which will prove true? The one we give the most attention to.
The one we act on. The one we make a stand for.

You already know how to be magnificent. Let me help you
remember.

Alan Cohen is the author of many popular inspirational books,
including the best-selling Why Your Life Sucks and What You
Can do About It, the award-winning A Deep Breath of Life, and
his latest book Mr. Everit’s Secret--What I learned from the World’s
Richest Man. (The above books can be ordered by clicking on
the book titles.)  Alan offers four on-line courses throughout the
year and the life-transforming Mastery Training in Maui. For
information on these programs and a free catalog of Alan's
books, tapes, and seminars, phone 800.568.3079, visit
www.alancohen.com, email info@..., or
write P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708.

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

Attaining Enlightenment
through Relationship
by Dr. Paula Sunray

Life is about relationship.
It is your main spiritual practice.

Dr. Paula SunrayRelationships are difficult and challenging
spiritual practices. They give us the opportunity to test our
skills of communication, intimacy, authenticity, and integrity.
They also give us a chance to retrieve our soul and our spirit.

Have you stopped dancing with your soul? Have you stopped
letting your soul sing and express from its very heart and being?
So many people have lost their song of life and their
enchantment with life. When they learn to rekindle their heart
song and reconnect with their life tune, they will be able to
bring soul to a relationship. Two numb and lifeless souls do
not create a very fulfilling relationship.

Everything we do in life is a relationship. We have a
relationship with money, we have a relationship with our
body, and we even have a relationship with our car. We
have a relationship with everything!

As humans, we are all interdependent. True rewarding
relationship is a union of two souls who connect from their
life center -- their spirit center. Staying in our own center and
listening with our deepest inner knowing, is how we relate
best.

The beauty of relationship is that it awakens the mystery
and magic of our soul. We are like two gods creating amazing
and wonderful universes of feelings and experiences together.

Why are these magical relationships so difficult to attain? For
one, the element of trust is essential. We must arrive at a place
where we trust ourselves and others. We must trust the fact that
we know how to handle our life and make important decisions.
We must also trust the fact that our mate knows how to do the
same thing. Then, we can align our words and actions with our
integrity, and expect the best. We must be reasonable in our
expectations so that we don't place unreasonable demands
on our partner.

Underneath it all, the only thing we all basically want is to be
honored and respected exactly as we are. We want to feel safe,
nurtured, and protected. We want to be validated, loved, and
cherished. We also want to make our own choices and have
those choices honored. We do not want to be told what to do
or how to live our life.

A relationship is a mystery that is created stroke by stroke like
a painting on a canvas. Each word we speak, every action we
take, and each choice we make, is like a stroke on the canvas.
Each day, we create a new segment of the painting, and each
day, we add color, nuance, intensity, and energy. No two
canvases are alike, just as no two people are alike.

Relationship is a miracle. It takes us all the way back to God
who created us as companions. Every relationship we have
is a reflection of the relationship we have with God. If we
believe that God can love us, then we will believe that others
can love us, and if we believe that we are not good enough for
God to love, how will we be able to accept the love of others?

Let's face it. Most people are not growing very much. They have
distanced themselves from being challenged and stretched.
They are uncomfortable with change and are afraid to take risks.
They protect their vulnerability at all costs, and are unwilling to
do healing work. They want quick bandages, and they rush back
to the world of stress and illusions and try to carve out some
basic nutrition from a dead turkey.

The very evolution of our society shows the insecurity and fear
of the people at large. Our relationships reflect our insecurities.
The old relationships of the past have basically been an
exchange of favors -- the wife has exchanged sex for security,
and the husband exchanged work and being head of the
household for a false sense of fulfillment. This is a marriage of
two low selves, and this is the marriage of the average person.
The Relationship of the Future

The relationship of the future will be a blend of both the low self
and high self. We will no longer have spouses and marriage
certificates to make us feel safe; we will have partners who
support our growth and encourage us to do what we love.
We will have partners who encourage us to have our own
power and express ourselves spontaneously and creatively.

This is the relationship of the future. It is the only one that
will work. As soon as we have individuals who have reached
that level of maturity, we will have relationships of quality and
spirit. We will have true enlightenment. Enlightenment is
self-actualization. When you are enlightened, the level of your
success in life will depend upon your ability to let go of fear
and insecurity and mistaken beliefs.

What is Enlightenment?

Enlightenment is not what you think. It is not about becoming
something or gaining something. It is about giving up something.
It is about losing or emptying; it is about emptying ourselves of
our fears and our personal dragons.

We can achieve enlightenment by becoming personally aware.
We can achieve it by peering into our inner core and looking at
the shadows and the fears. Those little inner dragons are just
unloved parts of ourselves. Once we find them and love them,
we can tap into their vitality and energy, and use their power in
our lives. When we bring them into our heart, they are no longer
dragons; they are "spirit" entities who inspire us and lead us on
our heroic journey of life. When we empty our low self of its fears
and trepidation, there is room for God at our core. We must be
empty to be filled, and when God fills us, we become enlightened.

Life Skills for the New Millennium by Paula Sunray.

Dr. Paula SunrayDr. Paula Sunray has been teaching classes
on personal growth and metaphysical spirituality for over 17
years. She is director of the Sunray Healing Haven and National
Interfaith Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she trains and
teaches healers, ministers, counselors, and spiritual students in
addition to maintaining her own private practice. Dr. Sunray is a
leading expert in the field of mind-body-spirit transformation and
is a frequent lecturer, workshop leader, educator, and inspirer to
many. For more information on Dr. Sunray's programs, send an
email to pvsun@...

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

Desperation

I can't go on there's nothing left
no strength    no game    no hope.
I've tried time and time again
to straighten out my life
to make this work
touching the hot stove this way and that
burning myself every time

all the tricks are gone
nothing works like it used to
I can't lie    or plead    or bully
my way through anymore

God, I don't want this
hurting my family daily
I hate facing myself in the mirror
yet am unable to look away
like staring at a train wreck
or gruesome murder scene
eyes full of guilty wonder
how could things get so bad?
What happened to the fun?

Maybe this time it will be different...
Maybe this time it will work
But wait
what's that you say?
I don't have to answer "yes"
whenever my disease calls?
I don't have to use,
one day at a time?
And        there are others?
I thought I was unique
sure that the things I'd done
were too horrid to tell to anyone
you say I can be a part of,
instead of apart from?
I'm still so weak--what?
You'll love me until I can love myself?
And I'm really not alone?
All I can say, is Thank God
for our N. A.

much love,
john h
johnh94@...

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

A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong,
which is but saying... that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.
Alexander Pope

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

What Cancer Cannot Do...
Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit.
Anonymous Words Of Wisdom

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

You are not stuck where you are unless you decide to be.
Dr. Wayne Dyer

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

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue,
but the parent of all other virtues.
Cicero

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

What other people think of you
is none of your damn business !

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

Having a resentment is like drinking poison and
waiting for someone else to die.

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

In relationships,
We attract what we are.

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

An expectation is a premeditated resentment.

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

The sooner you push your wagon,
The quicker you will be on your way.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
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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 town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott



Alanon
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/alanon.html

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
Were you ready to stop when you finally stopped ?
How long did you continue to use after you no longer wanted to use ?
What made you take the final step ??

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 13
Today I am looking within to discover
what I am holding onto from the past.
Today I am willing to let go of
all old anger and resentments
that keep me stuck in tension and in pain.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Looking Inside Me

Lost in a fog, unable to see, hear or feel,
The events of everyday life, are so unreal,
I've been barely here, barely breathing, barely giving,
Feeling so much hurt and confusion, I am struggling at living!

Many sleepless nights, being deep in depression,
I need to hold on to life and hope, it's the best suggestion,
Suddenly jerked back into reality by a ruthless man,
I fight to make a come back like I know I can!

Insecurities have plagued me all my life,
One of the reasons, I've carried such anger and strife.
I have searched my soul for my peace and happiness,
How long I must search, is anybody's guess.

Whatever it takes, I'm willing to strive,
I realize now that my heart is alive!

I want to feel happy, normal and free,
I want to love, be in love, be loved, but most of
all ---just be ME!
I wither up inside, when slanderous words reach my ears,
Because I know that the person those words are for,
is filled with FEAR!

The person I am, most people will never know,
The vulnerable part of me, that I'm unwilling and scared to show.
I struggle each day to hold my head high,
As the day wears on, I get weary and begin to cry.

What I know deep inside, is that I am very lonely,
I trust much too easily and give my heart to one only,
When I put myself aside,  I forget who I am,
It's that crazy behavior, I'd give anything to understand.

I know in my heart, that I am willing to comprehend,
A change must come about before my life will begin.

My heart overrules my sense, most all of the time,
In retrospect, I can see all the signs,
Now is the time, to stop the turmoil and strife,
I must make the changes, and begin my life...

It's funny how long it takes to be calm enough to see,
That all my trust, love and happiness will only be found....

BY LOOKING INSIDE ME!

© 1992
Ava E.
worthywoman@...

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

Discovery Recovery
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1279

Daily Practice of Steps
www.barefootsworld.net/aadailysteps.html

New Attitudes, New Possibilities
www.innerself.com

   National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
www.nationalhomeless.org

N.A. WORLD SERVICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BULLETIN #29
Regarding Methadone and Other Drug Replacement Programs
www.na.org/bulletins/bull29.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 13                                                 Not perfect

"We are not going to be perfect. If we were perfect, we would not
be human."          Basic Text p. 30

   All of us had expectations about life in recovery. Some of us
thought recovery would suddenly make us employable or able
to do anything in the world we wanted to do. Or maybe we
imagined perfect ease in our interactions with others. When
we stop and think, we realize that we expected recovery would
make us perfect. We didn't expect to continue making many
mistakes. But we do. That's not the addict side of us showing
through; that's being human.

   In Narcotics Anonymous we strive for recovery, not perfection.
The only promise we are given is freedom from active addiction.
Perfection is not an attainable state for human beings; it's not a
realistic goal. What we often seek in perfection is freedom from
the discomfort of making mistakes. In return for that freedom
from discomfort, we trade our curiosity, our flexibility, and the
room to grow.

   We can consider the trade: Do we want to live the rest of our
lives in our well-defined little world, safe but perhaps stifled?
Or do we wish to venture out into the unknown, take a risk,
and reach for everything life has to offer?

Just for today: I want all that life has to offer me and all that
recovery can provide. Today, I will take a risk, try something
new, and grow.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

The Quality of Faith

This. . . has to do with the quality of faith. . . . In no deep or
meaningful sense had we ever taken stock of ourselves. . . .
We had not even prayed rightly.  We had always said,
"Grant me my wishes" instead of "Thy will be done."
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.32

God does not grant me material possessions, take away
my suffering, or spare me from disasters, but He does give me
a good life, the ability to cope, and peace of mind.  My prayers
are simple: first, they express my gratitude for the good things
in my life, regardless of how hard I have to search for them;
and second, I ask only for the strength and the wisdom to do
His will.  He answers with solutions to my problems, sustaining
my ability to live through daily frustrations with a serenity I did
not believe existed, and with the strength to practice the
principles of A.A. in all of my everyday affairs

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 / November 13th

A.A. Thought for the Day

Who am I to judge other people?  Have I proved by my
great success in life that I know all the answers?  Exactly
the opposite.  Until I came into A.A., my life could be called
a failure.  I made all the mistakes one could make.  I took
all the wrong roads there were to take.  On the basis of
my record, am I a fit person to be a judge of other people?
Hardly.  In A.A. I have learned not to judge people.  I am
so often wrong.  Let the results of what they do judge them.
It's not up to me.  Am I less harsh in my judgment of people?

Meditation for the Day

In our time of meditation, we again seem to hear: "Come unto
me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you
rest."  Again and again we seem to hear God saying this to us.
"Come unto me" for the solution of every problem, for the
overcoming of every temptation, for the calming of every
fear, for all our needs, physical, mental, or spiritual, but
mostly, "come unto me" for the strength we need to live with
peace of mind and the power to be useful and effective.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may go to God today for those things that I
need to help me live.  I pray that I may find real peace of
mind.

"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
NOVEMBER 13

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

Taking Care of Ourselves

We do not have to wait for others to come to our aid. We are
not victims. We are not helpless.

Letting go of faulty thinking means we realize there are no
knights on white horses, no magical grandmothers in the
sky watching, waiting to rescue us.

Teachers may come our way, but they will not rescue. They
will teach. People who care will come, but they will not
rescue. They will care. Help will come, but help is not rescuing.

We are our own rescuers.

Our relationships will improve dramatically when we stop
rescuing others and stop expecting them to rescue us.

Today, I will let go of the fears and self doubt that block me
from taking assertive action in my best interest. I can take
care of myself and let others do the same for themselves.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Clearing and Enhancing The Energy in Your Home and Workspace
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/clearing.htm

Do You Feel Responsible For Others Happiness?
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2006/November/vissell.htm

A Key to Forgiveness
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/September/vissell.htm

Personal Growth
www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/growth/index.shtml

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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


Have a Love Affair with Life

by Lee Lozowick
You've got to take life by the cojones and let it sweep you up
in its extravagance. There's generally too much "me" -- too
much ego -- trying to take life and chew it up. Relax and let
life smother you. Life will consume you if you let it. You're the
ring on the carousel and life is coming around to grab you.
Don't shy away. When life comes around to grab you, throw
yourself out there. Just the colors in a room and people's
faces, which are all treasure houses of impressions, can
elevate you to states of mystic clarity. Watch even the nastiest
person carefully enough, once or twice a week, and you'll
have to be moved to compassion and tenderness.

You cannot let life consume you by a muscular effort of will.
I have a fair degree of experience and I can't do it by an effort
of will. I'm used to falling into it by default. You know how it is
in car accidents -- usually the people who are drunk don't get
hurt because they are limp, mellow. The car goes over the cliff
and they think, "Far out." They bounce when they hit because
they're so relaxed. When you tense up that's when you break
an arm or a leg. So cool out. Be gentle, easeful, melt into life.
Let it wash over and through you like a sweet soft breeze.

Life is bigger than all the limitations we tend to put on it, and
you need to be in an ongoing romance with life, otherwise
it is easy to get buried by your own peculiar circumstances.

It's easy to become an automaton who gets up, works hard,
even does spiritual practices, but all merely as a mechanical
habit. You can easily get the idea that your spiritual work, or
whatever you are doing, is all-important and that you must
give your life to it, while at the same time you forget what
"giving your life to it" actually means. Then you can become
even more mechanical than you already are (if such a thing
is conceivable), but in a different form.

The Work [used in many spiritual traditions to refer to the
Work of God] wants your life -- but only when you are in a
love affair with life itself, only when you are bright, strong,
confident, capable, in short: ALIVE. The Work does not want
some kind of dull, dispassionate, struggling, agonizing
humanoid. To give your life to the Work is to give breath and
activity to the Work everyday; to give passion to the Work
everyday. You have to have a childlike, eternal beginner's mind
[approaching each moment as new], a belief in miracles, like,
"Any day anything can happen!"

To consider entering into an intimate relationship that could
be for the rest of your life, and will most likely involve children
(whether you want them or not), you've got to have this
passionate kind of relationship to life. In a deep, and hopefully
meaningful, commitment with another human being, when
giving your lives to one another, you need to realize that life
is bigger than your own intense little chamber. There will be
times in which you are going to want to really tear into one
another for some minor or even some imagined slight. There
will be moments in which you think, "My God, I'm only forty. I've
got another thirty years of this misery." You may think that it is
absolutely impossible to make your relationship work. That's
when you will most need to have this attitude of innocence --
the belief that anything can happen. You've got to remember
what LIFE is and always will be, no matter what your personal
circumstances.

You can always access the largeness, the unlimitlessness of
life, no matter how hopeless things appear. You don't get that
by romancing your partner. You get that if you have a love affair
with life itself -- a passionate life. Then your relationships will
be passionate and juicy too.

I recently listened to a radio interview with Henry Miller, one
of my foremost heroes. He was eighty-five years old, with
crippling arthritis, and he couldn't walk without a walker or even
get out of bed without help. Still, the man's voice was just like
his motto: "Always merry and bright." He said, "When you're my
age you've got to consider sickness," and then he laughed.
Practically every other sound out of his mouth was a laugh.

Now, here was Miller, unable to use the typewriter, barely
able to see anymore (he was blind in one eye and half-blind
in the other), so full of pain that he was up all night unable to
sleep, yet still he was constantly full of passion, full of "spit
and vinegar," as they say.

Miller said, "Americans don't like me, but the Europeans love
me. I'm not popular in America." It's no wonder. Americans
don't have any taste, one reason being that we let seeming
problems dictate our moods and our opinions. We let
circumstances define our relationships. If we don't get exactly
what we want, when we want it, if we don't get exactly the food
we want, if people aren't exactly the way we expect them to be,
we get depressed or angry or abusive. You have to have a
passionate fling with life to be bigger than such pettiness.

I've often discussed other alternatives, but it is entirely
conceivable to me that we might only get one shot at life.
So make it a wild, passionate fling! Make it real, total, rich,
and full of possibility. Life should be a grand, majestic affair --
the good, the bad, and the indifferent. If one day is a misery,
be miserable. If you're "in the pits" one day, don't take it out on
everybody else. Feel it, taste it, exude it. Don't bitch at your
friends. If life is lousy one day, it will be great another day.
That's beginner's mind. Anything could happen tomorrow.
If for twenty years that is your attitude, and if for twenty years
nothing does happen tomorrow, it doesn't matter. That
attitude is enough!

If you don't have a love affair with life everyday, if you don't
expect a miracle everyday, you're always going to be looking
for God exclusively in what appears good -- in the attractive,
in the easeful, in the predictable. Most of you reading this are
old enough and mature enough and have had enough
experience to know that you should not expect appearances to
convey everything. Appearances are totally subjective. Instead,
you should look to the heart of things; feel through appearances
to the Essence. Not only are you capable of that, you all do that
naturally anyway. You just need to be aware that you do it,
trust it, and make this awareness more real than the illusions
of your trained beliefs and opinions. But you tend not to do that
when the circumstances are making life look a little grey.
"What's going to happen when the bill collectors start knocking
on the door ...?"you ask. And on and on.

You'll always have passion if you have beginner's mind. If your
passion starts to die, it won't be because of your spiritual work,
your friends, your lover, or because of life's down times. Your
passion will die because you have bought -- hook, line, and sinker
-- an attitude that was sold to you by your parents, your school
teachers, and this society. You've bought the attitude that you've
got to look like that Playgirl man (if you're a man) or that Playboy
woman (if you're a woman). You think you've got to be cool and
cultured, that you've got to dress right and smell like the corporate
world wants you to smell. If your passion dies it will be because
you've bought that appearances are everything, including the
appearance of your worldview, politics, opinions, and beliefs.

To ultimately "make it" in this Work of Awakening, of Transformation,
you have to embrace the miraculous -- always. And that miracle is
you being so much at peace with yourself that you can turn your
energy towards welcoming and using the opportunities that are
always falling into your lap. To embrace and devour these
opportunities will make you free, happy, full of life, full of passion.
Then your circumstances won't affect you so dramatically.

It is the nature of this Work that a revelation, a breakthrough, could
happen at any time, and has many times! But, how easily we forget.
This article is excerpted from The Alchemy of Love and Sex, ©1996,
by Lee Lozowick. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Hohm
Press. http://www.hohmpress.com

About the Author
Lee Lozowick is an American spiritual teacher who has taught
thousands of people since 1975, both in the U.S. and Europe.
He is also a poet, songwriter, and author of fifteen books of
non-fiction, including: Conscious Parenting; The Alchemy of
Transformation; and The Alchemy of Love and Sex. Many of
his books have been translated. His poetry ranges from rock
lyrics to bhakti (devotional) mysticism. Lee is based in northern
Arizona and travels yearly to India, France and Germany,
where he gives seminars on the subject of spiritual life.

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

The Desperate Search
      By Charlie McCormick

Sometimes we try too hard
   To find someone compatible
And end up scaring off
   Any suitable prospects.
We act as if we are incomplete
   Without someone by our side,
And there is an air of desperation
   To our search,
An intensity to our efforts
   That is clearly visible
To anyone around us.
   We go places
Where we hope to meet
   The person we are looking for,
And they never seem to be there.
   We read all the books
On how to catch a mate,
   And they are as elusive as ever.
We try to fix ourselves,
   To make ourselves better,
More attractive to another,
   But the more we fix,
The more there is to fix
   In a never ending battle
With ourselves.
   It usually isn't until
We finally give up
   Our manic pursuit,
And declare a truce
   With ourselves
And the world around us,
   That someone shows up.

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

The Golden Crane

As a teacher of origami (the ancient Japanese art of paper
folding) at the LaFarge Lifelong Learning Institute in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, Art Beaudry was asked to represent the school at an
exhibit at a large mall in Milwaukee.  He decided to take along
a couple hundred folded paper cranes to pass out to people who
stopped at his booth.

   Before that day, however, something strange happened - a
voice told him to find a piece of gold foil paper and make a
gold origami crane. The strange voice was so insistent that
Art actually found himself rummaging through his collection
of origami papers at home until he found one flat, shiny piece
of old foil.

      "Why am I doing this?" he asked himself.  Art had never
worked with the shiny gold paper.  It didn't fold as easily or
neatly as the crisp multicolored papers.  But that little voice
kept nudging him.  He harrumphed and tried to ignore the
voice.  "Why gold foil anyway? Paper is much easier to work
with," he grumbled.

      The voice continued, "Do it!  And you must give it away
tomorrow to a
special person."  By now Art was getting a little cranky.....
"What special person?" he asked the voice.  "You'll know
which one," the voice said.

      That evening Art very carefully folded and shaped the
unforgiving gold foil until it became as graceful and delicate
as a real crane about to take flight.

He packed the exquisite bird in the box along with about
200 colorful paper cranes he'd made over the previous few
weeks.

The next day at the mall, dozens upon dozens of people
stopped by Art's booth to ask questions about origami.  He
demonstrated the art.  He folded, unfolded and refolded.  He
explained the intricate details, the need for sharp increases.

Then there was a woman standing in front of Art.  The special
person.

Art had never seen her before, and she hadn't said a word
as she watched him carefully fold a bright pink piece of
paper into a crane with pointed, graceful wings.

Art glanced up at her face, and before he knew what he
was doing, his hands were down in the big box that contained
the supply of paper cranes. There it was, the delicate gold foil
bird he'd labored over the night before.  He retrieved it and
\carefully placed it in the woman's hand.

"I don't know why, but there's a very loud voice inside me telling
me I'm supposed to give you this golden crane.  The crane is
the ancient symbol of peace," Art said simply.

The woman didn't say a word as she slowly cupped her small
hand around the fragile bird as if it were alive.  When Art looked
up at her face, he saw tears filling her eyes, ready to spill out.

Finally the woman took a deep breath and said, "My husband
died three weeks ago.  This is the first time I've been out.  Today,"
she wipe her eyes with her free hand, still gently cradling the
golden crane with the other. She spoke very quietly.  "Today is
our golden wedding anniversary." Then this stranger said in a
clear voice.  "Thank you for this beautiful gift. Now I know that my
husband is at peace.  Don't you see? That voice you heard.  It's
the voice of God and this beautiful crane is a gift from Him. It's
the most wonderful 50th wedding anniversary present
I could have received. Thank you for listening to your heart."
And that's how Art learned to listen very carefully when a little
voice within him tells him to do something he may not
understand at the time.

Patricia Lorenz

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

The Power of Holding Hands

I was sitting on a beach one summer day, watching two children,
a boy and a girl, playing in the sand.  They were hard at work
building an elaborate sandcastle by the water's edge, with gates
and towers and moats and internal passages.  Just when they
had nearly finished their project, a big wave came along and
knocked it down, reducing it to a heap of wet sand.

I expected the children to burst into tears, devastated by what
had happened to all their hard work.  But they surprised me.
Instead, they ran up the shore away from the water, laughing
and holding hands, and sat down to build another castle.

I realized that they had taught me an important lesson.  All the
things in our lives, all the complicated structures we spent so
much time and energy creating, are built on sand.  Only our
relationships to other people endure. Sooner or later, the wave
will come along and knock down what we have worked so hard
to build up.  When that happens, only the person who has
somebody's hand to hold will be able to laugh.

Rabbi Harold Kushner

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

This Path

Walking on this path of life
I'm bound to have some pain;
But it's up to me whether to choose to be
miserable and insane—
or to make the choice to use my voice
and ask God to help me through it.
It's an awesome thing what prayer can bring
if I just take the time to do it!

written by John H.
© johnh94@...

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

You get the best effort from others
not by lighting a fire beneath them,
but by building a fire within.
Bob Nelson

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

Along our spiritual journey, every one of us is thrust into the desert.
We find ourselves in a relationship wasteland or financially barren.
We feel lost and abandoned,
but it is during this time in the desert
that God grows our souls.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

There are two kinds of people in the world:
those who make excuses and those who get results.
An excuse person will find any excuse
for why a job was not done,
and a results person will find any reason why it can be done.
Be a creator, not a reactor.
Alan Cohen, A Deep Breath Of Life

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

F E A R  =  Face Everything And Recover

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

A sponsor is a person who knows the words
to the song in your heart and is able to sing them
back to you when you have forgotten those words.

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

The quality of your recovery is proportional
to the quality of your surrender.

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

Being an addict does not give me permission
to act like an addict.

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

The Power behind me is greater
than the problem in front of me.

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

Two birds - a vulture and a hummingbird - fly over the California
desert.
One sees a rotting carcass; the other, a fragrant flower.
Each sees what it looks for!
Robert Schuller



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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,
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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
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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 town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott



Selective Hearing
www.recoverycartoons.com/html/new2004/24hourchick.html

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
What are your thoughts on sponsorship ?
Why is a sponsor necessary to your recovery ?
What`s your favorite sponsorship related saying ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November  12
When I find my now full of yesterday's feelings,
I can ask for God to remove them.
I can pray to turn them over to a power greater than myself
so that they will lose their power for me.
I know longer need to hold on to memories
which create feelings that make me upset or unhappy.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

How Do WE Serve?

We serve on subcommittees, we open up the halls.
We're the ones who make the coffee or go on 12th step calls.
We're speak at the conventions, we serve behind the scenes.
We're the ones who stay behind, to make sure we leave it clean.
We chair our daily meetings, we carry H& I.
We greet you at the door, and hold you while you cry.
We listen to you on the phone late into the night;
let you know you're not alone, and that it will be alright.
We put the chairs and pamphlets out, hand out the keytags too;
And this is just a little taste of all the things we do.
How do we really serve?
We show real love to our families, and to the gang at work.
We have patience when we get cut off,
instead of yelling, "Stupid Jerk!"
We are witnesses to God's wondrous love, and it shows in our lives,
Through the gratitude we spread around to our children and our wives.
Our lives may not be perfect, but we're happy anyway.
Real serenity we're finding, and share throughout our day.
We reach out with our hearts and prayers to the corners of this earth
Hoping that folks realize just how much this life is worth.
We approach each day as a sacred gift full of lessons to be learned
These are just a sample of the ways we really serve.

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

Sacred Oath
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1275

Going Through The Steps With A Sponsee
As it was done in the beginning
www.barefootsworld.net/aastepswithsponsee.html

ORIGINAL A.A. It Works How and Why
www.aabibliography.com/oldhowitworks.html

THE EARLY DAYS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IN CLEVELAND
www.aabibliography.com/tapes.html

N.A. WORLD SERVICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BULLETIN #27
HIV and AIDS in NA
www.na.org/bulletins/bull27.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 12                                       Our Own Story

"When we honestly tell our own story, someone else may identify
with us."     Basic Text p. 95

   Many of us have heard truly captivating speakers at Narcotics
Anonymous conventions. We remember the audience alternating
between tears of identification and joyous hilarity. "Someday;' we
may think, "I'm going to be a main speaker at a convention, too"

   Well, for many of us, that day has yet to arrive. Once in awhile we
may be asked to speak at a meeting near where we live. We might
speak at a small convention workshop. But after all this time, we're
still not "hot" convention speakers-and that's okay. We've learned
that we, too, have a special message to share, even if it's only at
a local meeting with fifteen or twenty addicts in attendance.

   Each of us has only our own story to tell; that's it. We can't tell
anyone else's story. Every time we get up to speak, many of us find
all the clever lines and funny stories seem to disappear from our
minds. But we do have something to offer. We carry the message of
hope-we can and do recover from our addiction. And that's enough.

Just for today: I will remember that my honest story is what I
share the best. Today, that's enough.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

The Quality of Faith

This. . . has to do with the quality of faith. . . . In no deep or
meaningful sense had we ever taken stock of ourselves. . . . We had
not even prayed rightly.  We had always said, "Grant me my wishes"
instead of "Thy will be done."
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p.32

God does not grant me material possessions, take away my suffering,
or spare me from disasters, but He does give me a good life, the
ability to cope, and peace of mind.  My prayers are simple: first,
they express my gratitude for the good things in my life, regardless
of how hard I have to search for them; and second, I ask only for
the strength and the wisdom to do His will.  He answers with solutions
to my problems, sustaining my ability to live through daily frustrations
with a serenity I did not believe existed, and with the strength to
practice the principles of A.A. in all of my everyday affairs

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 / November 12th

A.A. Thought for the Day

I am less critical of other people, inside and outside of
A.A.  I used to run people down all the time.  I realize
now that it was because I wanted unconsciously to build
myself up.  I was envious of people who lived normal lives.
I couldn't understand why I couldn't be like them.  And
so I ran them down.  I called them sissies or hypocrites.
I was always looking for faults in the other person.  I
loved to tear down what I called "a stuffed shirt" or
"a snob."  I have found that I can never make a person
any better by criticism.  A.A. has taught me this.  Am I
less critical of people?

Meditation for the Day

You must admit your helplessness before your prayer
for help will be heard by God.  Your own need must be
recognized before you can ask God for the strength to
meet that need.  But once that need is recognized, your
prayer is heard above all the music of heaven.  It is not
theological arguments that solve the problems of the
questing soul, but the sincere cry of that soul to God
for strength and the certainty of that soul that the cry
will be heard and answered.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may send my voiceless cry for help out into
the void.  I pray that I may feel certain that it will be
heard somewhere, somehow.

"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
NOVEMBER 12

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

Timing

Wait until the time is right. It is self-defeating to postpone or
procrastinate; it is also self-defeating to act too soon, before
the time is right.

Sometimes, we panic and take action out of fear. Sometimes,
we take untimely action for revenge or because we want to
punish someone. We act or speak too soon as a way to control
or force someone to action. Sometimes, we take action too soon
to relieve feelings of discomfort or anxiety about how a situation
will turn out.

An action taken too soon can be as ineffective as one taken too
late. It can backfire and cause more problems than it solves.
Usually, when we wait until the time is right - sometimes only
a matter of minutes or hours - the discomfort dissolves, and we're
empowered to accomplish what we need to do.

In recovery, we are learning to be effective.

Our answers will come. Our guidance will come. Pray. Trust. Wait.
Let go. We are being led. We are being guided.

Today, I will let go of my need to control by waiting until the time is
right. When the time is right, I will take action.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Wonderful Message
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/11/carlin.htm

Breathing Facts
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2006/06/breathingfacts.htm

What They Serve In Heaven, Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/September/cohen.htm

Parenting
www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/parenting/index.shtml

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Following Gut-Feelings
by Lynn Grabhorn

How many times have you said to yourself, "I just got a hit (or a
hunch, or a gut-feeling) to go there." And so you did; you went
there, and then found out it was a good thing you did. You were
following your Guidance. Or you got a crazy idea to try such-and-
such. And you did. And it was a success because it was fun. You
were following your Guidance. But you don't have to be starting a
new business to have ideas, or hunches, or insights. Whether
your Want is to find the fastest way around the traffic downtown or
to find a new mate, all you have to do is pay attention to the
signs that will come to make it happen ... and learn to trust them!

A phone call that comes out of the blue from an old friend, a TV
show you normally don't watch, a feeling you got to read
something, or call someone, or take that other road instead.
These are all gentle little shoves from your Expanded Self, your
Inner/Outer Guidance helping you stay on course towards your
joy, even if it's just a better parking place in the rain. You've
blasted Feel Good energy out there, mixed it with Wants, created
corridors of energy flowing into massive vortexes, and now as
you step into those vortexes, the Guidance comes. Your impulses
to act -- to do this, go there, call them -- are coming from the
magnetic activity initiated by your focused energy.

Shortly after embarking on this new path of deliberate creation, I
was on my way to Portland in my beloved old '77 Mercury Monarch,
a car that had been rebirthed many times since I'd had it because
I loved the thing. New engines, new this's, new that's. But because
of its age, my mechanics had recommended I start using a synthetic
oil to reduce wear and tear. That was fine, except not only were
synthetic oils somewhat rare at that time, this was some weirdo
brand that had to be special ordered out of town.

I hadn't been out of the house farther than the grocery store for
ages, and the two-hour drive to Portland was more than welcomed.
I put on some of my soaring music and was just about on the edge
of high-frequency bliss an hour later, flowing energy to this and that,
when I remembered I hadn't put in the much-needed oil. I usually
carried a couple of quarts of the oddball stuff in the car, but had
forgotten that, too, and the prospect of finding this kind of oil --
that was never to be mixed with any other kind, of course -- was
between zip and forget it along that farmland stretch of freeway
in southern Washington.

I drove a few more miles, wondering what to do, when I got a hit
to pull off at the next exit. Since I was pretty much following my
hunches without hesitation by then, I shrugged my shoulders
and pulled off onto a desolate country road not more than a
quarter mile from the freeway.

What I found looked like an old abandoned mining town, or
ghost town, replete with cockeyed, broken-down buildings all
boarded up and so dilapidated they were tilting. I didn't see
signs of life anywhere, but for some reason I stopped the car
and got out, strangely aware that I was not questioning my
decision to pull off the freeway, or thinking things like "what in
the hell am I doing here," but just going along with the strange
lead.

Then I saw it and couldn't believe my eyes. Not fifty feet in front
of the car was another broken down building with a hastily hand-
painted sign that said "Auto Shop."

I don't know how I'd missed it when I stopped, yet there it was,
right smack in front of me. Dumbfounded, I walked in and asked
if they carried any synthetic oil. Yes, they did, but they were sorry
that the only kind they carried was Blurp, just the kind I needed.
"Yes, Ma'am, our last two quarts, right over there!"

My head was whirling when I got back to the car. Sure, I was
thrilled and excited beyond words. Sure, I was overjoyed to see
the Law of Attraction so blatantly in action. But truthfully, I was
numb. It was all so bloody obvious, so indisputable. My
vibrations had been at an all-time peak. Then came a pressing
requirement, but without an ounce of resistance such as, "I'm in
trouble, I'll never find it, what'll I do?" With my vibrations at
that pitch, I had instantly magnetized the solution, receiving loud
and clear directions from my Expanded Self in the form of a
super-strong hunch which I decided to follow. But man alive,
how melodramatic can you get?

How did it happen? Who knows. Who cares! I got the hit, trusted
it, acted on it, and it worked.

The point is to get off auto pilot and pay attention. Listen! Stay
alert for that little push, watch for signs, tune in to hunches. If it
feels good, it's Guidance.

Most of us don't let ourselves believe something can happen
unless we can see ahead of time how all the pieces are going
to fit together. So start watching for clues. Watch for the
masterful coming together as all the missing parts take form
and start dropping into place like magic. Now you've entered
the uncanny world of synchronicity, you're plugged in,
connected to your Source energy, going with the flow. But
you'll never see it, or learn to trust it, if you're not watching for
it.

Without Hesitation
With the possible exception of prayer, which is more often a
plea from a closed rather than opened valve, precious few of
us were ever taught to go inside, shut up and listen, much less
follow! Follow what? Listen to whom? Nonsense! Take a pill.
That's just imagination. It has no substance, no intellectual
empirical data to back it up.

I love how we pretend that something doesn't exist, then turn
right around and name it. We turn our noses up at "divine
guidance,"  but curiously give it this wide range of names like
gut-feeling, motivation, hit, intuition, sense, inspiration, impulse,
urge, premonition, desire, imagination. It's all Guidance, the real
You sending messages from the infinite intelligence You are,
doing everything in Its power to pass on some ideas or direction
before you shut down again.

Guidance is Soul-talk, God-talk, Inner Being-talk, Expanded Self-
talk,Cosmic Escort-talk. Guidance does whatever is necessary to
get our attention and help us step into our Wants, be it oil for the
car or new hair for a shining head. But to make it work, we've got
to learn to trust what we're picking up on that station.

A couple who were mortgage clients of mine -- I'll call them George
and Sally -- were a little shaken when I got to their home one evening
to take their loan application. When I asked what was wrong, George
said he and his wife had just missed being in a serious eight-car pile
up on the freeway, and they were still feeling "really spooked," as he
put it.

They worked at different places, but commuted together. Seems
they were coming home from work on the freeway as usual, and
George was beginning to get antsy being stuck behind a large,
red, wobbly truck in front of them, so he decided to change lanes.
Out of nowhere Sally said, "Honey, don't do that! We've got to get
off this freeway right now!" There was the customary explosion
about how silly that was, then finally, to keep the peace, George
turned off at the next exit and headed for some very out-of-the-way
back roads.

When they got home, George switched on the local TV news as
usual, and saw his wobbly red truck in the middle of a pile up,
squashed between two cars not a mile down the freeway from
where they had exited. There were two fatalities.

That was one tuned-in lady who followed her Guidance without
hesitation. How many of us would have listened, much less acted
by taking another road?

The cosmic joke is that we were designed to do just that, to live by
our senses, not by our brains. But over the eons we've learned
to think our responses instead of feel them, totally backwards from
the way all the rest of nature lives. Animals and plants do it (live by
their senses), while all of us closed-down, disconnected humans
snicker at it. But when you really start playing the Feel Good
game, I promise, it's better than an all-day ticket to Disneyland.
You listen and do, listen and do, listen and do, trusting your
Guidance without hesitation.

So if you have five dozen friends and family telling you to do
"this," but your deepest impulse is to do "that," always, always
follow your impulse (provided it feels good!). Why? Just do it a
few times and you'll see why. Your Guidance system is doing
all it knows how to get you where you want to go to follow your
Original Intent. So give it a chance. Tune in and listen
up; that Expanded Self knows what it's doing.

This article is excerpted from Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting,
©2000, by Lynn Grabhorn. Reprinted with permission of the
publisher, Hampton Roads.

About the Author:
Lynn Grabhorn is a long-time student of the way in which
thought and feelings format our lives. Lynn's first book, Beyond
the Twelve Steps, along with her sweeping multimedia program,
Life Course 101, have received high acclaim from all corners of
the world. She lives near Olympia, Washington, where she
continues to write, give seminars, and "mow my five acres." Visit
her website at www.lynngrabhorn.com

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

The Little Prince Chapter 21
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
translated from the French by Katherine Woods

It was then that the fox appeared.

"Good morning," said the fox.

"Good morning," the little prince responded politely, although
when he turned around he saw nothing.

"I am right here," the voice said, "under the apple tree."

"Who are you?" asked the little prince, and added, "You are very
pretty to look at."

"I am a fox," said the fox.

"Come and play with me," proposed the little prince. "I am so
unhappy."

"I cannot play with you," the fox said. "I am not tamed."

"Ah! Please excuse me," said the little prince.

But, after some thought, he added:

"What does that mean-- 'tame'?"

"You do not live here," said the fox. "What is it that you are
looking for?"

"I am looking for men," said the little prince. "What does that
mean-- 'tame'?"

"Men," said the fox. "They have guns, and they hunt. It is very
disturbing.
They also raise chickens. These are their only
interests. Are you looking for chickens?"

"No," said the little prince. "I am looking for friends. What
does that mean-- 'tame'?"

"It is an act too often neglected," said the fox. It means to
establish ties."

"'To establish ties'?"

"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more
than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other
little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part,
have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like
a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we
shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the
world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world..."

"I am beginning to understand," said the little prince. "There
is a flower... I think that she has tamed me..."

"It is possible," said the fox. "On the Earth one sees all sorts
of things."

"Oh, but this is not on the Earth!" said the little prince.

The fox seemed perplexed, and very curious.

"On another planet?"

"Yes."

"Are there hunters on this planet?"

"No."

"Ah, that is interesting! Are there chickens?"

"No."

"Nothing is perfect," sighed the fox.

But he came back to his idea.

"My life is very monotonous," the fox said. "I hunt chickens;
men hunt me. All the chickens are just alike, and all the men
are just alike. And, in consequence, I am a little bored. But if
you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life .
I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from
all the others. Other steps send me hurrying back underneath
the ground. Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow.
And then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not
eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have
nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that
is the colour of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when
you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring
me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the
wind in the wheat..."

The fox gazed at the little prince, for a long time.

"Please-- tame me!" he said.

"I want to, very much," the little prince replied. "But I have
not much time. I have friends to discover, and a great many
things to understand."

"One only understands the things that one tames," said the
fox. "Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy
things all ready made at the shops. But there is no shop
anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no
friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me..."

"What must I do, to tame you?" asked the little prince.

"You must be very patient," replied the fox. "First you will sit
down at a little distance from me-- like that-- in the grass. I
shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say
nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you
will sit a little closer to me, every day..."

The next day the little prince came back.

"It would have been better to come back at the same hour,"
said the fox. "If, for example, you come at four o'clock in the
afternoon, then at three o'clock I shall begin to be happy. I
shall feel happier and happier as the hour advances. At four
o'clock, I shall already be worrying and jumping about. I shall
show you how happy I am! But if you come at just any time, I
shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet
you... One must observe the proper rites..."

"What is a rite?" asked the little prince.

"Those also are actions too often neglected," said the fox.
"They are what make one day different from other days, one
hour from other hours. There is a rite, for example, among
my hunters. Every Thursday they dance with the village girls.
So Thursday is a wonderful day for me! I can take a walk as
far as the vineyards. But if the hunters danced at just any
time, every day would be like every other day, and I should
never have any vacation at all."

So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his
departure drew near--

"Ah," said the fox, "I shall cry."

"It is your own fault," said the little prince. "I never wished you
any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you..."

"Yes, that is so," said the fox.

"But now you are going to cry!" said the little prince.

"Yes, that is so," said the fox.

"Then it has done you no good at all!"

"It has done me good," said the fox, "because of the color
of the wheat fields." And then he added:

"Go and look again at the roses. You will understand now that
yours is unique in all the world. Then come back to say goodbye
to me, and I will make you a present of a secret."

The little prince went away, to look again at the roses.

"You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are
nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed no one.
You are like my fox when I first knew him. He was only a
fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I have made
him my friend, and now he is unique in all the world."

And the roses were very much embarrassed.

"You are beautiful, but you are empty," he went on. "One could
not die for you. To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think
that my rose looked just like you-- the rose that belongs to me.
But in herself alone she is more important than all the
hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have
watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass
globe; because it is she that I have sheltered behind the
screen; because it is for her that I have killed the
caterpillars (except the two or three that we saved to become
butterflies); because it is she that I have listened to, when she
grumbled, or boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing.
Because she is my rose.

And he went back to meet the fox.

"Goodbye," he said.

"Goodbye," said the fox. "And now here is my secret, a very
simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
what is essential is invisible to the eye."

"What is essential is invisible to the eye," the little prince
repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.

"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your
rose so important."

"It is the time I have wasted for my rose--" said the little
prince, so that he would be sure to remember.

"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must
not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you
have tamed. You are responsible for your rose..."

"I am responsible for my rose," the little prince repeated,
so that he would be sure to remember.

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

Been Down That Road

Been down that road
a thousand times,
I know what's along the way;
the same old places,
the same old faces,
lost smiles and dismay.
Been down that road
a hundred times, but
this time I'll go fast.
I'll break the curse
that's been well rehearsed
in those days forever past.
Been down that road
at least ten times,
why can't I remember why?
All I can see is
lifelong misery;
I fear on this road I will die.
I see that road
in front of me.
I know just where
it goes.
I took it once
it led to hell
while fearing all tomorrows.

written by ~  Rick J.
mrclean57103@...
7/02

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

Rainbow Bliss

What is it about sparkles
that captures our attention?
What is it about rainbows
that makes our hearts glow?

We marvel at colours as if
seeing them for the first time
Our thoughts thrill at the wonder
of magic and mystery
of story and mythology
Is all of this inside of me?

Do I recognise inside the sparkle
a touch of the spirit I may become?
Do I reach forth to rainbow's end
to catch the golden meaning of who I am?

Angel wings and fairy tales
Stars falling and hearts wishing.
Life hiding a much deeper meaning?

Sometimes the simple little things
matter most when all is said and done
Try to catch the hidden sparkles
in the magical moments of time
They are the rainbows of your life

Love
Stella
© 2003 Stella Raymonde Savoie Johnson
stellaraymonde@...

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

Change.....

"All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find
with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will
not change you. The only thing blame does is to keep the focus
off you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your
unhappiness or frustration. You may succeed in making another
feel guilty about something by blaming him, but you won't succeed
in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy."
   Wayne Dyer

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

Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
Shakespeare

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

The most important single ingredient in the formula of
success is knowing how to get along with people.
Theodore Roosevelt

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

Correct action means the willingness to do whatever is necessary
-- physically, emotionally, mentally -- to make it all happen.
Spiritual Warriors manifest themselves through correct action,
because their only true intention is
spiritual growth, expansion, and revelation.
Whatever else comes is a bonus, to be enjoyed,
to participate in, but never to get caught up in.

Make the Spiritual Warrior way of action your own,
and you will begin to manifest the fruits
of your spiritual progress in everything you do.

John-Roger
(From: Spiritual Warrior, The Art of Spiritual Living)

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

There is a magnificent artist in you just waiting to be brought forth.
You can reproduce your parent's story, leave the canvas blank, or you
can recognize your true identity and create a masterpiece.
The life you hold is in your hands.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

The answer to all my worries
was as close as the next prayer.

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

YET = You're Eligible Too

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

If you don't take care of yourself,
why should anyone else?

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

Keep the focus on yourself.

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

If a man wishes to be sure of the road he treads on,
He must close his eyes and walk in the dark.
St. John of the Cross



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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,
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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/12StepSoulFoodForTheSpirit/
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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 town on business 11/11 through 11/24
I will be sending my emails into a holding bin in Yahoogroups and
Googlegroups they will be dated and time stamped 11/11 and
will appear in your email box for those dates 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 11/11 time stamp .
In loving service,
Scott


Two Shots

A drunk goes in a bar and asks for a shot of Jim Beam. The
bartender pours it and the drunk pushes it aside and asks
for another shot of Jim Beam. The bartender pours it and
the drunk drinks it. The bartender says, "I watched what you
did and I don't understand why you pushed the first one away
and drank the second one!" The drunk stated," I've been going
to those AA Meetings, and they said WHATEVER YOU DO,
DON'T TAKE THAT FIRST DRINK!!!".

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
What are your thoughts on sponsorship ?
Why is a sponsor necessary to your recovery ?
What`s your favorite sponsorship related saying ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November  11
Today I am taking the time that I need
to look at my growth and progress.
I celebrate being alive.
I celebrate the good in me.
Today I celebrate me.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

The Big Rocks

One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of
business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration
those students will never forget.  As he stood in front of the group
of high powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz."

Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set
it on the table in front of him.  Then he produced about a dozen
fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into
the jar.  When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks
would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"

Everyone in the class said, "Yes."

Then he said, "Really?"  He reached under the table and pulled
out a bucket of gravel.  Then he dumped some gravel in and shook
the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the
space between the big rocks.

Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time the class was on to him.  "Probably not," one of
them answered.
"Good!" he replied.  He reached under the table and brought out
a bucket of sand.  He started dumping the sand in the jar and it
went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.

Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"
No!" the class shouted.
Once again he said, "Good."

Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until
the jar was filled to the brim.  Then he looked at the class and
asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and  said, "The point is, no
matter how full your schedule is, if you  try really hard you can
always fit some more things in it!"
"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point.  The truth
this illustration teaches us i s:  If you don't put the big rocks in
first, you'll never get them in at all."

What are the 'big rocks' in your  life?

Author Unknown

The big rocks in my life are not using no matter what, making
meetings, calling my sponsors, being a sponsor, working steps,
and being there for the newcomer. For it is when I do this, that
EVERYTHING else falls into place. This is where I learn, If I
give a little bit, I get back a whole lot
Stay in the LIGHT
Scott

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

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

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

12 Qualities of Sponsorship
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=155

Back To Basics
www.barefootsworld.net/aabacktobasics.html

Goodbye Old Friend
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/GoodbyeOldFriend.html

Love Is...
www.geocities.com/Wellesley/4249/love_is.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 11                               From surrender to acceptance

"We surrender quietly and let the God of our understanding
take care of us."  Basic Text p. 26

Surrender and acceptance are like infatuation and love.
Infatuation begins when we encounter someone special.
Infatuation requires nothing but the acknowledgement of
the object of our infatuation. For infatuation to become love,
however, requires a great deal of effort. That initial
connection must be slowly, patiently nurtured into a lasting,
durable bond.

It's the same with surrender and acceptance. We surrender
when we acknowledge our powerlessness. Slowly, we come
to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can give us the
care we need. Surrender turns to acceptance when we let this
Power into our lives. We examine ourselves and let our God
see us as we are. Having allowed the God of our understanding
access to the depths of ourselves, we accept more of God's care.
We ask this Power to relieve us of our shortcomings and help
us amend the wrongs we've done. Then, we embark on a new
way of life, improving our conscious contact and accepting our
Higher Power's continuing care, guidance, and strength.

Surrender, like infatuation, can be the beginning of a lifelong
relationship. To turn surrender into acceptance, however, we
must let the God of our understanding take care of us each day.

Just for today: My recovery is more than infatuation. I have
surrendered.

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

Focusing and Listening
There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation,
and prayer.  Taken separately, these practices can bring much
relief and benefit.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 98

If I do my self-examination first, then surely, I'll have enough
humility to pray and meditate -- because I'll see and feel my
need for them.  Some wish to begin and end with prayer, leaving
the self-examination and meditation to take place in between,
whereas others start with meditation, listening for advice from God
about their still hidden or unacknowledged defects.  Still others
engage in written and verbal work on their defects, ending with a
prayer of praise and thanksgiving.  These three -- self-examination,
meditation and prayer -- form a circle, without a beginning or an
end.  No matter where, or how, I start, I eventually arrive at my
destination: a better life.

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 / November 11th

A.A. Thought for the Day

When I think of all who have gone before me, I realize
that I am only one, not very important, person.  What
happens to me is not so very important after all.  And
A.A. has taught me to be more outgoing, to seek
friendship by going at least halfway, to have a sincere
desire to help.  I have more self-respect now that I have
less sensitiveness.  I have found that the only way to live
comfortably with myself is to take a real interest in others.
Do I realize that I am not so important after all?

Meditation for the Day

As you look back over your life, it is not too difficult to
believe that what you went through was for a purpose, to
prepare you for some valuable work in life.  Everything in
your life may well have been planned by God to make you
of some use in the world.  Each person's life is like the
pattern of a mosaic. Each thing that happened to you is
like one tiny stone in the mosaic, and each tiny stone fits
into the perfected pattern of the mosaic of your life,
which has been designed by God.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may not need to see the whole design of my
life.  I pray that I may trust the Designer.

"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
NOVEMBER 11

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

Discipline

Children need discipline to feel secure; so do adults.

Discipline means understanding there are logical consequences
to our behavior. Discipline means taking responsibility for our
behavior and the consequences.

Discipline means learning to wait for what we want.

Discipline means being willing to work for and toward what we
want.

Discipline means learning and practicing new behaviors.

Discipline means being where we need to be, when we need to
be there, despite our feelings.

Discipline is the day to day performing of tasks, whether these
are recovery behaviors or washing the dishes.

Discipline involves trusting that our goals will be reached though
we cannot see them.

Discipline can be grueling. We may feel afraid, confused, and
uncertain. Later, we will see the purpose. But this clarity of sight
usually does not come during the time of discipline. We may not
even believe we're moving forward.

But we are.

The task at hand during times of discipline is simple: listen, trust,
and obey.

Higher Power, help me learn to surrender to discipline. Help me
be grateful that You care enough about me to allow these times
of discipline and learning in my life. Help me know that as a
result of discipline and learning, something important will have
been worked out in 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Patches & Prisons of the Heart
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/11/patches.htm

The Key To Lasting Happiness, By Dr. Deepak Chopra
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2006/06/lastinghappiness.htm

Practicing the Power of Now
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/September/feature1.htm

Men’s Issues
www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/men/index.shtml

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

Be The Lighthouse ...
Not The Rescue Boat

In our zest for evolving beyond the current reality, and our very
sincere desire to assist everyone on this journey, we often lose
sight of some very Universal truths. Each of us choose our own
life experience. And each of us make these choices based upon
what we need in order to learn or achieve so that we might take
our personal steps in Soul evolution.

Love clouds many issues, but it is necessary for each of us to
realize not only the infinite Soul of self, but also the infinite Soul
of all others.There are many times during this process that each
of us will falter, will feel enormous pain, and may even lose our
way.

Where there is love there is the natural instinct to rescue. But
at times we must resist that instinct. There may be those who
gasp in dismay at my words. Is it love to stand aside and allow
a loved one to suffer? Is it love when we do not race down into
the trenches to pull our friend out of the mud? Yes . there are
times when taking no action is love.

If you, as a Soul, need to experience a period of great turmoil,
a turmoil that will force you into the depths of yourself to find
your own answers, a friend would be empowering you by
standing beside you and supporting you and loving you - but
not rescuing you.

If you take the hand of a friend and pull them out of the mire
they've created for themselves, you have robbed them of an
opportunity. By remaining in the mire, they will find strength.
They will find personal power. They will learn to trust
themselves, to turn to their own inner voice. Please understand
that if you see a loved one in physical danger, or in harm's way
to the degree that intervention is called for, do not hesitate.

Emotional detachment, something each seeker must learn, calls
for a delicate balance of offering support, serving humanity, and
offering your belief in a person to the degree that they realize
you believe they can rise above all circumstances. As we watch
the daily chaos and suffering on Earth it is difficult to believe that
we are not victims. But we are not.

Emotional detachment allows for a different perspective when
evaluating the reality we, as a human society, are creating. When
we accept and then begin to understand that our creations, what
we experience daily, are created from a base, a foundation, that
lies within us, we begin to understand how to create different
experiences.

To rescue someone from his or her own creation/experience is
to rob them of the opportunity to understand why they are
creating the experience they are creating. Our experiences are
the gifts we receive from ourselves, with the intention of out-
picturing what resides within us.

By taking the deep internal beliefs that we carry, the spirit
within us creates an external picture/experience. This creation
is a mirror that shows us what foundation we are creating from.
If the foundation is fear, doubt, pain, our external world will
reflect this foundation back to us. Because all creation must
have a foundation on which to build, Universal Law dictates
that the foundation must be within us for the simple reason that
like attracts like.

The greatest gift we can give each other and ourselves is the
gift of allowing our spirit to express, via our external
experiences, the truths that reside within us and within our
personal energy fields. By doing so, we bring to our attention
deep, unhealed wounds and/or beliefs, whether they be
from this lifetime or from the past.

As we work through our experiences, gaining understanding,
conquering fear and pain, we heal that which causes us to
create pain and suffering. As we heal pain and suffering, we
give ourselves the very real possibility of creating a world based
on joy and Soul-wisdom.

Lauren Zimmerman
www.OneWorldHealing.com

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

The Rainbow Bridge Return

The little dog arrived at the Rainbow Bridge , and a pack of dogs
rushed up to greet him.  He braced himself, expecting a fight,
but this was the first pack that wagged their tails and kissed him
instead of attacking him.

It was beautiful here, and everyone was nice to him. None of
them had been born in a puppy mill, like he had, and used for
dog-bait fighting and left to die in a shelter because he was a
mix-breed battle-scarred cur and wasn't cute. They explained
why they were waiting... for their humans who loved them.

"What is love?" he asked, and God let him go back to earth,
and find out.

Warm, and dark, he squeezed in with the others and waited for
the day to be born. Scared, he held back as long as he could,
but finally got dragged out, by his hind feet. Hands without fur
held him gently and rubbed him dry and opened his mouth and
guided him to a warm nipple with milk.  He didn't get a good hold
on it, because one of his big fat brothers pushed him aside.  The
human hand moved the other puppy to another nipple and held
his body, so he could drink.

"Ahhh, that's better, " he thought, and drank until his jaws
got tired and he curled up to sleep next to his warm hairy
mother.  "I remember this," he mused... "Too bad I'll have to
grow up to be hit, left out in the cold and rain, and used for
dog-bait fighting, and die as an unclaimed rescue dog. I
remember what it's like, being a dog." he thought sadly.

That night, he crawled up to his mother and tried to nurse, but
he kept getting pushed off to the side. When they were full,
the big brothers and sisters got their bottoms cleaned and he
finally latched on to a nipple, but the human hands weren't there
to hold him up, and there wasn't any milk in any of the nipples,
anyway.  He was weak and so tiny.  It was even hard to
stay upright, and he fell over on his back and couldn't right
himself.

So he began to cry, and suddenly the human hands were there,
holding him up and putting a rubber thing in his mouth. It didn't
taste or feel like mother, but it was warm and made the ache in
his tummy go away.

He was having trouble breathing ...   His lungs weren't fully
developed, because he had waited too long to join the others in
the womb, as he took one last romp at the Rainbow Bridge.

He could feel the heartbeat of the human, who had laid him
on her chest and covered him with a soft cloth, keeping him
warm, and soothing his boney body with gentle circling touches.

He kept thinking of his new friends who had been so nice to him
at the bridge and asked God if he could go back.

God said "Yes, but not just yet. You wanted to experience Love."

So for several hours (seemed like days but it was dark and he
couldn't tell what time it was), the human supplemented his
feeding and let him experience the warmth of his mother's
body and tongue, and the pile of warm soft littermates. He got
weaker, and the human held him more often, leaving the
littermates to sleep in a pile while he got carressed, kissed,
and got to listen to the heartbeat which was strong and loving.

Finally God came back and asked, "are you ready to come back
to the Rainbow Bridge ?"

"Yes, he responded," with a little sorrow, because the human
didn't want to let him go, and was crying.

He pushed the air out of his lungs and floated back to the Rainbow
Bridge and looked back at the human, who was still crying and
holding the limp body that he had borrowed for his trip.

"Thank you, God," he said.  "Love is beautiful, and I will wait near
the Bridge and let the human know, when she arrives, that I loved
her, too."

by Joy LaCaille ©
lakai@...

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

Heal Your Hurts

Heal your hurts.
Don't lug them around like a sack of potatoes
or bring them out for show-and-tell
when you need to explain away a bad behavior or an unsettling
mistake.

Revisit the scars on your heart,
resolve to remove each one of them
and go about getting the work done.

Without resolution, you remember the original injury
and relive the pain, time and time again.
Old hurts resurface and add scar tissue to the afflicted areas.

The next time a wound opens itself up
and spills its scalding contents on your tender feelings,
don't chase it back down inside of you.
Cup it gently in your hands, kiss it good bye and release it.

Heal your hurts, one pain at a time.

© 2000 Terri McPherson
*Wise Hearts! Weaving Small Wisdoms Terri's Website
www.wisehearts.com/
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
tmcphers@...

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

Anti-Blues

(sing to a blues line)
woke up this morning
put on the pot
fell down on my knees
and thanked God for what I've got
I asked him to help me
to change my heart for good
told him please use me
any way that he would
cuz I'm a soldier
I'm on the battle lines
but the fight's not in the streets
its in my own mind!

written by ~ john h.
johnh94@...

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

If something makes your heart sing, that's
God's way of telling you it's a contribution He wants you to make.
Sharing our gifts is what makes us happy.
We're most powerful, and God's power is most apparent on the
earth, when we're happy.
Marianne Williamson

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

Opportunities multiply as they are seized;
they die when neglected.
Life is a long line of opportunities.
John Wicker

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

When you teach children, teach them in the
consciousness of their experience.
Use their language to talk to them.
If it's baby-talk, you use baby-talk.
If it's love-talk, you use love-talk.
It should all be love-talk.

Even when you are saying, "Shh, be quiet,"
the child should not hear any harshness.
The child should hear, "I love you very much; please be quiet now."
Then the youngster will be quiet just to please you.

John-Roger
(From: The Spiritual Family)

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

If you don't know where you're going,
you'll end up somewhere else.
Alfred Adler

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

Winners do what they have to do;
losers do what they want to do.

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

Winners Don't Whine and Whiners Don't Win.

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

The beginning of wisdom is a firm grasp of the obvious.

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

Worry is like a rocking horse,
it keeps you moving but never gets you anywhere.

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

It is expressly at those times when we feel needy
that we will benefit the most from giving.
Ruth Ross

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

Until you make peace with who you are,
you'll never be content with what you have.
Doris Mortman



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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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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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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
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http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

A drunk gets up from the bar and heads for the restroom. A few minutes
later, a loud, blood curdling scream is heard. A few minutes after that,
another loud scream reverberates through the bar. The bartender goes to
investigate.

"What's all the screaming about in there? You're scaring my customers!"
"I'm just sitting here on the toilet and every time I try to flush,
something comes up and sqeezes the hell out of my balls," replies the
drunk.
With that, the bartender opens the door, looks in and says, "You idiot!
You're sitting on the mop wringer bucket!"

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
What are your thoughts on sponsorship ?
Why is a sponsor necessary to your recovery ?
What`s your favorite sponsorship related saying ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November  10
In moments of stress, doubt, uncertainty, anger or pain,
I can pause and say the serenity prayer,
knowing that I will get all the
strength, courage and wisdom that I need.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

The Apology

A fallen tear and shaken heart
Connections now are torn apart
Feelings gone and turned away
Caring less for every day
No stopping ends or wanting change
And in the end all take some blame
As I did not see clearly when
I’d argue, meddle, betray a friend
And wanting too much from some lives
I should’ve let go many times
But motives never were contrite
I always thought that I was right
Just never thought I’d hurt someone
I only saw the hurt I’d won

I’m staying now within my lane
And from these deeds will I refrain
To build amends with change in style
Through honesty, no more denial
And I ask nothing in return
My gift is grace that I have learned
And that you all should wash your pain
If any from me should remain

For in my heart there is a truth
To comfort, love and then to soothe
To try to leave a better place
At least to not leave hurt, disgrace

But I am human, imperfect scarred
Just like all of the other hearts
And through my fear, anguish too
I shudder at the things I do:
When I let thoughts betray my truth
Forgetting love and forgiveness

Admission made, amended style
Awareness wakens past denial
Forgive myself releasing pain
Concentrate on what I’ve gained
And know that next time I am wronged
I’ll have compassion for the one
As I have seen what I have done
When fear made me forget the love

Cara S
clscls@...
copyright 1999

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

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

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

48 'Musts' in N.A., as found in the N.A. Basic Text
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1087

Working the Steps
www.barefootsworld.net/aaworkingthesteps.html

An Addict's Lament
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/AddictsLament.html

A Gift of Love
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/GiftofLove.html

N.A. WORLD SERVICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BULLETIN #25
Public relations and the traditions
www.na.org/bulletins/bull25.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 10                                                  Fear or
faith?

"No matter how far we ran, we always carried fear with us."
   Basic Text p. 14

   For many of us, fear was a constant factor in our lives before we
came to Narcotics Anonymous. We used because we were afraid
to feel emotional or physical pain. Our fear of people and situations
gave us a convenient excuse to use drugs. A few of us were so
afraid of everything that we were unable even to leave our homes
without using first. As we stay clean, we replace our fear with a
belief in the fellowship, the steps, and a Higher Power. As this belief
grows, our faith in the miracle of recovery begins to color all aspects
of our lives. We start to see ourselves differently. We realize we are
spiritual beings, and we strive to live by spiritual principles.

   The application of spiritual principles helps eliminate fear from our
lives. By refraining from treating other people in harmful or unlawful
ways, we find we needn't fear how we will be treated in return. As
we practice love, compassion, understanding, and patience in our
relationships with others, we are treated in turn with respect and
consideration. We realize these positive changes result from
allowing our Higher Power to work through us. We come to believe-
not to think, but to believe-that our Higher Power wants only the
best for us. No matter what the circumstances, we find we can
walk in faith instead of fear.

Just for today: I no longer need to run in fear, but can walk in
faith that my Higher Power has only the best in store for me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

Keeping Optimism Afloat

The other Steps can keep most of us sober and somehow
functioning. But Step Eleven can keep us growing, . . .
THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p. 240

A sober alcoholic finds it much easier to be optimistic about
life.  Optimism is the natural result of my finding myself gradually
able to make the best, rather than the worst, of each situation.
As my physical sobriety continues, I come out of the fog, gain a
clearer perspective and am better able to determine what courses
of action to take.  As vital as physical sobriety is, I can achieve a
greater potential for myself by developing an ever-increasing
willingness to avail myself of the guidance and direction of a Higher
Power.  My ability to do so comes from my learning -- and practicing --
the principles of the A.A. program.  The melding of my physical and
spiritual sobriety produces the substance of a more positive life.

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 / November 10th

A.A. Thought for the Day

I am less self-centered.  The world used to revolve around
me at the center.  I cared more about myself, my own
needs and desires, my own pleasure, my own way, than I did
about the whole rest of the world.  What happened to me
was more important than anything else I could think of.  I
was selfishly trying to be happy and therefore I was
unhappy most of the time.  I have found that selfishly
seeking pleasure does not bring true happiness.  Thinking
of myself all the time cut me off from the best in life.
A.A. taught me to care less about myself and more about
the other person.  Am I less self-centered?

Meditation for the Day

When something happens to upset you and you are discouraged,
try to feel that life's difficulties and troubles are not intended
to arrest your progress in the spiritual life, but to test your
strength and to increase your determination to keep going.
Whatever it is that must be met, you are to either overcome
it or use it.  Nothing should daunt you for long, nor should any
difficulty entirely overcome or conquer you.  God's strength
will always be there, waiting for you to use it.  Nothing can be
too great to be overcome, or if not overcome, then used.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may know that there can be no failure with God.
I pray that with His help I may live a more victorious 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
NOVEMBER 10

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

Beliefs about Money

      I was starting a new job for a corporation. I was good at what
I did for a living. The personnel manager and I were down to the
details of employment, and he asked me how much money I
believed I deserved. I thought about it and came up with a
figure of $400 a month. This was back in the sixties. I didn't
want to ask for too much, so I decided to ask for the smallest
amount I could live with. He hired me and gave me what I
asked for. Later on, when I left that job, the personnel manager
told me he had been willing to pay me whatever I wanted. Had
I asked for $600 or even $700 a month, which was a tremendous
salary at that time, I would have gotten it. I had limited myself by
what I believed I deserved.
      --Anonymous

What are our beliefs about money?

Do we believe that money is evil and wrong? Money is neither.
It is a commodity on earth, a necessity. It is what people need to
purchase many of their basic needs, as well as luxuries and
treats; it is one way they are rewarded for their work. Loving
money, however, can be as self-defeating as loving any other
commodity. We can become obsessed with money; we can use
it as an escape from relationships and feelings; we can use it
compulsively to gain a temporary sense of power. Money is
simply money.

Do we believe there's a scarcity of money? Many of grew up with
deprived thinking concerning money: There's not enough. There
will never be enough. If we get a little, we may guard it and hoard
it because there's no more.

Money is not in short supply. We do not have to waste our energy
resenting those who have enough. There is plenty of money here
on earth.

How much do we believe we deserve? Many of us are limiting
ourselves by what we believe we deserve.

Money is not evil. There is no scarcity, except in our mind and
attitudes. And what we believe we deserve will be about what we
shall receive.

We can change our beliefs through affirmations, by setting goals,
by starting where we are, and working slowly forward to where we
want to be

Today, I will examine my beliefs about money. I will begin the
process of letting go of any self-defeating beliefs that may be l
imiting or blocking the financial part of my life.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   True Colors Brightens Lives
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/11/true-colors.htm

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv


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

THE SELF-DEFEATING ADULT

By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

If you grew up in a family where alcohol was abused,
alcoholism was present or sexual or physical abuse was a
regular occurrence, you probably developed a self-defeating
personality.

In order to survive growing up in a dysfunctional family unit,
children learn adaptive habits that are necessary for them as
children, but maladaptive or self-defeating later in life. In a
very real sense, a child has to become sick in order to survive
in a sick family. A child can become sick merely by imitation
of those around him or her. After all, he or she is dependent on
adults to learn about how to be in the world.

Regardless of how the self-defeating adults got that way, the
pain and frustration, fear and guilt, depression and anger that
results from their self-defeating behavior, is almost intolerable,
and usually unimaginable.

Some common behaviors of self-defeating personalities may
include:

1. The avoidance of, or sabotaging, pleasurable experiences.
The most familiar situation, in which the person knows how to
function, is one of pain or suffering. Therefore, he becomes
anxious or uneasy when "things are going well," or when s/he
"feels too good."

2. They are attracted to relationships with people who will hurt
them or maintain their familiar level of suffering. They often find
a partner who is as abusive as their primary-family member. They
often believe they can redo their childhood experiences and fix
themselves in the process...an unrealistic hope that is never
realized. They are rarely attracted to anyone who genuinely
cares for them or who consistently treats them well.

3. They rarely let people help them and may even actively prevent
others from helping them. Help means they are weak. Weakness
means they may not survive. Weakness means being vulnerable,
or it can mean that pain or abandonment is forthcoming. This is a
common belief developed by children whose "helpful" parents
were also the source of abuse, or abandonment, or extreme
inconsistency.

4. They often choose situations which are bound to lead to
disappointment, failure, or maltreatment, even when alternative
options are clearly available. They do not trust themselves in a
positive situation. They only know how to function in a negative,
painful environment.

5. They may feel guilty, anxious, or depressed if they happen to
achieve a positive goal, develop a personal talent, or experience
a positive personal event. After all, such things don't happen or
are just a fluke or coincidence in their self-defeating world.

6. Self-defeating persons often provoke others to respond to them
with anger or rejection, and then feel devastated (but "used to it"
[Wink] when the response they incited is forthcoming. For example,
they may micro-manage their children, and then feel awful when
the children don't "turn out" the way they had hoped.

7. They often engage in highly self-sacrificial activities. The
martyr, who willingly sacrifices his/her own wants and needs in
order to let others have what they want (and feel guilty for getting
it).

If you have many of these defeating characteristics, it is time you
updated your habit patterns to be more adaptive to what is
happening in your life now that you are an adult. Identify and
challenge the beliefs you learned as a child, and from which you
are functioning today. Many of them are probably outdated and
unrealistic to your current situation.

Learn to be gentle with yourself. Allow others to care about you
without feeling you have to protect yourself right out of receiving
that love. Stop blaming yourself for your self-defeating habits.
You were never taught otherwise. Become curious about new
ways of behaving that will make you a "winner" in life rather than
a "loser."

Allow yourself to heal from past hurts and emotional pain, by
forgiving yourself and everyone who ever hurt you. Forgive
them for your sake, not theirs.

Finally, learn to like yourself...the new self you are becoming now.
You are out of the malfunctioning family from which you came.
You are in charge of your life now. Don't continue to expose yourself
to painful people. Avoid those whose sickness is greater than your
health. Make your primary goal becoming a whole and well person,
and go for it. Having survived the worst, you deserve the best.

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved. Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D. is a Certified Life Coach and Licensed
Psychologist, specializing in life coaching and behavioral medicine.
Contact him: 3421 Polk Circle West, Wellington, CO. 80549.  E-mail:
DrLloyd@..., or LJTDAT@....

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

Human Family
by Maya Angelou

"I note the obvious differences
in the human family.
Some of us are serious,
some thrive on comedy.

Some declare their lives are lived
as true profundity,
and others claim they really live
the real reality.

The variety of our skin tones
can confuse, bemuse, delight.
Brown and pink and beige and purple,
tan and blue and white.

I've sailed upon the seven seas
and stopped in every land.
I've seen the wonders of the world,
not yet one common man.
I know ten thousand women
called Jane and Mary Jane,
but I've not seen any two
who really were the same.

Mirror twins are different
although their features jibe,
and lovers think quite different thoughts
while lying side by side.

We love and lose in China,
we weep on England's moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea,
and thrive on Spanish shores.

We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we're the same.

I not the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike."

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

Life I Learned From a Jigsaw Puzzle

--Don't force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come
together naturally.

--When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will
look different when you return.

--Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little
pieces only leads to frustration.

--Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit
by bit, piece by piece.

--When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to
come back later.

--The creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook.

--Variety is the spice of life. It's the different colors and patterns
that make the puzzle interesting.

--Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security
and order.

--Don't be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are
surprising.

--Take time to celebrate your successes (even little ones).

--Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can't
be rushed.

Author Unknown

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

The Puppy

She keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back
to this shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since
we started all of this, the woman told the volunteer. "What is it
she keeps asking for? " she asked. "Puppy size!"

"We have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for." "I
know. We have seen most of them," she said in frustration. Just
then the young child came walking in the office. "Well, did you
find one?" "No, not this time," she said with sadness in her
voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?" The two women
looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed. "You
never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's
always a supply," the volunteer said.

The young child took her Mother by the hand and headed to
the door. "Don't worry, I bet we'll find one this weekend," the
child said. Over the next few days both mom and dad had long
conversations with her. They both felt she was being too
particular. "It's this weekend or we're not looking any more,"
Dad finally said in frustration.

"We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either,"
mom added. Sure enough they were the first ones in the shelter
on Saturday morning. By now the young child knew her way
around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller
dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end
of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so
you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't
permitted. The young girl walked slowly from cage to cage,
kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs
were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said,
"Sorry, you're not the one." It was the last cage on this last day in
search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door
and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it loosely. This
time she it took a little longer.

"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she
screamed with joy. Mom, startled by all the commotion, came
running. "What? Are you sure? How do you know?" she asked.
"It's the puppy sighs!"

"Yes, it the same size as all the other puppies you held the last
weeks," mom said. "No, not size -- sighs. When I held him in my
arms he sighed," she said. "So? Don't you remember? When I
asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on
the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sighs!"

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't
know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug her
child she did a little of both. "Mom every time you hold me I sigh.
When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other
you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when
I held it in my arms," she said. Then holding the puppy up close
to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his
heart."

Author Unknown

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

The Final Last Call

He's one in a million, yet
a man we all know;
had a wife and some children,
but no place to call home.
He's fought his whole life
to do what was right, but
shame overtook him
and guilt won the fight.
Now he sits at the bar
and drinks whiskey and beer;
gets sorrowful glances
from the man in the mirror.
Tells the ones who still love him
he wants to be left alone, but
I wonder what he'd want
most of all,
if he knew that tonight's
his final last call?
   The final last call
   will come upon him,
and it'll be no surprise.
   Will he look toward the heavens,
will tears fill his eyes?
   Will a prayer leave his lips,
to his knees will he fall?
Before finally going home
at the
final last call.

Rick J.
mrclean57103@...
8/02

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

Now let me say that the next thing we must be concerned about
if we are to have peace on earth and good will toward men
is the nonviolent affirmation of the sacredness of all human life.
Every man is somebody because he is a child of God.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

Hatred and bitterness can never cure the disease of fear;
only love can do that.
Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it.
Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it.
Hatred darkens life; love illumines it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a permanent attitude.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive.
He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.
There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us.
When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve.
You don't have to have a college degree to serve.
You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.
You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve.
You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve.
You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace.
A soul generated by love.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

We don't trip over mountains,
It's the pebbles in the road that get us.

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

We go to the meetings for all sorts of reasons,
but we don't know what they are,
so we keep going to meetings.

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

It isn't "me" and "you" anymore; it's "we" and "us."

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

H.O.W.: Honesty, Open-mindedness, and Willingness.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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

It’s not okay to say I'm okay when I’m not okay,  okay?

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
What are your thoughts on sponsorship ?
Why is a sponsor necessary to your recovery ?
What`s your favorite sponsorship related saying ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

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

November 9
Today I am fully alive,
fully open to feel all that there is...
knowing that I can handle all that comes my way.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Best Friend

Unconditional Love, It should be a given
Look in the Mirror
Honesty, something your taught to use and shown to see in others
Look in the Mirror
Respect, earned or a given
Look in the Mirror
Acceptance, regardless of what the person portrays
Look in the Mirror
Giving without validation,
preached that it is for the joyfullness within
Look in the Mirror
So I looked in the Mirror and Just for Today
I am Honored to be my own best friend.
Thats all I need to see ; I am doing the right things
It can only be spread outward to those in need

Celeste012@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 B C’s of Recovery
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1036

The Touch of the Master's Hand
www.barefootsworld.net/touch.html

Recipes from Cooks in Recovery and those in Recovery who cook!
www.recoverytimes.com/ccmain.html

Recovery Humor
www.12step.faithweb.com/Humor/

N.A. WORLD SERVICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BULLETIN #23
Participation and decision making at the World Service Conference
www.na.org/bulletins/bull23.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 9                              The best-laid plans

"It is our actions that are important. We leave the results to our
Higher power." Basic Text p. 88

There's an old saying we sometimes hear in our meetings: "If you
want to make God laugh, make plans:' When we hear this we usually
laugh, too, but there's a nervous edge to our laughter. We wonder
if all of our carefully laid plans are doomed to fail. If we're planning
a big event-a wedding, a return to school, or perhaps a career change
-we begin to wonder if our plans are the same as our Higher Power's
plans. We are capable of working ourselves into such a frenzy of
worry over this question that we refuse to make any plans at all.

But the simple fact is that we really don't know whether our Higher
Power's plans for our lives are carved in stone or not. Most of us
have opinions about fate and destiny but, whether we believe in such
theories or not, we still have a responsibility to live our lives and
make plans for the future. If we refuse to accept responsibility for
our lives, we're still making plans-plans for a shallow, boring
existence.

What we make in recovery are plans, not results. We'll never know
whether the marriage, the education, or the new job is going to work
out until we try it. We simply exercise our best judgment, check with
our sponsor, pray, use all the information at hand, and make the most
reasonable plans we can. For the rest, we trust in the loving care of
the God of our understanding, knowing that we've acted responsibly.

Just for today: I will make plans, but I will not plan the result & I
will trust in my Higher Power's loving care.   pg. 327

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

I Cannot Change the Wind

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on
our laurels.  We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a
subtle foe.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85

My first sponsor told me there were two things to say about prayer
and meditation: first, I had to start and second, I had to continue.
When I came to A.A. my spiritual life was bankrupt; if I considered
God at all, He was to be called upon only when my self-will was
incapable of a task or when overwhelming fears had eroded my ego.

Today I am grateful for a new life, one in which my prayers are
those of thanksgiving.  My prayer time is more for listening than
for talking.  I know today that if I cannot change the wind, I can
adjust my sail.  I know the difference between superstition and
spirituality.  I know there is a graceful way of being right, and many
ways to be wrong.

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 / November 9th

A.A. Thought for the Day

I have learned to be less negative and more positive.
I used to take a negative view of almost everything.
Most people, in my estimation, were bluffing.  There
seemed to be very little good in the world, but lots of
hypocrisy and sham.  People could not be trusted.
They would "take you" if they could.  All churchgoers
were partly hypocrites.  It seemed I should take
everything "with a grain of salt."  That was my general
attitude toward life.  Now I am more positive.  I believe
in people and in their capabilities.  There is much love
and truth and honesty in the world.  I try not to run
people down.  Life now seems worthwhile and it is good
to live.  Am I less negative and more positive?

Meditation for the Day

Think of God as a Great Friend and try to realize the
wonder of that friendship.  When you give God not only
worship, obedience, and allegiance, but also close
companionship, then He becomes your friend, even as
you are His.  You can feel that He and you are working
together.  He can do things for you and you can do things
for Him.  Your prayers become more real to you when
you feel that God counts on your friendship and you
count on His.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may think of God as my Friend.  I pray
that I may feel that I am working for Him and 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
NOVEMBER 09

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

Accepting Love

Many of us have worked too hard to make relationships work;
sometimes those relationships didn't have a chance because
the other person was unavailable or refused to participate.

To compensate for the other person's unavailability, we worked
too hard. We may have done all or most of the work. This may
mask the situation for a while, but we usually get tired. Then,
when we stop doing all the work, we notice there is no
relationship,  or we're so tired we don't care.

Doing all the work in a relationship is not loving, giving, or
caring. It is self-defeating and relationship defeating. It creates
the illusion of a relationship when in fact there may be no
relationship. It enables the other person to be irresponsible for
his or her share. Because that does not meet our needs, we
ultimately feel victimized.

In our best relationships, we all have temporary periods where
one person participates more than the other. This is normal. But
as a permanent way of participating in relationships, it leaves
us feeling tired, worn out, needy, and angry.'

We can learn to participate a reasonable amount, and then let
the relationship find it's own life. Are we doing all the calling?
Are we doing all the initiating? Are we doing all the giving? Are
we the one talking about feelings and striving for intimacy?

Are we doing all the waiting, the hoping, and the work?

We can let go. If the relationship is meant to be, it will be,
and it will become what it is meant to be. We do not help that
process by trying to control it. We do not help the other person,
the relationship, or ourselves by trying to force it or by doing
all the work.

Let it be. Wait and see. Stop worrying about making it happen.
See what happens and strive to understand if that is what you
want.

Today, I will stop doing all the work in my relationships. I will
give myself and the other person the gift of requiring both people
to participate. I will accept the natural level my relationships reach
when I do my share and allow the other person to choose what his
or her share will be. I can trust my relationships to reach their own
level. I do not have to do all the work; I need only do my share.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thank You For Everything
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/11/alan-cohen.htm

Twenty Quotes , Creating Abundance & Prosperity
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2006/06/20quotes.htm

The Gift of Listening
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/October/vissell.htm

LOSS & BEREAVEMENT
www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/loss/index.shtml

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

A Course in Life 101
by Terry Levine

"Lighten up" is becoming a popular phrase these days and for
good reason. We're all becoming too serious. When was the
last time you had a really good laugh? When was the last time
you laughed at yourself?

Most of us have a tendency to take ourselves much too
seriously. We fret over everything we do as if we're supposed
to be perfect in whatever we attempt. So many of us put
ourselves down at the slightest imperfection. We say things
like, "I'm so stupid. How did I ever get so dense," or, "I'm a
dummy, I'll never learn that."

People who live very long lives, such as those over 100 years
old, all seem to share a healthy sense of humor. A sense of
humor about oneself and the world in general is one of the
keys to aging successfully and has been documented in
numerous studies.

Laughter is being used to effectively help treat serious
illnesses and is even becoming part of the workplace as we
realize the importance of taking ourselves more lightly.

The fact that one of the most sought after seminar topics on
the speaking circuit is "Humor in the Workplace" attests to our
need to learn to put more humor in our lives.

How about you? Can you look at a situation and see the humor
in it? I'm not trying to diminish those issues that are genuinely
serious and need to be treated as such; however, you can make
your life happier simply by trying to see the humor in many of
life's challenging situations.

Humor is healthy. Learning to laugh at your human frailties and
less-than-perfect attempts at everyday life is a healthy practice
that's well worth developing.

The next time you make some small mistake, instead of berating
yourself and calling yourself stupid, try making light of it. Say
something like, "Isn't that funny how I have trouble with
computers. I'm sure I can learn to do it with a little practice." Not
being a technology wizard isn't usually a life-threatening issue.

Make an effort to see the humor in everyday occurrences and you
will begin feeling better about yourself and your work. Lighten up
and laugh a little. One of the reasons angels can fly is that they
take themselves lightly.

KAIZEN
Shortly after the end of World War II, General Douglas McArthur
requested that a man named W. Edwards Demming come to
Japan to help rebuild that war-torn country. Demming had
developed a system called Total Quality Management or TQM.

When the Japanese business leaders met with Dr. Demming
and asked him what he thought they could do to restore their
economy, his answer was that they should strive to "make small,
incremental improvements daily in every area of their lives and
their business. " The Japanese word for this is Kaizen and it is
responsible for the fact that, today, Japan is a world power and
economic leader. In Japan there is an award given to the
business who has demonstrated the greatest improvement in a
given year. It's the "Demming Award."

It's interesting to note that it was not until many years later that Dr.
Demming's work was recognized in the United States. His TQM
principles are now used by many successful US corporations,
including the Ford Motor Company and the Department of the
Navy.

You can practice kaizen in your daily life, too. It's a simple
concept that, over time, will produce awesome results. I challenge
you to practice this idea for 30 days and see for yourself the
amazing results.

KAIZEN EXERCISE
For the next 30 days, strive to make small incremental
improvements  in every area of your life. Each day, begin by
asking yourself the following:

How can I improve my relationship with my spouse and family?
How might I improve my health?
What can I do today to improve my value to my company?
How can I improve my sense of enjoyment and pleasure?
What else can I improve today?

I'm not asking you to make major changes or to add stress to
your life. I'm simply suggesting that you look at your life and
your daily activities and see what small actions you can take
-- today -- that will make your life happier and more joyful.
Keep in mind that "progress, not perfection" is what life's all
about.

SARAH'S STORY
Sarah is a successful real estate/mortgage industry professional
who came to me when she was in the process of finding a new
position. While she loved her job and made a very high six-figure
income, her company was merging. As we were working on her
game plan to stay in the same field, her company went bankrupt.
She was shocked and scared and wanted to take the first job that
came along.

I encouraged her to recognize that she had expectations of her
employers and when she interviewed to put her interests first
rather than selling them on her. I told her to hire her own employer
and to be choosy. We came up with strategies for her to know
what she wanted from an employer and she went on interviews
with this intent.

One of her new-found items is she doesn't want to work past
7:00 p.m. in the evening or on weekends. She communicated
this in her interviews. She also wanted to go to her child's class
trips and plays and wanted the flexibility to do so. She was
scared this would prevent her from finding a job. Instead, much
to her surprise, she received four offers and had to decide which
she wanted.

She now spends weekends with her child and evenings at the
gym, movies, or with friends. Her life is filled with good music,
friends -- an environment she loves to live in. She let go of
working on weekends and takes a break from voice mail and
email, to allow herself an escape from work, for one 24-hour
period each weekend.

She has had the most successful year of her working life in
terms of salary and career satisfaction while living her life on
her own terms, earning the highest pay for less time worked.

TOM'S STORY
Tom is the manager of the local branch of a national retail chain
who came to me having just been put on probation. He feared
losing his job and was miserable. He was overworked, stressed,
and he had a poor attitude because of his co-workers and his
manager. I requested that before he look for another job, he
restructure his present job with strong boundaries so that his
employees are solving problems, doing their own work and being
accountable. I helped him to train them in the skills they lacked
and taught him to delegate so that he had less work and wasn't
putting in all those crazy hours.

Even after following my suggestions, he still decided he wanted
out of this job because he wasn't enjoying being in management
or working for the company. He began a career search around
the hobbies he loved and decided the money was not as
important as his health and well-being.

He found that he could get a job at a lower salary in a field he
liked and he decided to accept this offer. The company was one
he felt good about working for and he would have no
management responsibility. The starting salary is lower but his
wife decided to take on a bit more work to compensate. Now the
stress is gone and I hear him laughing more, looking better and
sounding lighter!

JESSICA'S STORY
This Director of Nursing says she wanted to get away from being
indoors all day and working late hours. She thinks she wants to
be a consultant. She is struggling with this because she feels she
can't give up her job security. I encouraged her to speak with her
current employer about going from employee to consultant. She
did this and the employer agreed. Now she works less hours for
more money and sets her schedule around walking every morning
and evening. She is always home by 4:00 p.m. and is expanding
her personal relationships outside work because she finally has
time to do this.

She knew just what she wanted to do but couldn't see how to
make it happen. She thought her idea was a dream and that her
employer would fire her but when she finally got the courage to
express her desire, he honored it and she is now working the way
she envisioned.

STRESS
If there's one area you must learn to handle if you are to have a
happier life at work or otherwise, it's stress. Extreme levels of
negative stress can kill you. I say negative stress because a
certain amount of stress is necessary. The only people who have
no stress in their lives are six feet under the earth. Stress is what
gets us going. A certain amount of pressure is healthy and can
bring out the best in people. The problem is that our present-day
society has taken stress to dangerous levels. Our fast-paced lives,
job pressures, the environment, our usually less than ideal diet
and lifestyles, all lead to an excess of stressors in most of us.

If you want to learn to live and work yourself happy, you must
find ways to cope with the stress in your life. Meditation,
hobbies, exercise, yoga, nature walks, friends, family and even
our pets can help us manage our daily stress. In the next few
pages are some thoughts and ideas to help you get started. If you
want to learn more, a visit to your local bookstore will provide you
with many books dealing with stress in great detail. Also, your
local adult education center most likely has a class or two on
managing stress. Select activities that work for you. We are all
different and what works for me may not be ideal for you.

STEPS TO REDUCE STRESS

. Get up 15 minutes earlier every morning so you can relax
before leaving the house.

. Exercise daily to unwind.

. Make a habit of taking long, deep breaths regularly.

. Eliminate the words "ought" and "should" from your vocabulary
and make your goals things you really want to do.

. Skip the daily news -- it's full of negative events.

. Drive slowly and listen to music while you drive.

. Meditate or sit quietly for a few minutes every day.

. Schedule plenty of time between appointments so you don't feel
rushed.

BE STILL AND KNOW
The regular practice of meditation has been shown to be
significant in decreasing stress. This is not something that needs
to be complicated. Just sit quietly and watch your thoughts. Try
not to get caught up in your thinking but instead just become the
silent observer. If you want, you can observe your breathing as it
goes in and out. Just sit quietly and let go of your thoughts. With
regular practice, you will soon sense the "chatter" in your mind
subsiding and begin to feel calmer. This feeling will stay with you
as you go on with your daily activities.

Some people prefer to take a class to learn a specific technique.
If this appeals to you, go for it. Also, you may want to play
peaceful music during your periods of quiet reflection.
Experiment with different techniques until you find what works for
you. An investment of twenty minutes a day in quiet time will pay
you back in renewed energy and sense of wellness.

TIME MANAGEMENT
We all have the very same twenty four hours in a day, yet some
people are able to accomplish an enormous number of tasks
while others never seem to have enough time. Why do some
people seem to have more time than others? The answer is very
simple. They manage their time better. Now, I like being
spontaneous as much as the next person, however, it is important
to employ some system of time-management if you want to feel
more in control of your life and get more done.

Organizing your time is a sure way to feel as though you have
more of it. While there are numerous time-management books,
tapes and seminars, one of the simplest productivity techniques
I ever learned is the following:

List the five most important things you have to do and do nothing
else until you complete them. I realize that this sounds overly
simple in our exceedingly complicated world, but before you
dismiss it, try it out for two weeks. This simple technique, which
has been used by high-level executives, entrepreneurs, and
others for more than fifty years, works.

One of the keys is that by listing five items instead of ten or
twenty, you are really focusing your energy on what is truly
important. If you eliminate distractions and do only the five
items on your list, you will be directing your energy in the most
productive direction. Rather than waste your valuable time doing
busy work, you will be doing what really matters to your success.
Of course, if you complete your list early, write another one, or
do other less important tasks.

WHAT ARE YOU TELLING YOURSELF?
What do you say to yourself on a regular basis? Do you praise
yourself for a job well-done and accept your errors as just
being human or do you have a habit of putting yourself down
for every little thing?

It saddens me when I see so many people telling themselves
they're "dumb" or "stupid" or in some other way, putting
themselves down. This is one of the most destructive things
you can do and it will undermine your success.

We are only human. We will make mistakes and, yes, some of
us will have a hard time adapting to new technology or learning
to play golf or whatever it is we personally find difficult. This
does not make us less intelligent than the rest of the people.
We all make mistakes.

Learn to allow yourself errors. Try not to be so hard on yourself
and those around you. Your self-talk, that mental chatter that
goes on all day long, has a lot to do with your level of
achievement. Your subconscious mind does not know the
difference between real and imaginary. It will believe and act
upon whatever commands you give it.

TRANSFORMATIONAL VOCABULARY
This is simply a fancy word for a concept that was studied
several years ago and reported in Time magazine. It means
transforming the words you use to describe your experience
of any given situation or emotion.

If you want to feel better, use words that amplify your good
feelings. For example, if someone asks how you are, instead
of saying fine or ok, try saying great or terrific. This simple
change in your choice of wording will change the way you feel.

In contrast, if you want to feel less poorly about an undesirable
occurrence, reduce the impact of the words you use. Rather than
saying something like, "I hate my job," change the wording to
minimize their impact. You might say, "I'm not really fond of my
job." While it expresses the same dislike for the job, the emotional
impact is much less, resulting in your feeling better about the
situation.

By reducing the impact of the words we use to describe unpleasant
situations and enhancing the intensity of those we use to describe
pleasant feelings or situations, you will begin to feel better and
happier about your life.

This article is excerpted from Work Yourself Happy, ©2000, by
Terry Levine. Reprinted with permission of the publisher,
Lahaska Press.

About the Author:
Terri Levine, MS, CCC-SLP, is a professional coach, consultant
and the founder of Comprehensive Coaching U, The Coach
Training Program for Professionals. As an entrepreneur, she
owned her own speech therapy practice and, as her career
expanded, went on to compile an impressive track record of
growing million dollar businesses. In sales and marketing, Terri
quickly rose to become number one in national sales and as an
executive created one astounding success after another.
Leaving her position as regional president of a healthcare
corporation she began coaching others to discover their own
joy from finding the work that was in their hearts.
Visit her website at www.workyourselfhappy.com

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

God, Grant me the Serenity
to accept the people I cannot change,
the Courage to change the person I can,
and the Wisdom to know that person is ME.

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

Leaps of Faith

In Faith we step out
towards the unknown
of the day, of the future
If we concern ourselves with
'what ifs,' 'ands' and 'buts'
we rarely jump and therefore lose so much
that may have been
Acts of faith
leaps of faith
are like days that march towards you
days that stop awhile and ask
"What will you do with me?
I have come your way and am yours
I bear many gifts, unopened, a mystery
Will you embrace me, this day?"
We are as resplendent in deserving
as Kings and Queens to their throne
and just as brave to accept
what Faith and the Day promises to bring
You can still acknowledge fear
in your acts of faith
But keep the doubting voice still
long enough
to make the jump

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

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

Metamorphosis

To emerge from our shell, our cocoon, our walls we have built
Takes time patience and love.
We start to grow and stretch, pull our head out and are amazed
To see beauty and light above
As the Hope and acceptance start to sink in, we tell ourselves,
Maybe, just maybe I can win.
We stretch and shove, on the walls we start to beat,
Finally, finally they fall and we stand on our feet,
Facing feelings and fears and filled with doubt,
Our wings start to emerge and our beauty comes out.
Wanting to be held and loved, yet filled with confusion,
Trying to trust, not understanding and comes delusion.
When you feel like you are sinking, remember to shove,
My spirit is with you and so is my love.
Take a deep breath, have faith, stretch out your butterfly wings,
Fill them with beauty and love, let your heart sing!

written by ~ Dennis
Dennis9817@...

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

A New Way

Sitting, hoping, praying
Will it work for me
I had to give time
Her perfect place
Before I could see
Will I trust in God today
To meet my needs along the way
I am impatient
I pace the floor
I have a little
I want more
Don't use go to meetings
Seems so simple right now
All I can ask is how
My mind races
  From thought to thought
When will they come to get me
When will I be caught
I've been so full of anger and rage
I pace about like a tiger in a cage
There is a black cloud hanging over me
Impending doom is all I see
I've had these secrets
Buried in my mind
Though I seek
I wonder
Will I ever find
Who, what, when and where
My thoughts seem to be everywhere
First I'm up
Then I'm down
Racing thoughts
Go round and round
Give time, time
Is what you say
Keep it simple
Do it
Just for today
Well okay
I'll give it a try
Just for today
I'll stay dry
The days turn into weeks
The weeks turn to months
You say I'm better
But I do not see
Yet sure enough
I am free

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

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

There's a part of us that wants to rise up
and move into our full power and potential,
and there is another part of us that says,
"Shh!  Be quiet!  You don't deserve this.
You don't have the education.  You're too old.
You're too poor.  Look what happened to you..."
Who are you to think you can have this fullness of being?
You are a child of God, unique, beautiful and irreplaceable.
We can choose, every day, which voice we will listen to.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

I have just three things to teach:
simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in action and in thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things
are.
Compassionate towards yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.
Tao Te Ching

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

The most aggravating thing about the younger generation is
that I no longer belong to it.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

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

Some of us treat life like a spectator sport,
never budging from the sidelines.
As children of God, we are destined for something greater.
You are the one through whom God can love and create magnificence.
Step onto the field of your own life.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

The victims of addiction are those around us.

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

Recovery is a gift,
the price of which is eternal vigilance.

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

Do you talk the talk,
or walk the talk?

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

We don't get partial results from half-measures.

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

There is no such thing as microwave recovery.
Time is the healer, because healing takes 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/

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

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,
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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
http://groups.google.tt/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit?hl=en
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http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29828726115

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]

Alcohol and Drugs endowed me with delusions of adequacy.

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
What are your thoughts on sponsorship ?
Why is a sponsor necessary to your recovery ?
What`s your favorite sponsorship related saying ?

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November  8
When I get up today, no matter how I feel,
I begin my day by letting it go to a power greater than myself.
I am beginning this day by giving myself
the gift of prayer and meditation.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

Seeking

I no longer search for fortunes
or the fame I once desired
or to be a well known writer
like the ones I have admired.
All I seek today is knowledge
of the Grace of God so sweet
and to pass it on to others
this will make my life complete.
Just to shine His light toward others
giving back what's give to me
so the lonely hearts in darkness
might find a way to see.
That there's joy in every moment
In the Grace our God has give
and the peace is over flowing
if our life for Him we live
Let us pray to be a vessel
of the light He shines today
so others all about us
will see to find their way.
As we trudge this road together
hand in hand we shall survive
baring one another's burdens
makes us glad to be alive.
For true joy is in the seeking
and with gratitude we list
all the blessings we are given
by His Grace we still exist.
For in truth it's in the knowing
by all rights we should be dead.
Yet He lets us keep on living
so that others might be lead.

Written by: Rebecca Ann Bowlin
copywrite* 2002
rbowlin14@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Fighting Girl
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=1038

Albrecht Dürer and The Praying Hands
www.barefootsworld.net/albrechtdurer.html

Life's Not Fair
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/LifeNotFair.html

Judge Gently
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/judgently.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just for Today
November 8                                            Freed from
insanity

Do I believe it would be insane to walk up to someone and say,
"May I please have a heart attack or a fatal accident"
Basic Text p.23


We've heard it said that unless we're in love, we can't remember
what love feels like. The same could be said of insanity: Once
we're freed of it, we may forget how truly bizarre our insane
\thinking can be. But to be grateful for the degree of sanity
to which we've been restored in Narcotics Anonymous, we need
to remember just how truly insane we've been.

Today, it may be hard to imagine saying something as ridiculous
as, "May I please have a heart attack or a fatal accident?" No
one in their right mind is going to ask for such things. And that's
the point. In our active addiction, we were not in our right mind.
Each day we practiced our addiction, we courted fatal disease,
degradation, exploitation, impoverishment, imprisonment, death
by violence, even death by sheer stupidity. In that context, the
idea of asking for a heart attack or a fatal accident doesn't sound
all that far out. That's how insane we've been.

The program, the fellowship, and our Higher power-together,
they've worked a miracle. The Second Step is not a vain hope-it
is reality. Knowing the degree of the insanity we've experienced,
we can appreciate all the more the miraculous Power that has
restored us thus far to sanity. For that, we are truly grateful.

Just for today: I will take some time to recall how insane I've
been while practicing my addiction. Then, I will thank my Higher
Power for the sanity that's been restored to my life. pg. 326

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
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/thought_food

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

Touchtones (Men) Meditation
http://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/index.php

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

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

Grapevine Story Today
http://www.aagrapevine.org/da/storyoday.php

Daily Motivator
http://www.greatday.com/

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

A Program for Living

When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. . . .
On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. . . .
Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially
asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest and
self-seeking motives.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 86

I lacked serenity.  With more to do than seemed possible, I
fell  further behind, no matter how hard I tried.  Worries about
things not done yesterday and fear of tomorrow's deadlines
denied me the calm I needed to be effective each day.  Before
taking Steps Ten and Eleven, I began to read passages like the
one cited above.  I tried to focus on God's will, not my problems,
and to trust that He would manage my day.  It worked!  Slowly,
but it worked!

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 / November 8th

A.A. Thought for the Day

I have lost much of my inferiority complex.  I was always
trying to escape from life.  I did not want to face reality.
I was full of self-pity.  I was constantly sorry for myself.
I tried to avoid all responsibilities.  I did not feel that I
would handle the responsibilities of my family or my work.
Owing to my inferiority complex, I was eager to be free
of all responsibilities.  I wanted to drift; I wanted to be
"on the beach."  A.A. showed me how to get over my feeling
of inferiority.  It made me want to accept responsibility
again. Have I lost my inferiority complex?

Meditation for the Day

"One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things that are before, I
press onward toward the goal."  We should forget those
things which are behind us and press onward toward
something better.  We can believe that God has forgiven
us for all our past sins, provided we are honestly trying to
live today the way we believe He wants us to live.  We can
wipe clean the slate of the past.  We can start today with
a clean slate and go forward with confidence toward the
goal that has been set before us.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may drop off the load of the past.  I pray that
I may start today with a light heart and a new confidence.

"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
NOVEMBER 08

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

True to Ourselves

      This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow,
as the night the day, thou 'canst not then be false to any man.
      --William Shakespeare

To thine own self be true. A grounding statement for those of
us who get caught up in the storm of needs and feelings of
others.

Listen to the self. What do we need? Are those needs getting
met? What do we feel? What do we need to do to take care of
our feelings? What are our feelings telling us about ourselves
and the direction we need to go?

What do we want to do or say? What are our instincts telling
us? Trust them - even if they don't make sense or meet other
people's rules and expectations.

Sometimes, the demands of other people and our confused
expectations of ourselves - the messages about our
responsibilities toward others - can create a tremendous,
complicated mess.

We can even convince ourselves that people pleasing, going
against our nature and not being honest, is the kind, honest
thing to do!

Not true. Simplify. Back to basics. Let go of the confusion. By
honoring and respecting ourselves, we will be true to those
around us, even if we displease them momentarily.

To thine own self be true. Simple words describing a powerful
task that can put us back on track.

Today, I will honor, cherish, and love myself. When confused
about what to do, I will be true to myself. I will break free of the
hold others, and their expectations, have on 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Life’s Dream Quiz
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/11/dream-quiz.htm

The Passion Solution, by Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2006/06/alan-cohen.htm

The Ending Doesn't Matter, Alan Cohen
Just because a marriage (or anything) ends doesn't mean it failed.
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2001/October/cohen.htm

Internet Psychology
www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/internet/index.shtml

At The Heart Of Peace
http://www.heartmath.com/peace/

We Are The Same
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=431

Remember The Child Within
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=258

Finding Joy
http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

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

Native American 10 Commandments
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3ZEvOfD1w

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

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

ADHD: Gifted & Creative
by Thom Hartmann

I was in India in 1993 to help manage a community for orphans
and blind children on behalf of a German charity. During the
monsoon season, the week of the big Hyderabad earthquake,
I took an all-day train ride almost all the way across the
subcontinent (from Bombay through Hyderabad to Rajamundri)
to visit an obscure town near the Bay of Bengal. In the train
compartment with me were several Indian businessmen and
a physician, and we had plenty of time to talk as the countryside
flew by from sunrise to sunset.

Curious about how they viewed our children diagnosed as
having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), I asked,
"Are you familiar with those types of people who seem to crave
stimulation, yet have a hard time staying with any one focus for a
period of time? They may hop from career to career and
sometimes even from relationship to relationship, never seeming
to settle into one job or into a life with one person - but the whole
time they remain incredibly creative and inventive."

"Ah, we know this type well," one of the men said, the other three
nodding in agreement.

"What do you call this personality type?" I asked.

"Very holy," he said. "These are old souls, near the end of their
karmic cycle."

Again, the other three nodded agreement, perhaps a bit more
vigorously in response to my startled look.

"Old souls?" I questioned, thinking that a very odd description
for those whom American psychiatrists have diagnosed as having
a particular disorder.

"Yes," the physician said. "In our religion, we believe that the
purpose of reincarnation is to eventually free oneself from
worldly entanglement and desire. In each lifetime we experience
certain lessons, until finally we are free of this earth and can
merge into the oneness of God. When a soul is very close to the
end of those thousands of incarnations, he must take a few
lifetimes to do many, many things - to clean up the little threads
left over from his previous lives."

"This is a man very close to becoming enlightened," a
businessman added. "We have great respect for such individuals,
although their lives may be difficult."

Another businessman raised a finger and interjected. "But it is
through the difficulties of such lives that the soul is purified."

The others nodded agreement.

"In America they consider this behavior indicative of a psychiatric
disorder," I said.

All three looked startled, then laughed.

"In America you consider our most holy men, our yogis and
swamis, to be crazy people as well," said the physician with a
touch of sadness in his voice. "So it is with different cultures.
We live in different worlds."

We in our Western world have such "holy" and nearly enlightened
people among us and we say they must be mad. But as we're
about to see, they may instead be our most creative individuals,
our most extraordinary thinkers, our most brilliant inventors and
pioneers. The children among us whom our teachers and
psychiatrists say are "disordered" may, in fact, carry a set of
abilities - a skill set - that was necessary for the survival of
humanity in the past, that has created much of what we treasure
in our present  "quality of life," and that will be critical to the
survival of the human race in the future.

There is immense power in how we choose to view what's
happening around us, and this is terrifically important when we
consider how we can best know our children and provide them
with the upbringing they need - an upbringing that will lead them
to become healthy, happy, functioning adults. The premise of
this book is that children who have what we have come to know
as ADHD are important and vital gifts to our society and culture,
and, in the largest sense, can be an extraordinary gift to the
world. In addition, for those adults who have been similarly
diagnosed or defined, this book offers a new way of
understanding themselves and their relationship to the world
- a way that brings insight, empowerment, and success.

GENETICS AND DIFFERENCES
The long history of the human race has conferred on us - some
of us more than others - a set of predilections, temperaments,
and abilities carried through the medium of our genetic makeup.
These skills were ideally suited to life in the ever-changing world
of our ancient ancestors and, we have now discovered, are also
ideally suited to the quickly-changing modern world of cyberspace
and widespread ecological and political crises that require rapid
response. I will call this genetic gift the Edison gene, after Thomas
Edison, who brought us electric lights and phonographs and
movies and - literally ten thousand other inventions. He is the
model for the sort of impact a well-nurtured child carrying this
gene can have on the world.

While I'm principally referring to the DRD4 gene, the science of
genetics is embryonic, with new discoveries being made every
day. No doubt, some time soon we'll have a better, more complete
list of specific genes that make up what Dave deBronkart first called
the "Edison trait" back in 1992 and Lucy Jo Palladino expanded on
considerably in 1997 in her wonderful book The Edison Trait. For
the moment, however, I'll use the useful shorthand of the "Edison
gene."

When Edison's schoolteacher threw him out of school in the third
grade for being inattentive, fidgety, and "slow," his mother, Nancy
Edison, the well-educated daughter of a Presbyterian minister,
was deeply offended by the schoolmaster's characterization of her
son. As a result, she pulled him out of the school. She became his
teacher from then until the day he went off on his own to work for
the railroads (inventing, in his first months of employment, a
railroad timing and signaling device that was used for nearly a
century). She believed in him and wasn't going to let the school
thrash out of him his own belief in himself. As a result of that one
mother's efforts, the world is a very different place.

"Ah, but we mustn't coddle these children!" some say. Consider
this: Edison invented, at age sixteen, that device that
revolutionized telegraph communication. It started him on a
lifelong career of invention that led to the light bulb, the
microphone, the motion picture, and the electrification of our
cities. Would the world have been better off if he'd been
disciplined into "behaving himself"?

The children and adults who carry this gene have and offer multiple
gifts, both individually and as members of our society. Sometimes
these gifts are unrecognized, misinterpreted, or even punished,
and as a result, these exceptional children end up vilified, drugged,
or shunted into Special Education. The result is that they often
become reactive: sullen, angry, defiant, oppositional, and, in extreme
cases, suicidal. Some Edison-gene adults face the same issues,
carrying the wounds of school with them into adulthood, often
finding themselves in jobs better adapted to stability than creativity.

What exactly defines those bearing this genetic makeup?
Edison-gene children and adults are by nature:

    a. Enthusiastic
    b. Creative
    c. Disorganized
    d. Non-linear in their thinking (they leap to new conclusions or
          observations)
    e. Innovative
    f. Easily distracted (or, to put it differently, easily attracted
to new
          stimuli)
    g. Capable of extraordinary hyperfocus
    h. Understanding of what it means to be an "outsider"
    i. Determined
    j. Eccentric
    k. Easily bored
    l. Impulsive
    m..Entrepreneurial
    n. Energetic

All of these qualities lead them to be natural:

    a.. Explorers
    b.. Inventors
    c.. Discoverers
    d.. Leaders

Those carrying this gene, however, often find themselves in
environments where they're coerced, threatened, or shoehorned
into a classroom or job that doesn't fit. When Edison-gene
children aren't recognized for their gifts but instead are told
that they're disordered, broken, or failures, a great emotional
and spiritual wounding occurs. This wounding can bring about
all sorts of problems for children, for the adults they grow into,
and for our society.

I and many scientists, educators, physicians, and therapists
believe that when these unique children don't succeed in public
schools, it's often because of a disconnect between them - their
brains are wired to make them brilliant inventors and entrepreneurs
- and our schools, which are set up for children whose brains are
wired to make them good workers in the structured environments
of a factory or office cubicle.

Those children whom we call "normal" are more methodical,
careful, and detail-oriented and are less likely to take risks.
They often find it hard to keep it together and perform in the
rapid-fire world of the Edison-gene child: They don't do as well
with video games, couldn't handle working in an emergency
room or on an ambulance crew, and seldom find themselves
among the ranks of entrepreneurs, explorers, and salespeople.

Similarly, Edison-gene children have their own strengths and
limitations: They don't do well in the school environment of
repetition, auditory learning, and rote memorization that has
been set up for "normal" kids, and they don't make very good
bookkeepers or managers. Genetically these kids are pioneers,
explorers, and adventurers. They make great innovators, and
they find high levels of success in any field where there's a lot
of change, constant challenge, and lots of activity. Such
personalities are common among emergency room physicians,
surgeons, fighter pilots, and salespeople.

There are many areas in which such people can excel -
especially when they make it through childhood with their belief
in themselves intact.

This article was excerpted from The Edison Gene, ©2003, by
Thom Hartmann. Reprinted with permission of the publisher,
Park Street Press. www.InnerTraditions.com

About the Author:
Thom Hartmann is the award-winning, best selling author of over
a dozen books, including Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different
Perception, The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight, and Unequal
Protection. A former psychotherapist and one of the founders of the
Hunter School, a residential and day school for children with ADHD,
he lives in central Vermont. Visit his website at:
www.thomhartmann.com

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

Hopi Indian Prayer

A Hopi elder speaks:

    "You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh
Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.

    And there are things to be considered
    Where are you living?
    What are you doing?
    What are your relationships?
    Are you in right relation?
    Where is your water?
    Know your garden.
    It is time to speak your Truth
    Create your community
    Be good to each other.
    And do not look outside yourself for the leader."
    Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said
    " This could be a good time! "

    There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and
swift, that there are those who will be afraid. They will
try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being
torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its
destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore
push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open
and our heads above the water. And I say, see who is in
there with you and celebrate.

    At this time in history, we are to take nothing
personally. Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that
we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

    The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your
vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred
manner and in celebration.

WE ARE THE ONES WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation

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

A Bigger Frying Pan

Two men went fishing. One man was an experienced
fisherman, the other wasn't. Every time the experienced
fisherman caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest
to keep it fresh. Whenever the inexperienced fisherman
caught a big fish, he threw it back.

The experienced fisherman watched this go on
all day and finally got tired of seeing this man waste
good fish. "Why do you keep throwing back all the big
fish you catch?" he asked. The inexperienced fisherman  replied,

"I only have a small frying pan."

Sometimes, like that fisherman, we throw back the big plans, big
dreams, big jobs, big opportunities that God gives us. Our faith is
too small. We laugh at that fisherman who didn't figure out that
all he needed was a bigger frying pan; yet how ready are we to
increase the size of our faith?  Whether it's a problem or a
possibility, God will never give you anything bigger than you can
handle.  That means we can confidently walk into anything God
brings our way. Nothing is too big for God.

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

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived
forwards. -- Soren Kierkegaard

Nearly all who grew up in families with addictive tendencies
have been advised, either personally or in our reading, to do
some thinking about our family history. At first, we may hesitate
or even stop right there. What's the point, after all? We remember
how it was. What good will it do to carry on about it now?
In spite of everything, many of us have intense loyalty to our
parents. Why open up old wounds? The past is gone. Why rock
the boat?

But family of origin work is not about them -- it's about us. The point
is that we think about the past to better understand who we are, why
we act the way we do, and where our feelings come from.

Sorting through old events has just one purpose -- to help us come
away with insight into who we are and where we are.

I can allow myself to look back with compassion, understanding,
and forgiveness for my family and for myself.

from the book: Days of Healing, Days of Joy
by Earnie Larsen & Carol Larsen Hegarty

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

Self Centered

Your looking but never seeing
Your hearing but never listen
Woe to the self centered
Me, me, me is all you ever see
The world passes and your blind
Yourself in the middle
You'll never find
Not caring for anyone except yourself
You take, take, take, but never give
That is how self centered people live
Now add alcoholism or drug addiction
You have a very cruel conviction
Of those who love you
Oh you think this is not true
Cause you only focus on you
You do not cry their tears
You do not feel their fears
Who but you has the key
To unlock the door
To find love and so much more
Everything revolves around you
Self centered it's true
Who will shake you awake
Who will give so you can take
Love of the self centered is lonely
Cause in their world their only
At the center
Break free
Look to God to see
Where oh where are you going
Thinking all long your knowing
It will take work for you to break free
Now there is an answer you see
I was once just like you
Tied up and so blue
Then I joined a 12 step group
No longer am I a goof
I found freedom you see
It's there for you and me
Now I hear others feelings
I care for those who love me
Thank God I can now see

Daniel M Corkery
10/19/2000
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

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

The soul would have no rainbow
Had the eyes no tears
John Vance Cheney

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

Don't go through life, grow through life.
Eric Butterworth

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

Whatever you do, you need courage.
Whatever course you decide upon,
there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.
There are always difficulties arising that tempt
you to believe your critics are right.
To map out a course of action and follow it to an end
requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs.
Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

We can lead to a road that leads to an abundant life
or a road that leads to spiritual death,
fraught with fear and pessimism.
Security and self-esteem flourish on the route
where God is our guiding companion.
There are no short cuts.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

The truth will set you free,
but first it will kick your ass.

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

One good thing about a kick in the ass,
is that you have to go forward.

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

We did many people great harm,
but most of all we harmed ourselves.

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

The Twelve Steps are but suggestions,
and so is pulling the rip cord on a parachute.

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

sug·ges·tion -  A psychological process by which an idea is
induced in or adopted by another without argument, command,
or coercion.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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/

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

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"
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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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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://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=806068075

For the daily recovery email please visit me at:
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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]

A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o'clock in the morning by a loud
pounding on the door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a
stoned
stranger standing in the pouring rain asks for a push.
"Not a chance," says the husband. "It's three o'clock in the morning!"
He
slams the door and returns to bed.
"Who was it?" asks his wife.
"Just a stoned stranger asking for a push" he answers.
"Did you help him?" she asks.
"NO, I didn't-it's three in the morning and it's pouring out!"
"Well, you've got a short memory" says his wife. "Can't you remember
about
three months ago when we broke down on a holiday and those two stoned
guys
helped us? I think you should help him."
The man does as he is told and gets dressed and goes out into the
pounding
rain and calls out into the dark: "Hello, are you still there?"
"Yes," comes the answer.
"Do you still want a push?" calls out the husband.
"Yes, please!" comes the reply from the dark.
"Where are you?" asks the husband.
"Over here, on the swing" the stoner replies.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 November the 11th month, PLEASE share on the 11th step
If you haven’t done the 11th step with your sponsor
Please share on Spirituality, Prayer and Meditation...

This is a DIFFERENT Yahoo Club you MUST join this club in order to
participate otherwise your emails will bounce

to share please visit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/
or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

Yahoo! Clubs Twelve Step Soul Food 4 the Spirit
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit/

A Safe Place to Share , Discover and Recover.
This 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

November 7
Today I fight for what is really important
to me in a spiritual way.
I no longer waste my good energy to win or be right.
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
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

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

One I Can Trust

As I look in the mirror
what do I see
a middle aged women
whom God has set free
from bondage of self
from soul sickened pain
a freedom to love,
a life to regain
I look in my eyes
to see deep within
searching my motives
a new day begins
I pray I'm not selfish
with every new deed
Please help me be giving
removing my greed
Help me not envy
remove pride and lust
So this one I am seeing
Is one I can trust.

written by ~ Rebecca B.
rbowlin14@...

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

Amazing
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-FQWlRA0odLMC0svu1ovT3Tc-?cq=1&p=755

My Child Let Go
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/MyChldLtGo.html

A Parents Love
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/AParentsLove.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

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

CHECK out Ruth Fishel's new book
Peace in our Hearts, Peace in the World
http://www.peaceinourhearts.net/

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

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

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

Just For Today
November 7                                 Feeling God's will

"I sincerely believed that a Higher Power could restore my sanity
and that I would stop trying to figure out what God's will was,
just accept things for what they were, and be grateful"
Basic Text p. 198

The longer we stay clean, the less surely we "know" what our
Higher Power's will for us is-and the less it matters. Knowledge
of our Higher Power's will becomes less a "knowing" thing and
more a "feeling" thing.  We still practice the Eleventh Step
faithfully. But rather than look for "signs" from our Higher
Power, we begin to rely more on our intuition, trusting our
feelings about what will make us comfortable.

After staying clean a few years, what we do seem to know is
when we are acting against God's will for us. When we are going
against God's will, we get that old uncomfortable feeling in our
gut. That queasiness is a warning that, if we continue in this
direction, ahead lie many sleepless nights. We need to pay
attention to such feelings, for they are often signals that we
are acting contrary to our Higher Power's will for us.

Our Eleventh Step clearly states the true goal of prayer and
meditation: improvement of our conscious contact with the God
of our understanding, bringing us clearer knowledge of our Higher
Power's will for us and the power to carry it out. We know God's
will most clearly by how it feels, not by "signs' or words-and it
feels right.

Just for today:   I will pray for the knowledge of my Higher
Power's will for me and the power to carry it out. I will pay
attention to my feelings, and act when they feel right.

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