Step Two Humor
http://www.recoverycartoons.com/step02.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 September the 9th month, PLEASE share on the 9th step
If you haven’t done the 9th step with your sponsor
Please share on Forgiveness, Selflessness, Humility and Honesty...

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

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

September 1
Today I know I am worthy of having success in my life.
I am listening what I tell myself with gentleness and love,
putting a stop to any self-talk that
does not make me feel good about myself.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mirror Images....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sandy B

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

Fake It To Make It
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=g9Mpvr8xnSnkDSkxxp\
beQ9RHLUFFbjuhsjjMNqZg0Q6Tg8e7NA

Jimmy B. -- Jim Burwell
The Agnostic and Author Of "The Vicious Cycle"
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aaburwell.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 15: Changes
http://www.nawol.org/twpp15changes.html

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

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

Dream
http://www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/Believe.html

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

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
September 1                                               Real values

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/September.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Service

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

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

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

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

Meditation for the Day

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

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may feel that God's love will never fail.  I pray that
I may have confidence in His unfailing power.

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

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

Today's Thought
SEPTEMBER 01

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

Patience

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Is Good Health?
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/09/good_health.htm

Fortunate Blessings
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/1999/09/blessings.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Addicted to Gossip?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Treatment for a Loved One ......

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

author unknown

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

Playing with Life

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grateful Reflection

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Courage

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

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

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

So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-
asleep,
even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is
because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into
your
life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your
community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that
gives
you purpose and meaning.
Morrie Schwartz

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

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

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

Work is love made visible.
Wayne Dyer

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

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

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

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

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

BE a human being not a human doing.

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

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

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

Recovery is a process of becoming.

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

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

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

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

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

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

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

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

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

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

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

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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
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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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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 13,000 recovering people in 66 countries
including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada , Columbia, Costa Rica, China ,
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Even if your country is listed
please email me, and let me know where you are from
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://profiles.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]

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

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you did for some short term gratification ?
How long did it last ?
Was it what you were looking for ?

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

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

August 31
Today I respect my body, mind and spirit
and I am taking care of all three.
I am gentle and nurturing, putting my needs first.
Only then can I be well enough to help others with their needs.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I Became A Beaver

I came to Beaver Hall, all sad and alone
Filled with a past, no one to phone
I was crying and dying; feeling no pain
Full of low self-esteem, I thought I was insane

“How is my handsome man today,” Kathy, our therapist had said
“It’s a beautiful morning,” were words that I learned to dread
Yet, they showed that they loved me, and were glad I was here
All of this attention, resulted in anger and fear

Who are these people and why should I care
I had mountains of problems not wanting to share
Simple things in life had started to collide
Memories of days when I couldn’t decide

“Was it half-empty, or half full, my drinking cup”
Little by little my heart opened up
I sat there and listened and finally saw the light
A room full of addicts, ready to fight

Drinking had become my choice, I hated my reflection
  From years of abuse and years of rejection
I started to speak and shared my story
Learned how to gain power and say “I’m sorry”

I looked at the cemetery, sitting in the sun
“My life is not over!  I am not done!”
I am finally sober, they showed me the way
Twenty-four hours, there are in a day

“Keep it simple,” Michael had said, “Is that clear?”
“Find your support amongst your experienced peers.”
Everyday at Beaver, they handed me the tools
And I thought:  “This is really kewl!”

Internalizing everything, I started to repair
Born a new man, no longer in despair
The hardes was working on my spirituality
Natalie had said:  “Well, just hug a tree!”

Closed the old doors, threw away the keys
Keeping lthe right to remember the memories
Work the Program and do the Twelve Steps
Into the real world, I finally leapt

The journey to get here, was emotional and hard
I am a new man, with many scars
With a new outlook on life, using my levers
I became a Camel, and definitely a Beaver

December 10, 2001
by Gregg Rowe
(for Susan Monroe, the therapists, staff, and Residents at Foster
Pavilion)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Drop a Pebble in the Water
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=yabCoxoxnSv7AEBYeK\
nB.RVtIP5m1LZ_v4Ac.hLIUOTzouMocg

Fitz Mayo - New York's AA #3
"Our Southern Friend", Big Book pages 497-507.
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aany3fitzmayo.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 14: The Disenfranchised
www.nawol.org/twpp14thedisenfranchised.html

Baby
www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/Baby.html

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

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

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 31                                                   Gratitude

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Listening Deeply

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

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

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

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

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

Meditation for the Day

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

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

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

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

Today's Thought
AUGUST 31

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

Denial

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

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

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

I learned to participate in my own abuse.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Today I Will Delete Two Days
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/08/delete-2-days.htm

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

Get Up and Leave, Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/August/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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Enjoying All That Is

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Letting Your Heart Sing: A Daily Journal for the Soul by Deborah Tyler
Blais.

Daily actions, from simple tasks like picking up the phone to rekindle
an old friendship to daring suggestions like going rock-climbing, will
stretch you beyond your comfort zone and challenge your soul to reach
the next level.

Info/Order this book.

About The Author

Marie T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985).
She also produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast,
Inner Power, from 1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-
esteem, personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on
transformation and reconnecting with our own inner source of joy and
creativity.


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

Rock Climbing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Someone Cared

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

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

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

written by ~ Meg M.
meg4how@...

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

Fellowship

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

Daniel M Corkery
7/10/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*But Do It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It always amazes me to think that every house on every street
is full of so many stories; so many triumphs and tragedies, and
all we see are yards and driveways.
Glenn Close
American Film and Stage Actress

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anger is but a mask for fear.

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

Those who anger you, conquer you.

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

Fear, Anger and Resentment all ride the same hoarse.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

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

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

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

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

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

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

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

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

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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
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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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

When I was drinking I used to try to feel good
by buying things I didn’t need
with money I didn’t have
to impress people I didn’t like

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you did for some short term gratification ?
How long did it last ?
Was it what you were looking for ?

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

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

Aug 30
It feels so good to be alive and be a part of this universe.
No matter where I am in my life today,
to matter what it is that I am doing,
I know that I am growing richer
and richer with love and with life.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Addiction

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

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

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

Anonymous

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

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

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

Dolphins Await
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=vXvflNsxnn3FcuiCTx\
BmkYJEKVLyltwdjLGyJOxN5vKSaNnWXg

Hank Parkhurst - New York's AA #2
www.barefootsworld.net/aany2hankp.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 13: THE INTERNET
www.nawol.org/twpp13theinternet.html

A Woman
www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/AWoman.html

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

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

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 30                               Doing good, feeling good

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Seeds Of Faith

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

   As a child I constantly questioned the existence of God. To a
"scientific
thinker" like me, no answer could withstand a thorough dissection, until
a very patient woman finally said to me, "You must have faith." With
that simple statement, the seeds of my recovery were sown!

   Today, as I practice my recovery -- cutting back the weeds of
alcoholism --
slowly I am letting those early seeds of faith grow and bloom.  Each day
of recovery, of ardent gardening, brings the Higher Power of my
understanding more fully into my life.  My God has always been with me
through faith, but it is my responsibility to have the willingness to
accept
His presence. I ask God to grant me the willingness to do His will.
Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

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

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

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

Meditation for the Day

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

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

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

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

Today's Thought
AUGUST 30

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

Accepting Our Best

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

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

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

Striving for excellence is a positive quality.

Striving for perfection is self-defeating.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Worth It, Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/08/alan-cohen.htm

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

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

Transforming the Fear of Failure

By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


About the Author:
Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D. has 30+ years experience as a Life Coach and
Licensed Psychologist.  He is available for coaching in any area
presented in "Practical Psychology."  As your Coach, his only agenda
is to assist you in creating the lifestyle you genuinely desire. The
initial coaching session is free.  Contact him: (970) 568-0173 or
E-mail: DrLloyd@... or LJTDAT@....

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

Bringing the Unconscious into Consciousness
Meditation by Orin and DaBen

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

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

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

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

   I think of something
   I want to create.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What You Know

There’s a certain level of consciousness
that intrudes upon the awareness
on occasion
and lets us in on our own little secrets
that we’d like to hide from ourselves

Things that we know “au fond”
at the bottom, deep down
It’s a knowing of things
as they really are
in their honest, purest form

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

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

The perhapses of our knowing won’t go away…
Bringing them to full awareness
will clear out the blockage of emotions
will allow the flow of our life
the gentle truthfulness it deserves

It’s ok to know
what you know

Love
Stella

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

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

The Search

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And
There
On
My
Pillow
Was
The
Glass Pipe!

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

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


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

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

Each Time

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

POKIEPAT@...

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

Cherish your vision;
Cherish your ideals;
Cherish the music that stirs in your heart,
the beauty that forms in your mind,
the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts.
If you remain true to them, your world will at last be built.
James Allen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I feel surrounded by love

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

I can make things happen

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

I feel great potential for myself

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

I am a resourceful person

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

I am a Child of God,
and God doesn't make any junk!!!


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

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

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

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

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

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

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

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

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

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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
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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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

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

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you did for some short term gratification ?
How long did it last ?
Was it what you were looking for ?

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

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

August 29
Everywhere I turn I find positive and loving people.
My heart is full of peace and love.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thank You Mom

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---Leslie

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

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

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

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

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

Dear Higher Power
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=aXugsSExnn5Q7exx0G\
oD5dsXGx6R2A4ZFNqh9lwymJzQGeGTQg

ERNIE G. - AA #4 and Dr. Bob's daughter Sue's first husband
www.barefootsworld.net/aa4ernieg.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 12: The Superboard
www.nawol.org/twpp12thesuperboard.html

Anticipation
www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/Anticipation.html

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

Slogans
www.recoverygreetings.com/slogans.html

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

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 29                                                    Don't
look back

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

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

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

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

Just for today: The steps have freed me from regrets over my past.
Today, I look forward to my new life in recovery.

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

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

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Driven

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

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

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

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

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

Meditation for the Day

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

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

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

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

Today's Thought
AUGUST 29

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

Owning Our Energy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Three Keys To Fulfill Your Wildest Dreams
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2004/08/3keys.htm

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

Moments Matter
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1999/02/moments.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here & Now:
The Perfect Teacher
by Pema Chödrön

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

Pema Chödrön

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This article was excerpted from:

"When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times"
by Pema Chödrön.

About The Author

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

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

When No Words Seem Appropriate

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

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

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

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

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

    So what will I say?

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

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

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

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

TODAY'S POSITIVE THOUGHT:

Learn to forgive others if you want to forgive
yourself.

TODAY'S POSITIVE AFFIRMATION:

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

TODAY'S POSITIVE VISUALIZATION:

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

Copyright © 2002 Institute For Creative Living

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

Understanding

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

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

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

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

Unknown

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

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

I Am Here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Know this:

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

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

Love,
Paula
i_qualify@...

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

The Creator of the universe, who has ordered the stars and the
heavens and the earth, has a plan for your life.
You are not a random act.
You are not here by chance, but by design.
You are destined for greatness that begins
with your believing in your own destiny.
Mary Manin Morrissey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I am a good listener

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

I do not dwell on the past

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

I look for new challenges

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

I feel complete today


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

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

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

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

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

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

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

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

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

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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
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In loving service,
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YOUnMEnHP@...

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

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

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

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
What was the last thing you did for some short term gratification ?
How long did it last ?
Was it what you were looking for ?

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or email
twelvestepsoulfood4thespirit@yahoogroups.com

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

August 28
Today I am worthy of being gentle with myself.
I am worthy of it and I am going to
give myself gentleness and softness.
I am developing a new habit
of being softer with myself today....
of not driving myself so hard.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crossing the Tightrope
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=QW.kuTYxnnmaA6nAhx\
XDZGN9qiiZUlLQdPXutzbZWXyjO9j1Ww

Bill Dotson - AA Member #3 "The Man On The Bed"
www.barefootsworld.net/aabilld-aa3.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 10: World Service Inventory
www.nawol.org/twpp11worldserviceinventory.html

A Promise
www.geocities.com/meledyann/Apromise.html

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

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

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

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 28                                          The light of exposure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Living Our Amends

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

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

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

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

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

Meditation for the Day

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

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

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

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

Today's Thought
AUGUST 28

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

Taking Care of Ourselves on the Job

It's okay to take care of ourselves on the job. It is not only okay,
it is necessary.

Taking care of ourselves on the job means we deal with feelings
appropriately; we take responsibility for ourselves. We detach,
when detachment is called for. We set boundaries, when we need
to do that.

We negotiate conflicts; we try to separate our issues from the
other person's issues, and we don't expect perfection from others
or ourselves.

We let go of our need to control that which we cannot control.
Instead, we strive for peace and manageability, owning our power
to be who we are and to take care of ourselves.

We do not tolerate abuse, nor do we abuse or mistreat anyone
else. We work at letting go of our fear and developing appropriate
confidence. We try to learn from our mistakes, but we forgive
ourselves when we make them.

We try to not set ourselves up by taking jobs that couldn't possibly
work out, or jobs that aren't right for us. If we find ourselves in
one of
those circumstances, we address the issue responsibly.

We figure out what our responsibilities are, and we generally
stick to those, unless another agreement is made. We leave room
for great days, and not so great days.

We are gentle and loving with people whenever possible, but we
are assertive and firm when that is called for. We accept our
strengths and build on them. We accept our weaknesses and
limitations,  including the limitations of our power.

We strive to stop trying to control and change what is not our
business to change. We focus on what is our responsibility and
what we can change.

We set reasonable goals. We take ourselves into account. We
strive for balance.

Sometimes, we give ourselves a good gripe session to let it all
out, but we do that appropriately, in a way meant to take care of
ourselves and release our feelings, not to sabotage ourselves.
We strive to avoid malicious gossip and other self-defeating
behaviors.

We avoid competition; strive for cooperation and a loving spirit.
We understand that we may like some people we work with and
dislike others, but strive to find harmony and balance with everyone.
We do not deny how we feel about a certain person, but we strive to
maintain good working relationships wherever possible.

When we don't know, we say we don't know. When we need help,
we ask for it directly. When panic sets in, we address the panic as
a separate issue and try not to let our work and behavior be
controlled by panic.

We strive to take responsible care of ourselves by appropriately
asking for what we need at work, while not neglecting ourselves.

If we are part of a team, we strive for healthy teamwork as an
opportunity to learn how to work in cooperation with others.

If something gets or feels crazy, if we find ourselves working with
a person who is addicted or has some kind of dysfunction that is
troublesome, we do not make ourselves crazier by denying the
problem. We accept it and strive in peace to figure out what we
need to do to take care of ourselves.

We let go of our need to be martyrs or rescuers at work. We know
we do not have to stay in situations that make us miserable.
Instead of sabotaging a system or ourselves, we plan a positive
solution, understanding we need to take responsibility for ourselves
along the way.

We remove ourselves as victims, and we work at believing we
deserve the best. We practice acceptance, gratitude, and faith.

One day at a time, we strive to enjoy what is good, solve the problems
that are ours to solve, and give the gift of ourselves at work.

Today, I will pay attention to what recovery behavior I could practice
that would improve my work life. I will take care of myself on the job.
God, help me let go of my need to be victimized by work. Help me be
open to all the good stuff that is available to me through work.

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

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

You And Your Relationship With Money…
A Match Made In Heaven?
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/08/money.htm

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

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


Creating A Treasure Map
by Shakti Gawain

Making a "treasure map" is a very powerful technique, and fun to do.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are a few possible ideas for treasure maps to stimulate your
imagination:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And so on. You get the idea. Have fun!
This article is excerpted from Creative Visualization, ©2002, 1995,
1978,
by Shakti Gawain. Reprinted with permission of the publisher,
New World Library. http://www.newworldlibrary.com

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

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

Between The Cracks

Between the cracks of despair,
Love gives hope.

Between the cracks of conflict,
Love heals.

Between the cracks of confusion,
Love brings clarity.

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

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

Between the cracks of hatred,
Love simply loves.

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

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

Share

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

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

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

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

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

Love
Stella

© 2000 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

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

I wanted a perfect ending.
Now I've learned, the hard way,
that some poems don't rhyme,
and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle and end.
Life is about not knowing, having to change,
taking the moment and making the best of it,
without knowing what's going to
happen next.
Delicious Ambiguity.

Gilda Radner

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

All I Ever Really Needed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I can give to others with no strings attached

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

I can meet new opportunities without fear

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

I am joyful

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

I will seek out friends today


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

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

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

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

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

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

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

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

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

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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
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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://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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

13 years ago today my father passed on.
I honor and represent him today
The older I became, the wiser he became.
I feel his presence in my life but, I miss him very much...

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we can’t "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?

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

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

August 27
Today I am discovering who I am.
Today I am becoming my person,
worthy of developing all of me.
Today I am beginning to know
that I am okay just the way I am.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Changing My Life

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

written by~ Joel Rutledge
jjvarmint@...

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

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

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

48 'Musts' in N.A., as found in the N.A. Basic Text
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=1cyxCcYxnnt_d9S51m\
1TMccjY91nJnV8iRpG.CpIC3Jw5kSgaQ

Robert Holbrook 'Dr. Bob' Smith, 1879 - 1950
Anne Ripley Smith, 1881 - 1949
www.barefootsworld.net/the_smiths.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 10: History Committee Folds
www.nawol.org/twpp10historycommitteefolds.html

A Path Untrod
www.geocities.com/syndrina/APathUntrod.html

Recovery Greetings and Links
www.recoverygreetings.com

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

Original A.A. document from Bill W.
gsowatch.aamo.info/1941/index.htm

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

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 27                                               Choosing life

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

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

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

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

Just for today: I will choose life by choosing recovery.
I will take care of myself.

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

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

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

. . .To Be Of Service

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

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

Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

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

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

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

Meditation for the Day

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

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

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

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

Today's Thought
AUGUST 27

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

Procrastination

Procrastination - not acting when the time is right - is a self-
defeating behavior. It produces anxiety, guilt, disharmony,
and a nagging consciousness of the task that life is telling
us it's time to do.

We are not always procrastinating when we put off doing
something. Sometimes, doing a thing before the time is right
can be as self-defeating as waiting too long.

We can learn to discern the difference. Listen to yourself. Listen
to the Universe. What is past due and creating anxiety and
prodding within you?

Is there something in your life you are avoiding because you
don't want to face it? Is there a building anxiety from putting this
off?

Sometimes anger, fear, or feeling helpless can motivate
procrastination. Sometimes, procrastination has simply become
habitual.

Trust and listen to yourself, your Higher Power, and the Universe.
Watch for signs and signals. If it is time to do something, do it now.
If it is not yet time, wait until the time is right.

God, help me learn to be on time and in harmony with my life. Help
me tune in to and trust Divine Timing and Order.

©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 Mirror Principle
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/08/mirror.htm

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

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

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

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

Dealing with Pain

by Lynn Atkinson, Ph.D.

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

Pain turned inward

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pain and Character

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

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

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

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

We Don't Have to Hurt Anymore

Somehow we believe that hurting and being hurt are a part of life.
We play games with each other and hurt each other because we
feel we must to survive in this world. We abandon our ethics,
never giving them a chance to see if they work. We limit ourselves
by accepting depowerment as the way life must be.

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

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

This article was excerpted from:

This article is excerpted with permission from Power and
Empowerment: The Power Principle, ©
by Lynn Atkinson, Ph.D., published by New Falcon Publications,
Tempe, Arizona, USA. http://newfalcon.com

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

Who I Am

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To know me, is to know yourself.

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

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

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

I will accept no less.

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

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

The Light of My Higher Power Shines from Within.

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

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

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

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

Feline Philosophies

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

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

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

Rick and Patricia Grow

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

Soul Silence

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

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

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

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

Love
Stella

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

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

Our greatest battles are that with our own minds.
Jameson Frank

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I trust in the serenity my God provides

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

I am calm and tranquil

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

I let serenity flow into my life

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

I feel appreciated today


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

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

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

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

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

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

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

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

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

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

Codependent Cartoon
www.cartoonstock.com/directory/c/codependent.asp

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we can’t "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?

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

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

August 26
Today I am open to be touched
by joy, by love, by nature.
Today I put aside all the
happiness that I seek so that
I can be free to experience the
joy of this very moment...right now.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Time For Peace, By Ruth Fishel
DAY 19

I will have peace if I treat others peacefully.
~Karen Casey

Have you ever really stopped and examined your feelings when
a driver cuts in front of you and then drives slower than the speed
limit? Or perhaps the person in front of you has 30 items in a 12
item only aisle in the super market?  Notice your feelings next
time someone does something that is frustrating.  Don't think of the
other person.  Think of yourself and bring your awareness to how
you are feeling.  Your breath might be shallow.  Your fist or your
jaw might be clenched.

This is a perfect time to practice mindfulness.  Be the
observer to all that is going on for you without any judgments.
Completely accept what you are feeling.  Be aware of your
reactions. By doing this you will notice a shift in your feelings.
The anger and frustration will leave and you will feel your body
relax. You will feel peaceful and be less tempted to treat the other
person with anger.

I am practicing the art of mindfulness as I go through my day
today.  I am the observer, not the judge as I bring peace
to myself and others.

Ruth Fishel ©
spirithaven@...

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

Choose Your Words Well
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=ty2gIesxnnWmktpwNE\
nnfULpA6O42fau9123QJ0MXx21WMHtHg

William G. Wilson, 1895 - 1971
Lois Burnham Wilson, 1891 - 1988
www.barefootsworld.net/the_wilsons.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 9: Baby Blue Text Book
www.nawol.org/twpp09babyblue.html

A New Day
www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/Anewday.html

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

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

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

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

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 26                                      Tenth Step inventory

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We Become Willing. . .

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

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

Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

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

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

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

A.A. Thought for the Day

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

Meditation for the Day

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

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

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

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

Today's Thought
AUGUST 26

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

Making Amends

     Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except
when to do so would injure them or others --Step Nine of Al-Anon

When we make amends we need to be clear about what we're
apologizing for and the best way to say we're sorry. What we are
really doing with our amends is taking responsibility for our
behavior.  We need to be sure that the process itself will not be
self-defeating or hurtful.

Sometimes, we need to directly apologize for a particular thing we
have done or our part in a problem.

Other times, instead of saying "I'm sorry," what we need to do is
work on changing our behavior with a person.

There are times when bringing up what we have done and
apologizing for it will make matters worse.

We need to trust timing, intuition, and guidance in this process of
making amends. Once we become willing, we can let go and tackle
our amends in a peaceful, consistent, harmonious way. If nothing
feels right or appropriate, if it feels as if what we are about to do
will
cause a crisis or havoc, we need to trust that feeling.

Attitude, honesty, openness, and willingness count here. In
peace and harmony, we can strive to clear up our relationships.

We deserve to be at peace with others and ourselves.

Today, I will be open to making any amends I need to make with
people. I will wait for Divine Guidance in the process of making any
amends that are not clear to me. I will act, when led. God, help me
let go of my fear about facing people and taking responsibility for
my behaviors. Help me know I am not diminishing my self-esteem
by doing this; I am improving 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Lightworker
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/08/lightworkerr.htm

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

Meditation for Prosperity
by José Stevens, Ph.D.

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About The Author

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

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

Surrender

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

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

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

©2001
written by Carol Anne Szel

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

We Drank For...

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

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

God's Gift

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

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

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

One Meeting To Make

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

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

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

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

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

I would rather go through life clean,
believing I am an addict,
than go through life using and being used,
trying to convince myself that I am not.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I touch those near me with love & gentleness

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

I have a new awareness in my life

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

I acknowledge my needs

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

I allow God to enter my life today


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

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

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

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

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

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

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

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

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

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

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

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

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

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

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

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

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

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

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

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

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

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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 can borrow trouble...
only at high interest rates.

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

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we can’t "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
   anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"

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

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

August 25
I am so pleased with all the growth that I am experiencing.
It is okay to feel good about myself...and I do.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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 Bridge Builder

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide-
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?"
The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

Will Allen Dromgoole

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

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

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

Anna Quindlen's Villanova Commencement Address
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=3UsyMXAxniyroQ0kXn\
07it1c0fs3YAe8UEBS34eZcC772NFqVQ

Family Circle
As non-alcoholic mates and families see the AA program
August 1953 AA Grapevine
How One AA Wife Lives the 12 Steps
www.barefootsworld.net/aaloisw1953gv.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 8: A Montgomery - Celebration Two
www.nawol.org/twpp08montgomerycelebration.html

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

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

Why Alcoholics Anonymous is Anonymous, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/whyaaanonymous.html

A Fragment of History and a Tribute, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/history_tribute.html

Angel Reminders
www.geocities.com/meledyann/Angelreminders.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 25                                  The Ninth Step-reclaiming
life

"We are achieving freedom from the wreckage of our past."
Basic Text, p. 40

      When we start the Ninth Step, we've reached an exciting stage
in our recovery. The damage done in our lives is what led many
of us to seek help them the first place. Now, we have a chance to
clean up that wreckage, amend our past, and reclaim our lives.

   We've spent a long time and much effort preparing for this step.
When we came to NA, facing the debris of our past was probably
the last thing we wanted to do. We started doing it privately with
a personal inventory. Then, we open our past up to the scrutiny
of a select, trusted few: ourselves, our Higher Power, and one
other person. We took a look at our shortcomings, the source of
much of the chaos in our lives, and ask that all those defects of
character be removed. Finally, we listed the amends needed to
set our wrongs right-all of them-and became willing to make
them.

   Now, we have the opportunity to make amends-to acquire
freedom from the wreckage of our past. Everything we've done
so far in NA has led us here. At this point in the process of our
recovery, the Ninth Step is exactly what we want to do. With the
Twelve Steps and the help of a Higher Power, we are clearing
away the rubble that for so long has stood in the way of our
progress; we are gaining freedom to live.

Just for today: I will take advantage of the opportunity to reclaim
my life. I will experience freedom from the wreckage of my past.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When The Going Gets Rough

It is a design for living that works in rough going.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 15

When I came to A.A., I realized that A.A. worked wonderfully to
help keep me sober.  But could it work on real life problems,
not concerned with drinking?  I had my doubts.  After being
sober for more than two years I got my answer.  I lost my job,
developed physical problems, my diabetic father lost a leg,
and someone I loved left me for another -- and all of this
happened during a two-week period.  Reality crashed in, yet
A.A. was there to support, comfort, and strengthen me.  The
principles I had learned during my early days of sobriety became
a mainstay of my life for not only did I come through, but I never
stopped being able to help newcomers.  A.A. taught me not to
be overwhelmed, but rather to accept and understand my
life as it unfolded.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 25th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"Unless we discuss our defects with another person, we do
not acquire enough humility, fearlessness, and honesty to really
get the program.  We must be entirely honest with somebody,
if we expect to live happily in this world.  We must be hard on
ourselves, but always considerate of others.  We pocket our
pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character and
every dark cranny of the past.  Once we have taken this step,
withholding nothing, we can look the world in the eyes."  Have
I discussed all my defects with another person?

Meditation for the Day

Never yield to weariness of the spirit.  At times, the worlds
cares and distractions will intrude and the spirit will become
weak.  At times like this, carry on and soon the spirit will
become strong again.  God's spirit is always with you, to
replenish and renew.  None ever sincerely sought God's help
in vain.  Physical weariness and exhaustion make a time of
rest and communion with God more necessary.  When you are
overcome by temporary conditions that you cannot control,
keep quiet and wait for the power of the spirit to flow back.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may not speak or act in the midst of emotional
upheaval.  I pray that I may wait until the tempest is past.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 25

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Willing to Make Amends

The Eighth Step is talking about a change of heart, a healing
change.

This attitude can begin a great chain of repair and healing in
our relationships with others and ourselves. It means we become
willing to let go of our hard heartedness - one of the greatest
blocks to our ability to give and receive love.

In the Eighth Step, we make a list of all people we have harmed,
and we allow ourselves to experience a healing attitude toward
them. It is an attitude of love.

We do not, in this Step, dash madly about and begin yelling,
"Sorry!" We make our list, not to feel guilty, but to facilitate
healing. Before we actually make amends or begin to consider
appropriate amends, we allow ourselves to change our attitude.
That is where healing begins - within us.

It can change the energy. It can change the dynamics. It can
begin the process, before we ever open our mouths and say
sorry.

It opens the door to love. It opens the door to the energy of
love and healing. It enables us to release negative feelings and
energy, and opens the door to positive feelings and energy.

That energy can be felt around the world, and it starts inside us.

How often have we, after we have been hurt, wished that the
person would simply recognize our pain and say, "I'm sorry?"
How often have we wished that the person would simply see us,
hear us, and turn the energy of love our way? How often have
we longed for at least a change of heart, a small dose of
reconciliation, in relationships tainted by unfinished business
and bad feelings? Often.

Others do too. It is no secret. The energy of healing begins with
us. Our willingness to make amends may or may not benefit the
other person; he or she may or may not be willing to put matters
to rest.

But we become healed. We become capable of love.

Today, I will work on a change of heart if hard heartedness,
defensiveness, guilt, or bitterness are present. I will become
willing to let go of those feelings and have them replaced by
the healing energy of love.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Purification… A Feng Shui Perspective
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/08/purification.htm

Dr. Fred Luskin talks about the process of Forgiveness
and the healing force it can mean in our lives
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/September/conversation2.htm

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Contacting Your Inner Child
by Shakti Gawain

Before starting this meditation, be sure you create the most positive
possible environment for the safety and comfort of the child. Find a
place that feels very comfortable and private. You may want to have a
blanket, a stuffed animal, or something else that will make your child
feel welcome. You may want to meditate outdoors in a special place or
find a special place in your house that feels nurturing to you.

When you first do this meditation, it's important to keep a few things
in mind. Sometimes, even though we have spent most of our lives not
being in touch with our inner child, our first attempt will be very
easy. The child has been waiting for us and wanting that contact with
us. But sometimes the child is not yet ready to trust us, so it may
take a little patience. The child may hold back until it knows that
you really want this contact and that you're willing to be responsible
and consistent with the contact.

When you first do this meditation, trust what comes, trust what
happens. If the child is a little reserved or a little hesitant, just
give the child time. Keep doing the meditation regularly and you'll
find that the contact will continue to increase and become stronger
and more positive. For now, though, simply accept whatever happens.

It may be that you'll get in touch with a child who's very emotional,
sad, or hurt. Or, you may get in touch with a child who's very playful
and wants to be with you and have fun. You may be in touch with the
magical aspect of your child, or with the wise child. Accept what
comes to you, because that will be the part that's ready to be
discovered at this time. As you continue to work with this meditation,
you may discover different aspects of the child. Trust your own
experience.

      Get comfortable, either sitting or lying down. If you're sitting
up, be sure your back is supported so you can sit straight. If you're
lying down, lie down comfortably, flat on your back. Close your
eyes.... Take a deep breath, and as you exhale, relax your body....
Take another deep breath, and as you exhale, relax your body deeper
and deeper.... Take another deep breath, and as you exhale, imagine
relaxing your body as completely as you can. Your whole body is now
completely relaxed....

      Take another deep breath, and as you exhale, relax your mind....
Let your thoughts float away; let your mind come into stillness and
quiet.... Take another deep breath, and as you exhale, imagine moving
your awareness into a deep, quiet place inside of you....

      Then imagine that you're walking down that beautiful path to your
inner sanctuary.... And as you walk down the path, you feel more and
more relaxed, centered, and comfortable. You enter your sanctuary and
sense and feel the beauty and comfort of nature all around you....

      Take a few moments to get in touch with your sanctuary, to
remember some of the details about this place, and to let yourself
enjoy being there.... Imagine that you're walking around your
sanctuary noticing the various plants and animals, feeling the sun or
the breeze, and a little way off in the distance, across the
sanctuary, you become aware of the presence of a small child.... As
you start to move toward the child, you see or sense whether it's a
boy or girl, about how old it is, and what the child is doing....

      Slowly move toward the child, and as you get closer, notice how
the child is dressed.... Allow yourself to sense how the child is
feeling emotionally. . . . Approach the child and make contact in
whatever way you sense would be appropriate right now....

      Ask the child if there is anything it wants to tell you or wants
to communicate to you. It may be in words or it may be in some other
way. Allow yourself to receive whatever the child wants to
communicate....

      Now ask the child what it needs most from you, right now or in
your life in general.... Listen to what the child has to tell you,
whether in words or in other ways....

      Spend a little time being with your child.... Allow the child to
guide you in the appropriate way to be with it, whether playing
together or simply sitting close or holding each other....

      The child has a special gift to give you. Allow yourself now to
receive the gift the child has for you.... Continue to be with your
child.... Let the child know that you want to be in contact with it as
much as you can from now on....

      Complete your time together for right now in whatever way feels
good for both of you. You and the child have a choice to make. The
child can choose to remain there in the sanctuary, in a very safe
place inside of you, and you can come to visit the child in your
sanctuary. Or, the child can come with you when you leave the
sanctuary. Your child will know which way feels best for right now,
and it can always change in the future.

      If the child is going to stay in the sanctuary, say goodbye for
now. Let the child know that you will come back as often as you can,
and that you want to know how the child feels and what it needs from
you in your life....

      If the child is coming with you, take it in your arms or by the
hand and start to walk up the path out of the sanctuary. As you walk
up the path, feel yourself alive, filled with energy, balanced, and
centered....

      Become aware of your body in the room, and when you feel ready,
open your eyes and come back into the room.

Now that you've gotten in touch with your inner child, it's important
to follow through and be consistent in taking care of and being
present with this child on a regular basis. You are the parent to your
own inner child. It's important to become a conscious, loving,
responsible parent to that child. This can be enjoyable for you and
for the child, but it also requires some awareness and responsibility
on your part. It means that you need to start making some space in
your life for that child at appropriate times.

If you're not sure what the needs of your child are or how to best
take care of your child, simply ask. The child knows what it wants and
what it needs at all times, so cultivate the habit of communicating
with the child, asking what it needs, what it wants. Then do your best
to give that child the fulfillment of its needs. You can't always do
everything the child wants when it wants, but you should include its
needs in your life, just as you would with a real child. Make them as
much a priority as you can, and you will find that the rewards are
great.

Start to think about things that are fun or that are nurturing for the
child, and begin to include them in your life in a regular way. Every
day, or at least every couple of days, take some time, even if it's
just a few minutes in the morning or a few minutes in the evening, and
find out what your child likes to do. Get toys the child likes to play
with, go for walks, ride a bike, take hot bubble baths, get story
books -- things that really feed and nurture your inner child. Of
course, the most important thing to the child is love and intimacy, so
your child will guide you in finding more contact, closeness,
friendship, and love with other people.

It's also important to learn when it's not appropriate to bring your
child out. The middle of a business meeting at work is probably not
the best time to have your child come out. You can allow your child to
stay home and play. Just tell the child that you're going off to work
and that you'll be home later on, and that you'll take some time to
play then.

Even though these things may feel a little silly at first, they will
end up bringing much more balance, harmony, enjoyment, and fulfillment
into your life.

This article is excerpted from Meditations (Revised and Expanded),
©1991, ©2002, by Shakti Gawain. Reprinted with permission of the
publisher, New World Library. www.newworldlibrary.com

Info/Order this book.

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.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Blind Bus Rider

The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive
young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps.
She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the
seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her was
empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested
her cane against her leg.

        It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. Due
to a medical misdiagnosis she had been rendered sightless, and she was
suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-
pity. Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by
this terrible twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on
everyone around her.

        "How could this have happened to me?" she would plead, her
heart knotted with anger. But no matter how much she cried or ranted
or prayed, she knew the painful truth her sight was never going to
return. A cloud of depression hung over Susan's once optimistic
spirit. Just getting through each day was an exercise in frustration
and exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was her husband, Mark.

        Mark was an Air Force officer, and he loved Susan with all of
his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into
despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and
confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark's military
background had trained him well to deal with sensitive situations, and
yet he knew this was the most difficult battle he would ever face.

        Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would
she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to
get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work
each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At
first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his
sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task.

        Soon, however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn't
working. It was hectic and costly. "Susan is going to have to start
taking the bus again," he admitted to himself. But just the thought of
mentioning it to her made him cringe. She was still so fragile, so
angry. How would she react?

        Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of
taking the bus again. "I'm blind!" she responded bitterly. "How am I
supposed to know where I'm going? I feel like you're abandoning me."
Mark's heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be
done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride
the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of
it. And that is exactly what happened.

        For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all,
accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely
on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she
was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend
the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat. He
made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would trip
exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase.

        Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would
take a cab back to his office. Although this routine was even more
costly and exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew it was only a
matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own.
He believed in her--in the Susan he used to know before she'd lost her
sight, who wasn't afraid of any challenge and who would never, ever
quit.

        Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on
her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her
arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and
her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his
loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first
time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never
felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!

        On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she
was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure
envy you." Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not.
After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had
struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year? Curious,
she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?"

        The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of
and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was
talking about, and asked again, "What do you mean?"

        The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past
week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing
across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure
you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your
office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute
and walks away. You are one lucky lady."

   Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she
couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She
was lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than
sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love
that can bring light where there had been darkness.

   God watches over us in just the same way. We may not know He is
present. We may not be able to see His face, but He is there
nonetheless! Be blessed in this thought:

"God Loves You - even when you are not looking."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I Let Go

Looking at the heavens on a starry, starry night,
I might imagine my Higher Power-in one sweeping motion-scattered
the stars and planets so that each one fell into its perfect place.
  From a dark and seeming void of trillions of miles,
the light of His creativity sparkles brightly.

And making the truth of His creativity personal to me,
I realize that I can give to the Creator
of all galaxies whatever concerns me.
Out of this simple step of trusting Him,
I am relieved of worry and stress so that
I am alert to the ways I can be a light of Him in my world.

He created me to be a light of love and life.
Letting go, I allow the light of Him within me
to shine forth in my life and out into my world.

author unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   What is Jealousy?
by Relationship Coaches Susie and Otto Collins
(Authors and Creators of the book and audio program, "No More Jealousy")

What is jealousy?

When we think about this question-- we could answer it in many ways.

However one of the best ways to answer the question about what
jealousy is to consider the words of Marianne Williamson.

Marianne says, "everything we do is either an act of love or a cry for
help." she goes on to talk about that in The Course in Miracles it
says there are only two emotions: love and fear.

It's been our experience that what's underneath jealousy is fear of
one kind or another. Jealousy is about real or imagined fears--fear of
abandonment, fear of loss of love, fear of being dishonored in the
relationship, fear of being shamed in the community, unresolved issues
from past relationships, lack issues, poor self esteem, cover or mask
for things from the past that you haven't healed yet, vindictive or a
desire for revenge that is misguided or misdirected toward someone else.

When jealous feelings come up, it's usually because we're afraid that
we won't get our needs of one kind or another met. It's been our
experience that when jealousy comes up, somewhere within us, we are
crying out for help.

Jealousy usually seems to result from a couple of different scenarios:

There is "proof" or at least a strong suspicion that agreements and
commitments between two people have actually been broken by one of
them or …

It shows up when one person or both people in the relationship are
very insecure in their relationship or in life.  Jealous feelings come
up with a partner, or others, whose actions haven't warranted it.

Whatever is going on--whether the jealousy is "warranted" or not--fear
is at the bottom of those feelings and there's a lot more going on
than what is on the surface. Until we look at those fears and begin to
heal them, no matter what relationship we're in, jealousy will creep
in again and again.

In their descriptions about their jealousy challenges, many people
talk about "withdrawing," "getting quiet," "becoming numb," "saying
things they didn't mean" and "lashing out."  These behaviors are all
ways to shield, protect and insulate themselves from the pain they are
feeling inside themselves.

These things they are doing also create a serious impact on their
relationships.

If jealousy is an issue in your life, we suggest that you try to
understand your behavior and what's underneath it and then you can
begin to take steps to heal it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Same Playing Field

There is a phrase that is heard once in awhile in a meeting.
"We're all on the same playing field."
Now, to a newcomer, old-timers are like the wise ones.
Newcomers tend to put people with sobriety time on a pedestal.

Here is an analogy that can help the newcomer understand the phrase.

One day a newcomer was walking through the rocky hills.
He was depressed, lost and lonely.
"I have no purpose...there is no meaning to my life," he thought.
As he walked on through the rocky hills,
he saw a trail heading up to the mountains.
There was a sign at the bottom of the trail pointing upwards.
The sign said, "To the wise man."

The newcomer said, "Aha! I will ask the wise man,
and he will tell me what the meaning of life is."
So, the newcomer started walking up the trail.
Then, he saw another sign.
It said, "Keep coming back."
He walked up the mountain a little more.
He passed another sign, "This too shall pass."
He continued to walk up the mountain.
He saw another sign, "Live and let live."
He walked  a little further.
He saw another sign, "Don‚t leave before the miracle."
He made it to the top of the mountain, and lo and behold,
he finally reached the wise man.

The wise man was surrounded with
empty beer cans and johnny barleycorn bottles.
The wise man hungover and slurring his words,
"I"m just an alcoholic like you...
go find your own happiness and meaning of life."

www.waterwagonsandiego.com
Brian G
twelveshoes@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A-Maze-Ment

Discover the little joys hidden in your days
do not lose yourself in your patient waiting time
record the journey to your Dream
as a maze that turns and twists ahead of you
unannounced, unforseen
un-covered, as of yet unperceived

For this time is fertile seeding ground
for the unleashing of creative inventions
for centering your self onto solid footings
Don’t let it just pass you by
while your gaze intensifies on the road far ahead

There are treasures at your feet
Pay attention here instead
Leave the hidden workings of the universe
to its promises and miracles

Let them unfold, unravel their mysterious weaving
for the wondrous revealing
It shall soon come to pass

Love
Stella
© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie-Johnson
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Express love through acknowledgment.
Notice the good in those around you and freely comment on it.
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Our house is left desolate unto us because it is not roofed with faith
and its foundation is not laid in a conscious perception of the unity
of God with man.  The lamp of hope is not kept burning.  The wick of
our individual being is withdrawn from the universe oil.
Ernest Holmes

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love can sometimes be magic.
But magic can sometimes...just be an illusion.
Javan

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The value of persistent prayer is not that He will hear us,
but we will finally hear Him.
William McGill

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am a responsible person

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can be playful

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can trust my thoughts and emotions

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I trust people


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

Recovery delivers everything
that alcohol and drugs promised.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we can’t "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
   anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 24
I no longer want to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
Today I take the time to slow down and
examine the source of my difficulties
so I can move on a clear path with freedom.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Step Zero

Alone I sit in a crowded room
To the world I am smiling
Inside I am crying
Slowly I am dying
Nobody knows, not even me
I pick the bottle and drink it down
Warm and bitter is the taste
Trying to drown these feelings...
Misery, Hurt, Angry, Rejected, Abandonded
I turn to the bottle again and again
Wanting this pain to end
I only cause more pain
The cycle never ends
Twisting and turning
Slipping farther away
No more I say
Then the shakes begin
I can't stop
I don't want to live this way
I am powerless
I surrender once again
To what has become my only friend
How did I get here?
When did it all begin?
Will it ever end?
I cry out to God, desperate and scared
"Please help me,
I want to stop and I can't on my own!"
I fall to my knees
Begging Him please
"Keep me sober if only for today"

Jen
written sometime in 2004
jewell_licon@...

This Poem is one that I wrote 2 years ago, my clean date is 5/2/06,
which
also happens to be my daughters 15th birthday. I reunited w/her online
on
6/21/06 which was my 34th birthday.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Celebrate
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=8j71t0Uxni7c4QXGz9\
vBjm6oOFYF0G9OCOQ0gxMTKWmIgBGWFA

In AA's First Five Years And How Al-Anon Was Started , Lois Wilson
www.barefootsworld.net/lois_w_1967.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 7: Allentown History Conference
www.nawol.org/twpp07allentownhistoryconference.html

The Recovery Radio Show
Saturday night from 6 - 8 pm pacific time
www.recoveryradioshow.com
www.recoveryradioshow.com/archive.htm

Anne S, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/annes.html

A Fragment of History, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/aahistory/history_fragment.html

Angels
www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/Angels.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


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/August.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
August 24                                      Seeking God's will

"We learn to be careful of praying for specific things."
Basic Text, p. 45

In our active addiction, we usually did not pray for knowledge
of God's will for us and the power to carry it out. On the contrary,
most of our prayers were for God to get us out of the mess we
had made for ourselves. We expected miracles on demand.
That kind of thinking and praying changes when we begin
practicing the Eleventh Step. The only way out of the trouble
we have made for ourselves is through surrender to a Power
greater than ourselves.

In recovery, we learn acceptance. We seek knowledge in our
prayers and meditation of how we are to greet the circumstances
that come our way. We stop fighting, surrender our own ideas
of how things should be, ask for knowledge, and listen for the
answers. The answers usually won't come in a flash of white
light accompanied by a drum roll. Usually, the answers will
come merely with a quiet sense of assurance that our lives
are on course, that a Power greater than ourselves is guiding
us on our path.

We have a choice. We can spend all our time fighting to make
things come out our way, or we can surrender to God's will.
Peace can be found in accepting the ebb and flow of life.

Just for today: I will surrender my expectations, look to my
Higher Power for guidance and accept life.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Living It

The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83

When new in the program, I couldn't comprehend living the
spiritual aspect of the program, but now that I'm sober, I can't
comprehend living without it. Spirituality was what I had been
seeking.  God, as I understand Him, has given me answers to
the whys that kept me drinking for twenty years.  By living a
spiritual life, by asking God for help, I have learned to love,
care for and feel compassion for all my fellow men, and to feel
joy in a world where, before, I felt only fear.
Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 24th

A.A. Thought for the Day

It's been proved that we alcoholics can't get sober by
our willpower.  We've failed again and again.  Therefore
I believe there must be a Higher Power which helps me.
I think of that power as the grace of God.  And I pray to
God every morning for the strength to stay sober today.
I know that power is there because it never fails to help me.
Do I believe that AA. works through the grace of God?

Meditation for the Day

Once I am "born of the spirit," that is my life's breath.
Within me is the life of life, so that I can never perish.
The life that down the ages has kept God's children
through peril, adversity, and sorrow.  I must try never to
doubt or worry, but follow where the life of the spirit leads.
How often, when little I know it, God goes before me to
prepare the way, to soften a heart, or to overrule a resentment.
As the life of the spirit grows, natural wants become less
important.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that my life may become centered in God more than
in self.  I pray that my will may be directed toward doing His will.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*You Are A Miracle*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   Get Up And Leave
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/08/alan-cohen.htm

Deal Breakers, Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/11/dealbreakers.htm

See No, Hear No, Speak No
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/September/opinion.htm

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 24

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Step Eight

      Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing
to make amends to them all.
      --Step Eight of Al Anon

The Eighth Step is not meant to punish us; it is meant to set us
free from guilt, anxiety, and discord.

We begin by making a list of everyone we have harmed on our
journey, as we have struggled to survive. We have probably
done more damage to ourselves than to anyone else, so we put
ourselves first on the list.

Often, our tendency is to feel guilty about everything we've ever
done, everyone we've come in contract with. That is unearned
guilt. Writing helps us clarify whether or not we are punishing
ourselves for no reason. But we need to be open to guidance
as we work this Step, getting everything out of us and on to paper,
so we can be healed.

Once we have made the list, we strive to become willing to make
amends to everyone on it because that is how we heal. Making
amends does not mean feeling guilty and ashamed and punishing
ourselves; it means swallowing our pride and defenses, and
doing what we can to take care of ourselves. We become ready
to improve our self-esteem by taking responsibility for our behaviors.
We become willing to have our relationships with ourselves,
others, and our Higher Power restored.

Today, I will open myself to an honest understanding of the people
I have harmed. God, help me let go of my defenses and pride. Help
me become willing to make amends to those I have harmed, so that
I can improve my relationships with others and myself.

©1990, Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. No portion of this
publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of the publisher.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Intimacy
by Marie T. Russell

    Intimacy is something we all yearn for, yet are somehow
deeply afraid of. Someone once said that intimacy is spelled
into-me-see. Thinking it of it that way sheds light on why it
frightens us.

    Letting someone see into us when we are afraid of letting
them see our hidden "faults and foibles" can be frightening.
How can we be intimate with someone when we are trying
to "look good", trying to appear "perfect", trying to appear to
be the person of their dreams? How can we be intimate when
we have something to hide?

    Intimacy implies 100% honesty, and that is probably why
it is absent from a lot of relationships. Of course, people say
they are intimate, but they are usually referring to sexual
relations. We have come to equate having sex with being
intimate. Now of course, intercourse is intimate in many ways...
but intimacy is more than intimate bodies... it needs also
to include intimacy of mind and spirit. Even the word intimacy
refers to the blending of the inner. It is defined as "innermost",
"private". It refers to letting others see into the innermost part
of our selves.

    Yet even in intimate sexual situations, people close the light,
close their eyes, and refuse to open up and really be intimate.
I remember feeling embarrassed thinking of what my face must
look like in the throes of orgasm - thinking I would look stupid or
ugly. How can one be intimate if one is hiding and afraid to let
the other really see them? How can we become "one" with
someone when we are only letting them see the part of ourselves
we approve of? How can we attain "union" with two incompletes?

    We are afraid of not being loved if we let someone see who we
"really" are... or at least who we think we really are. We suck in
our stomach when walking around naked where our lover can
see us, we "put on our best face", we hide the parts of us that we
feel are unacceptable. The reason many relationships end up in
divorce is probably because after a while, we discover that we
are not living with the person we thought we married (and vice versa).
Two "personas" met, "fell in love", and were married. But because
neither truly loved and accepted themselves completely, neither
divulged the truth of who they were to the other... neither was truly
intimate. So one day, we wake up married to a stranger.We start
"being ourselves" and the other does too, and all of a sudden we
are both surprised by who we are living with... Where were these
two other people during courtship? Hiding, that's where they
were. Hiding so they would be loved. Pretending to be "better
than", holding back from expressing themselves 100%, "being
nice", etc. Then once the marriage takes place, all needs for
pretense disappear... after all the "fish has been hooked".
This is a very sad commentary on relationships and our society
in general.

    Is there hope? Of course! There is always hope. I like to say
that while we are still breathing, there is still hope. We can
always change. We can always make choices that take us in
different directions. We can choose to be "real", and to let the
others "into-me-see". After all, if they're not willing to accept you
100%, then do you really want to be around them " until death
do us part"? Now, "accepting" does not mean thinking
everything they do is perfect (or vice versa). There will be things
that you disagree with, or even things that you out rightly think
are in need of "healing". But even with that, you are still loving
and accepting of the whole person. The whole package, with its
warts and foibles, is what interests you.

    Yet the first step into intimacy is to love and accept oneself.
If you are not able to accept yourself 100% and love yourself
unconditionally, then you won't be able to let anyone in your
life that will do so either. You will attract people who will criticize
you for the same things you criticize yourself for... You will never
let them really see into you, for fear that you will be giving them
"more ammunition" to criticize you. You will always hide those
things that you feel are "not good enough".

    So to open yourself up to an intimate relationship, start with
the one you're with. You! Start being willing to acknowledge
lovingly those things that you've been trying to hide from yourself
and from others. Start being real! Be honest with yourself first,
and then extend that to the people close to you. You might want
to explain to them first that you need their help on this. That you're
feeling insecure about letting them see all your "weaknesses"
and that you will need their unconditional love and support in
this process. You can ask that "nothing you say will be used
against you". Our great fear is that once we open up and show
our "true" selves, that people will turn it against us, that they will
then look down at us (as we do on ourselves), that they will
abandon us, that they will reject us (as we reject ourselves).

    It takes courage to let intimacy into our lives. It takes a strength
of purpose... our purpose being to create relationships that are
truly loving, supportive, and comfortable. Yes comfortable. A
relationship where we can really be ourselves without fear.
Somewhat like with a friend that we've had "forever"... with these
old friends we can let all aspects of our personality act out, and
know that we will still be loved. We need  to develop that intimacy
with everyone in our lives (at least those people close to us), so
that we can be comfortable living in our bodies... not always
looking around the corner to see who is watching and make
sure that we are "putting out our best side".

    Of course, I am not implying that intimacy is a license for
being a complete jerk. Of course not! But then, none of us are
"complete" jerks. Yes, we may have a part of us that can be a
jerk at times, another part that is frightened, another part that
is arrogant, but we also have the major part of us that wants to
be loved for who we are... a major part of us simply wants to
love and be loved. But, one can only love a reality, not an illusion.
We must become real, with our foibles and hesitations, with
our imperfections, with our hopes and dreams, and let the other
people in our lives express that aspect of themselves as well.

    Until we can feel safe being ourselves, then intimacy is not
possible. While we are still trying to only let the "other" see the
"good side" of us, then we will have a flat relationship, not a
three-dimensional one. We are not cardboard characters --
we are not the flat image we see in movies, or read about in
fairy tales. We are real, we are multi- faceted, and we are
experiencing life in its many aspects, with its many personality
traits and patterns and ups and downs. We need to be willing
to be ourselves, to be real, and to let others get close enough
to "into-me-see" -- and then we'll have relationships that are
intimate, that are grand! We'll have relationships where we can
finally feel at ease, and be able to receive support and love in
our path towards greater and greater Love of self, and Love for all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Is Your Hut Burning?

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small,
uninhabited island.
He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him,
and every day he scanned the horizon for help,
but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood
to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
But then one day, after scavenging for food,
he arrived home to find his little hut in flames,
the smoke rolling up to the sky.
The worst had happened; everything was lost.

He was stunned with grief and anger.
"God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however,
he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island.
It had come to rescue him.
"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad.
But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives,
even in the midst of pain and suffering.
Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground----
it just may be a smoke signal that summons grace of God.
For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves,
God has a positive answer for it

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Great Deception

This time I am just doing one
All in the game having fun
I just got my check
I will not spend it all
That is one
Bullshit
Of a
Call
Off to
See the dealer
With money in my hand
I'm just doing one
You understand
Out front my
Addiction
And me
Come
Along
You will see
Spare me the
Bullshit my friend
I think it is time
For us to end
I said that same thing
Many years ago
That is how I really know
There is never really
Going to be just one
Your going to carry on
Until your money is done
After the first one
The addiction has won
Your never happy
With just being whole
Your at your end
Losing control
Come see me
When your serious
About a change
I have seen enough
Your not really strange
I had retired from your kind of game
I once felt just the same

Daniel M Corkery
5/7/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"It was the hardest two years of my life," a woman said. "So
many painful, unexpected events happened. I felt so abandoned,
so lost. I didn't understand what was happening, and I felt
tortured by God and life. I didn't think it would ever end. But it did.
Now I can look back on that time and say, Wow. Look at all I
learned. There's nothing that life can bring my way that I can't
handle and get through."

She learned self-confidence. But whether she's conscious of it
or not, this woman is beginning to learn the value of trusting
the process.

Application:
Sometimes we don't know what we're learning, or whether
we're learning anything at all. It's easy to look back on a
situation once it has worked itself out and be in awe of the
process and all that we learned. The time we most need to
trust the journey is when it looks like we can't.

from the book: 52 Weeks of Conscious Contact by Melody Beattie

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Listen To Your Self-Talk

This week, really listen to yourself. Do you talk about your
limitations and why you can't have what you want? Or do you talk
about how exciting your life is and the positive expectancies you
have? If you're reading this and protesting, "but my life ISN"T
wonderful right now," guess what? You are perpetuating that reality
for yourself. Initially, it does take a lot of awareness to focus
your thoughts and words on what you DO want, but the results are
worth the effort. I've often heard someone say, "I'm stuck." How can
the Universe give you an insight if you keep saying you're stuck?
Affirm: I have any insight I need to transform this issue in my
life. The Law of Attraction always works. It simply responds to what
you are thinking and speaking. This week, focus on the positive
thoughts and words you want to be creating your exciting future.

Rick and Patricia

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This is What it Takes

To the suffering addict that I love,
you are being watched by an angel above.
Look & follow the guiding light,
As God will help you in this fight.
I know how scared you are right now,
Just ask God to show you how.
He will be with you all the way,
so get down on your knees and pray.
If you want to be happy & live,
it's all of your heart you have to give.
We both know what you have to do,
now my friend it's up to you.
Every time you shed a tear,
just remember that I am here.
I will always be your friend,
I pray this doesn't take you to the end.
I love you my sister, my brother,
we all have what it takes to recover.

ClnChip@...
(3/8/99)
Chip's Expressions of Recovery
www.hometown.aol.com/clnchip1/chipsexpressionsofrecovery.html

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If one speaks with a cruel mind, misery follows,
as a cart follows the horse...
If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows,
as a shadow follows its source.
The Dhammapada, a collection of Buddhist teachings

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When we long for life without difficulties,
remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds
and diamonds are made under pressure.
   Peter Marshall

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Listening is a high art of loving.
Ask yourself, "When was the last time I really listened to my child?
My parent?  My brother or sister?"
When someone is ready to share, three magic words amplify your
connection, and they are: "Tell me more."
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

  From a little spark comes a great fire.
Polish Proverb

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am not alone

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am a strong, capable person

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I respect myself

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am at peace with myself


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Adult Children of Alcoholics
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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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and write unsubscribe in the subject line
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 13,000 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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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://profiles.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]

My mind is like a bad neighborhood
if I go there alone,
I am behind enemy lines...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we can’t "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 23
Everywhere I turn I know I am being supported
by powerful, positive energy.
I am finding love and support wherever I go.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When I Think of You

Every night I go to sleep and I always think of you.
I think of all the things we used to do.
I hold my head up high
As I try not to cry.
When I think of you....
I remember we used to talk all night long.
You'd read us the bible and listen to our favorite song.
I have all these memories,
But I wish you were here with me.
When I think of you....
I haven't seen you for five long years.
But, just to see you, I'd face all my fears.
We can catch up on what we've been doing for half a decade.
I can't tell you about all the memories I've made.
I can't tell you about my exes and my friends.
Our conversation would never end.
When I think of you,
I wonder if you remember, too.
I don't like who you've been,
Or how you've been livin.
To some people this may sound dumb,
But I miss you mom.
When I think of you....

Written By Janelle Chrisitine Allen~age 15

My Daughter gave me permission to share this with the group.
It is because of the program helping me to stay sober that I have my
daughter in my life today. dos~5/2/06, which is also my daughter's 15th
birthday. ~Jennifer J.

jewell_licon@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Can Miracles Be
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=mhOhtfUxkC6vDGk5o6\
DwnBW28Y19.Fi31VfzjfJzTN0U_sVGmg

This Matter of Fear, By Bill W.
www.barefootsworld.net/aamatteroffear.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 6: History Movement starts in Madison, Alabama
www.nawol.org/twpp06historymovementstartsinmadison.html

A New Strength
www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/ANewStrength.html

Clubs in AA Are They With Us to Stay? by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/clubsandaa.html

Adequate Hospitalization: One Great Need by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/onegreatneed.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 23                                                 Decision
making

"Before we got clean, most of our actions were guided by impulse.
Today, we are not locked into this type of thinking."
Basic Text, p. 87

     Life is a series of decisions, actions, and consequences,. When
we were using, our decisions were usually driven by our disease,
resulting in self-destructive actions and dire consequences. We
came to see decision making as a rigged game, one we should
play as little as possible.

Given that, many of us have great difficulty learning to make
decisions in recovery. Slowly, by working the Twelve Steps, we
gain practice in making healthy decisions, ones that give positive
results. Where our disease once affected our will and our lives, we
ask our Higher Power to care for us. We inventory our values and
our actions, check our findings with someone we trust, and ask
the God of our understanding to remove our shortcomings. In
working the steps we gain freedom from the influence of our
disease, and we learn principles of decision making that can
guide us in all our affairs.

Today, our decisions and their consequences need not be
influenced by our disease. Our fate gives us the courage and
direction to make good decisions and the strength to act on them.
The result of that kind of decision making is a life worth living.

Just for today: I will use the principles of the Twelve Steps to
make healthy decisions. I will ask my Higher Power for the
strength to act on those decisions.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
me at YOUnMEnHP@...
Thanks, In loving service, Scott :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Use Your Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Living our Amends

"Years of living with an alcoholic is almost sure to make any
wife or child neurotic.  The entire family is, to some extent, ill"
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 122

It is important for me to realize that, as an alcoholic, I not only
hurt myself, but also those around me.  Making amends to my
family, and to the families of alcoholics still suffering, will always
be important.  Understanding the havoc I created and trying to
repair the destruction, will be a lifelong endeavor.  The example
of my sobriety may give others hope, and faith to help
themselves.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 23rd

A.A. Thought for the Day

"We who have accepted the A.A. principles have been faced
with the necessity for a thorough personal housecleaning.
We must face and be rid of the things in ourselves that have
been blocking us.  We therefore take a personal inventory.
We take stock honestly.  We search out the flaws in our
make-up that caused our failure.  Resentment is the number
one offender.  Life that includes deep resentment leads only
to futility and unhappiness.  If we are to live, we must be free
of anger."  Am I free of resentment and anger?

Meditation for the Day

Keep in mind the goal you are striving for, the good life you
are trying to attain.  Do not let little things divert you from
the path.  Do not be overcome by the small trials and vexations
of each day.  Try to see the purpose and plan to which all is
leading.  If, when climbing a mountain, you keep your eyes on
each stony or difficult place, how weary is your climb.  But if
you think of each step as leading to the summit of achievement
from which a glorious landscape will open out before you, then
your climb will be endurable and you will achieve your goal.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may realize that life without a goal is futile.  I pray
that I may find the good life worth striving for.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 23

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Self Care

     When will we become lovable? When will we feel safe?
When will we get all the protection, nurturing, and love we
so richly deserve? We will get it when we begin giving it to
ourselves.
     --Beyond Codependency

The idea of giving ourselves what we want and need can be
confusing, especially if we have spent many years not knowing
that it's okay to take care of ourselves. Taking our energy and
focus off others and their responsibilities and placing that energy
on to our responsibilities and ourselves is a recovery behavior
that can be acquired. We learn it by daily practice.

We begin by relaxing, by breathing deeply, and letting go of
our fears enough to feel as peaceful as we can. Then, we ask
ourselves: What do I need to do to take care of myself today,
or for this moment?

What do I need and want to do?

What would demonstrate love and self-responsibility?

Am I caught up in the belief that others are responsible for
making me happy, responsible for me? Then the first thing I
need to do is correct my belief system. I am responsible for
myself.

Do I feel anxious and concerned about a responsibility I've
been neglecting? Then perhaps I need to let go of my fears
and tend to that responsibility.

Do I feel overwhelmed, out of control? Maybe I need to journey
back to the first of the Twelve Steps.

Have I been working too hard? Maybe what I need to do is take
some time off and do something fun.

Have I been neglecting my work on daily tasks? Then maybe
what I need to do is get back to my routine.

There is no recipe, no formula, no guidebook for self care. We
each have a guide, and that guide is within us. We need to ask
the question: What do I need to do to take loving, responsible
care of myself? Then, we need to listen to the answer. Self-care
is not that difficult. The most challenging part is trusting the
answer, and having the courage to follow through once
we hear it.

Today, I will focus on taking care of myself. I will trust myself and
my Higher Power to guide me in this process.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Strategies For Managing Your Mind
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/08/manage-your-mind.htm

Ring Out The Old, Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/10/ringout.htm

Witness, Self-Realization, Growth, Ascension
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/October/pressman.htm

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

The Secret
http://www.thesecret.tv

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep It Simple*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Being True to Yourself
by Osho

"When you are saying that you are happy and you are not,
there will be a disturbance in your breathing. Your breathing
cannot be natural. It is impossible." -- Osho

You cannot avoid truth. It is better to face it, it is better to accept
it, it is better to live it. Once you start living a life of truth,
authenticity -- of your original face -- all troubles by and by
disappear because the conflict drops and you are no more
divided. Your voice has a unity then, your whole being becomes
an orchestra. Right now, when you say something, your body
says something else; when your tongue says something,
your eyes go on saying something else simultaneously.

Many times people come to me and I ask them, "How are you?"
And they say, "We are very, very happy." And I cannot believe it
because their faces are so dull -- no joy, no delight! Their eyes
have no shining in them, no light. And when they say, "We are
happy," even the word 'happy' does not sound very happy. It
sounds as if they are dragging it. Their tone, their voice, their
face, the way they are sitting or standing -- everything belies
it, says something else. Start watching people. When they say
that they are happy, watch. Watch for a clue. Are they really
happy? And immediately you will be aware that some part of
them is saying something else.

And then by and by watch yourself. When you are saying that
you are happy and you are not, there will be a disturbance in
your breathing. Your breathing cannot be natural. It is impossible.
Because the truth was that you were not happy. If you had said,
"I am unhappy," your breathing would have remained natural.
There was no conflict. But you said, "I am happy." Immediately
you are repressing something -- something that was coming up,
you have forced down. In this very effort your breathing changes
its rhythm; it is no longer rhythmical. Your face is no longer
graceful, your eyes become cunning.

First watch others because it will be easier to watch others. You
can be more objective about them. And when you have found
clues about them use the same clues about yourself. And see --
when you speak truth, your voice has a musical tone to it; when
you speak untruth, something is there like a jarring note. When
you speak truth you are one, together; when you speak untruth
you are not together, a conflict has arisen.

Watch these subtle phenomena, because they are the
consequence of togetherness or untogetherness. Whenever
you are together, not falling apart; whenever you are one, in
unison, suddenly you will see you are happy. That is the
meaning of the word 'yoga'. That's what we mean by a yogi:
one who is together, in unison; whose parts are all interrelated
and not contradictory, interdependent, not in conflict, at rest with
each other. A great friendship exists within his being. He is whole.

Sometimes it happens that you become one, in some rare moment.
Watch the ocean, the tremendous wildness of it -- and suddenly
you forget your split, your schizophrenia; you relax. Or, moving
in the Himalayas, seeing the virgin snow on the Himalaya peaks,
suddenly a coolness surrounds you and you need not be false
because there is no other human being to be false to. You
fall together. Or, listening to beautiful music, you fall together.

Whenever, in whatsoever situation, you become one, a peace, a
happiness, a bliss, surrounds you, arises in you. You feel fulfilled.

There is no need to wait for these moments -- these moments
can become your natural life. These extraordinary moments
can become ordinary moments -- that is the whole effort of Zen.
You can live an extraordinary life in a very ordinary life: cutting
wood, chopping wood, carrying water from the well, you can be
tremendously at ease with yourself. Cleaning the floor, cooking
food, washing the clothes, you can be perfectly at ease -- because
the whole question is of you doing your action totally, enjoying,
delighting in it.

About The Author
Osho is one of the most provocative spiritual teachers of the 20th
century. Beginning in the 1970s he captured the attention of
young people from the West who wanted to experience meditation
and transformation. Even since his death in 1990, the influence
of his teachings continues to expand, reaching seekers of all
ages in virtually every country of the world. © Osho International
Foundation. All rights reserved. For more information, visit
www.osho.org where these is an "Ask Osho" section where
people can write their question and the web editors will find the
nearest answer to the question from Osho, who has answered
thousands of questions from seekers over the years.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Redirection

Wanted: straight path towards full attainment
of all dreams, all goals
Must have acceptable landscape
Must have exceptional accompaniment
Must be spontaneous instant happening
Final perfection/ending a must
All these and more ~ in order to finally
decide to "be happy" ...

Know those desires?
Un-do-able

Redirect
Attainable human possibilities
are at hand
always
seek those
make friends with the imperfect
the lateness of flight arrivals
the lack of explicit desired details
dreams are attainable
ask
and you shall receive

Redirect Towards:
understanding  peace  serenity
acceptance  calmness  patience
all   universe  God   faith   needs
All compatible
All at fingertip distance
All in one's heart
Now

Love
Stella

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Surrender To Acceptance

It’s time for bed
Time to wink
Time to shut down
All I think
It’s time for bed
Time to pray
And thank God for
Another day

It’s time for bed
No more to write
It’s time for bed
Shut out the light
It’s time for bed
Time to dream
It’s time for God
To redeem
My tired low
Self esteem

While I’m asleep
With every breath
In comes life
And out with death
Cleansing my every
Worldly thought
Incoming visions
Of all I’ve sought
Surrendering every
Fight I’ve fought

Acceptance of all
As it should be
Surrendering to acceptance
Is what sets me free
And sometime sleeping
Is the only key


Mark Thomas Spitler
Printed with Permission
June 20th 1997 ©

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

God

God,
Please walk beside me and hold my hand.
Help me to love my fellow man.
Guide me through this darkest night.
Walk me through with your guiding light.

Keep me safe, secure, and warm
Keep me from all further harm.
On Your path I walk today.
But I need you to show me the way.

Blessings abound, this I see.
Long as I ask You to walk with me.
Recovery friends do uplift.
And Your loving grace is a blessed gift.

I asked God,
"Why do I have to feel this, God"
God said to me, "My child, it is so that you can show
that person who walks through the door
how to laugh, live, and love again."

Written 8/19/03
In peace, light, and love, Meg
mm1597@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bad weather always looks worse through a window.
Source Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There are many paths to the top of the mountain,
but the view is always the same.
Chinese Proverb

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
And today?
Today is a gift.
That's why we call it The Present.
Babatunde Olatunji

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A man's mind may be likened to a garden,
which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild;
but whether cultivated or neglected,
it must, and will, bring forth.
If no useful seeds are put into it,
then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein,
and will continue to produce their kind.
James J. Allen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I affirm my worth and goodness

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am a loving person

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I no longer feel the need to control others

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I will be who I am

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Be You

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love is a fact, not a feeling
Love is a behavior
If I say I love you I act like I love you ! ! !


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

Sponsee's Lament

Said the sponsee to his sponsor
while working his steps one night,
"I keep following your suggestions,
but something's still not right.
I keep relapsing, my life's chaotic,
in fact, its a living hell."
Said the sponsor, "maybe those addicts were right
when they said I shouldn't sponsor myself!"

the meat of this story is sad, but true. he had a fool
for a sponsor---now how about you?

written by ~ John H
Johnh94@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we can’t "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 22
Today I accept all responsibilities of my life.
It feels good to know that I am in charge of my life
and can accept the outcome of my decisions.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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 Eyes of an Addict

When I look in the eyes of an addict
I see heartache, struggle and pain.
Locked deep in those eyes is someone
who desperately wants to be sane.
When I look in the eyes of an addict
I see love, sorrow, and hate.
I never thought I'd be behind those eyes,
I believed whatever happened was fate.
How I got there I don't remember,
How I get back I don't know.
I just got tired of getting so high
and coming down so low.
When I look in the eyes of an addict
I see brothers, sisters, and friends.
I look at these people with gratitude,
because these strangers unconditionally let me in.
They have become a family to me,
One I hope I never destroy.
And on this path, one day I'll have a life I can enjoy.

Brad Hollis
bradhollis@...

Hope you liked it. I wrote it when I first got clean.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Don't Use*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If anyone has any original recovery poetry that they
would like to share with us please copy and paste it into the body
of an email and send it to me, Thanks for your support and
contributions.
What I can't do alone, We do together.
In loving service, Scott ~  YOUnMEnHP@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Blissful Innocence
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=ibedchYxnikYHZTk7p\
54.PjslVT8z9C42WCOQ02LTvS7ehXgOQ

The Dilemma of No Faith
By Bill Wilson, AA Grapevine, April 1961
www.barefootsworld.net/aadilemmanofaith.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 5: The Growth through Our Book
www.nawol.org/twpp05growththroughourbook.html

A New Life
www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/ANewLife.html

Serenity Shoppe (a VERY COOL Recovery Gift Shop)
www.cafepress.com/serenity_shoppe

Psych Tests
www.psychtests.com/

Personality Test
www.cs.ucr.edu/~chua/test/test.html

Love Test
www.lovetest.com/

I.Q. Test
www.universityoflife.com/serious.htm

Will AA Ever Have a Personal Government?, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/personal_government.html

Dangers in Linking AA To Other Projects, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/aaprojectdanger.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 22
Contribution

"We recognize our spiritual growth when we are able to reach out
and help others." Basic Text, p. 56

     To make a difference in the world, to contribute something special,
is perhaps the highest aspiration of the human heart. Each one of us,
no matter what our personal makeup, has a unique quality to offer.

Chances are that at some time in our recovery we met someone who
reached us when no one else could. Whether it was someone who
made us laugh at our first meeting, a warm and compassionate
sponsor, or an understanding friend who supported us through an
emotional storm, that person made all the difference in the world.

All of us have had the gift of recovery shared with us by another
recovering addict. For that, we are grateful. We express our
gratitude by sharing freely with others what was given to us. The
individual message we carry may help a newcomer only we can
reach.

There are many ways to serve our fellowship. Each of us will find
that we do some things better than others, but all service work is
equally important. If we are willing to serve, we're sure to find that
particular way to contribute that's right for us.

Just for today: My contribution makes a difference. I will offer a
helping hand today.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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 Prayer For All Seasons

God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,
Courage
to change the things we can, And wisdom to know the difference.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 125

The power of this prayer is overwhelming in that its simple beauty
parallels the A.A. Fellowship. There are times when I get stuck while
reciting it, but if I examine the section which is troubling me, I
find the
answer to my problem. The first time this happened I was scared, but
now I
use it as a valuable tool.  By accepting  life as it is, I gain
serenity.
By taking action, I gain courage and I thank God for the ability to
distinguish between those situations I can work on, and those I must
turn
over.  All that I have now is a gift from God: my life, my usefulness,
my
contentment, and this program. The serenity enables me to continue
walking
forward.

Alcoholics Anonymous is the easier, softer way.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 22nd

A.A. Thought for the Day

"Those who do not recover are people who are constitutionally
incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such
unfortunates. They are not at fault. They seem to be born
that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and
developing a manner of living that demands rigorous honesty.
Their changes are less than average. There are those, too,
who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but
many of them do recover, if they have the capacity to be
honest." Am I completely honest with myself and with other
people?

Meditation for the Day

You can make use of your mistakes, failures, losses, and
sufferings. It is not what happens to you so much as what
use you make of it. Take your sufferings, difficulties, and
hardships and make use of them to help some unfortunate
soul who is faced with the same troubles. Then something
good will come out of your suffering and the world will be
a better place because of it. The good you do each day will
live on, after the trouble and distress have gone, after the
difficulty and the pain have passed away.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may make good use of my mistakes and failures.
I pray that some good may result from my painful experiences.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 22

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Responsibility for Family Members

     I can still remember my mother clutching her heart, threatening
to have a heart attack and die, and blaming it on me.
     --Anonymous

For some of us, the idea that we were responsible for other
people's feelings had its roots in childhood and was established
by members of our nuclear family. We may have been told that we
made our mother or father miserable, leading directly to the idea
that we were also responsible for making them happy. The idea
that we are responsible for our parents' happiness or misery can
instill exaggerated feelings of power and guilt in us.

We do not have this kind of power over our parents - over their
feelings, or over the course of their lives. We do not have to allow
them to have this kind of power over us.

Our parents did the best they could. But we still do not have to
accept one belief from them that is not a healthy belief. They may
be our parents, but they are not always right. They may be our
parents, but their beliefs and behaviors are not always healthy and
in our best interest.

We are free to examine and choose our beliefs.

Let go of guilt. Let go of excessive and inappropriate feelings of
responsibility toward parents and other family members. We do not
have to allow their destructive beliefs to control our feelings, our
behaviors, our life, or us.

Today, I will begin the process of setting myself free from any
self-defeating beliefs my parents passed on to me. I will strive for
appropriate ideas and boundaries concerning how much power
and how much responsibility I can actually have in my relationship
with my parents.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Signs When You Need Them, By Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/08/alan-cohen.htm

No Small Meetings, Alan Cohen
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/October/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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giving All Of Yourself
by Alan Cohen

A spiritual teacher told me of two students who were seeking the
one place left in a small-group week-long seminar. "One student
was very wealthy, yet he tried to bargain for a half-price payment
of $500," the teacher told me. "The other student had only $20."

"So which one did you take?" I asked.

"We accepted the student who offered $20."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Because she offered everything," the teacher answered.

It is not so important how much we give; it is how we give that
counts.  If you have a lot, but offer a little, you have given little.
If you have a little, but give it all, you have given much. Our actions
are real not for their outer form, but for our energy and intentions
behind the actions.

A Course in Miracles asks us to affirm, "I will not value what is
valueless." Things are valueless in and of themselves. The love
we give in association with things, or by itself, is ultimately
valuable.

The story is told of a poet who went to see a doctor. The poet
said,  "I have all kinds of terrible symptoms. I am unhappy and
uncomfortable,  my hair and my arms and legs are as if tortured."

The doctor answered," Is it not true that you have not yet given
out your latest poetic composition?"

"That is true," said the poet.

"Very well," said the physician. "Be good enough to recite."

He did so, and at the doctor's order, said his lines again and again.
Then the doctors said, "Stand up, for you are now cured. What you
had inside had affected your outside. Now that it is released, you
are well again."

In your work, your friendships, and relationships, are you giving
just a part of yourself, or are you giving all of yourself? Are you
sharing from the depths of your soul, or are you accommodating?
Are you doing what you came here to do, or are you doing what is
expected of you? When you go to sleep at night, have you lived a
day in accord with your vision, or have you worshipped at the altar of
fear? Are you giving wholly of your true self, or partly of a false
self?

Recently I met a famous teacher who is very busy. He has many
students and media people tugging at him, and he is able to meet
with individuals for just a few moments or minutes. When I spoke to
him, however, he was really with me. He looked me squarely in the
eye, gave me his full attention, and listened and responded clearly
and lovingly to exactly what I was saying. Though I spoke to him only
briefly, I felt very loved and very fulfilled. Even in a few moments,
he gave me everything.

Kahlil Gibran affirmed:

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love. . .

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself...

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another
day of loving... And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in
your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

About The Author:
Alan Cohen is the author of many popular inspirational books,
including the award-winning A Deep Breath of Life. For information
about Alan's seminars or to request a free catalog of Alan's books
and tapes, call 1-800-462-3013 or visit Alan's web site at
www.alancohen.com. Enrich your abundance by joining Alan for the
innovative online Year of Living Prosperously. Contact Alan's office at
P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708, (800) 568-3079
or email: admin@....

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Reveal Your True Colours

Is it so hard to live from the heart?
Getting to the point of being
who you are meant to be
is a long slow process, with spurts of rapid progress
scattered here and there and in between

The only sure journey
we each must undertake
begins slowly as we listen
to our heart's unique calling
and defy all expectations others may have of us

Go within and touch the child of your past:
Listen to what needs listening to
And mourn what needs to be left behind
Tears promote the healing of raw issues
Rewrite your core beliefs so they
become attuned to reality

Go further within and embrace your personal power
Find your Grown-Up's courage, passion, confidence
Define the meanings that infuse
your life with regeneration
Walk your own path with humility, honesty
and highest truth

Lastly, bring your true colours to the world
Integrate your calling ~ your life's meaning ~
into the tapestry that is our common goal
This is our undeniable relatedness to each other
Your contribution forms a brilliant addition
Never forget that
Form your unique combination and
Live your heart in all its passionate colours!

Love
Stella

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

To Louise

An Angel
she sits in  regal majesty
dignified
loving
gentle
Eyes dance, sparkling in the knowing,
knowing that the end comes
A peace
settles over the hush of silence
no words spoken
no words needed
just the quiet knowing that
all is well
all is
I saw my friend today
she smiled
a serenity
oozing from the depths of her soul
she saw
my fear
she smiled
the fear departed
she saw my tears
she cried
the tears vanished
Ah, my friend
too soon
we leave
so little time we have
here
the earth moves around us
time lingers on
yet
in our busyness let's
pause...reflect...love
be
simply be
I love you Louise.......Thalia

I thought I might share
my poem with you to my friend Louise who made
her transition in November of 1996
copyright November 1996
Thalia
IAmThalia@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Awareness

How aware have I been today?
A little - some - what shall I say?
What color was the sky this morning?
Did I hear a bird sing?
Did the clouds move with ease?
Did I feel the gentle breeze?
Did it carry the smells of early fall?
Or didn't I notice anything at all?

How aware have I been today?
A little - some - what shall I say?
What did the children say this morning?
Did I tune into their feeling?
Did I appreciate their presence?
And miss them in their absence?
Did I listen to their every call?
Or didn't I notice anything at all?

How aware have I been today?
A little - some - what shall I say?
How did my spouse feel this morning?
Did I take the time to ask him?
Were we happy to be together?
Did we share moments of laughter?
Was my appreciation great or small?
Or didn't I notice anything at all?

How aware have I been today?
A little - some - what shall I say?
Did I feel God's love this morning?
Did I take the time to talk to Him?
Were my mind and body in unity?
Did I thank Him for my life, my family?
When He spoke, did I heed the call?
Or didn't I notice anything at all?

Doris Fritsch Crompton

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Start

If you wake up
You have a new start
If you choose God
With an open heart

Should troubles come
Then drag you down
Say a prayer
Then turn around

Only you can start your day
Over and over
I choose to say
Help me God
To do right
Today

Go somewhere quiet
Close your eyes
Start you day over
Then realize

You are in control
Of how you feel
How you perceive
Just what is real

So should you be down
And feeling blue
Have you allowed others
To get next to you

Go to the rest room
Say a prayer
Ask God to lift you
An make you aware

Ask for a new start
To your day
To start over
You have
To pray

Daniel M Corkery
4/17/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Suffering is good, in that it constitutes
a recognition of inner conflict.
Without such recognition,
there can be no resolution of problems.
Sri Kriyananda

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Service is the highest activity to which we can aspire.
Albert Schweitzer wrote: "I do not know what path in life you will take,
but I do know this: If, on that path, you do not find a way to serve,
you will never be happy."
We are not alone.
We are part of something bigger,
and we experience the connection by giving with grace
a portion of our time and talent to service.
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

All we need to do is allow more joy and love into our experience.
We need to really choose it,
to allow ourselves to feel it,
paying attention, choosing to be alive and to be kind;
allowing ourselves to feel and to be nurtured
by the natural order of the Spirit of God.
When we choose and allow it,
the dramas fall away and dissolve.
Patricia Sun

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There are only two lasting bequests
we can hope to give our children:
one of these is roots,
the other is wings.
Hodding Carter

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am loved

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I have many talents

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am not a victim

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I look forward to each new day

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Peace is a practice, not a hope.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

Sorry so late, I was at the pool with my sons :)


Reality can be hell when you're only visiting.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
"Since we can’t "fix" with drugs and alcohol (food, sex etc.)
anymore, what are you fixing with?
I am new to this group. and I cant stop using.
What am I supposed to do next?
You told me that I am the most important person,
What are you going to do for me?"

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 21
God is guiding me in all my thoughts and plans and actions.
I have given up all my struggling and self-defeating
messages and have turned over all my thoughts
to the power and energy of goodness and love.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Precious Gift

A precious gift is given us,
This gift of endless Grace.
For there is nothing we must do,
As it shines upon our face.
So undeserved this present,
As we live this very hour.
A gift to us eternal,
Sent from our Higher Power.
The only way we keep it,
is to give this gift away.
Loving every thing that be,
Only for today.
So gladly let us give it,
Saying thanks with every breath,
and shine forth with each morning sun,
Even unto death.

Rebecca Ann Bowlin
rbowlin14@...
Copyright ©2002 Rebecca Bowlin

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Don't Use*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If anyone has any original recovery poetry that they
would like to share with us please copy and paste it into the body
of an email and send it to me, Thanks for your support and
contributions.
What I can't do alone, We do together.
In loving service, Scott ~  YOUnMEnHP@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Being The Saint Next Door
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=BC.Wh7AxniiDKYLThi\
_zc8D5spQd2Wz9hyiBCVewmMYb8IDuCA

Dr. Carl Jung's Letter To Bill Wilson, Jan 30, 1961
www.barefootsworld.net/jungletter.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 4: Money, Property and Prestige
www.nawol.org/twpp04moneypropertyand%20prestige.html

Analogy Of Love
www.geocities.com/syndrina/AnalogyOfLove.html

Serenity Shoppe (a VERY COOL Recovery Gift Shop)
www.cafepress.com/serenity_shoppe

Chicken Soup For The Soul
www.soupserver.com

Safe Use Of Money, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/money_use.html

Who Is a Member of Alcoholics Anonymous?, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/who_member.html

Recovery and Spiritual Greeting Cards for sale
www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 21                            Friendships

"Our friendships become deep, and we experience the warmth and
caring which results from addicts sharing recovery and a new life."
IP No. 19, "Self-Acceptance"

     Most of us come to Narcotics Anonymous with few genuine friends. And
most of us arrive without the slightest understanding of what it takes
to build lasting friendships. Over time, though, we learn that
friendships require work. At one time or another, all friendships are
challenging. Like any relationship, friendship is a learning process.

Our friends love us enough to tell us the truth about ourselves. The old
saying, " The truth will set you free, but first it will make you
furious," seems especially true in friendship. This can make friendships
awkward. We may find ourselves avoiding certain meetings rather than
facing our friends. We have found, though, that friends speak out of
concern for us. They want the best for us. Our friends accept us despite
our shortcomings. They understand that we are still a work in progress.

Friends are there for us when we're not there for ourselves. Friends
help us gain valuable perspective on the events in our lives and our
recovery. It is important that we actively cultivate friendships, for we
have learned that we cannot recover alone.

Just for today: I will be grateful for the friends I have. I will take
an active part in my friendships.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Forming True Partnerships

But it is from our twisted relations with family, friends, and
society at large that many of us have suffered the most.
We have been especially stupid and stubborn about them.
The primary fact that we fail to recognize is our total inability
to form a true partnership with another human being.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 53

Can these words apply to me, am I still unable to form a true
partnership with another human being? What a terrible
handicap that would be for me to carry into my sober life!
In my sobriety I will meditate and pray to discover how I may
be a trusted friend and companion.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/August 21st

A.A. Thought for the Day

"Who are you to say there is no God?  This challenge comes
to all of us.  Are we capable of denying that there is a design
and purpose in all of life as we know it?  Or are we willing to
admit that faith in some kind of Divine Principle is a part of
our make-up, just as much as the feeling we have for a friend?
We find a great Reality deep down within us, if we face
ourselves as we really are.  In the last analysis, it is only
there that God may be found.  When we find this Reality
within us, we are restored to our right minds."  Have I found
the great Reality?

Meditation for the Day

"Behold, I make all things new."  When you change to a new
way of life, you leave many things behind you.  It is only the
earth-bound spirit that cannot soar.  Loosen somewhat the
strands that tie you to the earth.  It is only the earthly
desires that bind you.  Your new freedom will depend on your
ability to rise above earthly things.  Clipped wings can grow
again.  Broken wings can regain a strength and beauty unknown
before.  If you will, you can be released and free.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may be freed from things that hold me down.  I
pray that my spirit may soar in freedom.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 21

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Detaching in Relationships

When we first become exposed to the concept of detachment,
many of us find it objectionable and questionable. We may think
that detaching means we don't care. We may believe that by
controlling, worrying, and trying to force things to happen, we're
showing how much we care.

We may believe that controlling, worrying, and forcing will
somehow affect the outcome we desire. Controlling, worrying,
and forcing don't work. Even when we're right, controlling doesn't
work. In some cases, controlling may prevent the outcome we
want from happening.

As we practice the principle of detachment with the people in
our life, we slowly begin to learn the truth. Detaching, preferably
detaching with love, is a relationship behavior that works.

We learn something else too. Detachment - letting go of our
need to control people - enhances all our relationships. It opens
the door to the best possible outcome. It reduces our frustration
level, and frees us and others to live in peace and harmony.

Detachment means we care, about others and ourselves. It
frees us to make the best possible decisions. It enables us to
set the boundaries we need to set with people. It allows us to have
our feelings, to stop reacting and initiate a positive course of
action. It encourages others to do the same.

It allows our Higher Power to step in and work.

Today, I will trust the process of detaching with love. I will
understand that I am not just letting go; I am letting go and letting
God. I'm loving others, but I'm loving myself too.

©1990, Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. No portion of this
publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of the publisher.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*You Are A Miracle*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

How To Get Control Of Your Mind & Your Life
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/08/control-mind-life.htm

Nature as Mirror
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/October/feature2.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 WONDROUS CHILD: A Transformation Tale
by Jessica North-O'Connell

A short story for adults in the Fairytale style...

   Once, long ago and very far away, there was a great dark
Wood, full of trees, lush grasses and many rare and unusual
flowering plants. This Wood was home to many wild things,
insects and animals never seen by human eyes. People did
not often venture into this place as it was rumored to be
especially unfriendly to those who wished always to control
that which they beheld, and humans are generally so inclined.
Besides, it was so dark and foreboding that it did not have a
particularly inviting air about it.

   Nonetheless, there came one day to the Wood a couple, a
man and a woman, feeling perhaps a little adventurous and
daring. They had heard stories about the Wood from their
parents and fellow townspeople but this day they had decided
that these stories were nothing but the invention of idle
imaginations and timid spirits dulled by the grind of their
workaday lives.

   Despite their bold demeanor, however, they found themselves
somewhat apprehensive as they approached the Wood, so
dark and unfriendly it seemed even to them. As they cautiously
made their way deeper and deeper in, they became more and
more enthralled by the wonders they began to see there. Soon
they had forgotten their fears and grew increasingly interested
in the flora and fauna of the wood, such marvelous things as
they had never before witnessed. The flowers seemed to have
personalities, the animals seemed to be waiting for the couple
to start conversing with them. The trees seemed to whisper to
one another. The couple began to feel that they could understand
what it was the trees were saying.

   The couple started to notice what appeared to be golden light
here and there among the flowers and grasses, in the clearings
between the tree groups. At first they thought that sunlight was
finding its way into the Wood but soon realized that, while sunlight
indeed was filtering into the shadowy place, it was given its
brilliance by reflection and that indeed there was gold among the
flowers and grasses.

   Overjoyed with their discovery, the couple exclaimed to one
another that this was the day of a great turn in their fortune.
They decided to take some of the gold with them when they left
the Wood, not a lot but just enough to ease their lives a little. They
discussed how sudden wealth might engender suspicion among
their neighbors and family and, besides, they could always return
to the Wood to gather a little more gold when the need arose.

   As they were gathering the gold and celebrating their discovery,
one of them chanced to look up thinking that she had heard a song
some distance away from where they were. A glittering of silver in
the trees overhead caught her eye. As she continued to listen and
to look about in the tree branches, to her amazement she saw silvery
fruit appear. It was as though the fruit grew instantaneously in
response to the eerie and mystical song which was floating through
the Wood.

   Turning to her mate, the woman urged him to abandon the
gathering of the gold and to seek the source of the strange song
which grew such remarkable fruit. Together they ventured farther
in, moving in the direction of the musical sound. Soon they saw
a child, as yet unaware of them, stooping to touch the grasses
and flowers and singing the mysterious song. To their great
astonishment, whatever the child touched turned to gold and
with every note the child sang there appeared another silver fruit
in the branches overhead.

   Now the couple had a child of their own, but only one and not
so rare a child as this! As they sat in amazement watching the
Wondrous Child of the Wood they soon grew the idea to entice
this Child to return to their home in the village. The Child was
likely an orphan, they decided, as there was not a stitch of
clothing to be seen anywhere on the little body. As to how the
Child had managed to develop such a rare gift! Well, that was
anyone's guess, but the most practical idea at hand was to
provide the Child with a proper home and if they benefited from
their charity for the poor homeless creature, they reasoned, so
much the better. Who could fault them?

   About this time, the Child appeared to become aware of the
couple's presence and stopped to observe them with some
interest. Seeing this, the couple decided to take advantage of
the situation to entice the Child towards them. The woman
picked a flower which was close at hand and proffered it. The
Child looked somewhat puzzled but, nonetheless, approached
the couple in such an unafraid manner that they became
more emboldened in their own actions and more confident in
their decision. Soon the Child and the couple were together in
the Wood, their laughter flying and the trees, the grasses and
flowers and the rare and lovely fauna echoed their joyous
sounds.

   Soon the couple tired of the games and dropped upon the
ground still laughing in delight. The woman held out her hand
to the Child and the Child quite readily took hold of it, eyes
shining and silvery peals of laughter ringing into silvery fruit
high in the branches overhead. The woman reached up to
touch the small face and smooth the tousled hair, and the
child smiled back in return.

   After awhile, the couple decided that it was time to return to
their village and to their lives there. They were resolute in their
plans to take the Wondrous Child with them and were somewhat
surprised that the Child offered no resistance whatsoever. The
couple were overjoyed with their sudden good luck and led the
Child out of the Wood by the hand, all the while talking about the
comforts of family life which they were prepared to offer. Although
they could not be certain that the Child understood a word they
were saying, still they were encouraged that the Child showed
no resistance and frolicked along with them holding their hands.

   It was dark when they finally arrived at their village home, after
collecting their own child from the house of a neighbor who had
a child about the same age. The evening was spent in the
preparation of food, the re-arranging of the house to accommodate
another and the recounting of the day's events to the couple's own
child.

   Now this couple's own child, being of a jealous nature and sour
disposition, (perhaps because he was the child of the village
eccentrics and never allowed to forget the fact), was wary and
not very welcoming toward this intruder. He sensed this Child
who caused his parents to fuss so, barely paying attention to
him, to be a threat to his already miserable life. At least he had
always been able to count on their undivided attention before,
even though the children of the village were merciless in their
teasing. Now suddenly there was an intruder in his own home!
He resolved then and there to share his torment with this Child
but surreptitiously so as not to risk invoking the ire of his parents.
When his parents were not watching, he glowered at the Child
and stuck out his tongue so that there could be no mistaking
how he felt. But imagine his dismay when his mother handed
the child a plate of food which promptly turned into gleaming
gold! And when the Wondrous Child joined in the laughter of
the parents, three silver apples appeared on the table before
them. The couple's own child was beside himself with rage and
envy. Sitting across the table from the Wondrous Child, he waited
until their eyes met, glowered and delivered a kick to the shin of
the Wondrous Child who was so surprised by this sudden act
of hostility as to make no response.

   As time passed, the child's hostility and acts of aggression grew.
In response, the Wondrous Child's song was stilled and less and
less silver and gold was produced. The couple, who at first
enjoyed material increase, noticed this decrease in production
and, because they were not aware of their own child's cruelty
towards their ward, they believed the lies their child invented to
discredit the Wondrous Child. Moreover, their neighbors, also
deceived by the tales of the couple's own child, began to
complain about the neglect which the child supposedly suffered
because of the presence of the strange Child from the Wood.

   Then a curious thing began to happen. The Wondrous Child,
who had been so fair of limb and of face, began to grow more
and more deformed, the once-lovely head growing
disproportionately to the body which appeared to shrivel and
wither. This frightful occurrence only added to the already wild
stories which the couple's own child was telling the neighbors and,
of course, when people saw the deformed body of the Wondrous
Child they believed that the Child was truly an accursed thing, a
monster come from the forbidden Dark Wood to destroy their
orderly,  if pedestrian, lives.

   Where once there was tolerance for the couple and sympathy
for their child,there was now only suspicion and mistrust.
Whenever the smallest misfortune befell any of the village folk,
they would immediately lay blame upon the couple and the Child
from the Wood, growing ever more hideous day by day. Finally,
they began to organize against the couple.

   Their own child was seized taken from their home and brought
to live with "moral" neighbors. There was talk among the villagers
about how to rid themselves of the blight which the couple had
brought upon them. One man demanded that they surround the
couple's house, bar the doors and burn it down with the three
inside. It was decided that, while it would be a quick solution,
no one wanted to be the one to set torch to the house. Another
suggested was that they starve the occupants by not allowing
them to leave for market and not allowing anyone to bring them
sustenance of any kind. Eventually the couple's own stores would
be depleted. It was decided that this would take too long and no
one wanted to be responsible for entering the house to see if the
inhabitants had indeed perished. Besides, they feared that the
Wondrous Child might really be a deathless demon waiting to
exact revenge upon the villagers.

   Finally, it was decided that a delegation would be sent to the
house to order the removal of the Wondrous Child and its return
to the Dark Wood from whence it had come. A group of the
heartiest men and women formed and headed towards the
couple's house, though not without apprehension.

   When they arrived, they found the couple grieving and arguing,
the man shouting at the woman, accusing her of destroying their
home and family with her plan, the woman crying back that he, too,
had agreed to the plan and that it was he who had always been
so hard on their own son and now he was gone. Neither of them
noticed the Wondrous Child who was heaped in an
unrecognizable lump of flesh, rather like a heart, in a corner of
the room next to the cauldron at the hearth. The mass of
flesh trembled and quivered without emitting a sound.

   Standing before the delegation, the woman tearfully said she
regretted the day she had ever set eyes on the Child from the
Wood; that the Child was, in fact, the source of all their troubles,
that she wished she had never encountered so evil a being,
forgetting how she had once laughed and frolicked with the
Wondrous Child and shared in the bounty of gold and silver
which had been bequeathed. When the villagers ordered the
removal of the Child and its return to the Wood, the couple
were quick to agree, so glad for the charity of their neighbors
who did not demand a greater punishing of them.

   Just then the quivering fleshy heart which lay in the corner
of the room and which once had been the Wondrous Child of
golden touch and silver voice gave a wail and a sound like the
splitting of the sky during a storm. To the amazement of all who
witnessed, the heart broke open and out came a great golden
Butterfly. The Butterfly hovered for a moment above the heads
of all those in the room then flew out of the open door and back
to the Great Dark Wood to join all the wild and wonderful flora
and fauna therein.

   And that is the story of the Wondrous Child, a heart waiting to
be broken and an wild spirit set free.

Copyright 1993, 2001 Jessica North-O'Connell

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and
daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you
but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong
not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have
their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot
visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but
seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor
tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the
path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His
arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand
be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He
loves also the bow that is stable.

Kahlil Gibran, THE PROPHET

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Blessings

When you find yourself holding something
you've wanted for a very long time
That is a Blessing

When your mornings kiss you
with enthusiastic expectations
That is a Blessing

When a dream comes around
for a second and even third time
That's a yearning from deep within

The Universe speaks in multiplicity:
Loud whispering its gifts onto your path
Giving sight to your blind denials
Only wishing you to see
Yearnings for the Blessings they can be

Love
Stella

© 2000 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

  From time to time, we all feel a little disappointed
with our lives and perhaps the people in them.
We start questioning our daily routines;
a sense of loneliness touches our hearts,
and we wonder what life is really all about.
When you reach this point in your life,
take a moment and forget about what has gone before....
and start believing in what you really want today.
It is by redirecting our lives that
we can keep ourselves headed in the right direction,
and it is by standing still that we allow time to just pass us by.

It is looking at the sunrise or a sunset and appreciating its beauty for
ourselves that enables us to understand some of life's mysteries.
No two people see the word the same way,
nor do the think of feel or even experience
things around them with the same exact perception.

Don't try to mold yourself or your life into a design that isn't you;
rather, paint your days with all the colors you so desire
and enjoy the artwork that you alone can create.

Anonymous

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Be An Angel

Reach for the stars
Keep your halo polished
Share your favorite things with others
Plant a garden for the butterflies
Say something nice to someone everyday
Be patient with those who don't fly as fast as you do
Talk to the plants to help them grow
Always tell the truth
Think good thoughts
Sprinkle a little stardust wherever you go

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Look at the world through "soft eyes."
Hard eyes distinguish and judge,
noting the differences between ourselves and others.
Soft eyes discern instead our commonality,
the web of life that weaves itself through all humanity and nature.
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When we come out of a dark room into a bright sunshiny day,
we have to shield our eyes until they adjust to the light.
Spirit is like that light.
You move toward Spirit, but you can only go as far as you can endure
its brightness and fill yourself with that brightness
so you can then move on to the next level of brightness.
John-Roger
(From: Spiritual Warrior, The Art of Spiritual Living)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There is nothing you need to get, find or acquire to be enlightened.
You don't need a teacher or a guru.
You don't need a priest or rabbi to intercede with God for you.
You don't need a special technique or meditation practice.
You don't need to memorize scripture
or engage in esoteric breathing practices.
Looking for spirituality outside of yourself is a dead end.
No teacher or preacher can give you the light.
They can give you a breathing technique or a mantra or a special prayer,
but they can't give you the light, because you already have it.
When you realize that no one else out there is more spiritual than you
are
and you begin to turn your attention away from outer teachers,
you take the lid off the pot and you begin to smell the stew.
Suddenly, where there seemed only to be darkness, there is a flame
burning.
That flame is your essence. It is the light within your heart.
It is intimately connected to the flame
within the heart of every single person on the planet.
When you see and attend to the flame within your heart,
you burture your connection to all beings,
and to God, the Great Being, which is manifest in all forms.
Paul Ferrini

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Don’t use even if your ass falls off,
put your ass in a bag,
bring it to a meeting
and we will teach you how to sit up front and listen ! ! !

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Don’t work my program, or your program,
work “the program”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Humility is not thinking less of yourself,
but thinking of yourself less

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I’m really a very persuasive person;
I can convince myself of anything

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can lie to you well,
I lie to me PERFECTLY

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am such a good liar,
I was the last one to know I had a problem...


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

Denial is not a river in Egypt !

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new, What does it mean when they say
"The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting. "
Talk about reservations -- the ones you had --
and the fear of ones you may still have.

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 20
Today I am beginning to experience all that I am,
a unique and interdependent human being.
I feel unique and alive and unlimited.
I am free to experience love and joy.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She Did Not Fall

Friends, family, loved ones all
The girl did rise, she did not fall
when her soul gave sweet release
upon her face was perfect peace
all the pain of her short life
abusive relationships, addiction, strife
the destructive turns that she did choose...
were all for naught, for she did not lose
in the end, she gained it all
for up she rose, she did not fall
and we that have been touched by her love
can see her smile forever, in the clouds above
for knowing her, I'm able to stand tall
this girl that rose and did not fall
she helped me be a better man
taught me how to lend a hand
she loved us all, only asked in return
that we share in this miracle that she had learned
that we are all one, joined at the heart
every river flowing from one tiny start
that if we could laugh, share a joke with a friend
what we'd thought was so bad, wasn't much in the end
that time is an instant, gone before it was here
so hold fast every moment, every loved one so dear
I could write for forever, and still not tell all
the lessons I'd learned from the one who'd not fall
so I'll just say with a sigh as I close
I love you, Theresa, the angel who rose.

My dear friend Theresa passed away at 2:15 am on the
morning of the 19th of August, 2002. I would say that
I miss her, but she is all around, unbound from the
shackles that gravity and distance had bound her with.
She's with you right now too...welcome her, and pray
that her family can find peace, for they need comfort
and assurance right now.

I love you all, john
johnh94@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Don't Use*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If anyone has any original recovery poetry that they
would like to share with us please copy and paste it into the body
of an email and send it to me, Thanks for your support and
contributions.
What I can't do alone, We do together.
In loving service, Scott ~  YOUnMEnHP@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Behind The Walls Of Doubt
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=5MNKNTYxn3.PJnv14F\
uQ0ryOiMyNqVkQ5s56XHrRIXtBoDgPpw

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://360.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Bill Wilson's Letter To Dr. Carl Jung , Jan 23, 1961
www.barefootsworld.net/wilsonletter.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 2: The Book
www.nawol.org/twpp03thebook.html

Questions about Alcoholism
www.joy2meu.com/AlcoholismQA.html

Always
www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/Always.html

Recovery and Spiritual Greeting Cards for sale
www.spirithaven.com/greeting_cards.htm

Serenity Shoppe (a VERY COOL Recovery Gift Shop)
www.cafepress.com/serenity_shoppe

Those 'Goof Balls', by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/goof_balls.html

A Tradition Born of Our Anonymity, by Bill W.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_born.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 20                                           Facing death

"Often we have to face some type of crisis during our recovery,
such as the death of a loved one ..." Basic Text, p. 98

     Every life has a beginning and an end. However, when someone we
love a great deal reaches the end of their life, we may have a very hard
time accepting their sudden, final absence. Our grief may be so powerful
that we fear it will completely overwhelm us-but it will not. Our sorrow
may hurt more than anything we can remember, but it will pass.
We need not run from the emotions that may arise from the death of
a loved one. Death and grieving are part of the fullness of living "life
on life's terms." By allowing ourselves the freedom to experience these
feelings, we partake more deeply of both our recovery and our human
nature.

Sometimes the reality of another's death makes our own mortality
that much more pronounced. We re-evaluate our priorities, appreciating
the loved ones still with us all the more. Our life, and our life with
them, will not go on forever. We want to make the most of what's most
important while it lasts.

We might find that the death of someone we love helps strengthen our
conscious contact with our Higher Power. If we remember that we can
always turn to that source of strength when we are troubled, we will
always be able to stay focused on it no matter what may be going on
around us.

Just for today: I will accept the loss of one I love and turn to my
Higher Power for the strength to accept my feelings. I will make the
most of my love for those in my life today.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giving Back

      . . . he has struck something better than gold . . . He may
not  see at once that he has barely scratched a limitless lode
which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life
and insists on giving away the entire product.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 129

My part of the Seventh Tradition means so much more than
just giving money to pay for the coffee. It means being
accepted for myself by belonging to a group.  For the first time
I can be responsible,  because I have a choice. I can learn the
principles of working out problems in my daily life by getting
involved in the "business" of A.A.  By being self-supporting, I can
give back to A.A. what  A.A. gave to me!  Giving back to A.A. not
only ensures my own sobriety, but allows me to buy insurance
that A.A. will be \here for my grandchildren.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 20th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"When many hundreds of people are able to say that the
consciousness of the presence of God is today the most
important fact of their lives, they present a powerful
reason why one should have faith.  When we see others
solve their problems by simple reliance upon some Spirit of
the universe, we have to stop doubting the power of God.
Our ideas did not work, but the God-idea does.  Deep down
in every man, woman, and child is the fundamental idea of
God.  Faith in a Power greater than ourselves and miraculous
demonstrations of that power in our lives are facts as old
as the human race." Am I willing to rely on the Spirit of
the universe?

Meditation for the Day

You should not dwell too much on the mistakes, faults, and
failures of the past.  Be done with shame and remorse and
contempt for yourself.  With God's help, develop a new
self-respect.  Unless you respect yourself, others will not
respect you.  You ran a race, you stumbled and fell, you have
risen again and now you press on toward the goal of a better
life.  Do not stay to examine the spot where you fell, only feel
sorry for the delay, the shortsightedness that prevented
you from seeing the real goal sooner.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may not look back.  I pray that I may keep picking
myself up and making a fresh start each day.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 20

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Honesty in Relationships

We can be honest and direct about our boundaries in
relationships and about the parameters of a particular
relationship.

Perhaps no area of our life reflects our uniqueness and
individuality in recovery more than our relationships. Some
of us are in a committed relationship. Some of us are dating.
Some of us are not dating. Some of us are living with someone.
Some of us wish we were dating. Some of us wish we were in a
committed relationship. Some of us get into new relationships
after recovery. Some of us stay in the relationship we were in
before we began recovering.

We have other relationships too. We have friendships.
Relationships with children, with parents, with extended family.
We have professional relationships - relationships with people
on the job.

We need to be able to be honest and direct in our relationships.
One area we can be honest and direct about is the parameters
of our relationships. We can define our relationships to people,
an idea written about by Charlotte Kasl and others, and we can
ask them to be honest and direct about defining their vision of
the relationship with us.

It is confusing to be in relationships and not know where we
stand - whether this is on the job, in a friendship, with family
members, or in a love relationship. We have a right to be direct
about how we define the relationship - what we want it to be.
But relationships equal two people who have equal rights. The
other person needs to be able to define the relationship too.
We have a right to know, and ask. So do they.

Honesty is the best policy.

We can set boundaries. If someone wants a more intense
relationship than we do, we can be clear and honest about
what we want, about our intended level of participation. We
can tell the person what to reasonably expect from us, because
that is what we want to give. How the person deals with that is
his or her issue. Whether or not we tell the person is ours.

We can set boundaries and define friendships when those
cause confusion.

We can even define relationships with children, if those
relationships have gotten sticky and exceeded our parameters.
We need to define love relationships and what that means to
each person. We have a right to ask and receive clear answers.
We have a right to make our own definitions and have our own
expectations. So does the other person.

Honesty and directness is the only policy. Sometimes we don't
know what we want in a relationship. Sometimes the other person
doesn't know. But the sooner we can define a relationship, with
the other person's help, the sooner we can decide on an appropriate
course of conduct for ourselves.

The clearer we can become on defining relationships, the more
we can take care of ourselves in that relationship. We have a right
to our boundaries, wants, and needs. So does the other person.
We cannot force someone to be in a relationship or to participate
at a level we desire if he or she does not want to. All of us have a
right not to be forced.

Information is a powerful tool, and having the information about
what a particular relationship is - the boundaries and definitions
of it - will empower us to take care of ourselves in it.

Relationships take a while to form, but at some point we can
reasonably expect a clear definition of what that relationship is
and what the boundaries of it are. If the definitions clash, we
are free to make a new decision based on appropriate
information about what we need to do to take care of ourselves.

Today, I will strive for clarity and directness in my relationships. If
I now have some relationships that are murky and ill defined, and
if I have given them adequate time to form, I will begin to take
action to define that relationship. God, help me let go of my fears
about defining and understanding the nature of my present
relationships. Guide me into clarity - clear, healthy thinking.
Help me know that what I want is okay. Help me know that if I
can't get that from the other person, what I want is still okay, but
not possible at the present time. Help me learn to not forego what
I want and need, but empower me to make appropriate, healthy
choices about where to get 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

How To Forgive People & Not Judge Them
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/08/forgive-and-not-judge.htm

Self Love
www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=106

Don’t Get Even, Get Odd!
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/October/feature1.htm

The Miracle of the Floating Fig, Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2000/03/alan.htm

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Passion, Adventure, Romance, Pirates and Your Love Relationship"
by Susie and Otto Collins


Can you believe it?

We just found out that the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean:
At World's End" broke the record for the highest worldwide
six-day opening, with $401 million.

As fascinated observers of our culture, we couldn't help
but wonder why?

Don't get us wrong... we really enjoyed the movie but we
wondered what it is that attracts millions of people to
choose to pay their money and spend their time watching a
movie like this.

Because we're also students of relationships and are always
on the lookout for insights into how to create outstanding
relationships, we couldn't help but wonder if wasn't something
we could learn about creating successful, happy relationships.

Setting aside the vast media hype that's gone on to promote
this movie, we came to the conclusion that the creators of
"Pirates of the Caribbean" give us what a lot of us find
lacking from our relationships and lives.

While we certainly don't want to spoil the plot for you if you
haven't seen the film, we do want to give you a few take-away
ideas to think about and possibly apply to make your
relationships more alive.

Here are some of our thoughts...

1. The clever script had humor and wit.
Most of us enjoy humor and want more of it in our lives and
in our relationships. So the question becomes...How can you
look at situations in a more humorous, lighter, more loving
way? How can you expand to include more humor or fun in
your life?

2. The plot was filled with surprising and unexpected twists
and turns.
How can you create surprises that will bring you closer to
the people you love? It might be planning a special night of
romance or it might be doing something very small--
something out of the ordinary for your loved one.

3. There was passion at every step of the way--romantic
passion, passion for the sea, following a good captain,
passion to right a wrong, to complete a debt. What do
you have a passion for in your life? How can you
rekindle that passion if it has dimmed or even died?
What step are you willing to take to create more passion
in your life?

4. The characters passionately stood up for what they
believed in and "stepped up" for what they wanted.
What are you committed to having in your relationships
and are you willing to "step up" and do the things that will
bring you closer to having it?

It sometimes just takes a small action to move you toward
what you want, like making a connection with your eyes
with your beloved or with a family member or friend. It
sometimes takes a very small action to stir up passion
in your life.

If you haven't seen the new "Pirates" movie, go see it
because it's a lot of fun.

If you're like most people, you want to feel a little more
passion and excitement in your life and watching this movie
lets you have it vicariously by spending a couple of hours
in the theater.

Our suggestion is to not just live vicariously through the
characters and events of a movie (or anything else) but to
really live with passion in all aspects of your life, especially
your relationships.

When it comes to your relationships, we believe that if you
want more than you currently have right now, you can have
it.

You can create more passion, love, connection, trust,
intimacy and spark in your relationships.

It all begins with you and it all begins right now.


Susie and Otto Collins are Relationship Coaches and authors who help
people create lives that are filled with more passion, love and
connection.
For more tips on turning up the heat in your love relationship, sign
up for
their free mini-course at http://www.RedHotLoveRelationships.com

Susie and Otto Collins
P.O. Box 1614
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
(740) 772-2279

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Better Question
Virjinja

We ask, "What kind of car do you drive?"
A better question is...
"How many do you help transport to their highest and best?"

We ask, "What's the square footage of your house?"
A better question is...
"Is the door to your heart open?"

We ask, "Have you gotten the latest styles?"
A better question is...
"Do you see that no one you know goes without?"

We ask, "What is the level of success you've achieved?"
A better question is...
"Did you compromise your character to attain it?"

We ask, "What is your job title?"
A better question is...
"Are you fulfilling your purpose in life?"

We ask, "How many friends do you have?"
A better question is...
"What kind of friend are you?"

We ask, "Do you live in a good neighborhood?"
A better question is...
"Are you the good neighbor?"

We ask, "What is the meaning of life?
A better question is...
"How do you give thanks for life?"

We ask, "How do I get to know God?"
A better question is...
"How do I learn to love?"

We ask, "Will I go to heaven?"
A better question is...
"Is your living heavenly?"

We ask the routine questions.
Guess who is always asking a better one.

Copyright ©  2003 ~ Virginia Santoro ~ All Rights Reserved
MorningMusings@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Forgiving your brother for his trespass on you
only helps him if it enables him to forgive himself.
Likewise, receiving your brother's forgiveness for your trespass on him
only helps you if it enables you to forgive yourself.
The forgiveness of others is necessary only if you believe that .
If you do, as most people do, making amends is important.
Asking others for forgiveness demonstrates that you are
ready to change your own mind about what happened.
That is an important first step in the process.
However, do not make the mistake of giving
your brother the "power" to forgive you.
This places power outside of yourself, where it can never be.
Ask for his forgiveness but, if he withholds it,
do not assume that forgiveness will never be yours.
Indeed, it is always yours.
Those who withhold forgiveness only withhold it from themselves.

Paul Ferrini

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Lord is my Sponsor

The Lord is my Sponsor I shall not want.
He maketh me to go to meetings.
He leadeth me to sit back, relax, and listen with an open mind.
He restoreth my soul, my sanity, and my health.
He leadeth me in the paths of recovery, serenity,
and the fellowship for mine own sake.
He teachest me to think, to take it easy, to live and let live,
and to do first things first.
He maketh me honest, humble and grateful.
He teaches me to accept things I cannot change,
to change the things that I can,
and giveth me wisdom to know the difference.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of despair, frustration,
guilt, and remorse, I will feel no evil, for Thou art with me;
The Program, thy way of life, the Twelve Steps, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Rationalization, fear, anxiety, self-pity, and resentments.
Thou anointest my confused mind and jangled nerves with
knowledge, understanding, and hope. No longer am I alone;
neither am I afraid, nor sick, nor helpless, nor hopeless.
My cup runneth over.
Surely recovery and serenity shall follow me every day of my
life, twenty-four hours at a time,
as I surrender my will to Thine and carry the message to others;
I will dwell in the house of my Higher Power,
as I understand him, Daily.
Forever and ever

author unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I Took The Steps

My elevator is broke so I took the steps
I took them in the order they were laid out
They relieved my fear anger and doubt
First I surrendered and admitted defeat
Then I came to believe
God will help me get on my feet
Turned my will and my life
Over to my Higher Power
I found peace that very hour
I took a fearless and moral inventory
Admitted to myself God and my sponsor my story
I prayed to God to remove my defects
One and all
Because I do not want to fall
I made a list of my amends that I had to make
This was a big step for me to take
As I started to make amends
I had gotten many new friends
Before I was half way through
I was amazed
God had blessed me greatly that day
The last three steps keep me on course
To help me break free and not get lost

Daniel M Corkery
7/10/2001
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.
Franz Kafka

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Happiness is an inside job.
Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Do you want to be happy or do you want to be right?
Gerald Jampolsky

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You are not responsible for the choices that others make,
nor are they responsible for yours.
However, you can and must learn from one another,
for what you choose is not that different
from the choice your brother makes.
You make many of the same mistakes.
Mistakes are opportunities for learning.
To condemn your brother for making mistakes
is to pretend to be mistake free, which you are not.
I have asked you before and I will ask you again:
which one of you will throw the first stone?
Paul Ferrini

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In your silent moments of prayer
do not be afraid to ask for help.
If you want to remove fear and hatred
in the spirit of wanting peace, help will be forthcoming.
Place no restrictions on how that help is to show up in your life.
Simply ask honestly,
and when it does show up, give thanks.
Wayne Dyer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A "coincidence" is a miracle
in which god chooses to remain anonymous

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If faith without works is dead;
willingness without action is fantasy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There are none too dumb for the 12 step programs,
but many are too smart

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When you do all the talking
you only learn what you already know


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

When all else fails....
umm ....
Follow directions

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new, What does it mean when they say
"The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting. "
Talk about reservations -- the ones you had --
and the fear of ones you may still have.

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 19
I value myself today.
I value everything about me.
I am finding people who value me as much as I value myself.
I am attracting people who treat with me with love and respect.
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=wKxag2Axn3jvV9AnTw\
tEhC57efmp_c0DexTnUxsCvRnQ6ngjwQ

The American Weekly Article About Dr. Bob, 1951
www.barefootsworld.net/amweeklydrbob1951.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 2: How Service took its Form
www.nawol.org/twpp02howservice%20took%20its%20form.html

The Death of an Alcoholic - codependency kills alcoholic
www.joy2meu.com/Alcoholic.html

A Little Prayer
www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/ALittlePrayer.html

Serenity Shoppe (a VERY COOL Recovery Gift Shop)
www.cafepress.com/serenity_shoppe

Bill W. on Marty M.
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/billwonmartym.html

Bill W. Modesty One Plank for Good Public Relations
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/one_plank.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 19                                       First things first

"We apply effort to our most obvious problems and let go of the
rest. We do the job at hand and, as we progress, new opportunities
for improvement present themselves. " Basic Text, p. 54

     It's been said that recovery is simple-all we've got to change is
everything ! That can seem a pretty tall order, especially when we
first arrived in Narcotics Anonymous. After all, not many of us showed
up at our first meeting because our lives were in great shape. On the
contrary, a great many of us came to NA in the midst of the worst
crisis of our lives. We needed recovery, and quick!

   The enormity of the change required in our lives can be paralyzing.
We know we can't take care of all that needs to be done, not all at
once. How do we start? Chances are, we've already started. We've
done the first, most obvious things that need to be done: we've stopped
using drugs, and we've started going to meetings.

   What do we do next? Pretty much the same thing, just more of it:
  From where we are, we do what we can. We walk the path of recovery
by picking up our feet and taking the step that's right in front of
us. Only
when that's been accomplish must we concern ourselves with what
comes next. Slowly but surely, we'll find ourselves making progress down
the path, visibly drawing closer each day to becoming the kind of person
we'd like to be.

Just for today: I will walk the path of my recovery by taking the step
right in front of 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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Family Obligations

. . . a spiritual life which does not include . . . family obligations
may
not be so perfect after all.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS  p. 129

I can be doing great in the program -- applying it at meetings, at work,
and in service activities -- and find that things have gone to pieces at
home.  I expect my loved ones to understand, but they cannot.  I expect
them to see and value my progress, but they don't -- unless I show
them.  Do I neglect their needs and desires for my attention and
concern?  When I'm around them, am I irritable or boring?  Are my
"amends"
a mumbled "Sorry," or do they take the form of patience and
tolerance?  Do
I preach to them, trying to reform or "fix" them?  Have I ever really
cleaned house with them?  "The spiritual life is not a theory.  We
have to
live it" (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 83).

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/ August 19th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"People of faith have a logical idea of what life is au about. There
is a wide variation in the way each one of us approaches and
conceives of the Power greater than ourself. Whether we agree
with a particular approach or conception seems to make little
difference. There are questions for each of us to settle for
ourselves. But in each case the belief in a Higher Power has
accomplished the miraculous, the humanly impossible. There has
come a revolutionary change in their way of living and thinking."
Has there been a revolutionary change in me?

Meditation for the Day

Worship is consciousness of God's divine majesty. As you pause
to worship, God will help you to raise your humanity to His divinity.
The earth is a material temple to enclose God's divinity. God
brings to those who worship Him a divine power, a divine love,
and a divine healing. You only have to open your mind to Him and
try to absorb some of His divine spirit. Pausing quietly in the
spirit of worship, turn your inward thoughts upward and realize
that His divine power may be yours, that you can experience His
love and healing.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may worship God by sensing the eternal Spirit. I
pray that I may experience a new power 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
AUGUST 19

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Letting Go of Shame

Shame is that dark, powerful feeling that holds us back. Yes,
shame can stop us from acting inappropriately. But many of us
have learned to attach shame to healthy behaviors that are in
our best interest.

In dysfunctional families, shame can be tagged to healthy
behaviors such as talking about feelings, making choices,
taking care of ourselves, having fun, being successful, or even
feeling good about ourselves.

Shame may have been attached to asking for what we want and
need, to communicating directly and honestly, and to giving and
receiving love.

Sometimes shame disguises itself as fear, rage, indifference, or a
need to run and hide, wrote Stephanie E. But if it feels dark and
makes us feel bad about being who we are, it's probably shame.

In recovery, we are learning to identify shame. When we can
recognize it, we can begin to let go of it. We can love and accept
ourselves - starting now.

We have a right to be, to be here, and to be who we are. And we
don't ever have to let shame tell us any differently.

Today, I will attack and conquer the shame 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Are You A Mature Lover?
www.inlightimes.com/archives/2001/08/mature-love.htm

Letters of Wisdom and Affirmation, Louise Hay
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/November/hay.htm

El Nino Made Me Do It, Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/09/el_nino.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Growing Beyond Victim
by Alan Cohen

"Americans, who make more of marrying for love than any other
people, also break up more of their marriages, but the figure
reflects not so much the failure of love as the determination not
to live without it." -Morton Hunt

My friend Andrea is a popular college instructor of human relations,
and a relationship counselor. She has also been married four
times, and divorced three. At a party we both attended, I overheard
one of Andrea's former students ask her, "How can you pass
yourself off as a relationship expert when you are a four-time
loser?" Andrea responded coolly, "I don't see myself as a four-time
loser; I consider myself a four-time learner.

Although those marriages didn't endure, I gained valuable lessons
that helped me bring more depth and presence to the relationships
that followed, and ultimately contributed to the successful marriage
I now have." If you feel like a loser because your marriage or
relationship has ended, re-identify yourself as a learner. If you are
wiser for your experience, it was a success. Rather than criticizing
yourself for your shortcomings, honor yourself for the courage to
grow through experience.

As evolving beings, we discover what works by evaluating the
results of what didn't work; we grow as much (usually more) through
our errors as we do through our successes. Like a child learning to
ride a bicycle, the information we gain from falling is just as valuable
as the feedback we get from staying balanced. Every attempt,
whether a "success" or "failure", ultimately contributes to our skill.
Seen in this way, we are always progressing toward our goal.

One of the most difficult and painful questions to answer is, "Why
did your relationship fail?" When faced with such an inquiry,
remember that ending is not the same as failure. Your relationship
would be a failure only if you did not learn from it. If you gained
insight, self-awareness, or strength, and you would choose more
wisely next time, you are significantly ahead of where you began.
Begin to reframe your past relationships as successful learning
experiences.

We form new relationships according to the way we think about our
old ones. If you dwell on your past failures, you will manufacture new
ones. Focus on what you gained from past relationships, and you
will build a foundation for success in your new ones.

Here are some criteria by which losers are distinguished from learners:

Loser Denies sense of sorrow, grief, or loss
Blames partner for failure.
Criticizes self for failure
Plunges into self-pity
Forms judgments about opposite sex
Seeks agreement from "allies" to bolster victim position
Turns to favored addiction to numb pain
Seeks new relationship immediately to offset sense of loss
Revels in ex-partner's pain or guilt
Seeks to punish ex-partner
Seeks retribution

Learner Acknowledges pain without indulging it
Inventories own actions
Honors self for willingness to learn
Explores self-awareness
Gathers information to ensure future success
Turns to friends for support to keep mind and heart open
Turns to Higher Power to grow beyond pain
Takes time to get reacquainted with self and integrate experience
Delights in ex-partner's well-being
Offers kindness and support to ex-partner
Lets go and gets on with life

BEYOND KEN AND BARBIE

Many "model" couples live picture-perfect marriages with fine
homes in the suburbs, well-paying jobs, several expensive automobiles,
and bright children who make the honor roll. Behind the scenes,
however, many such marriages are devoid of intimacy,
communication, and growth. In my seminars, I have heard a
significant number of divorced men and women confess, "We
looked great on the outside, but I was dying on the inside". Just
because a couple fulfills societal expectations for a model
marriage, it doesn't mean that they are achieving their deeper
purpose of growing as individuals.

Someone who becomes stronger and more self-aware through
a painful divorce, by contrast, accomplishes more for his or her
spiritual growth than one who sleepwalks through a lifeless
marriage. Do not be deceived by appearances, and do not allow
yourself to fall prey to the belief that you are here to live up to the
expectations of others. Your life is valuable not for how it looks,
but for what is happening in your heart and soul. If a relationship
falls apart in the outer world, but you extract personal growth
from it, you are succeeding in a far more meaningful way than
one who amasses the symbols of success but fails to recognize
his or her own inner worth.

The only true measure of success, we eventually discover, is
happiness. After my book "The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
was published, I received a telephone call from a nun inviting me to
present a seminar to the Catholic ministry for the divorced and
separated. Sister Alice explained that many Catholics felt angry
and guilty about their crashed marriages, and then she asked
me what I titled my workshop. Laughing, I told her, "I usually call
it 'The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore', but in this case I think
we should use another title."

I found that the greatest need of the participants in the divorced
and separated ministry was self-forgiveness. While these people
struggled with tremendous pain and grief in the wake of their
broken relationships, they shouldered the added burden of
condemnation from the church, which defined them as sinners for
ending their marriages. Their lives were difficult enough, I surmised,
without having to bear the stigma of excommunication. These folks
did not need to worry about going to hell - they were already there!

The divorced women and men in this group demonstrated great
courage in leaving their marriages in the face of the ecclesiastical
judgment they faced. They needed to find compassion for
themselves and forgiveness for their mates. I honored the church
for establishing a ministry to support this segment of their
parishioners. In the long run, these people grew a great deal from
facing and overcoming their fears, and they gained strength that
they may not have found if they had remained in barren marriages.

BROKEN OPEN

If you have been closed or armored, a painful breakup can lead
you to rediscover yourself and open to a depth of aliveness you
might never have known if you had just coasted along in your
comfort zone. If your heart has been broken, let it be broken open.

Opportunities Bestowed by a Broken Heart

Get in touch with your feelings
Reach out for support.
Appreciate the love of friends
Gain insight into the patterns that have run your life
Tell more truth about who you are and what you want
Claim your power to establish your own destiny
Express creativity (poetry, music, art, original expression)
Discover and develop a relationship with your spiritual source
Deepen in compassion
Make changes in your life that you might not have otherwise made
Learn how to find richer rewards in your next relationship

The voice of shaky love tells you that your relationship ending has
ruined your life, while Big Love whispers that you now have more
life available to you. The road through hell leads to the door of
heaven. So your breakup merits not bitterness or resentment, but
gratitude and appreciation.

Popular singer Kenny Loggins went through a major crisis when
his marriage ended. As he searched his soul to discover his truth
and explain his divorce to his children, he found within himself a
deeper strength and love. This process moved him so profoundly
that he wrote many passionate and heartfelt songs about his
insights, and collected them into an album called Leap of Faith,
which went on to become one of his most successful productions.
Many listeners remark that the honesty and vulnerability Kenny
displayed in these songs helped them through similarly challenging
times. (Since that time, Kenny has remarried, and he and his new
wife Julia have intimately chronicled their love and marriage in a
most inspiring book and album, The Unimaginable Life.)

Similarly, when Native American descendant William Least Heat-Moon
lost his job and his wife left him, he plunged into deep introspection.
In the process of attempting to rebuild his broken life, William
recalled
his dream to explore the country. Free and unencumbered, he
bought a Volkswagen van and sat down to plan his route. As he
surveyed the map, William noticed that the major thoroughfares
were indicated with thick red lines, while the smaller byways and
country roads were marked by thinner blue lines. William realized
that he wanted an adventure, and decided to travel the side roads.
On his trek, he interacted with fascinating people, received many
insights he would never have discovered in his old routine, and
reconnected with his Native American heritage.

After his two-year odyssey, William had filled his journal with a
wealth of colorful stories, and he had them published. Blue
Highways went on to become a national bestseller, and William
Least Heat-Moon was catapulted into an entirely more meaningful
world. Although he could not see the plan in the midst of his hardship,
his breakup launched him into the life he had always dreamed of.

THE FAST-FORWARD AGE

We are living in a time of accelerated learning. Many people now
go through two, three, or more marriages in a lifetime, and
participate in many more relationships. We may have judged
ourselves harshly for having several mates or numerous
relationships, and we may believe that there is something
wrong with us for failing the societal expectation of staying with
one person for a lifetime. But . . . What happens to you is not as
important as what you make of it.

To find peace, reframe your opinion of how you or life "should" be.
You are, and have been, on your right path. What you thought was
wrong with you may be what is right with you. In wisdom you
chose to go through a number of significant relationships so you
could master many lessons in a short period of time. You have
not missed your destiny; you are in the process of fulfilling it. If
you lived in an earlier century, your relationships would have
told quite a different story and brought you very different lessons.
You would have married one person for a lifetime, lived in one town,
worked in one vocation, attended one church, and adopted one
belief system. Your life would have been slower and simpler -
as would your learning.

In those days, it might have taken you an entire lifetime to master
the lessons of a relationship with a particular person. Now, the pace
and purpose of our relationships is different. Rather than marrying
for survival, economic, social, or political expedience - and being
assigned to a spouse by your parents, priest, or an astrologer -
we marry for love, romance, companionship, communication,
sexual expression, and spiritual growth - of our own free will.

These higher ideals and increased levels of personal responsibility
call forth all kinds of issues that marrying for survival never touched
on. In greater soul maturity, we have taken on deeper, richer, more
subtle, and more varied lessons. In accordance with our curriculum,
our life changes call us to face our fears, confront our
unconsciousness,
and bring light to the shadow selves we have chosen to master. Several
marriages or many relationships in a lifetime are not necessarily signs
of weakness; they may be an indication of your dedication to discover
greater truths about who you are and what you are here to do. If, at
the end of your life, you are a wiser person for your relationship
experiences, they have all been worth it. And . . . If you have learned
to love, you have fulfilled your highest purpose.

No matter how many relationships you have gone through, marriages
you have ended, or mistakes you have made, never define yourself
as a loser. Instead, be grateful for the awareness you have gained,
and be proud of yourself for your bravery in learning by doing.

Recognize that you are not the person you were 20 years, or even
20 days, ago. Remember that the Big Picture is unfolding perfectly
even if you do not see it in a given moment. Real learning usually
occurs gradually - rarely overnight. You are always adding to your
wisdom. When you disown your identity as a loser and adopt that
of a learner, you are on your way to being a master.

One day you will discover that everything that has happened to you
has been an element in your awakening to the beauty in you and
around you. Then you will be able to bless all experiences and
honor everyone who assisted you to grow.

About The Author
Alan Cohen is the author of popular inspirational books, including
the classics, The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore, I Had It All
the Time, and Handle with Prayer. To learn more about Alan and
find out about his conference schedule, visit the Hay House
website at www.hayhouse.com To write to Alan Cohen directly
or receive more detailed information about his programs, write to
The Mastery Foundation, 455 A Kukuna Road, Haiku, Hawaii
96708, call 808/572-0001, or visit his website www.alancohen.com
This article is excerpted with permission from his book "Happily Even
After" published by Hay House.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes.
-- Abigail Van Buren

How did we get so convinced that our way is usually best? That
surely didn't come from a lifetime of constant success. How did we
get "fixed" in our thinking on a given issue? Not from a track record
of first exploring all other alternatives.

This rigidity probably helped us survive childhood. But now it's
a wall that isolates us. It closes our minds off from ideas that are
more in keeping with where we want to be. And it closes us off
from people whom we would 'ike to be with.

On our journey, we are noticing others who are not so "fixed"
in their thinking. They don't pass judgment or criticize quickly.
Their tranquility is obvious, and we want more of it. Their openness
lets them hear more from others, and that is the way to knowledge,
change, and growth.

We find that listening to others is now a blessing, not a burden.

Today help me be open to the example of others.

from the book: Body, Mind, and Spirit by Anonymous

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hope

Each day that you smile brings joy from within
When a frown will make you sad,
So keep your chin up, envision a rainbow
There’s not enough time to feel bad.

Aspire to stay positive, not giving in
To the fears and doubts that besiege you,
For negativity is a harmful emotion
You should never want to conform to.

Acknowledge concerns that often befall you
Consider  the bright side of life,
You’ll  perceive a way of dealing with troubles
Without all the turmoil and strife.

Attempt each day to savor life’s bounty
The blessings will solely be yours,
If you strive a little at being content
You’ll surely walk through  golden doors.

To a peace and serenity, it’s yours for the taking
Each day your proficiency will grow,
To accept yourself, it’s part of Gods plan
No need to sway to and fro.

God gave you free will to choose your own course
To live as He would see fit,
So it’s up to you to reach for the stars
Do not stay in a voracious pit.

Hold fast to those dreams and never give up
Have faith in all you endeavor,
For you’re the one with the world in your hands
Make every day count forever.

written by ~ Susan F. Ader
dolph3@...
07/26/99

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Come This Way

Come this way today if your ready to change
We will help you to see your not strange
We were once just like you see
Today we continue to live
Our live lifes free
Come sit at our tables
We will help you
To get started
We will mend you
To mend broken hearted
First you must come and surrender
Do good service to God yes render
He will help you along your way
He will bless you inside today
First you must learn
To listen then
Then listen to learn
Before long you will see
Sobriety is something you must earn
God meant for you to be free
It takes hard work you see
To look yourself in the eye
Also to understand
The question why
We abused life
That was
Plain to see
We quickly put chains
On our hearts
Also our destiny
If you work hard
You will soon see
God meant for all man
To live a life that's totally free

Daniel M Corkery
12/30/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's family can take a myriad of forms.
There is the traditional family-two parents, two kids, and a pet or two.
There are families headed by a single parent,
by same sex parents, and by grandparents.
There are people who live alone
who have found family in a particular community.
Regardless of its configuration,
the essence of what creates and sustains a healthy family is love.
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If we have not peace within ourselves,
It is vain to seek it from outside sources.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Through wisdom is a house built;
and by understanding it is established;
and by knowledge shall every room be filled
with precious and pleasant riches.
Bible

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love is not what you make of it,
but what it makes of you.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark;
the real tragedy of  life is when adults are afraid of the light.
Plato

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Just for today

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We came..
we came to...
we came to believe.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You have to put in the time AND WORK

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It gets better

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Stop hurting yourself
and start living.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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
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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
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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 13,000 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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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://profiles.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]

If you pray for a Cadillac and God sends a jackass, ride it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new, What does it mean when they say
"The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting. "
Talk about reservations -- the ones you had --
and the fear of ones you may still have.

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 18
I have all the time in the world to do God's Will for me today
I trust that my Higher Power is filling me
with all the energy that I need for these 24 hours.
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meetings

I sat and listened
I tried to hear
They said keep coming
And I tried not to show fear

I knew that I belonged there
I knew I needed to go
But I didn't want to believe them
And I walked out with my head hung low

I went again, I sat in the back
I figured they wouldn't see me
I thought I knew more than them
I figured they didn't even know me

People would ask how I was
I would reply that I was fine
I figured they didn't need to know
Why should I share my feelings?
After all they are mine

I kept going I don't know why
After I left I would still get high
I would hear what they said but I didn't listen
I'm not one of you I thought
So with everything that I could identify
I would tell myself not me and I'd just deny

But as time went on
And I used more and more
I knew that I was one of you
Yet dreaded my life becoming a bore

So as I went to meetings
I would party on the side
I didn't get what I was doing wrong
I didn't know how to get to the other side

I thought that I could listen
And try and get some hope
But still go clubbing and hang at bars
I didn't realize that I still had no idea of how to cope

So when a problem would arise
My mind would tell me all the lies
That I could use and be ok
It would tell me I couldn't break through its ties

So out I'd be for quite some time
Before I realized I hadn't a dime
And back to stealing was where I turned
After all it was what I had learned

But each time I fell and wanted to die
Someone would tell me all you have to do is try
There are no promises of a life long dream
Only today
And each day clean a reprieve

written by Karen
Destiny41581@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After A While
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=LzJu3MAxny9K1Uh3Ru\
hbMfUczcvIWIaQgjqf7kWymKNoXVmh_g

Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine
The Drunk's "Angel of Hope"
www.barefootsworld.net/aasisterignatia.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Chapter 1 : Early History of NA
www.nawol.org/twpp01earlyhistory.html

Alcoholism and Codependence - Two Fatal Diseases
www.joy2meu.com/Alcoholism.html

Thoughts on Friendship
www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/AFriend.html

Hope Faith and Courage
www.geocities.com/alaura1942/HopeFaithCourage.html

A Dream
www.geocities.com/loriflower/2/sleep.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Checklist
www.silkworth.net/aa/traditions_checklist.html

Philip Wylie Jabs A Little Needle Into Complacency
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/wylie_jabs.html

Bill W. Talks
Bill W.'s Comments on Philip Wylie's article
www.silkworth.net/grapevine/bwresponsetopw.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 18                                 "How long do I have to go?"

"The way to remain a productive, responsible member of society
is to put our recovery first."   Basic Text, p. 102

     The meetings have been great! Each night we've attended, we've
gathered with other addicts to share experience, strength, and hope.
And each day, we've used what we've learned in the meetings to
continue in our recovery.

Meanwhile, life goes on. Work, family, friends, school, sports,
entertainment, community activities, civic obligations-all call out for
our time. The demands of everyday living sometimes makes us ask
ourselves, "How long do I have to go to these meetings?"

Let's think about this. Before coming to Narcotics Anonymous, could
we stay clean on our own? What makes us think we can now? Then
there's the disease itself to consider-the chronic self-centeredness,
the obsessiveness, the compulsive behavior patterns that express
themselves in so many areas of our lives. Can we live and enjoy life
without effective treatment for our disease? No.

"Ordinary" people may not have to worry about such things, but we're
not "ordinary" people-we're addicts. We can't pretend we don't have a
fatal, progressive illness, because we do. Without our program, we may
not survive to worry about the demands of work, school, family, or
anything else. NA meetings give us the support and direction we need
to recover from our addiction, allowing us to live the fullest lives
possible.

Just for today: I want to live and enjoy life. To do that, I will put
my recovery first.

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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Impatient?  Try Levitating

We reacted more strongly to frustrations than normal people.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 111

Impatience with other people is one of my principal failings.
Following a slow car in a no-passing lane, or waiting in a restaurant
for the check, drives me to distraction.  Before I give God a chance
to slow me down, I explode, and that's what I call being quicker than
God.  That repeated experience gave me an idea.  I thought if I could
look down on these events from God's point of view, I might better
control my feelings and behavior.  I tried it and when I encountered
the next slow driver, I levitated and looked down on the other car and
upon myself.  I saw an elderly couple driving along, happily chatting
about their grandchildren.  They were followed by me – bug-eyed
and red of face -- who had no time schedule to meet anyway.  I looked
so silly that I dropped back into reality and slowed down.  Seeing
things from God's angle of vision can be very relaxing

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/ August 18th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"We of agnostic temperament have found that as soon as we
were able to lay aside prejudice and express a willingness to
believe in a Power greater than our selves, we commenced to
get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully
define or comprehend that Power, which we call God.  As soon
as you can say that you do believe or are willing to believe, you
are on your way.  Upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully
effective spiritual structure can be built."  Am I willing to
depend on a Power that I cannot fully define or comprehend?

Meditation for the Day

We seek God's presence and "they who seek shall find."  It
is not a question of searching so much as an inner consciousness
of the Divine spirit in your heart.  To realize God's presence
you must surrender to His will in the small as well as in the big
things of life.  This makes God's guidance possible.  Some
things separate you from God---a false word, a fear-inspired
failure, a harsh criticism, a stubborn resentment.  These are
the things that put a distance between your mind and God.  A
word of love, a selfless reconciliation, a kind act of helpfulness-
these bring God closer.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may think and say and do the things that bring
God closer to me.  I pray that I may find Him in a sincere
prayer, a kind word, or an unselfish deed.

"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
AUGUST 18

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Valuing this Moment

     Detachment involves present moment living - living in the
here and now. We allow life to happen instead of forcing and
trying to control it. We relinquish regrets over the past and
fears about the future. We make the most of each day.
     --Codependent No More

This moment, we are right where we need to be, right where
we are meant to be.

How often we waste our time and energy wishing we were
someone else, were doing something else, or were someplace
else. We may wish our present circumstances were different.

We needlessly confuse ourselves and divert our energy by
thinking that our present moment is a mistake. But we are right
where we need to be for now. Our feelings, thoughts,
circumstances, challenges, and tasks - all of it is on schedule.

We spoil the beauty of the present moment by wishing for
something else.

Come back home to yourself. Come back home to the present
moment. We will not change things by escaping or leaving the
moment. We will change things by surrendering to and
accepting the moment.

Some moments are easier to accept than others.

To trust the process, to trust all of it, without hanging on to the
past or peering too far into the future, requires a great deal of
faith. Surrender to the moment. If you're feeling angry, get mad.
If you're setting a boundary, dive into that. If you're grieving,
grieve. Get into it. Step where instinct leads. If you're waiting,
wait. If you have a task, throw yourself into the work. Get into the
moment; the moment is right.

We are where we are, and it is okay. It is right where we're meant
to be to get where we're going tomorrow. And that place will be
good.

It has been planned in love for us.

God, help me let go of my need to be someone other than who
I am today. Help me dive fully into the present moment. I will
accept and surrender to my present moments - the difficult ones
and the easy ones, trusting the whole process. I will stop trying
to control the process; instead, I will relax and let myself
experience 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Song Of Fear
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1999/08/song.htm

The Power of Prayer
www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/November/cyberweave.htm

Soul Required, Alan Cohen
www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/08/soul.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Walking Meditation
by Sayadaw U. Pandita

During a retreat it is usual to alternate periods of sitting meditation
with periods of formal walking meditation of about the same
duration, one after another throughout the day. One hour is a
standard period, but forty-five minutes can also be used. For
formal walking, retreatants choose a lane of about twenty steps
in length and walk slowly back and forth along it. In daily life,
walking meditation can also be very helpful. A short period --
say ten minutes -- of formal walking meditation before sitting
serves to focus the mind. Beyond this advantage, the
awareness developed in walking meditation is useful to all of
us as we move our bodies from place to place in the course of
a normal day.

Walking meditation develops balance and accuracy of
awareness as well as durability of concentration. One can
observe very profound aspects of the Dhamma (wisdom or
knowledge) while walking, and even get enlightened! In fact,
a yogi who does not do walking meditation before sitting is like
a car with a rundown battery. He or she will have a difficult time
starting the engine of mindfulness when sitting.

Walking meditation consists of paying attention to the walking
process. If you are moving fairly rapidly, make a mental note of
the movement of the legs, "Left, right, left, right" and use your
awareness to follow the actual sensations throughout the leg
area. If you are moving more slowly, note the lifting, moving, and
placing of each foot. In each case you must try to keep your mind
on just the sensations of walking. Notice what processes occur
when you stop at the end of the lane, when you stand still, when
you turn and begin walking again.

Do not watch your feet unless this becomes necessary due to
some obstacle on the ground; it is unhelpful to hold the image
of a foot in your mind while you are trying to be aware of
sensations. You want to focus on the sensations themselves,
and these are not visual. For many people it is a fascinating
discovery when they are able to have a pure, bare perception of
physical objects such as lightness, tingling, cold, and warmth.

Usually we divide walking into three distinct movements: lifting,
moving, and placing the foot. To support a precise awareness,
we separate the movements clearly, making a soft mental label
at the beginning of each movement, and making sure that our
awareness follows it clearly and powerfully until it ends. One
minor but important point is to begin noting the placing movement
at the instant that the foot begins to move downward.

A New World in Sensations
Let us consider lifting. We know its conventional name, but in
meditation it is important to penetrate behind that conventional
concept and to understand the true nature of the whole process
of lifting, beginning with the intention to lift and continuing through
the actual process, which involves many sensations.

Our effort to be aware of lifting the foot must neither overshoot the
sensation nor weakly fall short of this target. Precise and accurate
mental aim helps balance our effort. When our effort is balanced
and our aim is precise, mindfulness will firmly establish itself on
the object of awareness. It is only in the presence of these three
factors -- effort, accuracy, and mindfulness -- that concentration
develops. Concentration, of course, is collectedness of mind,
one-pointedness. Its characteristic is to keep consciousness from
becoming diffuse or dispersed.

As we get closer and closer to this lifting process, we will see
that it is like a line of ants crawling across the road. From afar
the line may appear to be static, but from closer up it begins
to shimmer and vibrate. And from even closer the line breaks
up into individual ants, and we see that our notion of a line
was just an illusion. We now accurately perceive the line of ants
as one ant after another ant, after another ant. Exactly like this,
when we look accurately at the lifting process from beginning to
end, the mental factor or quality of consciousness called "insight"
comes nearer to the object of observation. The nearer insight
comes, the clearer the true nature of the lifting process can be
seen. It is an amazing fact about the human mind that when
insight arises and deepens through vipassana (or insight)
meditation practice, particular aspects of the truth about existence
tend to be revealed in a definite order. This order is known as
the progress of insight.

The first insight that meditators commonly experience is to begin
to comprehend -- not intellectually or by reasoning, but quite
intuitively -- that the lifting process is composed of distinct mental
and material phenomena occurring together, as a pair. The
physical sensations, which are material, are linked with, but
different from, the awareness, which is mental. We begin to see
a whole succession of mental events and physical sensations,
and to appreciate the conditionality that relates mind and matter.
We see with the greatest freshness and immediacy that mind
causes matter -- as when our intention to lift the foot initiates the
physical sensations of movement, and we see that matter causes
mind -- as when a physical sensation of strong heat generates a
wish to move our walking meditation into a shady spot. The
insight into cause and effect can take a great variety of forms;
but when it arises, our life seems far more simple to us than ever
before. Our life is no more than a chain of mental and physical
causes and effects. This is the second insight in the classical
progress of insight.

As we develop concentration we see even more deeply that
these phenomena of the lifting process are impermanent,
impersonal, appearing, and disappearing one by one at fantastic
speed. This is the next level of insight, the next aspect of existence
that concentrated awareness becomes capable of seeing
directly.

There is no one behind what is happening; the phenomena
arise and pass away as an empty process, according to the
law of cause and effect. This illusion of movement and solidity
is like a movie. To ordinary perception it seems full of characters
and objects, all the semblances of a world. But if we slow the
movie down we will see that it is actually composed of separate,
static frames of film.

Discovering the Path by Walking
When one is very mindful during a single lifting process --
that is to say, when the mind is with the movement, penetrating
with mindfulness into the true nature of what is happening --
at that moment, the path to liberation taught by the Buddha
opens up. The Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path, often known
as the Middle Way or Middle Path, consists of the eight factors
of right view or understanding, right thought or aim, right speech,
right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and
right concentration. During any moment of strong mindfulness,
five of the eight path factors come alive in consciousness. There
is right effort; there is mindfulness; there is one-pointedness or
concentration; there is right aim; and as we begin to have insight
into the true nature of the phenomena, right view also arises.
And during a moment when these five factors of the Eightfold
Path are present, consciousness is completely free from any sort
of defilement.

As we make use of that purified consciousness to penetrate into
the true nature of what is happening, we become free of the
delusion or illusion of self, we see only bare phenomena coming
and going. When insight gives us intuitive comprehension of the
mechanism of cause and effect, how mind and matter are related
to one another, we free ourselves of misconceptions about
the nature of phenomena. Seeing that each object lasts only for a
moment, we free ourselves of the illusion of permanence, the illusion
of continuity. As we understand impermanence and its underlying
unsatisfactoriness, we are freed from the illusion that our mind and
body are not suffering.

This direct seeing of impersonality brings freedom from pride and
conceit, as well as freedom from the wrong view that we have an
abiding self. When we carefully observe the lifting process, we see
mind and body as unsatisfactory and so are freed from craving. These
three states of mind -- conceit, wrong view, and craving -- are called
"the perpetuating dhammas." They help to perpetuate existence in
samsdra, the cycle of craving and suffering that is caused by
ignorance of ultimate truth. Careful attention in walking meditation
shatters the perpetuating dhammas, bringing us closer to freedom.

You can see that noting the lifting of one's foot has incredible
possibilities! These are no less present in moving the foot forward
and in placing it on the ground. Naturally, the depth and detail of
awareness described in these walking instructions should also
be applied to noting the abdominal movement in sitting, and all
other physical movements.

Five Benefits of Walking Meditation
The Buddha described five additional, specific benefits of walking
meditation. The first is that one who does walking meditation
will have the stamina to go on long journeys. This was important
in the Buddha's time, when bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, monks and
nuns, had no form of transportation other than their feet and legs.
You who are meditating today can consider yourselves to be
bhikkhus, and can think of this benefit simply as physical
strengthening.

The second benefit is that walking meditation brings stamina for
the practice of meditation itself. During walking meditation a
double effort is needed. In addition to the ordinary, mechanical
effort needed to lift the foot, there is also the mental effort to be
aware of the movement -- and this is the factor of right effort from
the Noble Eightfold Path. If this double effort continues through
the movements of lifting, pushing and placing, it strengthens the
capacity for that strong, consistent mental effort all yogis know
is crucial to vipassana practice.

Thirdly, according to the Buddha, a balance between sitting
and walking contributes to good health, which in turn speeds
progress in practice. Obviously it is difficult to meditate when
we are sick. Too much sitting can cause many physical ailments.
But the shift of posture and the movements of walking revive the
muscles and stimulate circulation, helping prevent illness.

The fourth benefit is that walking meditation assists digestion.
Improper digestion produces a lot of discomfort and is thus a
hindrance to practice. Walking keeps the bowels clear,
minimizing sloth and torpor. After a meal, and before sitting,
one should do a good walking meditation to forestall drowsiness.
Walking as soon as one gets up in the morning is also a good way
to establish mindfulness and to avoid a nodding head in the first
sitting of the day.

Last, but not least, of the benefits of walking is that it builds
durable concentration. As the mind works to focus on each
section of the movement during a walking session, concentration
becomes continuous. Every step builds the foundation for the
sitting that follows, helping the mind stay with the object from
moment to moment -- eventually to reveal the true nature of reality
at the deepest level. This is why I use the simile of a car battery.
If a car is never driven, its battery runs down. A yogi who never
does walking meditation will have a difficult time getting anywhere
when he or she sits down on the cushion. But one who is diligent
in walking will automatically carry strong mindfulness and firm
concentration into sitting meditation.

I hope that all of you will be successful in completely carrying out
this practice. May you be pure in your precepts, cultivating them
in speech and action, thus creating the conditions for developing
samadhi and wisdom.

May you follow these meditation instructions carefully, noting
each moment's experience with deep, accurate and precise
mindfulness, so that you will penetrate into the true nature of
reality. May you see how mind and matter constitute all
experiences, how these two are interrelated by cause and
effect, how all experiences are characterized by impermanence,
unsatisfactoriness and absence of self so that you may eventually
realize nibbana -- the unconditioned state that uproots mental
defilements -- here and now.

This article is excerpted from In This Very Life, ©1991, by
Saddhamma Foundation. Reprinted with permission of the publisher,
Wisdom Publications.  www.wisdompubs.org

About the Author:
Sayadaw U Pandita is the abbot of Panditarama Monastery and
Meditation Center in Rangoon, Burma. One of the renowned teachers
in the tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw, he teaches from his own profound
meditation experience, his 62 years of monastic training, and his
extensive
studies of the Pali texts. He has taught meditation worldwide since
1951.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Smell of Rain

    A cold March wind danced around Dallas as the doctor walked
into Diana Blessing's small hospital room.  It was the dead of
night and she was still groggy from surgery.  Her husband,
David, held her as they braced themselves for the latest news.

    That rainy afternoon, March 10, 1991, complications had
forced Diana, only twenty-four weeks pregnant, to undergo
emergency surgery.  At twelve inches long and weighing only one
pound, nine ounces, Danae Lu arrived by cesarean delivery.

    They already knew she was perilously premature.  Still, the
doctor's soft words dropped like bombs.  "I don't think she's
going to make it," he said as kindly as he could.  "There's only
a 10 percent chance she will live through the night.  If by some
slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel
one."    Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the
doctor described the devastating problems Danae could face if
she survived.

    She would probably never walk, or talk, or see.  She would
be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to
complete mental retardation, and on and on.  Through the dark
hours of morning as Danae held onto life by the thinnest thread,
Diana slipped in and out of drugged sleep.  But she was
determined that their daughter would live to be a happy, healthy
young girl.  David, fully awake, knew he must confront his wife
with the inevitable.

    David told Diana that they needed to talk about funeral
arrangements.    But Diana said, "No, that is not going to happen.
No way!  I don't care what the doctors say, Danae is not going
to die.  One day she will be just fine and she will be home with
us."

    As if willed to live by Diana's determination, Danae clung
to life hour after hour.  But as those first rainy days passed,
a new agony set in for David and Diana.  Because Danae's
underdeveloped nervous system was essentially "raw," the least
kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so they couldn't
even cradle their tiny baby.  All they could do, as Danae
struggled beneath the ultraviolet light, was to pray that God
would stay close to their precious little girl.

    At last, when Danae was two months old, her parents were
able to hold her for the first time.  Two months later, she went
home from the hospital just as her mother predicted, even though
doctors grimly warned that her chances of leading a normal life
were almost zero.

    Today, five years later, Danae is a petite but feisty young
girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for
life.    She shows no sign of any mental or physical impairment.
But that happy ending is not the end of the story.

    One blistering summer afternoon in 1996 in Irving, Texas,
Danae was sitting in her mother's lap at the ball park where her
brother's baseball team was practicing.  As always, Danae was
busy chattering when she suddenly fell silent.  Hugging her arms
across her chest, Danae asked her mom, "Do you smell that?"

    Smelling the air and detecting a thunderstorm approaching,
Diana replied, "Yes, it smells like rain."

    Danae closed her eyes again and asked, "Do you smell that?"

    Once again her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to
get wet, it smells like rain."

    Caught in the moment, Danae shook her head, patted her thin
shoulder and loudly announced, "No, it smells like him.  It
smells like God when you lay your head on His chest."

    Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Danae happily hopped down to
play with the other children before the rain came.  Her
daughter's words confirmed what Diana and the rest of the
Blessing family had known all along.  During those long days and
nights of the first two months of her life, when her nerves were
too sensitive to be touched, God was holding Danae on his chest,
and it is His scent that she remembers so well.

By Nancy Miller from Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul
Copyright 2000 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

To receive the Sound Current, put yourself in a
position to receive it.

Recognize and accept that you are a child of God
and are worthy of being at one with the loving,
highest forces in existence.

In that recognition, commit to the discipline;
literally sit down and do spiritual exercises as a
habit that the conscious self creates, the basic self
respects, and the high self supports.

Do this and you have only you to gain.

John-Roger
(From: Passage Into Spirit)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A-Maze-Ment

Discover the little joys hidden in your days
do not lose yourself in your patient waiting time
record the journey to your Dream
as a maze that turns and twists ahead of you
unannounced, unforseen
un-covered, as of yet unperceived

For this time is fertile seeding ground
for the unleashing of creative inventions
for centering your self onto solid footings
Don’t let it just pass you by
while your gaze intensifies on the road far ahead

There are treasures at your feet
Pay attention here instead
Leave the hidden workings of the universe
to its promises and miracles

Let them unfold, unravel their mysterious weaving
for the wondrous revealing
It shall soon come to pass

Love
Stella

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie-Johnson
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Happy Birthday

Here are some questions to ponder as we approach sobriety
birthdays or know others who are approaching them,
and we have to decide whether or how to celebrate them?

If one day of sobriety is a miracle,
what are 365 of them in a row, all by the same person?

If we should be grateful for one day of sobriety
how should we feel for 365 of them in a row?

For whom is the celebration?
The person who got sober?
The people who helped him or her get and stay sober?
The person who is looking for some hope, some validation that it
can happen?

Should we pass up a chance to say "thank you"?

Should we pass up a chance to say "you can do this too"?

Isn't a decision to be a birthday curmudgeon
almost like saying we did it ourselves and aren't grateful?
If we know someone who is approaching a sobriety birthday,
shouldn't we share with them the joy we feel at having them with
us again?

Isn't being able to take part in ceremonies of celebration
and joy a part of rejoining the human race?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I now release what I do not want in my life
to make way for what I do want.
Divine Intelligence now shows me
in what areas of my life to form a vacuum.
I now let go of the lesser to make room
for the greater good to rush into my life.
I let go and trust.
Catherine Ponder

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The nature of God is a circle of which the center is
everywhere and the circumference is nowhere.
Empedocles

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The essence of all religions is love, compassion, and tolerance.
Kindness is my true religion.
The clear proof of a person's love of God is
if that person genuinely shows love to fellow human beings.
The Dalai Lama

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We need to acknowledge our own responsibility
for the image of God that we are content to believe in.
Diana Eck

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You are never given a wish without
also being given the power to make it come true.
You may have to work at it, however.
Richard Bach

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

But for the Grace of God

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It works if you work it

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Stick with the winners

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Principles before Personalities


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

Being in a 12 step program and not working the steps is like
winning the lottery and not going to collect the money.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new, What does it mean when they say
"The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting. "
Talk about reservations -- the ones you had --
and the fear of ones you may still have.

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 17
Today I know that whatever is in my life
I have put there and therefore I can let it go as well.
Today I have faith and trust that
I can take an honest look at what needs to be changed 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It Was ALL About ME

I woke up one day
And what did I see
My past was a blur
But it was all about me!

The clouds are slowly lifting
As the days go by
Now I look at my life
And ask why oh why.

I drank and I drugged
Until no end
I lived to get high
No matter what the consequence.

I'd steal, beg and borrow
Just to get high
I didn't even care
If someone had to die.

Crack cocaine took over my life
I gave the Devil my soul the very first night
I got stabbed 19 times and I almost died
I thought I was cool cause I put up a fight

Look at me now so fragile and weak
Weighing about 110
So tired I can barely speak

All I want to do
is sleep, sleep, sleep
Just wake me to eat
If I can get to my feet.

Now I've lost everything
I'm so alone
I look in the mirror and what do I see
Stitches and scars all over me.

As the days go by
The stronger I grow
I see a new person
That wants to be known.

I've hurt my family and kids
Until no end.
Drug's took over my life
I lived in sin.

I stole from my mother
and didn't care
Now I lay here in jail
And she's still there.

I want to be healed
  From this life long disease
Dear God, Cleanse my heart
And please save me.

So Good-bye to you drug
Whatever it may be
Thank you Lord for healing me.

Lisa G. 5-16-04 written while serving time
in the Indian River Correctional Facility.
Submitted with permission by her sponsor.
Decafpls@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Victim
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=BB1_yJQxnyudP4YYXs\
GytmQQw7.cvFWNDW2XWfjfAOdikred6g

Father Ed Dowling and A.A.'s Bill W.
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aafreddowling.html

N.A.W.O.L. Traditions War: a pathway to peace
Preface
http://www.nawol.org/twppPreface.html

Inner Child Healing - Choosing a therapist or counselor with discernment
http://www.joy2meu.com/Choosing_a_therapist.htm

A Caring Thought
http://www.geocities.com/syndrina/CaringThoughts.html

Drug rehab programs and treatment centers
http://www.sober.com

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Twelve
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_twelve.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Five—Our Primary Purpose
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition5_primarypurpose.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 17                                               Tell the truth

"A symptom of our disease is alienation, and honest sharing will
free us to recover."    Basic Text, p. 80

     Truth connects us to life while fear, isolation, and dishonesty
alienate us from it. As using addicts, we hid as much of the truth
about ourselves from as much of the world as we possibly could.
Our fear kept us from opening ourselves up to those around us,
providing protection against what others might do if we appeared
vulnerable. But our fear also kept us from connecting with our
world. We lived like alien beings on our own planet, always
alone and getting lonelier by the minute.

The Twelve Steps and the fellowship of recovering addicts give
people like us a place where we can feel safe telling the truth
about ourselves. We are able to honestly admit our frustrating,
humbling powerlessness over addiction because we meet many
others who've been in the same situation-we're safe among them.
And we keep on telling more of the truth about ourselves as we
continue to work the steps. The more we do, the more truly
connected we feel to the world around us.

Today, we need not hide from the reality of our relations with the
people, places, and things in our lives. We accept those
relationships just as they are, and we own our part in them. We
take time every day to ask, "Am I telling the truth about myself?"
Each time we do this, we draw that much further away from the
alienation that characterizes our addiction, and that much closer
to the freedom recovery can bring us.

Just for today: Truth is my connection to reality. Today, I will take
time to ask myself, "Am I telling the truth?"

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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Living In The Now

First, we try living in the now just in order to stay sober -- and it
works.  Once the idea has become a part of our thinking, we find
that living life in 24 hour segments is an effective and satisfying
way to handle many other matters as well.
LIVING SOBER, p. 7

"One Day At A Time." To a newcomer this and other one-liners
of A.A. may seem ridiculous.  The passwords of the A.A. Fellowship
can become lifelines in moments of stress.  Each day can be like a
rose unfurling according to the plan of a Power greater than myself.
My program should be planted in the right location, just as it will
need to be groomed, nourished, and protected from disease.  My
planting will require patience, and my realizing that some flowers
will be more perfect than others.  Each stage of the petals' unfolding
can bring wonder and delight if I do not interfere or let my
expectations
override my acceptance -- and this brings serenity.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 17th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic, a spiritual
experience seems impossible, but to continue as he is means
disaster.  To be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live on a
spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face.  But
we have to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis
of life-or else.  Lack of power is our dilemma.  We have to
find a power by which we can live, and it has to be a power
greater than ourselves."  Have I found that power by which
I can live?

Meditation for the Day

Sunshine is the laughter of nature.  Live out in the sun- shine.
The sun and air are good medicine.  Nature is a good nurse
for tired bodies.  Let her have her way with you.  God's grace
is like the sunshine.  Let your whole being be enwrapped in
the Divine spirit.  Faith is the soul's breathing in of the Divine
spirit.  It makes glad the hearts of human beings.  The Divine
spirit heals and cures the mind.  Let it have its way and A will
be well.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may live in the sunshine of God's spirit.  I pray
that my mind and soul may be energized by it.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 17

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Healing Thoughts

Think healing thoughts.

When you feel anger or resentment, ask God to help you feel it,
learn from it, and then release it. Ask Him to bless those who you
feel anger toward. Ask Him to bless you too.

When you feel fear, ask Him to take it from you. When you feel
misery, force gratitude. When you feel deprived, know that there
is enough.

When you feel ashamed, reassure yourself that who you are is
okay. You are good enough.

When you doubt your timing or your present position in life,
assure yourself that all is well; you are right where you're meant
to be. Reassure yourself that others are too.

When you ponder the future, tell yourself that it will be good.
When you look back at the past, relinquish regrets.

When you notice problems, affirm there will be a timely solution
and a gift from the problem.

When you resist feelings or thoughts, practice acceptance. When
you feel discomfort, know it will pass. When you identify a want or
a need, tell yourself it will be met.

When you worry about those you love, ask God to protect and
care for them. When you worry about yourself, ask Him to do the
same.

When you think about others, think love. When you think about
yourself, think love.

Then watch your thoughts transform reality.

Today, I will think healing thoughts.

©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 Fifteen Major Tests Of The Spiritual Path
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/08/15tests.htm

10 Secrets ~ Dr. Wayne Dwyre
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=79

Who’s Sorry Now, Alan Cohen
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/07/sorry.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 Sequel's Not Equal

by Alan Cohen

This is the summer of the sequel. Movie theatres are glutted with
follow-ups to blockbusters of previous years, like Men in Black 2,
Austin Powers 3, and Star Wars 5. The business savvy behind
a sequel is plain: if the masses paid millions to see the original
film, they will flock back and pay millions more to see the next
generation.

The thing about sequels, however, is that they rarely measure
up to the original. Recently I saw American Pie 2 and Scary
Movie 2, two films whose ancestors were clever and hilarious.
Unfortunately, the follow-ups suffered from rubber-stamp-itis,
and I walked out of the theatre feeling hungry for the original
sparkle.

Like movies, there are two ways to live a life: hiding out in history,
or dancing on the cutting edge. History is safe, but reeks of
regularity. The cutting edge seems scary, but it bestows life. You
can copy what has been done, and in some cases you may
succeed financially ¾ but at the same time you wither spiritually.
Herein lies the challenge ¾ and invitation ¾ to a true creator.

After his original song Don’t Worry, Be Happy became a mega-hit
in the late 1980’s, singer Bobby McFerrin spent several years
touring the world performing the tune. And he could have gone
on, except for one thing ¾ he got bored. "There was no life in
performing the song any more," he admitted. "I was cheating
my audiences and myself." So he stopped. Bobby took a few
years off, developed his relationship with his children, studied
with acclaimed cellist Yoyo Ma, and created an entirely new form
of musical expression with an avant-garde group he called
"Synchestra." I saw Bobby perform with Synchestra, and the show
was electrifying. Although the audience waited and hoped to hear
McFerrin perform Don’t Worry, Be Happy, he never did. Way to go,
Bobby.

Oprah Winfrey had to walk through the same initiation. After
consistently winning Emmy Awards for her popular talk show
for many years, Oprah decided it was time to take the program
to a new level. "I had to move from a format based on dysfunction
to one of self-actualization." When she told her producers she
wanted to found her material on spiritual growth, they warned that
she would lose her audience and sponsorship. She did it anyway.
Now her show is more popular than ever, still garnering Emmys
regularly. More important, Oprah can live with herself.

You can carve a career cranking out cookie-cutter products, but
you cannot carve out a life that way. The only thing more important
than making a living is making a life. Oliver Wendell Holmes
suggested that anyone over age 60 change careers every few
years. Why? Newness, challenge, and exploration bestow life
force, and life force keeps us young and healthy. Unless you keep
doing your work newer and better, you are dying in your profession.
If you are not regenerating, you are degenerating.

I often speak at churches on Sunday mornings where I deliver a
talk at each of two or three services. I rarely give the same talk
at each of the services. I tried that once and felt bored. If a speaker
feels bored, the audience doesn’t stand a chance. I heard about
one famous speaker who delivered the same lecture, word for
word, wherever he went, for many years. One morning he showed
up at a large church to deliver a sermon to a thousand eager
listeners. He had flown a long distance to get there, and he arrived
minutes before the service. Ten minutes into his talk, the fellow
began to slow down the pace of his lecture, and there grew gaps
between his sentences. Then gaps between his words. Finally
there was a long pause that went on for over 30 seconds. The
lecturer fell asleep during his own address! Finally the resident
minister gracefully tapped him on the shoulder. He awoke with a
start, harrumphed, and continued his sermon from the word where
he had left off.

The story is told about a young boy walking along a church
corridor with his minister. The boy tugged at the minister’s sleeve
and asked, "Excuse me, Reverend ¾ What are those gold
plaques on the wall with people’s names on them?"

The minister looked down at the child and soberly told him,
"Those are the names of people from our church who died
in the service."

The child thought for a moment and asked, "Was that the
9 o’clock service or the 11 o’clock service?"

Take care that you do not die while performing your service.
Someone asked a famous minister "What is the secret of your
success?" His answer was simple: "I just set myself on fire and
people watch me burn." There is new fire in every day, and if
you catch hold of it, you will brighten the lives of everyone you
touch, beginning with your own. The greatest gift you have to
offer is your presence, which you have only when you are present.

This article is based on themes from Alan Cohen’s breakthrough
bestseller Why Your Life Sucks and What You Can Do About It

About The Author

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.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Good morning dear one, beloved and precious child of God,

When unhealed hurts arises it hurts.  When unhealed anger arises we are
angry.  When unhealed resentment arises we are resentful.  When unhealed
loneliness arises we are lonely.  All these arise our of unresolved
hurts of
the past.

The only way to heal the old hurts is to allow them to arise and feel
our
hurt no matter how much it hurts.  We must take responsibility for and
claim
the hurt is ours and not blame another.

The good news is; the old hurt was then and now is now.  We are now
adults
with power and understanding able to heal, love, and nurture our hurt
inner
child and set ourselves free.

Have a fabulous day, soon your hurt child will be safe in your wise and
loving care.
With love, light and laughter,
edwardg

Affirmation: I have the wisdom and understanding to love, guide, and
protect
my inner child from the world's unloving ways.

Until we release the past we shall keep dragging it around.
Until we release the past we can't move into the present.
Until we release the past our lives will never work.
Until we release the past we shall never know
our true magnificence.

Anonymous

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

the path of my past

I looked to the past to find my path.
What I saw there was strange.
Moments of joy and happiness
overshadowed by sorrow and pain.
Twisting trails of tormented tears
wound through beautiful sun-kissed glades,
marked by bogs of resentments and fears
of every wrong choice I had made.
Afraid and unsure, I averted my eyes,
refocused my attention on the now.
It is here that I see the path I must take
and it is you that has shown me how.

To all of my inspirations out there, thank you for
giving me the strength to shake off the pain of the
past, see the glory of today, and gain the hope for
the future! You are true miracles, and you are loved!
May blessings be unbound in your lives today, and may
you know, like you have made me realize, that all of
our problems are manageable ones!

With much love, light and laughter,
johnh
8-15-03
johnh94@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Friends

The little girl you played with
the boy who pulled your hair
your brownie and your cub scout troop
had so much joy to share;

the friend who glossed your virgin lips
the one who taught a kiss
those mentioned in your diary
aahhh, such friends do you miss.

The guy who sold you your first pill
oh - what a pal was he!
He said, just pay me next time -
my friend, this one's on me.

The girl who passed the joint to you
and giggled when you coughed -
"keep toking bitch - I'll teach you
harden up, babe, you're too soft".

Remember that cool party
oh - the friends you had back then!
As needles entered teenage arms
you really felt like men.

Pass that bottle to me, please
hey - don't drink it all!
Oh, you have another?
Will you catch me when I fall?

Nothing bonds a pair of friends
like sleeping in the street
covered by a coat for two
sharing their defeat.

Who but a pal will give you
the shirt right of their back?
And often will be kind enough
to share their hit of crack.

No one likes to feel alone
it's fun to swap your sorrow;
together you can walk the path
destroying your tomorrow.

Somewhere friend, along the way
confusion did set in -
for friends should lift your spirits
not dim the light within.

So choose your cohorts wisely,
start changing friends today.
Find a kindred spirit
whose essence lights the way

to your new way of living
return of simple pleasure
the friends who free your soul from strife
are those whom you will treasure!

by Lori Williams
missred412@...
Copyright April 15,2000

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Good Morning

This is going to be a great day
I will follow my heart along the way
I will extend my hand to those who ask
Staying clean and sober is not really a task
I will smile at all whom I see
I am so grateful God has set me free
No longer alone under a dark cloud of gloom
I find peace at the tables in an AA room
Today this is the way for me
God has set this drunk free
Now I will turn and give it away
I have been blessed to live in today
Now I can not do it here in my home
When you join recovery your never alone
So smile a lot and extend your hand
Turn to the new comer show them you understand
God will bless you as you do His work you see
We have the ability to help others break free

Daniel M Corkery
7/3/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

At the core of all anger is a need that is not being fulfilled.
Marshall B. Rosenberg

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We are enrolled in a full time, informal school called, "Life."
Each day of this school, we have the opportunity to learn lessons.
We may like the lessons or hate them,
but they are part of the curriculum.
The greatest lessons we learn are about love and fear,
that every action is either an expression of love, or a call for love.
And the great blessing is
that every lesson repeats itself until we learn it.
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You cannot teach a man anything;
you can only help him to find it within himself.
Galileo

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If we don't change, we don't grow.
If we don't grow, we are not really living.
Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.
Gail Sheehy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize
how close they were to success when they gave up."
Thomas Edison

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meeting makers make it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Those who make meetings regularly,
stay clean.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Their are only two times
that you need to go to meetings,
when you want to go and
when you don't want to go.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

MANY meetings - MANY chances
FEW meetings -  FEW chances
NO meetings - NO chances


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

Ego: At the end of the game,
the Queen and the Pawn go into the same box.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new, What does it mean when they say
"The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting. "
Talk about reservations -- the ones you had --
and the fear of ones you may still have.

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 16
It feels so good to know
I'm making my own decisions and following my own path.
My Higher Power is my guide and
my inner voice is my teacher and my soul
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

For the Newcomer

Why, do you ask , did this happen to me?
Please don't ask, just accept, your truth shall set you free.
Why did my journey take me to Hell and back, time and time again?
To give you experience, now the real journey begins.
I speak of my truth, for me there is no doubt
If you don't go within to find yourself, you will surly go without.
The game is over, put away your drugs and your fears
Come, sit down, hang out for awhile,
If you need I will wipe away your tears.
I know it may not seem like much to offer
For all I have is what was freely given to me
Acceptance and Love is a gift from a Higher Power
I will share my truth with you so your truth shall set you Free !

written by: Dennis Talbot


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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 Prayer For The World
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=TIcFG8UxkH6MaloOBm\
uWlqPpa7zNq8BTPUG_rCqaQ7.29pnS7w

I WAS AN ALCOHOLIC
Anonymous, Pageant, April 1947 As told to Gerald Mygatt
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aaplattsburg.html

Addictionary
http://www.nawol.org/2006_Addictionary.html

The Recovery Process for inner child healing - The Process of
Processing 2
http://www.joy2meu.com/Process2.htm

Afraid
http://www.geocities.com/meledyann/Afraid.html

Recovery Threads
http://www.recoverythreads.com

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Ten
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_ten.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Eleven
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_eleven.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 16                                              Up or down

"This is our road to spiritual growth. We change every day....
This growth is not the result of wishing but of action and prayer:"
Basic Text, p. 35-36

    Our spiritual condition is never static; if it's not growing, it's
decaying. If we stand still, our spiritual progress will lose its upward
momentum. Gradually, our growth will slow, then halt, then reverse
itself. Our tolerance will wear thin; our willingness to serve others
will
wane; our minds will narrow and close. Before long, we'll be right back
where we started: in conflict with everyone and everything around us,
unable to bear even ourselves.

Our only option is to actively participate in our program of spiritual
growth. We pray, seeking knowledge greater than our own from a
Power greater than ourselves. We open our minds and keep them
open, becoming teachable and taking advantage of what others have
to share with us. We demonstrate our willingness to try new ideas
and new ways of doing things, experiencing life in a whole new way.
Our spiritual progress picks up speed and momentum, driven by the
Higher Power we are coming to understand better each day.

Up or down-it's one or the other, with very little in between, where
spiritual growth is concerned. Recovery is not fueled by wishing and
dreaming, we've discovered, but by prayer and action

Just for today:  The only constant in my spiritual condition is change.
I cannot rely on yesterday's program. Today, I seek new spiritual
growth through prayer and action.  pg. 238

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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anonymous Gifts of Kindness

As active alcoholics we were always looking for a handout in
one way or another.
"THE TWELVE TRADITIONS ILLUSTRATED,", p.14

The challenge of the Seventh Tradition is a personal challenge,
reminding me to share and give of myself.  Before sobriety the
only thing I ever supported was my habit of drinking.  Now my
efforts are a smile, a kind word, and kindness.
I saw that I had to start carrying my own weight and allow my
new friends to walk with me because, through the practice of
the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, I've never had it so good.

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/ August 16th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"The alcoholic is absolutely unable to stop drinking on
the basis of self-knowledge.  We must admit we can do
nothing about it ourselves.  Willpower and self-knowledge
will never help in the strange mental blank spots when we
are tempted to drink.  An alcoholic mentally is in a very
sick condition.  The last flicker of conviction that we can
do the job ourselves must be snuffed out.  The spiritual
answer and the program of action are the only hope.  Only
spiritual principles will solve our problems.  We are
completely helpless apart from Divine help.  Our defense
against drinking must come from a Higher Power."  Have
I accepted the spiritual answer and the program of action?

Meditation for the Day

Rest now until life, eternal life, flowing through your veins
and heart and mind, bids you to bestir yourself. Then glad
work will follow. Tired work is never effective. The strength
of God's spirit is always available to the tired mind and
body. He is your physician and your healer. Look to these
quiet times of communion with God for rest, for peace, for
cure. Then rise refreshed in spirit and go out to work,
knowing that your strength is able to meet any problems
because it is reinforced by God's power.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that the peace I have found will make me effective.
I pray that I may be relieved of all strain during this day.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 16

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Rescuing Ourselves

No one likes a martyr.

How do we feel around martyrs? Guilty, angry, trapped, negative,
and anxious to get away.

Somehow, many of us have developed the belief that depriving
ourselves, not taking care of ourselves, being a victim, and suffering
needlessly will get us what we want.

It is our job to notice our abilities, our strengths, and take care of
ourselves by developing and acting on them.

It is our job to notice our pain and weariness and appropriately take
care of ourselves.

It is our job to notice our deprivation, too, and begin to take steps to
give ourselves abundance. It begins inside of us, by changing what
we believe we deserve, by giving up our deprivation and treating
ourselves the way we deserve to be treated.

Life is hard, but we don't have to make it more difficult by neglecting
ourselves. There is no glory in suffering, only suffering. Our pain
will not stop when a rescuer comes, but when we take responsibility
for ourselves and stop our own pain.

Today, I will be my own rescuer. I will stop waiting for someone else
to work through my issues and solve my problems 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Soul Required, by Alan Cohen
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/08/soul.htm

Let It Be Easy, Alan Cohen
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/1998/06/easy.htm

Two Sides of a Prison Wall , Alan Cohen
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/November/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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dancing with Life
by Richard Carlson

Human beings have essentially two modes or mind-sets that
we operate or live in, with, of course, some shades of gray in
between. We have what you might call a healthy mode, and
another, which you can think of as reactive.

When we are in our healthiest state of mind, we "dance" with
life. We're in the flow of things. We're patient, wise, thoughtful,
and kind. We make good, sound decisions. We treat others
with respect and compassion -- and we treat ourselves that
way too. We make adjustments when necessary, and are flexible
in our thinking. Reflect, for a moment, on your own life. Can
you recall times when you have remained -- even for a
moment -- in a healthy, calm state of mind, despite difficult
circumstances?

Our reactive state of mind is quite different. In fact, if you're
anything like me, there are probably times when you wonder how
the same person can respond (or react) so differently to a
remarkably similar set of facts. One moment we can handle
something really well, even when it's "big." But the next moment
we fly off the handle! In a reactive state of mind, we are less patient.
Instead of being effortless, our thinking is difficult. We churn and
struggle. We are quick-tempered and judgmental. We are frustrated
and hard on ourselves and others. Our problem-solving skills are
limited, as are our perspective and vision.

It's helpful to notice and acknowledge the difference between
these two ways of being (or states of mind) because it gives you
a "home base" and a starting point; it gives you something to work
with. It's very comforting to know the power of your own state of
mind because, unlike so many other factors, it comes from within
you. You have some capacity to control it.

Sometimes it's hard to believe, but ultimately we are the source
of our own love. In the beautiful audiotape course To Love and
Be Loved by Stephen and Ondrea Levine (published by Sounds
True),  the Levines spoke of a woman who said, "My mother can't
allow me to love her." They pointed out something that took me
some time to digest. In a very compassionate tone they pointed
out that, "Actually, she can't stop you from loving her."

Our healthiest state of mind is that strong. It's a state of mind filled
with love. When we are in it, we feel secure and at peace -- to
some extent regardless of what's going on around us. This is
our most natural state of mind.

Everyone gets reactive, and at times it seems we're always that
way. And there's nothing wrong with this, nor am I aware of any
way to completely eliminate it. But if you've ever felt the peace
of your mental well-being, then you know it's in you and can be
found again. Simply knowing that it's there is half the battle. By
acknowledging the existence of a healthy state of mind, you can
learn to trust it, and access it, more often. And this is key: When
you're in a healthy state of mind, you'll know who to turn to, who
your friends are, and what to do. That's not a pep talk, it's the truth.

Ironically, the way to access your inner health and strength is
not by "trying," but by letting go. The idea is to clear our minds
and let go of our analytical thinking when it's getting the best of
us. When we do, and as we quiet down, a natural, orderly flow of
thoughts will begin to emerge, including insights on what to do
next. It's this quieter place where our deepest wisdom exists.

You'll notice that when you are in your healthiest state of mind,
life will seem pretty manageable and effortless. The decisions
and actions you need to make will flow, as if you are dancing.
You will see right to the heart of the matter and you will act
accordingly. On the other hand, when you slip into a more reactive
state, you'll feel overwhelmed and stressed. The key is, you'll feel
the difference.

My dear friend and coauthor of Slowing Down to the Speed of Life,
Joe Bailey, equates our thinking to a walkie-talkie. He says we are
either on "talk" or "listen." The metaphor suggests that we are either
in a healthy state or a reactive one. And just like a walkie-talkie, in
order to shift from talk to listen, it's necessary to know which mode
you're in. But once you do, all that's necessary is to let go of the
button, and the shift occurs automatically.

So it is when we're thinking. When we're reactive, churning, and
trying too hard to figure everything out, the key is to recognize that
we're doing so. Then, like silt settling in a pond, we do nothing except
ease off and wait. Relax and trust that your wisdom will kick into gear.
It requires no effort, but it does require faith, humility, and
patience.
It requires faith because you must trust that your wisdom and healthy
mind-set do in fact exist. It requires humility because it's often hard
to admit that effort is not the answer. Finally, it requires patience
because even though the process is simple, it's not as easy as it
sounds.

One thing is certain, however. If you can dance with it, making the
necessary adjustments along the way, you can and will get through
it. Give yourself plenty of time and space, and remain compassionate
toward yourself. There is a part of you that is stronger than any of
your problems.

This article is excerpted from What About the Big Stuff?, ©2002, by
Richard Carlson, Ph.D. Reprinted with permission of the publisher,
Hyperion.   www.hyperionbooks.com

About the Author
RICHARD CARLSON is the bestselling author of Don't Sweat the
Small Stuff at Work; Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens; and
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Men, among many other titles.
He lectures around the country and internationally.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Together Our Unity Can Heal

A number of years ago (1983-1987), I had the opportunity to
play the character of Ronald McDonald for the McDonald's
Corporation. My marketplace covered most of Arizona and a
portion of Southern California.

      One of our standard events was "Ronald Day." One day each
month, we visited as many of the community hospitals as possible,
bringing a little happiness into a place where no one ever looks
forward to going. I was very proud to be able to make a
difference for children and adults who were experiencing some
"down time." The warmth and gratification I would receive stayed
with me for weeks. I loved the project, McDonald's loved the
project, the kids and adults loved it and so did the nursing and
hospital staffs.

      There were two restrictions placed on me during a visit.
First I could not go anywhere in the hospital without McDonald's
personnel (my handlers) as well as hospital personnel. That way,
if I were to walk into a room and frighten a child, there was
someone there to address the issue immediately. And second, I
could not physically touch anyone within the hospital. They did
not want me transferring germs from one patient to another. I
understood why they had this "don't touch" rule, but I didn't
like it. I believe that touching is the most honest form of
communication we will ever know. Printed and spoken words can
lie; it is impossible to lie with a warm hug.

      Breaking either of these rules, I was told, meant I could
lose my job.

      Toward the end of my fourth year of "Ronald Days," as I was
heading down a hallway after a long day in grease paint and on
my way home, I heard a little voice. "Ronald, Ronald."

      I stopped. The soft little voice was coming through a half-
opened door. I pushed the door open and saw a young boy,
about five years old, lying in his dad's arms, hooked up to more
medical equipment than I had ever seen. Mom was on the other
side, along with Grandma, Grandpa and a nurse tending to the
equipment.

      I knew by the feeling in the room that the situation was
grave. I asked the little boy his name - he told me it was Billy
- and I did a few simple magic tricks for him. As I stepped back
to say good-bye, I asked Billy if there was anything else I could
do for him.

      "Ronald, would you hold me?"

      Such a simple request. But what ran through my mind was that
if I touched him, I could lose my job. So I told Billy I could
not do that right now, but I suggested that he and I color a
picture. Upon completing a wonderful piece of art that we were
both very proud of, Billy again asked me to hold him. By this
time my heart was screaming "yes!" But my mind was screaming
louder. "No! You are going to lose your job!"

      This second time that Billy asked me, I had to ponder why I
could not grant the simple request of a little boy who probably
would not be going home. I asked myself why was I being logically
and emotionally torn apart by someone I had never seen before
and probably would never see again.

      "Hold me." It was such a simple request, and yet...

      I searched for any reasonable response that would allow me
to leave. I could not come up with a single one. It took me a
moment to realize that in this situation, losing my job may not
be the disaster I feared.

      Was losing my job the worst thing in the world?

      Did I have enough self-belief that if I did lost my job, I
would be able to pick up and start again? The answer was a loud,
bold, affirming "yes!" I could pick up and start again.

      So what was the risk?

      Just that if I lost my job, it probably would not be long
before I would lost first my car, then my home...and to be honest
with you, I really liked those things. But I realized that at the
end of my life, the car would have no value and neither would the
house. The only things that had steadfast value were experiences.
Once I reminded myself that the real reason I was there was to
bring a little happiness to an unhappy environment, I realized
that I really faced no risk at all.

      I sent Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa out of the room, and
my two McDonald's escorts out to the van. The nurse tending the
medical equipment stayed, but Billy asked her to stand and face
the corner. Then I picked up this little wonder of a human being.
He was so frail and so scared. We laughed and cried for 45
minutes, and talked about the things that worried him.

      Billy was afraid that his little brother might get lost
coming home from kindergarten next year, without Billy to show
him the way. He worried that his dog wouldn't get another bone
because Billy had hidden the bones in the house before going
back to the hospital, and now he couldn't remember where he
put them.

      These are problems to a little boy who knows he is not going
home.

      On my way out of the room, with tear-streaked makeup running
down my neck, I gave Mom and Dad my real name and phone
number (another automatic dismissal for a Ronald McDonald, but
I figured that I was gone and had nothing to lose), and said if there
was anything the McDonald's Corporation or I could do, to give me
a call and consider it done. Less than 48 hours later, I received a
phone call from Billy's mom. She informed me that Billy had
passed away. She and her husband simply wanted to thank me for
making a difference in their little boy's life.

      Billy's mom told me that shortly after I left the room,
Billy looked at her and said, "Momma, I don't care anymore if I
see Santa this year because I was held by Ronald McDonald."

      Sometimes we must do what is right for the moment,
regardless of the perceived risk. Only experiences have value,
and the one biggest reason people limit their experiences is
because of the risk involved.

      For the record, McDonald's did find out about Billy and me,
but given the circumstances, permitted me to retain my job. I
continued as Ronald for another year before leaving the
corporation to share the story of Billy and how important it is
to take risks.

By Jeff McMullen   from Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Stone

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found
a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another
traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag
to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone
and asked the woman to give it to him.

She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone
was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But, a few
days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said.

"I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope
that you can give me something even more precious.
Give me what you have within you
that enabled you to give me this stone."

Author unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TODAY'S POSITIVE THOUGHT:

Love heals all.

TODAY'S POSITIVE AFFIRMATION:

Love is healing every aspect of my life.
I AM whole and healthy.

TODAY'S POSITIVE VISUALIZATION:

I close my eyes and imagine myself whole and
healthy. In my mind's eye I see myself surrounded
by a blanket of love. I feel this love penetrating
every aspect of my being. I imagine this love healing
all hurts past and present. I see myself going through
my day as a healthy, peaceful, and productive person.
I combine these thoughts with a feeling of joy and I
let the images go.

Copyright © 2002 Institute For Creative Living
All rights reserved.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

2 Recovery Haiku's

My recovery
A gift from God
Reminding me to be grateful


Gratitude reminds me
Life is greater
When I see where I came from

Vera
Vge718@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The minute you settle for less than you deserve,
you get even less than you settled for.
Maureen Dowd

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.
Henry David Thoreau

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
Beverly Sills

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

God grant me the courage
not to give up what I think is right,
even though I think it is hopeless.
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love doesn't make the world go 'round.
Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
Franklin P. Jones

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The slogans are the banisters to the steps.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This too shall pass

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Live and Let Live

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

First Things First


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

This is a 'One Day at a Time' program.
If you are clean today, you are tied for first place.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
I am new, What does it mean when they say
"The newcomer is the most important person at any meeting. "
Talk about reservations -- the ones you had --
and the fear of ones you may still have.

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 15
Today I will spend some time
putting my own needs aside to help someone else.
It is so good to know that I can be filled with
such good feelings and I get so much when I give of myself.
written by ~ Ruth Fishel
"Time for Joy"
Check out Ruth's collection of
light, nourishing and nurturing Books and Tapes
& some touching and embracing Greeting Cards
http://www.spirithaven.com/booksandtapes.htm
for inspirational messages email
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Just for Today*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Upon Your Feet

I did not just wake up one day
Working the steps I changed my way
It took God my sponsor also the steps
Along with lots of meetings you see
Day to day I had learned how to live free
I did not get here over night
It took years of working the steps
In order for me to get right
I really had to give time
Time you see
I took a long time for me
For me to learn how to live free
So be patient when you first get here
God along with a sponsor will ease your fear
In recovery the more you give the more you get
Today it is so beautiful to live a life free of regret
Always remember to be honest and true
Once your willing God will help you
Always remember just for today
Be kind be patient
Along the way
Keep your eyes open
As you make your way
We know what your going through
We were all one day just like you
To yourself always be true
When you get your feet
Planted upon the ground
At that point you can
Then turn around
To give it away
Just for today

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Fighting Girl
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=nYETusUxkHkx6kdxMU\
fNytz.khhvi2iMbIkJ2GFZvYdaoGzCkw

ALCOHOLISM -- Is there a cure?
By Stewart Robertson, Family Circle, January 5, 1945
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aafamcircle010545.html

Twelve Principles of Narcotics Anonymous -
PRINCIPLE TWELVE - SHARING AND CARING
http://www.nawol.org/2006_princ12.htm

Inner child healing - the process of processing
http://www.joy2meu.com/Processing.html

Acceptance
http://www.geocities.com/angeldee.geo/Acceptance.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Eight
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_eight.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Nine
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_nine.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 15                                 Over time, not over night


"We found that we do not recover physically, mentally, or
spiritually overnight." Basic Text, p.27

   Have you ever approached a recovery celebration with the feeling
that you should be further along in your recovery than you are?
Maybe you have listened to newcomers sharing in meetings, members
with much less clean time, and thought, "But I'm just barely beginning
to understand what they're talking about!"

   It's odd that we should come into recovery thinking that we will
feel wonderful right away or no longer have any difficulty handling
life's twists and turns. We expect our physical problems to correct
themselves, our thinking to become rational, and a fully developed
spiritual life to manifest itself overnight. We forget that we spent
years
abusing our bodies, numbing our minds, and suppressing our
awareness of a Higher Power. We cannot undo the damage in a day.
We can, however, apply the next step, go to the next meeting, help the
next newcomer. We heal and recover bit by bit - not overnight, but over
time.

Just for today:  My body will heal a little, my mind will become a
little
clearer, and my relationship with my Higher Power will strengthen.
pg. 237

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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Opening Up To Change

Self-searching is the means by which we bring new vision,
action, and grace to bear upon the dark and negative side of
our natures.  With it comes the development of that kind of
humility that makes it possible for us to receive God's help. . . .
we find that bit by bit we can discard the old life -- the one
that did not work -- for a new life that can and does work
under any conditions whatever.
AS BILL SEES IT, pp. 10, 8

I have been given a daily reprieve contingent upon my
spiritual condition, provided I seek progress, not perfection.
To become ready for change, I practice willingness, opening
myself to possibilities of change.  If I realize there are defects
that hinder my usefulness in A.A. and toward others, I become
ready by meditating and receiving direction.  "Some of us have
tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we
let go absolutely" (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 58).  To let go and
let God, I need only surrender my old ways to Him; I no longer
fight nor do I try to control, but simply believe that, with God's
help, I am changed and affirming this belief makes me ready.
I empty myself to be full of awareness, light, and love, and I am
ready to face each day with hope.

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/ August 15th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic. Commencing to drink
after a period of sobriety, we are in a short time as bad as
ever. If we have admitted we are alcoholics, we must have no
reservations of any kind, nor any lurking notion that some day
we will be immune to alcohol. What sort of thinking dominates
an alcoholic who repeats time after time the desperate
experiment of the first drink? Parallel with sound reasoning,
there inevitably runs some insanely trivial excuse for taking
the first drink. There is little thought of what the terrific
consequences may be." Have I given up all excuses for taking
a drink?

Meditation for the Day

"Where two or three are banded together, I will be there in
the midst of them." When God finds two or three people in
union, who only want His will to be done, who want only to serve
Him, He has a plan that can be revealed to them. The grace of
God can come to people who are together in one place with one
accord. A union like this is miracle-working. God is able to use
such people. Only good can come through such consecrated
people, brought together in unified groups for a single purpose
and of a single mind.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be part of a unified group. I pray that I may
contribute my share to its consecrated purpose.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 15

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Leaving Room for Feelings

We need to allow enough room for others and ourselves to
have and work through our feelings.

We are people, not robots. An important part of us - who we are,
how we grow, how we live - is connected to our emotional center.
We have feelings, sometimes difficult ones, sometimes disruptive
ones, and sometimes explosive ones that need to be worked
through.

By facing and working through these feelings we and others
grow. In relationships, whether it is a love relationship, a
friendship, a family relationship, or a close business relationship,
people need room to have and work through their feelings.

Some call it "going through the process."

It is unreasonable to expect ourselves or others to not need
time and room to work through feelings. We will be setting
ourselves and our relationships up for failure if we do not
allow this time and room in our life.

We need time to work through feelings. We need the space
and permission to work through these feelings in the awkward,
uncomfortable, sometimes messy way that people work through
feelings.

This is life. This is growth. This is okay.

We can allow room for feelings. We can let people have time
and permission to go through their feelings. We do not have to
keep others or ourselves under such a tight rein. While we work
through our feelings we do not have to expend unnecessary
energy reacting to each feeling others or we have. We don't
have to take all our feelings, and others' feelings, so seriously
while others or we are in the process of working through them.

Let the feelings flow and trust where the flow is taking you.

I can set reasonable boundaries for behavior, and still leave
room for a range of emotions.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sleeping For World Peace, by Alan Cohen
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/1999/08/alan.htm

Many Paths to One
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/November/opinion.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alone Again, Naturally
by Lionel Fisher

It scares us more than anything except death.  Being alone.

Our fear of aloneness is so ingrained that given the choice of
being by ourselves or being with others we opt for safety in
numbers, even at the expense of lingering in painful, boring,
or totally unredeeming company.

And yet more of us than ever are alone.

While many Americans have their solo lifestyles thrust on
them -- people die, people go away -- a huge and growing
population is choosing to be alone.

In 1955, one in ten U.S.  households consisted of one person.
By 1999, the proportion was one in three.  Single men and
women accounted for 38.9 million of the nations 110.5 million
households.  Sixty percent of them were under the age of
sixty-five; roughly 60 percent of them were women.

On the cusp of the new century, approximately 14.3 million
American women and 24.6 million American men over the age
of twenty-five lived alone, according to the U.S.  Census Bureau.

By 1999, single parents with children under the age of
eighteen made up 27.3 percent of the nations 70.9 million
family households.  Among them were 2.1 million father-child
and 9.8 million mother-child families.  Forty-two percent of
single-parent mothers had never wed.

Meanwhile, many more Americans are divorcing.  In less
than three decades, reports the Census Bureau, the number of
divorced men and women has more than quadrupled -- to a total
of 18.3 million in 1996, compared to 4.3 million in 1970.

And many more Americans are not marrying.  The number of
adult men and women who have remained single has more
than doubled in thirty years-to 44.9 million in 1996 from 21.4
million in 1970.

"Never before in American history has living alone been the
predominant lifestyle," observes demographic trends analyst
Cheryl Russell, who predicts that single-person households
will become the most common household type in the United
States by the year 2005.

Nonetheless, we persist in the conviction that a solitary
existence is the harshest penalty life can mete out.  We loathe
being alone -- anytime, anywhere, for too long, for whatever
reason.

  From childhood we're conditioned to accept that when alone
we instinctively ache for company, that loners are outsiders
yearning to get in rather than people who are content with
their own company.

Alone, we squander life by rejecting its full potential and
wasting its remaining promises.  Alone, we accept that
experiences unshared are barely worthwhile, that sunsets
viewed singly are not as spectacular, that time spent apart is
fallow and pointless.

And so we grow old believing we are nothing by ourselves,
steadfastly shunning the opportunities for self-discovery and
personal growth that solitude could bring us.

We've even coined a word for those who prefer to be by
themselves: antisocial, as if they were enemies of society.
They are viewed as friendless, suspect in a world that goes
around in twos or more and is wary of solitary travelers.

People who need people are threatened by people who don't.
The idea of seeking contentment alone is heretical, for society
steadfastly decrees that our completeness lies in others.

Instead, we cling to each other for solace, comfort, and safety,
believing that we are nothing alone -- insignificant, unfulfilled,
lost -- accepting solitude in the tiniest, most reluctant of slices,
if at all, which is tragic, for it rejects God's precious gift of life.

Ironically, most of us crave more intimacy and companionship
than we can bear.  We begrudge ourselves, our spouses, and
our partners sufficient physical and emotional breathing room,
and then bemoan the suffocation of our relationships.

To point out these facts is not to suggest we should abandon
all our close ties.  Medical surveys show that the majority of
elderly people who live alone, yet maintain frequent contact
with relatives and friends, rate their physical and emotional
well-being as "excellent." Just as an apple a day kept the doctor
away when they were young, an active social calendar appears
to serve the same purpose now.

But we need to befriend and enjoy ourselves as well.

How does that old song go?  "I've been to paradise, but I've never
been to me...."

"We must relearn to be alone," exhorts Anne Morrow Lindbergh
in her inspirational book, Gift from the Sea.  "Instead of planting
our solitude with dream blossoms, we choke the space with
continuous music, chatter, and companionship to which we do not
even listen.  It is simply there to fill the vacuum."

"We can't stand the silence," said Agnes de Mille, "because silence
includes thinking.  And if we thought, we would have to face
ourselves."

Let us learn, then, from those in search of what they have not been
able to find and hold in the press of humanity around them: peace
of mind, gentleness of heart, calmness of spirit, daily joy.  Those
who are mastering the art of flying solo and soaring to their highest
human potential.  Who have come to understand that to know and
to love and to be of value to others, they first must know and love
and value themselves; that to find their way in the world, they have
to start by finding themselves.

"Before we can surrender ourselves we must become ourselves,"
Thomas Merton pointed out.  "For no one can give up what he does
not possess:" They are the men and women who have found nobility
in turning to themselves first when facing life's challenges -- and not
blaming anyone else if they fail.

Who find silence eloquent rather than empty.

Who have discovered that being alone can impose a startling
clarity in their lives, achieved through the personal reflection we
seem to allow ourselves only in times of severe loss and intense
grief.

Who trust their aloneness, using it to embrace and nurture their
individuality, to celebrate themselves in their own special ways.

Who have become born companions to the best friends they'll
ever have. Guess who?

Who are living alone well, even magnificently, in full affirmation of
the preciousness of life?

The premise of this book is timeless and simple: there are gifts we
can only give ourselves, lessons no one else can teach us, triumphs
we must achieve alone.

It is all right to be alone, to want to be alone, to be alone and not
lonely -- even to be lonely at times -- because the rewards of
solitude are worth the deprivations.

Above all, we must hail the silence.

This article is excerpted from Celebrating Time Alone,
© 2001, by Lionel Fisher.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I Choose Joy
Meditation by Orin and DaBen

I choose the path of joy.

I am now willing to release struggle,
and embrace the path of joy.

I relax my body.

I bring relaxation
into my face, head, and neck.

I adjust my posture
so that energy flows easily through me.

I allow my emotions
to grow quiet and calm.

My mind is now becoming serene.
I am at peace with the world.

As I breathe in, I draw in light.

As I breathe out,
I release any thoughts or feelings
I do not want.

I feel the light of my soul all around me,
embracing me with its love.
I expand into the light of my soul.

My soul sings a song of joy.
I draw my soul's joy into my being.

I draw my soul's joy
into the cells of my body.

I draw my soul's joy into my emotions.
I draw my soul's joy into my thoughts.

I sound a note of joy
that reverberates throughout my being.

I think of an area of my life
in which I would like more joy.

As I think of this area of my life,
I ask my soul to permeate this area
with its note of joy.

I affirm that I can release anything
in this area of my life
that does not bring me joy.

I ask my soul to assist me
in releasing any thoughts,
emotions,
attitudes,
and behaviors
that do not contribute to
my having a joyful life.

I believe that I can have joy in this
and in every area of my life.

I open to and experience joy now.

I am aware of my inner being
throughout the day.

I connect with my soul often,
and as I do,
I draw in its joy.

Joy becomes the keynote of my life.


About The Authors
This meditation was "given" by Orin and DaBen, both timeless
beings of love and light, channeled by Sanaya Roman and
Duane Packer. Visit their website at www.orindaben.com This
meditation is reprinted from their website with permission.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Solvent is the Mind  ©


Our minds like solvent water
Forever void the unnecessary
accumulated impedimenta
of days, weeks, years;
a cleansing process
to make space/room for
new experiences to face, encounter, listen for


Fresh flow the crystal waters of the mind
Ready to fill and engulf itself into a creative inlet
Ready to embrace new textures and substances
To build itself upon
Cycling with time, it is forever new, fresh…
Unless we dam it behind a wall
of worry and stagnation -
Unless we cling to the old
and dead debris of our lives


Let your mind flow gently but steadfastly onward
Outward, where new encounters will suffuse
Build it, with the breath of raw life


Your creativity deserves to have
Its doors swing wide open
A collection of vistas to power a world
So nurture your soul …
Forever the river

Love
Stella
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Spell For Sobriety

I think I am like
Magikians of old
Seeking potions
To make me bold
Trying to be heard
Like braying old asses,
Mumbo jumbo and
Frantic passes.
In my greatness
I will make them heed
And supply me
With all I want
And all that I need.

But my potions are poison
And my spells
Are lies.
And my greatness
Even to myself
Quickly dies.

Dejected, rejected
Confused, confounded
My responsibility for
All my wrongs
Is completely unfounded.

So in my dark lair
I hide and mope
Seeking false comfort
In my magical dope.

I drop, I puff
I drink, I swill
And slowly all trace
Of my spirit
I try to kill.

And lonely in my cave
That lovely darkened tomb,
I begin to wonder
If
In God's love
There is room?

If I confess
If I relinquish
My hold,
Maybe with GOD'S
Help
I can peacefully
Grow old.

With my last denial
And my first
Sober breath
I pray to GOD
LORD,
Take control
I am causing
My death.

I then know
So many hurts
I need to attend,
So many wrongs
To so many people
I must make amends.

Forgive me
For I have forsaken you.
O GOD show me
What to do,
No one can save me
No one but you.

And from above
In my heart
I hear,
"Throw away the
poisons, potions
dope and the beer.
Live each day
A day at a time,
Give all control
To me
And  all that is
Mine.
Go find others
Trapped in the hell
They have built,
And I will make those
Sows ears
Into purses of silk!"
For all those fallen
Sufferers in denial
Saying NAY NAY
All will have a new
A new chance
For life
In the magickal
Brotherhood
Of AA.
Step lively
For there are steps
To live.
For now is your chance
To live and forgive.

written by ~ michael
enlightenment@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Reach Out

I reach out when
I am at the end of my rope
Call my friends who help me cope
God has blessed me with many friends
Who come and help to tie up my loose ends
When I am down and feeling low
It is to a meeting that I must go
I share my ups and I share my downs
I head to a place where love can be found
I must always remember where I can go
Down deep inside I really know
I live my life with in today
Pray to God and share my way
Sober by Gods love and grace
I give Him praise in everyplace
God has filled me with His love
He lives with everyone not high above
Reach out when you need someone
It means a lot when your day is done
Just reach out someone is always near
To help over come all of your fear

Daniel M Corkery
4/19/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to
be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar
as you otherwise might.
Marian Anderson

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Never look down on anybody unless
you're helping them up.
Jesse Jackson

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life,
but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place
for the next moment.
Oprah Winfrey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Always, HE will watch over us and comfort us.
Ernest Holmes

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return,
they were always yours. And if they don't, they never were.
Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Slogans are wisdom written in shorthand

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

One Day At A Time

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Keep It Simple

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Easy does it… But do i


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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 free drink is often the most expensive.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you change from "feeling apart from" to "feeling a part of"?
Are you still isolating? How, and if not, what did you do to stop?

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 14
Today I trust what I feel and I listen to my inner voice.
It does not matter if it is logical or if others agree.
My feelings and emotions guide me
on a path that is right 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Joyous Day

I love the way the morning feels,
The sunlight on my window sills,
The smell of flowers fills the air
And birds are singing everywhere!

Church bells are playing harmony,
A song that's made for you and me.
The butterflies are all around
They're dancing to this lovely sound.

The happiness I feel inside,
So grateful just to be alive,
And Heaven knows that come what may
My God lives in my heart today!

Sharlett F. Hunt
7/21/07 ©

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=jp4dyaMxkHgP2Rr2FH\
RJb8e0zyFycfxAmERRPIfaJhyFU0d8GQ

The Drunkard's Best Friend
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aajalexpost1950.html

Twelve Principles of Narcotics Anonymous -
PRINCIPLE  ELEVEN - UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
http://www.nawol.org/2006_princ11.htm

The Recovery Process for inner child healing - emotional balance
http://www.joy2meu.com/emotional_balance.html

Online Magazines
http://www.laurafranklin.com/magazines.htm

A New Day
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/2668/Anewday.html

One Kind Word
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/2668/Onekindword.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Six
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_six.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Seven
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_seven.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 14                                   Letting go of our
limitations

"We don't have to settle for the limitations of the past. We can
examine and reexamine our old ideas."  Basic Text, p. 11

Most of us come to the program with a multitude of self-imposed
limitations that prevent us from realizing our full potential,
limitations that impede our attempts to find the values that lie
at the core of our being. We place limitations on our ability to
be true to ourselves, limitations on our ability to function at work,
limitations on the risks we're willing to take-the list seems
endless. If our parents or teachers told us we would never
succeed, and we believed them, chances are we didn't achieve
much. If our socialization taught us not to stand up for ourselves,
we didn't, even if everything inside us was screaming to do so.

In Narcotics Anonymous, we are given a process by which we
can recognize these false limitations for what they are. Through
our Fourth Step, we'll discover that we don't want to keep all the
rules we've been taught. We don't have to be the life-long victims
of past experiences.We are free to discard the ideas that inhibit
our growth. We are capable of stretching our boundaries to
encompass new ideas and new experience. We are free to laugh,
to cry, and above all, to enjoy our recovery.

Just for today: I will let go of my self-imposed limitations and open
my mind to new ideas.

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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Those Who Still Suffer

Let us resist the proud assumption that since God has enabled
us to do well in one area we are destined to be a channel of
saving grace for everybody.
A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 232

A.A. groups exist to help alcoholics achieve sobriety.  Large or
small, firmly established or brand-new, speaker, discussion or
study, each group has but one reason for being: to carry the
message to the still-suffering alcoholic.  The group exists so that
the alcoholic can find a new way of life, a life abundant  in
happiness, joy, and freedom.  To recover, most alcoholics need
the support of a group of other alcoholics who share their
experience, strength and hope.  Thus my sobriety, and our
programs survival, depend on my determination to put first things
first.

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/ August 14th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"None of us like to think that we are bodily and mentally
different from others.  Our drinking careers have been
characterized by countless vain attempts to prove that we
could drink like other people.  This delusion that we are like
other people has to be smashed.  It has been definitely
proved that no real alcoholic has ever recovered control.
Over any considerable period we get worse, never better.
There is no such thing as making a normal drinker out of an
alcoholic."  Am I convinced that I can never drink again normally?

Meditation for the Day

We should have life and have it more abundantly---spiritual,
mental, physical, abundant life---joyous, powerful life.  This
we can have if we follow the right way.  Not all people will
accept from God the gift of an abundant life, a gift held out
free to all.  Not all people care to stretch out a hand and take
it.  God's gift, the richest He has to offer, is the precious
gift of abundant life.  People often turn away from it, reject
it, and will have none of it.  Do not let this be true of you.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may hasten to accept the gift of abundant
spiritual life.  I pray that I my live the good life to the
best of my ability.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 14

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Owning Our Power

Many of us have someone in our life that challenges our ability
to trust and care for ourselves.

When we hear that person's voice or are in his or her presence,
we may forget all we know about what is real, about how to own
our power, about how to be direct, about what we know and
believe to be true, about how important we are.

We give up our power to that person. The child in us gets hooked
with a mixture of powerful feelings - love, fear, or anger. We may
feel trapped, helpless, or so attracted that we can't think straight.
There may be a powerful tug of war going between feelings of
anger and our need to be loved and accepted, or between our
head and our heart.

We may be so enamored or intimidated that we revert to our belief
that we can't react or respond to this person any differently.

We get hooked.

We don't have to stay under a spell.

We start by becoming aware of the people who hook us, and
then accepting that.

We can force ourselves through the motions of reacting
differently to that person, even if that new reaction is awkward
and uncomfortable.

Search out our motivations. Are we somehow trying to control
or influence the other person? We cannot change the other
person, but we can stop playing our part of the game. One
good way to do this is by detaching and letting go of any need
to control.

The next step is learning to own our power to take care of
ourselves, to be who we are free from their influence. We can
learn to own our power with difficult people. It may not happen
overnight, but we can begin, today, to change our self-defeating
reactions to the people who have hooked us.

God, help me identify the relationships where I have forfeited
my power. Help me unhook and begin owning my power.

©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 Judging Mind
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2007/August/vissell.htm

The Mother/Daughter Relationship
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/December/vissell.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 Seasons of Our Nature
by Meredith Young-Sowers

When Nature changes her seasons, the shift seems effortless,
predictable, and inevitable. The new season approaches and
the old one retreats. Just as Nature doesn't stay forever in a
single season, like it or not, neither do we.

Just as there are four seasons in Nature, our inner natures
also experience four seasons. Spring is the season of new
beginnings. In Summer, we grow the fruits of our new beginnings,
and in the Fall, we harvest the rewards of our efforts, including
opportunities to be acknowledged and appreciated for our
accomplishments. In Winter we rest, rediscovering our true
selves. Without Winter we cannot move into Spring.

We recognize the season we're in both by the way we feel and
by the movement of energy in and around our efforts. We know
when we are putting forth our greatest efforts, but we don't
always realize when we are internalizing our greatest learnings.
It's not the level of effort that tells us what season we're in, it's
the return on those efforts.

In the Spring of our inner natures, our efforts begin to bring
us returns, and we feel compelled to begin new projects,
even some that have rested on our shelves for many years.

Our growing bank accounts and acclaim from peers tell us
we are now in the Summer of our inner natures. Other
people recognize us when we are in Summer and want to
celebrate with us. We feel stronger each day, a direct
reflection of the intense heat of the Summer sun.

In the Fall of our inner natures, we feel invincible. Everything
we touch turns to gold. We are celebrated for our achievements,
and we seem to be headed for a permanent place in the
winners' circle. Then we feel the first signs of Winter, and
everything begins to shift.

In the Winter of our inner natures, we slow down and feel the
loss of outer accomplishments, public acclaim, and/or
material possessions. We are doing nothing differently, yet
there are fewer returns on our efforts. We feel as if we're
coming undone; an old fear we thought we'd put to rest
resurfaces. The more attached we are to worldly success,
or to old patterns and people with whom we've identified,
the harder we struggle, and the more we struggle the more
life unravels before our eyes. We push and pray, ask and beg,
but to no avail. Our undoing has a life of its own, and we
seem its victims.

If we could stop the action at this point of desperation and
say to ourselves, "I realize I'm being asked to grow in new
ways," we might consider that this is a time for someone
else to shine and be successful. We would say: I wish all
who are in the Spring, Summer, and Fall of their lives the
joy of their success, knowing that I, too, will enter the Spring
of success again. But in the meantime, I can rest, renew, and
reap spiritual rewards.

We're like a spent flower in Winter, tired and needing rest
and recovery, not from the outer world but from our inner
selves. Instead, many of us enter Winter desperate to hold
on to the energy of Fall, which slips through our fingers no
matter how tightly we clench our fists.

Winter is God's time, the time of spiritual renewal. It doesn't
mean that we have to lose everything, or even that we have
to lose anything. What falls away in the Winter of our inner
natures are the outworn trappings with which we identify
ourselves.

Whether we're stressed beyond reason or deeply unhappy
doesn't seem to matter. We persist in staying where we think
the power, money, or prestige lives. Even though we may be
suffocating, Winter releases us from our burdens. We
continue to want the things that are identified with outward
signs of success: financial status, career, marriage, appearance,
clever wit, or brilliant physical prowess. Once relieved of what
is burdensome, we climb quickly back into the fray again
until Winter once more shows us what really matters now.

As we grow spiritually, our Winters deal more with the interior
of our lives. We are prodded again to give up the fears, anger,
desires, and jealousies that have grown up along with material
success. At first we lose what we think we want; then we lose
what we are ready to give up. I like to think of my Wintertime
as coming into dry dock to get rid of the barnacles.

Illness is a Winter Opportunity

Mental and physical illnesses are experiences of the Winter
of our inner natures. We can't run away from them, so we have
no choice but to stay and learn. People talk about the gift of an
illness. The gift is that we've been given an opportunity to heal
a dysfunctional behavior or a useless emotional pattern,
perhaps from this life and perhaps from past lives. We are
offered an opportunity to move to an advanced level of
awareness, releasing unwanted patterns of anger, resentment,
envy, jeal\ousy, regret, judgment, and loss. Sometimes we're
able to release the patterns and the illness instead of our lives.
In the broadest view of life, healing isn't just about changing the
body, it's about adjusting our perception and about learning to
love. Healing happens when we believe in the power of Love
that is in us.

Renewal and Clarity in Partnership

Marriages and partnerships also move through the cycle of Spring,
Summer, Fall, and Winter. We tend to get divorced in the Winter
of our inner lives, and we tend to come together in the Spring,
Summer, or Fall. In long-standing relationships, Winter holds the
potential for rediscovery or bailout. We enter and leave Winter
with different minds and hearts. We may come into Winter
determined to leave a relationship but emerge knowing we'll stay.
Just as Winter snows moisten the earth so that Spring flowers can
grow, Winter's tears may awaken a new and glorious Spring for our
hearts.

About the Author
Meredith Young-Sowers is the author of the best-selling books
Agartha: A Journey to the Stars and the Angelic Messenger Cards.
She is also the Director of the Stillpoint Institute and the Stillpoint
School of Advanced Energy Healing. Visit her website at
www.meredithyoung-sowers.com as well as www.wisdombowls.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Picture Of Peace

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who
would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The
King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he
really liked and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror,
for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead
was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture
thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged
and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in
which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain
tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.
But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny
bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird
had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water,
sat the mother bird on her nest... perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize?

The King chose the second picture. Do you know why?
"Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in
a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace
means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in
your  heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

Author Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My Declaration of Self-Esteem by Virginia Satir, 1970

I am me.

In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me.
There are persons who have some parts like me, but no one
adds up exactly like me. Therefore, everything that comes out
of me is authentically mine because I alone chose it.

I own everything about me - my body, including everything it
does; my mind, including all its thoughts and ideas; my eyes,
including the images of all they behold; my feelings, whatever
they may be - anger, joy, frustration, love, disappointment,
excitement; my mouth, and all the words that come out of it,
polite, sweet or rough, correct or incorrect; my voice, loud or
soft; and all my actions, whether they be to others or to myself.

I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears.
I own all my triumphs and successes, all my failures and
mistakes.

Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted
with me, and other aspects that I do not know. But as long as I
am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and
hopefully look for the solutions to the puzzles and for ways to
find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and
whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is me.
This is authentic and represents where I am at that moment in
time.

When I review later how I looked and sounded, what I said
and did, and how I thought and felt, some parts may turn out to
be unfitting. I can discard that which is unfitting, and keep that
which proved fitting, and invent something new for that which I
discarded.

I can see, hear, feel, think, say and do. I have the tools to survive,
to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and
order out of the world of people and things outside of me.
I own me, and therefore I can engineer me. I am me and I am okay.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Suffering, I was beginning to think, was essential to a good
life, and as inextricable from such a life as bliss. It's a great
enhancer. It might last a minute, or a month, but eventually
it subsides, and when it does, something else takes its place,
and maybe that thing is a greater space. For happiness. Each
time I encountered suffering, I believe that I grew, and further
defined my capacities--not just my physical ones, but my interior
ones as well, for contentment, friendship, or any other human
experience.
Lance Armstrong

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Why Are We Here?

Coming into the rooms, defeated,
knowing I couldn't continue using,
awakened anger, resentments and fears
that I found so confusing.
For I'd listened to this voice for oh, so long
telling me, the next one will work.
And I had believed it, for its voice was so strong
that these new concepts had to hurt.
In part, I was in mourning
grieving what had once been my friend.
But that friend went insane, caused me oh so much pain
and tried to kill me, in the end.
In part, I was resentful
for having to admit defeat,
because I had been told that surrendering
was something only done by the weak.
And by this admission I had to agree
that my family and friends had been right,
that I had a problem, I was out of control,
and there was no way I could win this fight.
But mostly, I think, I was fearful,
afraid of failing again.
Terrified to let go of everything I had known
and of letting these new ideas in.
My addiction had defined me,
It knew me, and I knew it well.
Who would replace this now empty space,
could I be really released from my hell?
You hugged me and smiled, said you’d been there too,
that you’d love me til I loved myself.
I sat in tears, letting go of my fears,
and for the first time, really wanting your help.
After awhile, I was able to smile
for I knew I didn't have to get high,
that no matter what problem I came across
there were people who’d help me get by.
I began feeling a part of, not apart from,
the hope grew in me day by day.
For this new life I'm living,
and the help I'm now giving
I have to thank God, and N.A.

© John Hathaway 08-10-02
Much love, light and laughter I wish for you today,
johnh94@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws
him, and then choose that way with all his strength.
Hasidic saying

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The only place where your dream becomes impossible
is in your own thinking.
Robert H. Schuller

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We must be
the change we wish to see
in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I'm not a self-made man.
I cannot forget those who have sacrificed
for me to get where I am today.
Jessie Hill

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

For a good life: Work like a dog. Eat like a horse.
Think like a fox. And play like a rabbit.
George Allen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Don't use no matter what.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Make meetings regularly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Get a sponsor and work the steps.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Get involved in service and "give it away"


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Take A Moment To GIVE (NO COST)*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

FREE Rice
http://www.freerice.com/

Click to GIVE @ the STOP HIV Site
http://www.thestophivsite.com/

Click to GIVE @ the Hunger Site
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Click to GIVE @ the Breast Cancer Site
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Click to GIVE @ the Rain Forest Site
http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4

Click to GIVE @ the Animal Rescue Site
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Track Your Impact in GIVING
http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Promise, Many Gifts*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Adult Children of Alcoholics
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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 13,000 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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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://profiles.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:
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

If you want to find out what your character defects are...
Fall in love.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you change from "feeling apart from" to "feeling a part of"?
Are you still isolating? How, and if not, what did you do to stop?

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 13
Today is a day of opportunities.
I am open and ready to find them all,
knowing that I am receiving all the guidance
I need to be forward and be happy.
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 triangle in the circle

eyes peer out the window of my soul,
people places and things remind me
of the distance that is crawling back
calling me to the reckless defects of before.
a lost lifetime being unreal,
not being able to feel emotion,
never seeing the stars that light the night.
my mind is racing faster than my blood
and the scatterbrain of fear returns.
euphoria recalls the restless cravings
that stir up visceral tensions to a knot
and flail itself upon the intrinsic evil
defining the core of my bitter half.
remembrance of numbness
and escape the pain of self
seem imminent of this past facade.
it‚s time to face the face again,
and hear the voice of freedom.
awareness awakens the weak
cleansing this conflict of madness
and the once mighty disease falters.
i become free again
by joining with spirits from
the triangle in the circle
spinning my tale, and telling on my powerful, cunning, and baffling foe.

Frank B.
fberesheim@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=58Tp4LcxkHrbVlNMW7\
aB1LcQIRWppH4cXKzIb82dE6WgvtVXQA

Alcoholics Anonymous March 1, 1941 issue of The Saturday Evening Post
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aajalexpost1941.html

Twelve Principles of Narcotics Anonymous - PRINCIPLE TEN - HUMILITY
http://www.nawol.org/2006_princ10.htm

The Recovery Process for inner child healing - through the fear
http://www.joy2meu.com/Fear.html

Healing Hurting Hearts
http://www.laurafranklin.com/healing.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Four
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_four.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Five
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_five.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 13                                               Difficult people

"By giving unconditional love ... we become more loving, and by
sharing spiritual growth we become more spiritual." Basic Text, p. 99

     Most of us have one or two exceptionally difficult people in our
lives.
How do we deal with such a person in our recovery?

   First, we take our own inventory. Have we wronged this person? Has
some action or attitude of ours served as an invitation for the kind of
treatment they have given us? If so, we will want to clear the air,
admit we have been wrong, and ask our Higher Power to remove
whatever defects may prevent us from being helpful and constructive.

   Next, as people seeking to live spiritually oriented lives, we
approach
the problem from the other persons point of view. They may be faced
with any number of challenges we either fail to consider or know nothing
about, challenges that cause them to be unpleasant. As its said, we seek
in recovery "to forgive rather than be forgiven; to understand rather
than be understood."

   Finally if it is within our power, we seek ways to help others
overcome
their challenges without injuring their dignity. We pray for their
well-being and spiritual growth and for the ability to offer them the
unconditional love that has meant so much to us in our recovery.

   We cannot change the difficult people in our lives, nor can we please
everyone. But by applying the spiritual principles we've learned in NA,
we can learn to love them.

Just for today: Higher Power, help me serve other people, not
demand that they serve 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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giving Freely

We will make every personal sacrifice necessary to insure the
unity of Alcoholics Anonymous. We will do this because we have
learned to love God and one another.
A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 234

   To be self-supporting through my own contributions was never
a strong characteristic during my days as a practicing alcoholic.
The giving of time or money always demanded a price tag.

   As a newcomer I was told "we have to give it away in order to
keep it." As I began to adopt the principles of Alcoholics
Anonymous in my life, I soon found it was a privilege to give to
the Fellowship as an expression of the gratitude I felt in my
heart.  My love of God and of others became the motivating factor
in my life, with no thought of return.  I realize now that giving freely
is God's way of expressing Himself through me.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 13th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"We had but two alternatives; one was to go on to the bitter
end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation
as best we could, and the other was to accept spiritual help.
We became willing to maintain a certain simple attitude toward
life. What seemed at first a flimsy reed has proved to be the
loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us,
a design for living that really works. All of us establish in our
own individual way our personal relationship with God." Have I
established my own relationship with God?

Meditation for the Day

Make it a daily practice to review your character. Take your
character in relation to your daily life, to your dear ones,
your friends, your acquaintances, and your work. Each day
try to see where God wants you to change. Plan how best each
fault can be eradicated or each mistake be corrected. Never
be satisfied with a comparison with those around you. Strive
toward a better life as your ultimate goal. God is your helper
through weakness to power, through danger to security,
through fear and worry to peace and serenity.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may make real progress toward a better life. I
pray that I may never be satisfied with my present state.

"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
AUGUST 13

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Friends

Don't overlook the value of friendship. Don't neglect friends.

Friends are a joy. Adult friendships can be a good place for
us to learn to have fun and to appreciate how much fun we
can have with a friend.

Friends can be a comfort. Who knows us better, or is more
able to give us support, than a good friend? A friendship is a
comfortable place to be ourselves. Often, our choice of friends
will reflect the issue we're working on. Giving and receiving
support will help both people grow.

Some friendships wax and wane, going through cycles
throughout the years. Some trail off when one person
outgrows the other. Certainly, we will have trials and tests in
friendships and, at times, be called on to practice our recovery
behaviors.

But some friendships will last a lifetime. There are special love
relationships, and there are friendships. Sometimes, our
friendships - especially recovery friendships - can be special
love relationships too.

Today, I will reach out to a friend. I will let myself enjoy the
comfort, joys, and enduring quality of my friendships.

©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 Greatest Gift
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2009/January/vissell.htm

The Perfect Moment
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2007/August/Everyday%20Matters.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They Died From The Cold Within
(Author Unknown)

"Six humans trapped by happenstance in black and bitter cold...
Each possessed a stick of wood, or so the story's told.

Their dying fire in need of logs, the first woman held hers back...
For on the faces around the fire, she noticed one was black.

The next man looking 'cross the way saw one not of his church...
And couldn't bring himself to give the fire his stick of birch.

The third one sat in tattered clothes; he gave his coat a hitch.
Why should his log be put to use ~ to warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought of
the wealth he had in store,
And how to keep what he had earned from the lazy, shiftless poor.

The black man's face bespoke revenge,
as the fire passed from his sight,
For all he saw in his stick of wood was a chance to spite the white.

And the last man of this forlorn group...
did naught except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave, was how he played the game.
The logs held tight in death's stilled hands...
Were proof of human sin.
They didn't die from the cold without.
They died from the cold within."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Are You Holding Back?
by Marie T. Russell

There are so many things we humans tend to hold back on.
We repress a lot of our emotions, whether they are considered
'good' or 'bad' ones.

Sometimes we hold back on expressing our love for fear of
being misunderstood, or perhaps thinking the timing is not
'right'. Most commonly, we have been taught to hold back on
our 'negative' emotions — fear, anger, sorrow, pain, etc.

As a child, I was often told to squelch those emotions that
demonstrated 'weakness'. I held back my tears in order to
appear strong. I repressed my anger to be a 'good girl' and
'loving'.

Yet, I now realize that holding back anger or any other emotion
affects negatively the person who is holding back. The anger
I refused to let out stayed locked up inside, fermented, and
gave rise to all kinds of poison. Frustrations and anger were
withheld, only to explode when I'd 'had enough'. This anger
later had to be released through illness, situations where the
anger was unleashed at someone or something else (or at
myself), or through therapy.

What happens when you feel anger (consciously or sub-consciously)
but want to hide it? Whatever we hold back becomes a part of
us and gets stored in our body as a tangible manifestation in
the form of headaches, tension, pain, illness, ulcers, cancer,
arthritis, back pain, and many other physical ailments.

Of course, we feel that by holding back on expressing our anger
we are doing the 'right' thing and not hurting anyone. Yet, little
do we know, the other person may need to hear what we have
to say, just as much as we need to express it.

Of course, we need to learn how to express our anger or
discontent without 'dumping' on the other. We can express
ourselves without destroying the other person's sense of
self-worth or attacking them emotionally, verbally, or physically.

Expressing our deepest feelings also applies to expressing
feelings of love and appreciation. How many times have we
felt gratefulness towards another being, sometimes just for
their presence in our life, and failed to express it? That person
may really need to hear your words of praise to give them a
boost in their own self-esteem. Maybe they are unaware of
what you so clearly see in them.

I have found that at times when I expressed feelings  of gratitude
and love to others, they were surprised at the way I saw them.
Never assume that the other person knows how much you
appreciate them. If you think it and feel it, then say it.

Our rational mind has been well trained to dissect and analyze.
It likes to hold back on acting instinctively and instead question
scientifically what is the 'right' action to take. So, we've held our
true selves back, and not expressed that inner inspiration to
laugh, cry, scream, give a hug, or say a kind word when our first
feeling guided us to do so.

Whatever first thought or feeling comes to you is your intuition,
or in other words, your divine inspiration. Any other thoughts
that follow, i.e. "maybe I shouldn't say that", etc., are only your
mind (ego) doubting and questioning, afraid of making a 'mistake'.

The best thing to do is to follow your first instinct, your inner
guidance, which comes as the first feeling or thought. That
is your 'God-self'. The universal power of Love guides us
towards happiness, and that is why our first instinct is always
the one that will bring us true happiness and inner peace.

We can choose to let go of the fear of being wrong, or
appearing ridiculous, etc., and act on our feelings. Be true
to yourself. Holding back is only postponing the truth and
can harm the other as well as ourselves. Holding back is
postponing the freedom to be who we really are — loving,
truthful children who desire to be happy and free from negativity.

Let go! Express your truth today! You and your world will be
better for it.


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.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Ripple Effect

The Master was walking through the fields one day when a
young man, a troubled look upon his face, approached him.
"On such a beautiful day, it must be difficult to stay so serious,"
the Master said.

"Is it? I hadn't noticed," the young man said, turning to look
around and notice his surroundings. His eyes scanned the
landscape, but nothing seemed to register; his mind elsewhere.

Watching intently, the Master continued to walk. "Join me if
you like." The Master walked to the edge of a still pond,
framed by sycamore trees, their leaves golden orange and
about to fall. "Please sit down," the Master invited, patting
the ground next to him. Looking carefully before sitting,
the young man brushed the ground to clear a space for
himself.

"Now, find a small stone, please," the Master instructed.

"What?"

" A stone. Please find a small stone and throw it in the pond."

Searching around him, the young man grabbed a pebble and
threw it as far as he could.

"Tell me what you see," the Master instructed.

Straining his eyes to not miss a single detail, the man looked
at the water's surface. "I see ripples."

"Where did the ripples come from?"

"From the pebble I threw in the pond, Master."

"Please reach your hand into the water and stop the ripples,"
the Master asked.

Not understanding, the young man stuck his hand in the
water as a ripple neared, only to cause more ripples. The
young man was now completely baffled. Where was this
going? Had he made a mistake in seeking out the Master?
After all he was not a student, perhaps he could not be
helped? Puzzled, the young man waited.

"Were you able to stop the ripples with your hands?" the
Master asked.

"No, of course not."

"Could you have stopped the ripples, then?"

"No, Master. I told you I only caused more ripples."

"What if you had stopped the pebble from entering the water to
begin with?" The Master smiled such a beautiful smile; the young
man could not be upset. "Next time you are unhappy with your
life, catch the stone before it hits the water. Do not spend time
trying to undo what you have done. Rather, change what you are
going to do before you do it." The Master looked kindly
upon the young man.

"But Master, how will I know what I am going to do before I
do it?"

"Take the responsibility for living your own life. If you're
working with a doctor to treat an illness, then ask the doctor
to help you understand what caused the illness. Do not just
treat the ripples. Keep asking questions."

The young man stopped, his mind reeling. "But I came to you
to ask you for answers. Are you saying that I know the answers?"

"You may not know the answers right now, but if you ask the
right questions, then you shall discover the answers."

"But what are the right questions, Master?"

"There are no wrong questions, only unasked ones. We must
ask, for without asking, we cannot receive answers. But it is your
responsibility to ask. No one else can do that for you."

Author Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth
who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience,
and just plain loving one another.     -- Erma Bombeck

The most precious time we will ever have we give away by
doing volunteer chores to help others get more out of life. There
is no material wage for this kind of work, but a host of emotional
rewards. The height of volunteer giving is doing an act of kindness
or love so quietly that none but ourselves will ever know we had a
part in it.

What great humility this can bring to us, who live in a world
where selfish people often insist on credit for all their deeds--
often things they had nothing to do with.

All we need do is think of all we have received without deserving
it or asking for it. By taking part in the giving end of life, we find
the
true wealth of our own generosity.

What secret gift can I give today?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

God Meant For Us

God meant for us to be free
That is why He gave us
The program of
Recovery
Around our tables
We will never be alone
Take the program of recovery
Into your very own home
Work the steps 24
Hours a day
Do not
just say show us
Your walking this way
Do the very best you can do
Live your life being true
Trust in God
Soon you will see
God has meant for us
To live our lifes free

Daniel M Corkery
12/29/2002
DMCDREAMER1@...
DMCDREAMER's Page of Poetry
www.geocities.com/dmcdreamer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Do you know what those lyrics mean? If not, don't despair
because the meaning of each line is herewith explained.
The overall meaning of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is
summed up in the fact that life can be lived more peacefully
and abundantly when we learn to live in the divine flow that
continually guides us toward our ultimate destiny.

We are told three times in line 1 to row, row, row. In other
words, sitting in the boat won't work. We have to get busy and
row. Notice that you are to row YOUR own boat. Nobody else's...
yours and yours alone. That is, if you want to go with the ebb
and flow of life. You  will never succeed rowing another's boat.
Row your own boat.

In line 2, we are told how and where to row. We are to
row "gently." Life is gentle and that's the way we should row.
We bring some distresses on ourselves when we go against the
flow. We are told to go with the flow and row down the stream.
Never upstream.

According to line 3, we should be merry as we row. Your
attitude and the type of rowing indicate the temperament of the
waves. Life is easy and carefree according to line 4 only if we
have followed the directions in the previous lines.

This little childhood song gives us the key to being at peace as we
journey through life. When we row our boat gently down the stream,
we will discover that life is as peaceful when we are awake as it is
when we are dreaming.

Rev. Margaret Minnicks

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.
H. Jackson Brown Jr.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

None of us has the power to make someone else love us.
But we all have the power to give away love, to love other people.
And if we do so, we change the kind of person we are,
and we change the kind of world we live in.
Rabbi Harold Kushner, in Handbook for the Heart

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Wisdom cannot be taught.  It can only be learned.
Source Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You cannot be lonely if you like the person you're alone with.
Wayne Dyer

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Who's will are you trying to do?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Winners do what they have to do;
losers do what they want to do.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Winners Don't Whine and Whiners Don't Win.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair;
you can do it all day long and get nowhere


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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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and write unsubscribe in the subject line
or go to the website and unsubscribe

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http://www.groups.google.com/group/12-Step-Soul-Food-for-the-Spirit

By the grace of God and through your efforts of passing on this
email, we are reaching many recovering people in different areas of
the world. If you are receiving this, from a country outside of the
USA please send me an email and tell me where you are receiving this.
So far we reaching over 13,000 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://profiles.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]

There are only two things an addict/alcoholic doesn't like...
The way things are and change.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you change from "feeling apart from" to "feeling a part of"?
Are you still isolating? How, and if not, what did you do to stop?

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 12
Today I am letting go of all judgments.
I am releasing all negative emotions.
I am quietly going within and trusting my inner spirit
and I will know what is right 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

New Eyes

I can see through these new eyes
The clearness of today
Through my quest I've realized
The power when I pray
All my need are met, all my fears allayed
I'm resting in God's will
At the end of my journey I know I'll say
All my dreams have been fulfilled
Through these new eyes I can see my flaws
The things I need to change
Destructive patterns and acts that have caused
Myself, and others so much pain
I can accept the human-ness of us all
See that we all make mistakes
I don't have to knock you down so I can stand tall
I can allow you your own space
These new eyes are such a gift you see
Because I was so blind for so long
These new eyes given to you and to me
Will help us see how, together, we're strong
The cloudy veil has been lifted
Unfolding is a brand new day
I thank God for this wonderful gift and
For teaching us all a new way
To see.

written by ~ John Hathaway 08-10-02 ©
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

How to Love Yourself
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=teMtNe8xkHUp_Oe17v\
hYzWYh_EQMCoMD3_HKgTHNdsZ.3fiJRg

Philadelphia A.A. Statistics 1940-1941
The Philadelphia A.A. group was formed February 20, 1940
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aaphila4041.html

Twelve Principles of Narcotics Anonymous - PRINCIPLE NINE - PATIENCE
http://www.nawol.org/2006_princ9.htm

The Recovery Process for inner child healing - spiritual integration
http://www.joy2meu.com/spiritual_integration.html

Alanon Help and Hope
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/6794/helpandhope.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Two
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_two.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition Three
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_three.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 12
Enough!

"Something inside cries out, 'Enough, enough I've had enough,
and then they are ready to take that first and often most difficult
step toward dealing with their disease." Basic Text, p. 203

      Have we really had enough? This is the crucial question we
must ask ourselves as we prepare to work the First Step in
Narcotics Anonymous. It doesn't matter whether or not we arrive
in NA with our families intact, our careers still working for us,
and all the outward appearances of wholeness. All that matters
is that we have reached an emotional and spiritual bottom that
precludes our return to active addiction. If we have, we will be
truly ready to go to any lengths to quit using.

When we inventory our powerlessness, we ask ourselves some
simple questions. Can I control my use of drugs in any form?
What incidents have occurred as a result of my drug use that I
didn't want to happen? How is my life unmanageable? Do I
believe in my heart that I am an addict?

If the answers to these questions lead us to the doors of
Narcotics Anonymous, then we are ready to move on to the
next step toward a life free from active addiction. If we have truly
had enough, then we will be willing to go to any lengths to find
recovery.

Just for today: I admit that I have had enough. I am ready to work
my First Step.

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/August.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 "Worth" Of Sobriety

Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside
contributions.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS  p. 160

When I go shopping I look at the prices and if I need what I see, buy it
and pay.  Now that I am supposed to be in rehabilitation, I have to
straighten out my life.  When I go to a meeting, I take a coffee with
sugar
and milk, sometimes more than one.  But at the collection time, I am
either
too busy to take money out of  my purse, or I do not have enough, but
I am
there because I need this meeting.  I heard someone suggest dropping the
price of a beer into the basket, and I thought, that's too much!  I
almost
never give one dollar.  Like many others, I rely on the more generous
members to finance the Fellowship.  I forget that it takes money to rent
the meeting room, buy my milk, sugar and cups.  I will pay, without
hesitation, ninety cents for a cup of coffee at a restaurant after the
meeting; I always have money for that.  So, how much is my sobriety
and my
inner peace worth?

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/ August 12th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"There was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit
of spiritual tools laid at our feet by Alcoholics Anonymous.
By doing so, we have a spiritual experience which
revolutionizes our whole attitude toward life, toward others,
and toward God's universe.  The central fact of our lives today
is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our
hearts and lives there in a way that is indeed miraculous.  He
has commenced to accomplish those things for us that we could
never do for ourselves."  Have I let God come into my life?

Meditation for the Day

The moment a thing seems wrong to you or a person's actions
to be not what you think they should be, at that moment
begins your obligation and responsibility to pray for those
wrongs to be righted or that person to be changed.  What is
wrong in your surroundings or in the people you know?  Think
about these things and make these matters your responsibility.
Not to interfere or be a busybody, but to pray that a change
may come through your influence.  You may see lives altered
and evils banished in time.  You can become a force for good
wherever you are.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be a co-worker with God.  I pray that I
may help people by my example.

"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
AUGUST 12

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Directness

Direct people are a joy to be around.

We never have to guess what they're really thinking or feeling,
because they're honest about their thoughts and openly express
their feelings.

We never have to wonder if they're with us because they want
to be, or if they're there out of guilt and obligation.

When they do something for us, we don't have to worry whether
they'll end up resenting us because direct people generally do
things that please themselves.

We don't have to fuss about the status of our relationship because
if we ask, they'll tell us.

We don't have to worry if they're angry because they deal openly
with their anger and resolve it quickly.

We don't have to ponder whether they are talking about us behind
our backs because if they have something to say, it will be said to
us directly.

We don't have to wonder if we can rely on them because direct
people are trustworthy.

Wouldn't it be nice if we were all direct?

Today, I will let go of my notions that it is somehow good or
desirable to be indirect. Instead, I will strive for honesty,
directness,
and clarity in my communication. I will let directness in my
relationships begin with 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Letters of Wisdom and Affirmations, Louise Hay
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2007/August/hay.htm

Healing With Angels
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=151

Spirituality is the theme of allspirit, and spiritual writing, poetry,
quotations and song lyrics can all be found in abundance.
http://www.allspirit.co.uk

Give a Gift That Creates a Better World
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/December/cyberweave.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Driving and Kissing
by Alan Cohen

   I saw a romantic greeting card which showed a couple kissing
in the front seat of a car. The message said, "If you can kiss
while driving safely, you are not giving the kiss the attention it
deserves."

   Anything that is worth doing, is worth doing with a whole heart.
And mind. And body.

   We get into trouble not because we do things that are wrong,
but because we approach our activities with divided intentions.
Our body is doing one thing while our heart is elsewhere. We go
to jobs we'd rather not be at, we sleep with people we don't love,
we go to parties we secretly find boring or repulsive. At the same
time we love people we don't express our love for, we deny
ourselves food we would really enjoy, we have creative impulses
we do not follow, we know truths we do not act on.

   I have a very simple definition of integrity: You are in integrity
when what you are doing on the outside matches who you are
on the inside. I respect people who live unapologetically. I know
people who do things I don't agree with, or wouldn't do myself,
but I respect them for being 100% who they are. They are in
integrity.

   In Emmanuel's Book II: The Choice for Love, Emmanuel
suggests, "When you move into your physical loving, as you
remove your clothing, take off your mind as well. It simply is not
equipped to hear the music."

   In the movie City Slickers, a veteran cowboy named Curly
teaches some angst-ridden dudes some country wisdom. When
things get tough, Curly raises his index finger and nods.
Eventually the city slickers figure out what he meant: "Do one
thing at a time. If you can really focus on what is right before
you, everything falls into place."

   I read a fascinating article in USA Today about multi-tasking,
the process of doing several things at once. Years ago this was
called, " spinning plates." Now it's multi-tasking. Whatever. The
writer stated that we invented time- and labor-saving devices to
give us more time to enjoy life. But instead of enjoying life with
our extra time, we find more things to do. Ultimately our life is not
richer because of our voicemails, emails, cellphones, faxes,
pagers, and microwaves; it is just busier. If we did more of the
things we really want to do with our free time, these inventions
would be worthwhile. Instead, we find more things we have
to do.

   In the late 1950's a survey asked a large group of people if
they considered themselves happy. Nearly sixty percent of the
group answered yes. A few years ago a similar study was
conducted, and 57% of the group answered yes. So all of our
slick technology has not improved the quality of our life.
Quantity of activities, for sure; quality, no.

   What is it, then, that makes our lives qualitatively better?
Presence. Being 100% with what you are doing. Approaching
work, relationships, everything with a whole heart.

   I would like to tell you about the most prosperous man I know.
Iani sits on a local beach and sings love songs. He strums
handsome exotic Indian instruments which he meticulously
crafts at home, then comes to the beach around sunset, and
chants. He sings love songs to God, to the sea, to the sky, to
the sand, to the wind, and, if you pass by, Iani will sing a love
song to you. During many memorable sunsets I have sat with
Iani and sung with him. I take an empty plastic water bottle and
do percussion. Iani lives very modestly and has few possessions.
He is the most prosperous man I know because his heart is full
of love and he is fully present. When I am singing with Iani I don't
miss my cell phone. Email is non-existent. Money has no value.
I am content.

   "But Alan," you say, "Not all of us have the luxury of sitting and
chanting on a Maui beach. Some of us have jobs and families to
support, and responsibilities."

   Fine. It doesn't matter. Just be fully present with whatever you
are doing. When you are at work, that's all that exists. When you
are making love, make total love. When you are with your kids,
really be with your kids. One.

   I noticed that when I did book signings, I felt rushed so I could
accommodate everyone in line. I was not fully present with some
people because I was aware of the people behind them in line.
Then I realized that I was cheating them and myself. So I decided
to be fully present with each person, and stay with them until I
really connected with them. Suddenly book signings became a
delight. Now I love talking to people, touching them, looking into
their eyes. I learned that it does not take a lot of time to make
contact; just a few moments of full presence can be completely
fulfilling.

   Everything is like kissing and driving. If you're driving, really
drive. If you're kissing, really kiss.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Let us continue to search our own minds
for the hidden places where we still deny love.
Perhaps we learned loveless attitudes from our parents,
or from experiences in the past.
Wherever we picked up judgmental attitudes,
they do not serve us now.
They do not serve God or the creation of a new world,
and serving God is our only goal.
To serve God is to think with love.
In prayerful request, let us give up all thoughts that are not of love.

Marianne Williamson (from Illuminata)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Fern and The Bamboo

One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my
spirituality. I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have
one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me. "Look around", He said. "Do you see
the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very
good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The
fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the
floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not
quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again,  nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not
quit on the bamboo.

"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But
I would not quit. The same in year four.  "Then in the fifth year, a
tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant.
But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it
strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give
any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.

"Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been
struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not
quit on the bamboo.. I will never quit on you.

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a
different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest
beautiful.

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me.
And He will never give up on you.

Never regret a day in your life.  Good days give you happiness;
bad days give you experiences; both are essential to life.

-- Author Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

step 1-- accept the truth
step 2 --have faith in the truth
step 3 --commit to the truth
step 4 -- examine the truth
step 5-- share the truth
step 6-- want the truth
step 7 -- be the truth
step 8 --find the truth
step 9-- recover the truth
step 10 -- be aware of the truth
step 11 -- live the truth
step 12 -- give the truth.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tired

Tired of being strong.
Tired of going on.
Tired of living life.
Tired of pain and strife.
Tired of being sad.
Tired of being mad.
Tired of giving a damn.
Tired of who I am.
Tired of hurt and pain.
Tired of all the strain.
Tired of being stressed.
Tired of being depressed.
Tired of wanting to hate.
Tired of believing in fate.
Tired of being wired.
Tired of being tired.

Marianne Johnson
Tazslady@...
5-21-01

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alanon Slogans and their Meanings...

LET GO AND LET GOD
Every day there are decisions to be made and problems to be
solved.When  you notice irritations growing into tensions,
tensions into near-panic, and old  fears returning, this is the
time to stop short and turn to God. You can do nothing anyway,
and you will find that if you supply the willingness He will supply
the power.

FIRST THINGS FIRST
Many of our confusions and frustrations are due to our failure to
deal with tasks and problems in the order of their importance.
It does take discipline to put aside the things we'd rather do,
and attend to those of first importance  FIRST. But the rewards are
great: we get things done, we enjoy a sense of  accomplishment,
and we learn to face issues with a real sense of value and  purpose.

LIVE AND LET LIVE
This is a reminder that most of us need- often.
We need to make ourselves realize that we are not equipped to
judge or criticize others for what they are or do. Our only concern
should be our own conduct, our own improvement, our own
lives. Each of us is entitled to his own view of things, but we have
no right to inflict it on anyone else. If there are differences of
opinion
in your group, try to treat them objectively.

EASY DOES IT
When we come into Al-Anon, burdened with problems and
confusions, we are confronted with a bright light of hope.
This may tempt us to try too hard to learn too quickly,
all there is to learn about the program. "If we could only grasp
the magic formula that is doing so much for the others," we think.
But alas, it is not magic, but a philosophy of living, to be learned
slowly and patiently, and absorbed into our hearts and minds.
Easy does it. If you approach each meeting, each problem, each
step, in a relaxed frame of mind, what you need will come to you,
and much more quickly than if you strained and hurried. Easy
does it. Readjusting your life and changing old habits takes time,
and easy does it best.

BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD
It is well to remind ourselves, when we are resentful and
embittered over an alcoholic's behavior, that it was not his
choice to carry this burden of misery and despair.
But for the Grace of God, we might have been afflicted by this
sickness. Let us be thankful that we have the blessing of
sobriety, and be willing to help the alcoholic find this blessing,
too.

One of the early things that I learned to do in Al-Anon is play a
game each night at bed time called the A. B. C. of  Al-Anon
Gratitude. Just before you go to sleep start with  the letter A
and think of something that you are grateful for. (Example Al-Anon),
and then go down the rest of the alphabet and name something
that starts with that letter....... It will put you in a positive
place and
make you realize how much you have to be grateful for....
After all these years we still play the game, God and I,
and it gives us a peaceful and serene sleep.......
Hope you will try it and see how much fun it really is........
We're never to old to play a game......

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say
   Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Make a game of finding something positive in every situation --
95 percent of your emotions are determined by
how you interpret events to yourself.
Brian Tracy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

an empty barrel
makes a louder noise
Indonesian proverb

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Someone once wrote: "Happiness is always a by-product.
You don't make yourself happy by chasing happiness.
You make yourself happy by being a good person."
The happiest people I know are people
who don't even think about being happy.
They just think about being good neighbors, good people.
And then happiness sort of sneaks in the back window
while they're busy doing good.
Rabbi Harold Kushner, in Handbook for the Heart

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you want to be able to trust others,
try becoming more trustworthy yourself.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The truth will set you free,
but first it will piss you off.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Unhappiness is not knowing what we want
and killing ourselves trying to get it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If using is the answer...
What is the question?


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

If you want to hide something from an N.A. /A.A. member,
put it in the Basic Text /Big Book.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you change from "feeling apart from" to "feeling a part of"?
Are you still isolating? How, and if not, what did you do to stop?

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 10
Today I know my Higher Power is guiding me
through the changes I choose to make in my life.
I have all the energy I need today
to make these changes as easily and effortless as I wish.
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Anniversary

Wow,18 months of being free, and we'll celebrate tonight
But first I'll let you know, how much you've changed my life
First of all you've shown me, that the program really works
Not only for the saintly, but also for us jerks

Those of us who slipped and fell, and rose to fall again
Those of us who tried and tried, but couldn't kill the pain
Those of us who hurt the ones, that we have held so dear
Those of us who kept on using, because we ran from fear

I asked you how you did it, how you made it work in life
You said "work it when you're happy, work it when there's strife"
Attend your meetings faithfully, work the steps as best you can
If other members struggle, then offer them your helping hand

If stopping drugs forever, seems an impossible dream
Then "One day at a time", needs to be your constant theme
If you're smart you learn from others, ones who've climbed that Hill
Paul, the learned Wiseman , and "an addict known as Bill"

Every member is important, we each must find the way
To make it through to bed-time, with "I didn't use today"
Mike, you've strung those days together, each one a blessing true
And now we join together, to celebrate with you!

I think I speak for all of us, when I say we're glad you came
Without you in our home group, we wouldn't be the same
Congratulations once again, and it is my greatest hope
you'll continue choosing hugs not drugs, and hope instead of dope.

Todd W.
toddybear147@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Can Miracles Be?
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=mhOhtfUxkC6vDGk5o6\
DwnBW28Y19.Fi31VfzjfJzTN0U_sVGmg

The 1939 Liberty Magazine Article
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aalibertymag1939.html

Twelve Principles of Narcotics Anonymous - PRINCIPLE SEVEN - FAITH
http://www.nawol.org/2006_princ7.htm

Grieving - examples of how the process works
http://www.joy2meu.com/Grieving.html

Alcoholic Cartoon
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/a/alcohlic.asp

Bill W. Talks
Traditions Stressed in Memphis Talk
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/traditions_stressed.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition One
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_one.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 10                               Regular prayer and meditation

"Most of us pray when we are hurting. We learn that if we pray
regularly, we won't be hurting as often or as intensely."
Basic Text, p. 44

      Regular prayer and meditation are two more key elements in
our new pattern of living. Our active addiction was more than
just a bad habit waiting to be broken by force of will. Our
addiction was a negative, draining dependence that stole all
our positive energy. That dependence was so total, it prevented
us from developing any kind of reliance on a Higher Power.

   From the very beginning of our recovery, our Higher Power has
been the force that brought us freedom. First, it relieved us of our
compulsion to keep taking drugs, even when we knew they were
killing us. Then, it gave us freedom from the more deeply ingrained
aspects of our disease. Our Higher Power gave us the direction,
the strength, and the courage to inventory ourselves; to admit out
loud to another person what our lives had been like. Perhaps for
the first time; to begin seeking release from the chronic defects of
character underlying our troubles; and, at last, to make amends for
the wrongs we'd done.

   That first contact with a Higher Power, and that first freedom,
has grown into a life full of freedom. We maintain that freedom
by maintaining and improving our conscious contact with our
Higher Power through regular prayer and meditation.

Just for today: I will make a commitment to include regular prayer
and meditation in my new pattern of living.

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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Helping Others

"Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our
constant thought of others and how we may help meet their
needs.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20

Self-centeredness was my problem. All my life people had been
doing things for me and I not only expected it, but I was ungrateful
and resentful they didn't do more. Why should I help others, when
they were supposed to help me?  If others had troubles, didn't they
deserve them?  I was filled with self-pity, anger and resentment.
Then I learned that by helping others, with no thought or return,
I could overcome this obsession with selfishness, and if I
understood humility, I would know peace and serenity.  No longer
do I need to drink.

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/ August 10th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have
discovered a common solution.  We who have found this solution
to our alcoholic problem, who are properly armed with the
facts about ourselves, can generally win the entire confidence
of another alcoholic.  We who are making the approach to new
prospects have had the same difficulty they have had.  We
obviously know what we are talking about.  Our whole
deportment shouts at new prospects that we are people
with a real answer."  Am I a person with the real answer to
the alcoholic problems of others?

Meditation for the Day

For straying from the right way there is no cure except to
keep so close to the thought of God that nothing, no other
interest, can seriously come between you and God.  Sure of
that, you can stay on God's side.  Knowing the way, nothing
can prevent your staying in the way and nothing can cause
you to seriously stray from it.  God has promised peace if
you stay close to Him, but not leisure.  You still have to carry
on in the world.  He has promised heart-rest and comfort,
but not pleasure in the ordinary sense.  Peace and comfort
bring real inward happiness.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may keep my feet on the way.  I pray that I may
stay on God's side.

"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
AUGUST 10

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Letting Go of Perfection

As I journey through recovery, more and more I learn that
accepting myself and my idiosyncrasies - laughing at myself
for my ways - gets me a lot further than picking on myself and
trying to make myself perfect. Maybe that's really what it's all
about - absolute loving, joyous, nurturing self-acceptance.
--Anonymous

Stop expecting perfection from yourself and those around you.

We do a terrible, annoying thing to others and ourselves when
we expect perfection. We set up a situation where others,
including ourselves, do not feel comfortable with us. Sometimes,
expecting perfection makes people so uptight that they and we
make more mistakes than normal because we are so nervous
and focused on mistakes.

That does not mean we allow inappropriate behaviors with the
excuse "nobody's perfect." That doesn't mean we don't have
boundaries and reasonable expectations of people and
ourselves.

But our expectations need to be reasonable. Expecting perfection
is not reasonable.

People make mistakes. The less anxious, intimidated, and
repressed they are by expectations of being perfect, the better
they will do.

Striving for excellence, purity in creativity, a harmonious
performance, and the best we have to offer does not happen
in the stymied, negative, fear-producing atmosphere of
expecting perfection.

Have and set boundaries. Have reasonable expectations. Strive
to do your best. Encourage others to do the same. But know that
others and we will make mistakes. Know that others and we will
have learning experiences, things we go through.

Sometimes, the flaws and imperfections in ourselves determine
our uniqueness, the way they do in a piece of art. Relish them.
Laugh at them. Embrace them, and ourselves.

Encourage others and ourselves to do the best we can. Love and
nurture others and ourselves for being who we are. Then realize
we are not merely human - we were intended and created to be
human.

Today, God, help me let go of my need to be perfect and to
unreasonably insist that others are perfect. I will not use this
to tolerate abuse or mistreatment, but to achieve appropriate,
balanced expectations. I am creating a healthy atmosphere of
love, acceptance, and nurturing around and within me. I trust
that this attitude will bring out the best in other people and 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

All There Is
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2007/August/Opinion%20_Guy_Spiro.ht\
ml

Life As A Daymaker
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=173

A conversation with Wayne Dyre
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/Wayne-Dyer.htm

Embracing Silence: How Daily Stillness and Solitude Can Change Your Life
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/December/feature4.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Adding Stress to Your Life?

by Jill Downs

A certain amount of stress occurs in everyone's life. We are all
here to grow, and because we are all growing, we will
experience stress. We all have challenges. Challenges will
differ depending on who and where we are on our path.

Often, people seem to experience some of the same kinds of
stress. For example, because we all have physical bodies, we
are all subject to various conditions, both positive and negative,
to which the physical vehicle is prone. We all have certain
needs, desires, comforts, and complaints. We are all
responsible for our bodies and understand that it's up to us to
take care of ourselves because no one else is going to do it for
us. Consequently, we have to learn to eat well, exercise, and
get plenty of rest and adequate sleep. As we take care of our
basic needs, we find we feel good, physically.

However, if we fail to care for the physical body in one of these
areas, we don't feel as good as we'd like to. If we wish to do
something about it, we set about to discover what is wrong.
Are we suffering from a food sensitivity or allergy? Often these
sufferers may go through their entire life unaware that their
discomfort or ill health may have been coming from this
relatively simple condition. Again, perhaps we're tired all the
time and we discover that there is, indeed, a physical cause
behind our complaint.

Through the study of healing, it has been discovered that the
mind is responsible for the problems we find in our bodies. It
is our attitudes that cause our physical problems. Further, we
now understand, that though the mind may be the cause, we
still have to correct the physical as well as the mental and
spiritual. Therefore, in order to stay well and healthy, we are
required to exert ourselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

The work that is required to stay healthy on all of these levels
creates stress, whether we're consciously aware of it or not.
If one area gets out of balance, we have to compensate in
another area -- so we are continually attempting to maintain
harmony between the physical, emotional, mental, and
spiritual bodies. No wonder we can feel tired at times. Keeping
this complex mechanism in order isn't easy, and demands
much of us as we continue to grow. Thus, there are pressures
from within that keep us busy. We create our own internal
stresses caused by our beliefs, attitudes, emotions, and
reactions to ourselves and the world around us.

In other words, because of the way we choose to perceive life,
we decide whether we are going to add stress to our lives, or,
instead, attempt to keep stress at a low level. If we maintain a
harmonious attitude and positive outlook, we eliminate much
stress that would occur if we were negative and resisted the
flow of life. Staying peaceful and serene by accepting
ourselves and life as it is isn't easy. Furthermore, knowing
when it's time to make appropriate changes and take action
is difficult as well. Not many of us are able to do this easily.

Therefore, we add stress to our lives because we are learning.
The more we're willing to learn, the more stressful our lives can
become. But there is a more positive side to this. The more
we're willing to accept the help that's available to us, the more
help we get and the calmer we become. We are then able to
take on great challenges we never dreamed we were capable
of simply because we've learned to rely on Divine help, which
comes instantly, without fail, and with love.

Let us imagine that as we sleep at night we make certain
decisions about the day ahead. Perhaps we set up a
situation that may be a bit challenging to us, just to see how
we will handle it. As the condition presents itself to us, whether
it is a necessary confrontation with our boss or co-worker, or
whether it is the loss of our pet, let us imagine that a part of
us already knows that these things are going to occur.
Therefore, when the event actually happens, we may say to
ourselves, "Well, here it is. I must have planned this; now how
am I going to handle it? Am I going to pass this little test I set up
for myself, or am I going to feel like a victim and blame others
or God for putting me in this position?"

Sometimes life can feel like a play if we allow it to. It is as
though we have rehearsed our roles and suddenly we're
called upon to play them out as we had planned. If others
play their roles as well as we play ours, the scenario works
out very harmoniously indeed. The most difficult-seeming
situations can be resolved as people are attuned to the play
and their part in it.

Could this be why we are so often surprised when someone's
behavior changes so positively to fit the situation? Suddenly
Dad allows us to have the car when in our wildest dreams we
never expected it would happen. Perhaps this time we want to
test our sense of responsibility with the car out late at night.
Intuitively, Dad knows this is the time, and all goes as planned.
The father may not consciously know why he allowed the son
to have the car; he probably thought he was just "in a good
mood". However, in reality he is playing out his role in the play
in order to help develop responsibility within his child. And,
most interestingly, he knew it was the appropriate time when t
here was perhaps no other indication that his son was
prepared for this experience. He just knew.

We're continually testing ourselves as our spirit sources guide
and direct us so that we may advance, not only spiritually, but
materially as well. The material life, which encompasses our work,
family, financial affairs, and other concerns of a more physical
nature, is just as important as the spiritual. We need to balance
both aspects of life. There cannot be spiritual advancement
without material conditions improving as well.

Overcoming our material challenges helps pave the way for
our spiritual advancement, but keeping a balance between the
two can create a great deal of stress for us. Further, the manner
in which we handle that stress indicates what we need to
improve on so that our lives can become more pleasant and
serene.

There are many answers for stress. Some methods for handling
stress are healthy and some are unhealthy. The unhealthy
methods leave us potentially worse off than we were before
the stressful condition. Excessive smoking and drinking are two
common ways people handle stress. Overeating and spending
money irresponsibly are other ways in which we handle the
uncomfortable feelings that stress causes. Sleeping a great
deal or watching television constantly are other methods people
use to "calm down". The list can go on and on. None of these ways
helps us in the long run. They only add to our problems, because
they affect us negatively in other areas and do not allow for our
full potential to be realized.

Yet in regard to these areas, we need to be gentle and patient with
ourselves and once again trust in our process. Attempting to force
these so-called negative habits out of our lives only attracts them
further to us.

There are, on the other hand, other, more healthy methods for
handling stress. These means may involve or at least begin with
the mind, body, or spirit. We may choose to exercise in order to
relieve stress. Any form of exercise or sport we choose that we
like can help relieve tension. Sex also helps to relieve tension,
provided that the conditions within the relationship of those
involved are love-filled, peaceful, and stress-free. Eating when
hungry can help to relieve stress: perhaps the body is in need of
certain nutrients.

All these methods should be used in balance and not to excess.
When, for example, we find that we are eating more than our
body actually needs in order to relieve our stress and that it's
becoming a habit, then we're into a more negative approach to
handling our problems.

Mentally, as we change our attitude about life and change our
thinking in the process, we can do much to eliminate old, stressful
reactions. Further, as we learn to let go and let God, new patterns
emerge within us that project a new approach to life. Our thinking
changes, thus bringing about new, more positive conditions to us.
Then again, as we become interested in delving deeper into the
spiritual, we discover that learning to be still greatly reduces
tension on all levels, and we become peaceful as we learn to
enter into that calm place within us.

Further, once accustomed to this space where we can come for
serenity, comfort, guidance and direction, we begin to develop
trust in our Creator as well as in our ability to make such contact
possible. As we work together with our Creator, learning to listen
as well as to obey the inner voice, stress begins to feel like a
condition of the past. Although we may continue to experience
it periodically as we test ourselves, we don't remain in a tense
situation for long. For we know that all we need to do is seek
within for all that we need, whether it be comfort, love, guidance
or wisdom and it will be there for us as we have asked. Further,
because we've remembered to ask for God's Divine light and that
all that comes to us be for the highest good, we will be safe and
secure.

Therefore, let's look upon the stresses and tensions in our day
as indications that we are indeed in the play, and the way in
which we respond to each situation will determine whether we
are ready to advance. Our goals are before us, but how we reach
them is up to us. The amount of peace we have during our climb
up the mountain is largely determined by how well we can form
this union with our Creator. The more "involved" we are in our
relationship with the divine intelligence that orders the universe,
the smoother and more peaceful will be our journey up the
mountain. The more we can trust, the more we can let go; the
more we let go, the more we let God.

This article was excerpted from the book "The Awakening of the
Heart" by Jill Downs, ©1999. Reprinted with permission of the
publisher, Savage Press. www.savpress.com

About The Author

Jill Downs has a BA in sociology and has worked as a licensed
practical nurse; facilitated family groups in recovery; has
experience working with the elderly in nursing homes and
the dying in hospice.  At present she conducts workshops on
personal and spiritual growth. These essays are her way of
helping every reader become fully human, fully conscious
and engaged in this wonderful journey called life.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Diversity

I believe that diversity is part of the natural order of things -
as natural as the trillion shapes and shades of the flowers
of the spring or the leaves of autumn.
I believe that diversity brings new solutions to an ever-
changing environment,
and that sameness is not only uninteresting, but limiting.

To deny diversity is to deny life -
with all its richness and manifold opportunities.
Thus I affirm my citizenship in a world of diversity,
and with it the responsibility to...
Be tolerant.
Live and let live.
Understand that those who cause no harm should not be
feared, ridiculed, or harmed - even if they are different.
Look for the best in others.
Be just in dealing with poor and rich, weak and strong,
and whenever possible, defend the young, the old, the frail,
the defenseless.

Be kind, remembering how fragile the human spirit is.
Live the examined life, subjecting your motives and actions
to the scrutiny of mind and heart so to rise above prejudice
and hatred.

Gene Griesssman

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Our work is to make God real
through the lens of our life
for all the lives that we touch
so that when others have passed our way,
they have felt the touch of God,
they have been encouraged,
they have been supported,
they have been blessed
by the presence that we bring
to whatever it is that we're doing.

That is our REAL work.

Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Solvent is the Mind  ©

Our minds like solvent water
Forever void the unnecessary
accumulated impedimenta
of days, weeks, years;
a cleansing process
to make space/room for
new experiences to face, encounter, listen for

Fresh flow the crystal waters of the mind
Ready to fill and engulf itself into a creative inlet
Ready to embrace new textures and substances
To build itself upon
Cycling with time, it is forever new, fresh…
Unless we dam it behind a wall
of worry and stagnation -
Unless we cling to the old
and dead debris of our lives

Let your mind flow gently but steadfastly onward
Outward, where new encounters will suffuse
Build it, with the breath of raw life

Your creativity deserves to have
Its doors swing wide open
A collection of vistas to power a world
So nurture your soul …
Forever the river

Love
Stella
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

BUZZARD
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely
open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an
absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins
a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space
to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will
remain
a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

BAT
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble
creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is
placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about
helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight
elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at
once, it takes off like a flash.

BUMBLEBEE
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there
until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of
escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out
through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where
none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee.
We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never
realizing that all we have to do is look up.

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But Faith looks up. Live
Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly and Trust
in those who care about you.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

With a lot of investment and experience,
scientist have gone into outer space,
but they do not know their own heart.

Man should experience inside of himself,
not only outer. Everything we see or do
outside is reflection of the inner being;
there is nothing outside that is not inside.

Sai Pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Many times you will be placed in a "predicament"which must be solved.
If you reach outside of yourself for an answer,
you can sometimes get one that assists you temporarily,
but in a while you find yourself right back in the same predicament
because you did not go through it as a process of learning.
You sought a way out of it through someone or something else.

So many times the way out of something is to go through it
and gain the greatest awareness available to you.

John-Roger
[From: Divine Essence (Baraka)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Beauty is of soft whisperings.
She speaks in our Spirit....
Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in the mirror.
But you are eternity, and you are the mirror.
Kahlil Gibran

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.
Small people always do that, but the really great make you
feel that you, too, can become great.
   Mark Twain

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Life is like a rainbow.
You need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear.
Author Unknown

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My worst day clean
was better than my best day using.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nothing is so bad
that using won't make it worse.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

That which doesn't kill you
serves to make you stronger.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When we dwell on the problem, the problem gets bigger.
When we dwell on the solution, the solution gets bigger.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

Under Bill s.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress
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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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

It's not alcoholwasm;
it's alcoholism.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you change from "feeling apart from" to "feeling a part of"?
Are you still isolating? How, and if not, what did you do to stop?

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August  11
I will take time today to stop and give a gift to
someone needy, smile at a stranger or help a small child.
I will take the time to do at least one thing
that I usually find myself too busy to do,
and I will inwardly smile at myself, taking the time
to experience the feelings of my own kindness.
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sobriety

Sobriety to me is the best of times
it gives me a freedom of choice,
As I pursue the path of spirituality
I know I’ll always rejoice.

‘One Day At A Time’ ‘Living Life On Life’s Terms’
seems hard to imagine at first,
But ‘Let Go and “Let God’ will make it simpler
and only increase the thirst.

For a willingness to learn and obtain some humility,
that extremely elusive trait,
Which come from ‘Progress’ and not ‘Perfection’
which only God can create.

It’s ‘East Does It’ as I went my way on this road
‘Happy. Joyous and Free’,
Always striving to ‘Live and Let Live’
while allowing other to be.

Now ‘Keeping it Simple’ is sometimes tough
as I tend to get in my own way,
But I ‘Keep Coming back’ as suggested to me
I remember ‘it’s Just for Today’.

Whenever my feelings get me into a funk
I have to pick up the phone,
Or go to a meeting and share what’s wrong
to rid me of all my junk.

I have found a peace AA had promised
by keeping an open mind,
In finding my God and working the steps,
I now can repay in kind.

I must never forget my alcoholism
each day my gratitude grows,
I truly am free from the ‘Bondage of Self’
and thanks be to God, IT SHOWS.

Susan F. Ader
dolph3@...
February 12, 1994

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Resolutions For Avoiding Misery
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=Pe0GE34xkC.SI2ecOv\
XJf6_tDDBxe9jpmJ6eIERX6v9Veift6Q

Twelve Principles of Narcotics Anonymous - PRINCIPLE EIGHT - TOLERANCE
http://www.nawol.org/2006_princ8.htm

Sharing Experience, Strength, and Hope - My Recovery Process
http://www.joy2meu.com/Recovery_process.html

Anonymity
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/6794/anonymity.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition One
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_one.html

Bill W. Talks
Tradition One
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/tradition_one.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 11                                             Active listening

"Through active listening, we hear things that work for us."
Basic Text, p. 102

     Most of us arrive in Narcotics Anonymous with a very poor
ability to listen. But to take full advantage of "the therapeutic
value of one addict helping another," we must learn to listen
actively.

What is active listening for us? In meetings, it means we
concentrate on what the speaker is sharing, while the speaker
is sharing. We set aside our own thought and opinions until
the meeting is over. That's when we sort through what we've
heard and decide which ideas we want to use and which we
want to explore further.

We can apply our active listening skills in sponsorship, too.
Newcomers often talk with us about some "major events" in
their lives. While such events may not seem significant to us,
they are to the newcomer who has little experience living life
on life's terms. Our active listening helps us empathize with
the feelings such events trigger in our sponsee's life. With
that understanding, we have a better idea of what to share
with them.

The ability to listen actively was unknown to us in the isolation
of our addiction. Today, this ability helps us actively engage
with our recovery. Through active listening, we receive
everything being offered us in NA, and we share fully with
others the love and care we've been given.

Just for today: I will strive to be an active listener. I will practice
active listening when others share and when I share with others.

Just For Today Daily Meditation is the property of Narcotics Anonymous ©
1991 by World Service Office Inc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Get Involved In Service*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you are enjoying this daily recovery email,
Please pass on 12 Step Soul Food For The Spirit to your online friends,
"We can only keep what we have by giving it away."
If you have received this as a forward
and  would like to subscribe please email
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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Those Who Still Suffer

For us, if we neglect those who are still sick, there is unremitting
danger to our own lives and sanity.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151

I know the torment of drinking compulsively to quiet my nerves
and my fears.  I also know the pain of white-knuckled sobriety.
Today, I do not forget the unknown person who suffers quietly,
withdrawn and hiding in the desperate relief of drinking.  I ask
my Higher Power to give me His guidance and the courage to
be willing to be His instrument to carry within me compassion
and unselfish actions.  Let the group continue to give me the
strength to do with others what I cannot do alone.

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/ August 11th

A.A. Thought for the Day

"While alcoholics keep strictly away from drink, they react
to life much like other people.  But the first drink sets the
terrible cycle in motion.  Alcoholics usually have no idea why
they take the first drink.  Some drinkers have excuses with
which they are satisfied, but in their hearts they really do
not know why they do it.  The truth is that at some point in
their drinking they have passed into a state where the most
powerful desire to stop drinking is of no avail."  Am I satisfied
that I have passed my tolerance point for alcohol?

Meditation for the Day

He who made the ordered world out of chaos and set the
stars in their courses and made each plant to know its season,
He can bring peace and order out of your private chaos if you
will let Him.  God is watching over you, too, to bless you and
care for you.  Out of the darkness He is leading you to light,
out of unrest to rest, out of disorder to order, out of faults
and failure to success.  You belong to God and your affairs are
His affairs and can be ordered by Him if you are willing.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be led out of disorder into order.  I pray
that I may be led out of failure into success.

"Twenty-Four Hours A Day" is a © Copyrighted book of
Hazelden Foundation.  No portion of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of Hazelden.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Work The Steps*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today's Thought
AUGUST 11

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Healing

Let healing energy flow through your body.

The healing energy of God, the Universe, life, and recovery
surrounds us. It is available, waiting for us to draw on it,
waiting for us to draw it in. It's waiting at our meetings or
groups, on the words of a whispered prayer, in a gentle
touch, a positive word, a positive thought. Healing energy is in
the sun, the wind, and the rain, in all that is good.

Let healing energy come. Attract it. Accept it. Let it soak in.
Breathe in the golden light. Exhale. Let go of fear, anger,
hurt, and doubt. Let healing energy flow to you, through you.

It is yours for the asking, for the believing.

Today, I will ask for, and accept, the healing energy from
God and the Universe. I will let it flow to me, through me, and
back out to others. I am part of, and at one with, the
continuous cycle of healing.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Right Where You Stand, Alan Cohen
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2007/August/Cohen.html

Emergence
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFView.cfm?PID=147

The Quality of Mercy, Alan Cohen
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/December/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 Golden Rule
by Marie T. Russell

Imagine...a world where everything you did to others was
immediately reflected upon you. Any time you inflicted pain,
whether physical or emotional, unto any other being you
would immediately feel the same pain.

Such was the situation that was brought to earth by an
extra-terrestrial in a science fiction story entitled Rule
Golden by Damon Knight. The character Aza-Kra, from a
planet in the galaxy of Aquarius, explains that all life beings
are able to feel each other's pain but that this sense has
been squelched and buried deeply within us in childhood.
Yet, he is able to activate it. In this book, every time someone
acts in a way to cause another pain, they feel the same pain
they caused.

This is indeed the way that the world operates, but many have
built a hard scale shield covering their sensitivities in order to
"protect" themselves from these feelings. We all have the ability
to empathize with others when we allow ourselves to truly feel.
But we have lost touch with it. We have become tough, reacting
to being hurt by building a wall that says "You won't
hurt me", "Nobody can hurt me".

Unfortunately, the wall may keep out pain, but it also keeps
out love. It keeps out recognizing the cry for help that is coming
from the soul of our brothers and sisters. It stops us from feeling
the pain that we inflict on others by our words, our actions,
or our lack of caring and compassion.

I recall as a child, being termed "a cry-baby". I would cry
watching sad movies, choke up watching a moving episode
on Bonanza, and was unable to watch horror movies or any
violent ones. My brother and sister would laugh at me for
being so sensitive. So I tried to squelch it down. Tried to not be
so sensitive, not to let others see me cry, not to show my
emotions...

Could it be that we all have this sensitivity, and had it coaxed
or ridiculed out of us? As children could we feel the pain of
others around us? Could we recognize within ourselves when
we did something that was not loving? Or is it something we
need to learn, to develop? Maybe it is another layer that we
need to remove before reaching the heart of our being... the
truly loving entity that we are meant to be.

Are we now willing to open ourselves up completely to feeling
our own emotions and those of others around us? Instead of
protecting ourselves by barriers of harshness, shyness,
aloofness, sarcasm, or even of white light, how about being
a beacon of love radiating peace and understanding out into
the world? Rather than projecting fear, we can choose to
project love and compassion. Seeing the world and its people
as needing love, not needing judgment and blame.

Instead of closing one's self from receiving bad vibes, we could
blanket the airwaves with the love frequency... If the atmosphere
is filled up with the positive vibrations of Love, there is no room
for the negative ones of fear and anger. If your Being is
radiating Light and Love out into the world, there is no room for
darkness to penetrate you.

Instead of being on the defensive, let's be on the offensive! Let
our ammunition be Love, Light, and Compassion rather than
defense, judgment, anger, and retribution.

We are the ones who can make a difference in the world. We
are the masters of our own fate. We control what goes in and
out of our brains, of our mouths, and of our hearts.

Let us tune in to the inner voice of Love and follow its directives.
Do unto others...

Let Love shine and heal the world and ourselves. It's all in our
hands, and our heart.

About The Author:
Marie T. Russell is the publisher of InnerSelf Magazine (first
published in 1985 originally as Mighty Natural Magazine) and
The Natural Yellow Pages (1987-2002). She produced a
weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from
1991-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem,
personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on
transformation and reconnecting with our inner source of joy
and creativity. Marie can be reached at marie@...
with personal comments and feedback, or to be placed on a
mailing list to be advised when her book becomes available.
www.innerself.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

TOUCH SOMEONE
There is a place within all us
       so tender
             so sweet
                   so vulnerable
That when touched can bring tears
       to your eyes.

It takes so little to open the door
       to our hiding places.

A gentle word
       An understanding nod
             A loving gaze.

This beautiful place...
       So rarely visited...
             Such a shame!

Sometimes the door has been slammed shut...
       Locked for years with a
             DO NOT DISTURB
                   sign
       Hanging on the face outside.


Many years ago I bought my ex-husband a bowling ball
for his 25th birthday.  Instant tears for surprise and gratitude
and love filled his eyes.

"I'm so sorry your son died."
Instant watering for my deep, deep pain.

"I love you," after a fight and the soul responds with tears
of relief and love and forgiveness and thankfulness.

"I appreciate you."

"I see your specialness."

The giving of ourselves with just
       a few words,
       a look,
       a touch
       can ease a broken heart,
             lift a fallen spirit
                   restore a lost soul.

How little it takes to touch someone with our love.

March 2002
By Ruth Fishel
spirithaven@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Invitation

In the childlike heart of any artist
~ who is anyone who dares say, “I wish...” ~
lies a magical portal through which
only the Muse knows the secret passage

To her first must be offered a small key
as a password that only she recognizes
A remaining soft and still at the centre of your being
A benevolent energy generated from within
A slow pace of languid, hazy afternoons
Calm knowings of faith in the universe
A receptive heart and a willing soul
Those are the imaginal markings on the small key
to which the Muse answers...

Inspiration comes to bestow her gifts
sprinkling stardust upon the turning of our craft
from ideas to the page
from images to the canvas
from fabric into Clothos
from plants into gardens
from gardens into landscapes

Invite the Muse of Inspiration
to your Creation
She bears gifts
for your unique understanding:
satisfaction guaranteed

Love
Stella

© 2002 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Cat Doctor

    Dr. McFarland, a veterinarian who goes by the name The Cat
Doctor, has a practice in my hometown, where we bring our cat,
Ragamuffin.  At one point, we had to put Ragamuffin on a strict
diet of prescription food, sold only at the vet's office.  One
time, when I went there to get a refill, I saw one of the
saddest sights I have ever seen -- a cat whose hind quarters
were paralyzed and could get around only by dragging his back
legs behind him.

    I asked the receptionist about the cat.  She told me his
name was Slick, and that some people had found him by the side
of the road a couple of years earlier and brought him in.  The
poor little guy had been shot and left for dead.  The Cat Doctor
treated him and when he recovered, they decided to keep Slick as
the office mascot.

    At first, it just broke my heart to see him pull himself
around the office, using just his front legs.    But Slick has
such spirit, that each time I saw him, I seemed to notice his
difficulties less and less.

    Not too long ago, Ragamuffin became ill and I had to take
him to the vet.  The cat was scared to death to leave our house.
Although he was in horrible pain from his illness, he put up a
terrific fight.  He fought his way out of the cat carrier three
times before I could secure it.

    I finally got Ragamuffin into the car and headed over to
see The Cat Doctor.  Ragamuffin howled and cried the whole way.
Even as I carried the carrier into the office, my cat was
putting up a fight.  He was terrified of being in this strange
place filled with new cat and people smells.

    As I looked around, I noticed Slick sitting on a little cat
bed across the room, oblivious to all the commotion I'd brought
into his kingdom.  He ignored us, continuing to groom himself.

    Setting the carrier down on the floor, I tried not to
listen to Ragamuffin's strident pleas for help as I filled out
the proper paperwork.

    Then suddenly it got quiet.  Really quiet.  No more
screaming.  No more howls.  I cocked my head to listen as I
continued to calculate Ragamuffin's weight in my head.  Still,
silence.

    A sudden fear rushed over me as I realized that the front
door to Dr. McFarland's office was still open.  Omigosh, I
thought, Ragamuffin must have gotten out of the carrier and run
outside!  I dropped my pen and turned to bolt out the door.  I
hadn't taken more than two steps when I stopped short --
captivated by the scene before me.

    Ragamuffin, still in his cage, had his pink nose pressed up
against the bars.  He was exchanging a calm little cat greeting
with Slick, who had managed to crawl all the way across the room
to comfort the agitated Rags.    Slick, with his paralyzed
hindquarters splayed behind him, pressed his nose to the bars as
well.    The two cats sat quietly, Slick continuing to soothe
Ragamuffin's fears in a way only another cat would know how to
do.

    Smiling, I realized that there was more than one Cat Doctor
around this place.

By Norma and Vincent Hans from Chicken Soup for the
Cat & Dog Lover's Soul Copyright 1999
by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Denial

Denial is a powerful tool.
Never underestimate it ability
to cloud your vision.

Be aware that, for many reasons,
we have become experts at using this tool
to make reality more tolerable.
We have learned well how to stop the pain caused by reality --
not by changing our circumstances, but pretending our
circumstances are something other than what they are.

Do not be too hard on yourself.
While one part of you was busy creating a fantasy-reality,
the other part went to work on accepting the truth.

Now, it is time to find courage.
Face the truth.
Let it sink gently in.

When we can do that, we will be moved forward.

God, give me the courage and strength to see clearly.

Melody Beattie ©

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

MY ISMS

Acting within my own isms
My soul is trapped within this prison
Greed, hunger, and lust escapes
And wrap around me like a cape
Thoughts I have without sane reason
My mind forms its own wicked treason
Hurt and hate boiled-up within
My mind thinks of ways to make it end
Drinking, drugging, and even suicide
I just want to run and hide
But then I remember how I lose
When I get this confused
And how my mind it will lie
So in you I do confide
And when my secrets I confess
I find that I am not in such a mess
Then with my Higher Power
I take refuge and rest

©2001  By: Angela Moore  WHFL
aka:  Amoore530@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Higher Power

Speak to me without words.
Hold me without arms.
Charm me without charms
And I feel love

Understand me without pity.
Smile at me with eyes.
See the sea from the city.
You never tell me lies.

Walk with me when I'm alone
And listen to my cries.
Now i know that you know
All negativity dies

It's a choice.
I hear your voice.
Yeah, sometimes I don't.
You won't let me forget,
And I know you know I won't.

I want to touch so many.
Where am I supposed to be?
Where ever I am, where ever I go,
I know you're with me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Say the words.
Tell your partner, your children, your parents:
"I love you" frequently.
Let them know the difference they make in your life.
Miss no opportunities for loving.
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Never ask a barber if he thinks you need a haircut.
Roy Roger

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Remember that from where you are in this moment,
in this time and space, you are doing the best that you know to do.
If you could do better in this moment, you would do better.
John-Roger
From: The Way Out Book

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The journey of a lifetime begins with
one day and the first step.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today is a gift;
that's why it's called the present.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Live in the moment,
not for the moment

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today, we have a choice.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

Once you are a pickle,
you can never be a cucumber again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you change from "feeling apart from" to "feeling a part of"?
Are you still isolating? How, and if not, what did you do to stop?

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 9
Today I will take the time and quiet I need
to find that place of peace and happiness within me.
Whatever happens outside of me will never replace
that which I can find within me wherever 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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Lost & Found

standing in the shadows
walking in the light
broken in my weakness
healed in HIS might

Crying in the rain
laughing at the storm
blinded by the lightning
visions taking form

surrendering the battle
conquering the war
falling in the grave
rising up to soar

crippled by hunger
running the race
lost in the desert
found within His grace

Joy
mystick_bard@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Connectedness" SIOUX INDIAN STORY
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=.dK78doxkCjY5MKc5Q\
.HbG6i.WLxM343BJ0ysZ9Xu6tCpYxNWQ

WE THE PEOPLE
The Gabriel Heatter broadcast of April 25, 1939
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aawethepeople.html

Twelve Principles of Narcotics Anonymous - PRINCIPLE SIX - WILLINGNESS
http://www.nawol.org/2006_princ6.htm

Alcoholics Anonymous Makes Its Stand Here
Reprinted from the October 21, 1939 Cleveland Plain Dealer with
permission
http://www.eskimo.com/~burked/plndlr/plndlr1.html
http://www.eskimo.com/~burked/plndlr/plndlr2.html
http://www.eskimo.com/~burked/plndlr/plndlr3.html
http://www.eskimo.com/~burked/plndlr/plndlr4.html
http://www.eskimo.com/~burked/plndlr/plndlr5.html

Grief Process Techniques - the path to love & forgivness
http://www.joy2meu.com/Grief.htm

Alcohol Cartoon
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/a/alchohol.asp

Stress Releaser
http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/WFProduct/moodshifters/stress-releaser.s\
wf

Bill W. Talks
Transcript of talk given by Bill W.
http://www.silkworth.net/aahistory/billw2/guest.html

Bill W. Talks
Twelve Suggested Points of AA Tradition
http://www.silkworth.net/grapevine/suggested_points.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 9                                            The Power of Love

"We begin to see that God's love has been present all the time
just waiting for us to accept it." Basic Text, p. 46

      God's love is a transforming power that drives our recovery.
With that love, we find freedom from the hopeless, desperate
cycle of using, self-hatred, and more using. With that love we
gain a sense of reason and purpose in our once purposeless
lives. With that love, we are given the inner direction and
strength we need to begin a new way of life: the N.A. way. With
that love, we begin to see things differently, as if with new eyes.

As we examine our lives through the eyes of love, we make
what may be a startling discovery: the loving God we've so
recently come to understand has always been with us and has
always loved us. We recall the times when we asked for the aid
of a Higher Power and were given it. We even recall times when
we didn't ask for such help, yet were given it anyway. We
realize that a loving Higher Power has cared for us all along
preserving our lives till the day when we could accept that love
for ourselves.

The Power of love has been with us all along. Today, we are
grateful to have survived long enough to become consciously
aware of that loves presence in our world and our lives. It's
vitality floods our very being, diving our recovery and showing
us how to live.

Just for today: I accept the love of a Higher Power in my life.
I am conscious of that Power's guidance and strength within me.
Today, I claim it for my own.

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/August.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 Ask God to Decide

"I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of
character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you
and my fellows."
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76

Having admitted my powerlessness and made a decision to
turn my will and my life over to the care of God, as I understand
Him, I don't decide which defects get removed, or the order in
which defects get removed, or the time frame in which they get
removed. I ask God to decide which defects stand in the way of
my usefulness to Him and to others, and them I humbly ask Him
to remove them.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Daily Reflection In Loving Memory Of Scott Reeves

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Be A Sponsor*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty-Four Hours A Day by Hazelden/ August 9th

A.A. Thought for the Day

For awhile, we are going back to the Big Book, Alcoholics
Anonymous, and pick out passages here and there, so that
they may become fixed in our minds, a little at a time, day
by day, as we go along.  There is no substitute for reading
the Big Book.  It is our "bible."  We should study it thoroughly
and make it a part of ourselves.  We should not try to change
any of it.  Within its covers is the full exposition of the A.A.
program.  There is no substitute for it.  We should study it
often.  Have I studied the Big Book faithfully?

Meditation for the Day

All of life is a fluctuation between effort and rest.  You need
both every day.  But effort is not truly effective until first you
have had the proper preparation for it, by resting in a time
of quiet meditation.  This daily time of rest and meditation
gives you the power necessary to make your best effort.
There are days when you are called on for much effort and
then comes a time when you need much rest.  It is not good to
rest too long and it is not good to carry on great effort too long
without rest.  The successful life is a proper balance between
the two.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be ready to make the proper effort.  I pray
that I may also recognize the need for relaxation.

"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
AUGUST 09

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©


Asking for What We Need

Decide what it is you want and need, then go to the person you
need it from and ask for it.

Sometimes, it takes hard work and much energy to get what we
want and need. We have to go through the pains of identifying
what we want, then struggle to believe that we deserve it. Then,
we may have to experience the disappointment of asking
someone, having the person refuse us, and figuring out what
to do next.

Sometimes in life, getting what we want and need is not so
difficult. Sometimes, all we need to do is ask.

We can go to another person, or our Higher Power, and ask for
what we need.

But because of how difficult it can be, at times, to get what we
want and need, we may get trapped in the mind set of believing
it will always be that difficult. Sometimes, not wanting to go
through the hassle, dreading the struggle, or out of fear, we may
make getting what we want and need much more difficult than it
needs to be.

We may get angry before we ask, deciding that we'll never get
what we want, or anticipating the "fight" we'll have to endure. By
the time we talk to someone about what we want, we may be so
angry that we're demanding, not asking; thus our anger triggers
a power play that didn't exist except in our mind.

Or we may get so worked up that we don't ask--or we waste far
more energy than necessary fighting with ourselves, only to find
out that the other person, or our Higher Power, is happy to give
us what we want.

Sometimes, we have to fight and work and wait for what we
want and need. Sometimes, we can get it just by asking or
stating that this is what we want. Ask. If the answer is no, or not
what we want, then we can decide what to do next.

Today, I will not set up a difficult situation that doesn't exist with
other people, or my Higher Power, about getting what I want and
need. If there is something I need from someone, I will ask first,
before I struggle.

©1990, Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. No portion of this
publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of the publisher.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*You Are A Miracle*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Why Humans Make Lousy Lovers
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2007/August/feature5.html

Show Me The Consciousness
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/1997/12/cohen12-97.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

GIVING GIFTS
By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

Most of us have heard both expressions, "It's better to give than
to receive" and "If you give, you will receive."  Unfortunately,
these sayings are not always true.  Some gifts are given in order
to manipulate or control the recipient.  Some gifts are given in
hopes of getting back the very thing you give away.  Some gifts
are specifically designed to invite the recipient to feel guilty or
obligated.  Clearly there are times when it is not better to give
than receive.  There are also instances where we never get back
that which we give away.  Why should we?  If you are always
giving away water, who is going to suspect that you are thirsty?

There are personal gifts however, which you can offer to others,
the mere offering of which benefits you, strengthens your
character and are an expression of who you really are.

THE GIFT OF ACCEPTANCE.  How critically important
acceptance is to our well being!  Acceptance does not mean
"condoning" or "compromising".  It means acknowledgement of
who you are, who I am, and what exists at the moment in the
real world.  Acceptance means being known completely,
shortcomings and all, and not being rejected as unacceptable.
It means knowing this time, this present moment, this "here and
now".  Giving acceptance means validating the other for who
they are now, not for what they were, not for what they will be,
but for who they are at this very moment.

THE GIFT OF APPRECIATION.  There is no gift more important,
more easy to give, more as needed than that of appreciation.
We need appreciation to maintain psychological health as much
as we need food to maintain physical wellness.  Expressed
sincere appre-ciation, can transform a negative, angry, hurtful
relationship into one of positive, loving, comforting support
Giving appreciation is like a small ceremony of love.  "Thank
you for...," "I appreciate you when...," "I like this," "I like you,"
"I enjoy your...,"  all express genuine and timely appreciation.

THE GIFT OF BEING THERE FOR ANOTHER.
Being there when another needs your presence, is very
validating and affirming.  Being there means being a
supportive witness to the other's thoughts and feelings,
without reacting or perhaps even com-menting.  It is allowing
the other person to react and express themselves without
adding to it in some manner.  It is sharing the emotional impact
of life.  It is intimacy in its purest form.  Listening, being openly
expectant, having an attitude of re-ceptivity, and waiting patiently
for the other, all characterize "being there for another."  It is a
rare and precious gift you can offer.

THE GIFT OF FREEDOM is one gift you can only give yourself.
You cannot give it to another.  The other must always free himself
or herself.  But you can invite them to be free by not imposing
restrictions of your own on another human being.  Freeing
yourself is an important self-gift.  If you are not free to risk, you
cannot grow. If you are not free to be yourself, you cannot really
love.  Giving freedom means realizing you cannot change or
control another.  You cannot make another love you.  You
cannot cling to him or her out of fear. You cannot restrict
another's right to be who they really are and make their own
decisions, have their own thoughts, create their own emotions,
and develop their own values and opinions.  By exercising your
own freedom, you invite others to risk being free themselves.

GIFT OF TIME.  We are often so busy doing other things, we
rarely give our time to others.  How often to we look back on the
time of our children's childhood with regret we didn't spend
enough time with them.  How often do our loved ones move
away, become involved with their own business, or die and we
regret not having spent enough time with them.  Good times, bad
times.  The time of loving, the time of fighting.  The time of
celebration, the time of mourning.  The time spent being yourself
together with another being himself or herself. Without spending
time with one another, life is empty.  Give yourself and others
your time, and you will reap all kinds of benefits.

THE GIFT OF LOVE.  Love is always a gift.  No one can earn
it.  No one can force you to give it.  Love is a free gift.  It is the
essence of being alive.  Love heals.  Love frees.  Love deepens
and enriches our lives.  Love forces us to grow and become our
best.  Love comforts.  Love is enough.  Love is the greatest gift we
have to give and receive.  Giving generously of your love this time
of year, and throughout your future, will certainly allow you and
the people you love, to be fully themselves.  There is no greater
gift!

By Lloyd J. Thomas, Ph.D.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Journals

Where do you keep
your excess thoughts
your yearnings and dreams
and endless lists that crowd the mind?

Where do you go to cry or to mourn
~ to fill yourself up with courage again?
~ to tell yourself not to take life too seriously?
Where is your haven, the refuge for your soul?

Your wishes and dreams need a home
in the dawn's early rays
Or a place to retire at the end of the day
Give each a space
in personal containment form

Just what your peace of heart needs: a Journal
For when the natural flow of your life gets stuck
When you don't closely examine the falling debris
You keep it in, you ignore twigs and sticks and limbs
Thus you run the risk of choking your creative spirit
Or worse yet: of seeing the mess spill out
all over the place, all over your comfort zone

But your honest writing brings you to the Spring
To recharge and replenish the freshness each day

Writing breaks up the backlog
making life easier to manage, a force tamed
A daily renewal in which your dynamic Self
May find expression and a home
Where your heart may freely flow
once more

Love
Stella

© 2001 Stella Raymonde Savoie
stellaraymonde@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I have come to the frightening conclusion....

that I am the decisive element.

It is my personal approach that creates the climate.

It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration,

I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.

In all situations, it is my response that decides
whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated,
and a person is humanized or de-humanized.

If we treat people as they are, we make them worse.

If we treat people as they ought to be,
we help them become
what they are capable of becoming.

J.W.Goethe

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Going Through It

Pain,
Anger
Loneliness
It's too much
How do I deal with this?
I have to feel it,
I can't run away,
not anymore.
I have in the past,
I may want to again,
part of me does.
That is the disease
trying to grab me,
put me under its spell,
once again,
I have to resist.
They say it gets better.
I have to have hope,
Keep speaking,
Keep working,
KEEP BELIEVING.

Jessica K

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spirituality

s - special times with God
p- prayer
i - interest in how to be of service
r - real feelings of humility
i - intimate contact with other humans
t - total trust in a Higher Power
u - unity of faith with others who believe
a - any acts of charity
l - LOVE
i - intense joy and gratitude
t - talent used to enhance others lives
y- YES - the answer when God calls

God Bless!!! Love, Scott S.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Don't waste your time on jealousy.
Sometimes you're ahead;
sometimes you're behind.
The race is long and in the end, it is only with yourself.
Mary Schmich

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Treat every person with kindness and respect,
even those who are rude to you.
Remember that you show compassion to others
not because of who they are,
but because of who you are.
Andrew T. Somers

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Forgiveness isn't something nice I do for someone who is "guilty."
Forgiveness is something nice I do for my own mind.
Do I want a mind that tortures me or one that is a friend to me?
Hugh Prather, Spiritual Notes to Myself

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The greatest problem you have is your greatest opportunity.
Michael Wickett

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Come forward and speak from the heart,
recognizing that love can prosper in the midst of a problem.
Mary Manin Morrissey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Don't believe everything that you hear.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Keep what you need
and leave the rest.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There are MUSTS in N.A.
You MUST abstain from ALL drugs in order to recover.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you don't pick it up,
you cant get high.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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.

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 13,000 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://profiles.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]

Step 3: Three frogs were on a tree limb and decided to jump off.
How many are left?
Answer: All three of them
(they only made a decision to jump off).

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*LAUGHTER Is HEALING*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The weekly meeting topic is:
How do you change from "feeling apart from" to "feeling a part of"?
Are you still isolating? How, and if not, what did you do to stop?

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

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

August 8
The peace that I feel in my life is growing richer every day.
As I continue to walk on my spiritual path to recovery,
I let myself be guided by truth and love.
Conflict is leaving, making more and more room
for charity, serenity and usefulness.
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 Ultimate High

This man stands tall as he's looking back,
at the pain and the heartache of his long lived past.
He spent so long ,and looked so hard,
in a quest of a life time "That Ultimate High".
He searched every bar and tavern in town,
then set off for other cities to see if it could be found.
The lanes were fast , the times were hard,
but he continued his search for that High of all Highs!
The ladies came, the ladies left, relationships had but never kept.
Pain and disappear fill him from within,
a constant companion for the state he was in.
He tried it all to see if it was there, sex, drugs, and booze,
but No it's not here!
He looked the world over, and what a price he did pay,
he died a little more each and every day.
His quest became an obsession, as he searched far and wide,
for the Greatest buzz "The Ultimate High"!

Loves lost, cars wrecked, the bike won't run, bills not paid,
the law on my butt, dang what a mess!
But still the chase goes on, he know its out there but just not where,
he'll ever find it.
So now he's addicted to all the wrong Highs,
as he trudges though life with a void inside.
All hope is gone, self-respect can't be found,
as he lives in the gutters of some nameless town.
Oh but the Ultimate High isn't something you seek,
It's a gift from above, for the humble and meek.
And the Lord reached down, with this gift in his hand,
and gave it to this tired and lonely man.
It was Love, Joy, and Peace from within,
a Feeling of Serenity for each and every man.
So as this man stands tall, he lifts his eyes up,
and says Thanks Lord for "The High of all Highs"!

By Chet Harris

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Don't Use*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If anyone has any original recovery poetry that they
would like to share with us please copy and paste it into the body
of an email and send it to me, Thanks for your support and
contributions.
What I can't do alone, We do together.
In loving service, Scott ~  YOUnMEnHP@...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*No Matter What*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

God Is Gentle
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/KOUVXSDBHBKOTXDBYWF7UA43UA?eid=3FLyKHMxkXxxy9itT5\
Fpo77fXSpnCexVHw5Xkjw2SXUKNm8vDw

Ruth Hock's Recollections
The First Secretary of A.A.
Every word in the Big Book came under her fingers!!
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aaruthhock1955.html

Twelve Principles of Narcotics Anonymous - PRINCIPLE FIVE - OPEN-
MINDEDNESS
http://www.nawol.org/2006_princ5.htm

Recovery from Codependency / Inner Children Healing
http://www.joy2meu.com/Recovery_Codependency.html

Addiction Cartoon
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/a/addiction.asp

The Sweetest Dessert
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/1999/06/sweetest.htm

Listen To Your Heart Songs & Touch Your Soul
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/2002/02/hess.htm

Make Whatcha Want
http://www.inlightimes.com/archives/2003/01/alan-cohen.htm

Bill W. Talks
What Happened to Those Who Left?
http://www.silkworth.net/aahistory/billw2/gsc1965.html

Bill W. Talks
Our Great Responsibility The Guidance of A.A.’s World Affairs
http://www.silkworth.net/aahistory/billw2/gsc1965-2.html

My Blog YOUnMEnHP Scott's Daily Blog
http://profiles.yahoo.com/younmenhp

Tommy D. GREAT MUSIC (one of my sponsees)
http://www.myspace.com/bluesbuddha
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
August 8                                            Responsible recovery

"... we accept responsibility for our problems and see that
we're equally responsible for our solutions." Basic Text, p. 94

      Some of us, well accustomed to leaving our personal
responsibilities to others, may attempt the same behavior in
recovery. We quickly find out it doesn't work

   For instance, we are considering making a change in our lives,
so we call our sponsor and ask what we should do. Under the
guise of seeking direction, we are actually asking our sponsor
to assume responsibility for making decisions about our life.
Or maybe we've been short with someone at a meeting, so we
ask that person's best friend to make our apologies for us.
Perhaps we've imposed on a friend several times in the last
month to cover our service commitment. Could it be that we've
asked a friend to analyze our behavior and identify our
shortcomings, rather than taking our own personal inventory?

   Recovery is something that has to be worked for. It isn't going to
be handed to us on a silver platter, nor can we expect our
friends or our sponsor to be responsible for the work we must
do ourselves.  We recover by making our own decisions, doing
our own service, and working our own steps. By doing it for
ourselves, we receive the rewards.

Just for today: I accept responsibility for my life and 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/August.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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Shortcomings Removed

But now the words "Of myself I am nothing, the Father doeth
the works" began to carry bright promise and meaning.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 75

When I put the Seventh Step into action I must remember that
there are no blanks to fill in. It doesn't say, "Humbly asked  Him
to (fill in the blank) remove our shortcomings."  For years, I filled
in the imaginary blank with "Help me!" "Give me the courage to,
" and "Give me the strength," etc. The Step says simply that God
will remove my shortcomings. The only footwork I must do is
"humbly ask," which for me means asking with the knowledge
that of myself I am nothing, the Father within "doeth the works."

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/ August 8th

A.A. Thought for the Day

For awhile, we are going back to the Big Book, Alcoholics
Anonymous, and pick out passages here and there, so that
they may become fixed in our minds, a little at a time, day
by day, as we go along.  There is no substitute for reading
the Big Book.  It is our "bible."  We should study it thoroughly
and make it a part of ourselves.  We should not try to change
any of it.  Within its covers is the full exposition of the A.A.
program.  There is no substitute for it.  We should study it
often.  Have I studied the Big Book faithfully?

Meditation for the Day

All of life is a fluctuation between effort and rest.  You need
both every day.  But effort is not truly effective until first
you have had the proper preparation for it, by resting in a
time of quiet meditation.  This daily time of rest and meditation
gives you the power necessary to make your best effort.
There are days when you are called on for much effort and
then comes a time when you need much rest.  It is not good
to rest too long and it is not good to carry on great effort too
long without rest.  The successful life is a proper balance
between the two.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be ready to make the proper effort.  I pray
that I may also recognize the need for relaxation.

"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
AUGUST 08

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go.
Melody Beattie ©

Saying Yes

Yesterday we talked about learning to say no. Today, let's
discuss another important word: Yes.

We can learn to say yes to things that feel good, to what we
want - for others and ourselves.

We can learn to say yes to fun. Yes to meetings, to calling
a friend, asking for help.

We can learn to say yes to healthy relationships, to people
and activities that are good for us.

We can learn to say yes to ourselves, what we want and
need, our instincts, and the leading of our Higher Power.

We can learn to say yes when it feels right to help someone.
We can learn to say yes to our feelings. We can learn to identify
when we need to take a walk, take a nap, have our back rubbed,
or buy ourselves flowers.

We can learn to say yes to work that is right for us.

We can learn to say yes to all that will nurture and nourish us.
We can learn to say yes to the best life and love has to offer.

Today, I will say yes to all that feels good and right.

©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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Learn the Language of Your Body and Make Friends with Your Inner Healer
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2007/August/feature4.html

Everyday Matters
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2006/August/Everyday%20Matters.html

Why Meditate by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
http://www.lightworks.com/MonthlyAspectarian/2003/December/feature3.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 True Perfectionist
By Alan Cohen

A friend of mine declared, "I used to think I was a perfectionist.
I found the tiniest flaws in everything. Then I realized I was
not a perfectionist at all; I was an imperfectionist ! If I was a
perfectionist, I would see perfection wherever I look."

The life we experience is the product of the vision we use to
interpret events. At any moment, we can see through the eyes
of appreciation or criticism. And we will see more of whatever
we are focusing on. We master the game of life by finding good
wherever we look…and there is much good to be found.

While having lunch with some business associates at an upscale
restaurant, one of our party asked the waiter for an unusual
dish not on the menu. The waiter replied that he would ask the
chef to accommodate the request. Then another member of
our group sarcastically commented, "I'll bet that will just
tweak the chef's day!"

But the waiter did not flinch. "Actually," he replied smoothly,
"I'm sure he will be glad to accommodate you-this gives him a
chance to shine."

Every situation gives us a chance to shine, if we recognize our
power as creative spirits. No situation is any one way, except
what we make it. You can make anything out of anything. So why
not make it perfect?

The story is told about a man who was walking along a city
street when a flowerpot fell off a sill above him and crashed
at his feet, missing hitting him by inches. There are four paths
of response the man might take. First, the path of knee-jerk
reaction: he would yell a curse toward the window or perhaps
dash up the stairs, find the owner, and punch him out. Second,
the path of the victim: this experience would confirm his belief
that the world is out to get him, and he would go about the rest
of his day protecting himself from evil, retelling his story
many times. Third, the path of detachment: he would rationalize
that this was his karma, do nothing, and just keep walking.
Finally, the path of love: he would go to the flower store on
the corner, buy a new plant, and deliver it to the person whose
plant had been blown off the sill by the wind.

Shakespeare declared, "There is nothing good or bad, but
thinking makes it so." We see the world not as it is, but as
we are. Changing the world is not about setting it right, but
seeing it right. If you believe the world is broken and you
need to fix it, you will find more and more things broken. If
you see the world as whole and beautiful, you will find more
and more things to celebrate.

Ram Dass noted there are three kinds of people: those who
say, "not enough!"; those who say, "too much!"; and those who
say, "ah, just right!" Actually, there are just two kinds of
people, for "too much" of one thing is really "not enough" of
another. We are continuously choosing between affirmation
and resistance.

Does seeing perfection mean we are to simply be passive
observers and sit around and do nothing? Not at all. Perfection
includes the process of changing, growing, expanding,
improving, and moving ahead. But our actions to improve
do not proceed from an attitude of pushing against lack.
They proceed from a sense that things are already good,
and wouldn't it be a delightful adventure to make them
better? The true perfectionist creates effective change
by seeing the highest possibilities, and becoming so excited
about them that conditions must rise to match the vision.

Several years ago while I was walking through the Los Angeles
airport, I felt annoyed by the massive construction going on.
\I saw ugly makeshift plywood walls to my left and right, a
maze of paint-laden scaffolds, and long winding detours to
the baggage claim. I grumbled to myself about what a mess
the place was, and how long it was taking to fix it. Then I
discovered a sign that stopped me in my tracks. It was an
artist's rendering of what the airport would look like when
the construction was complete. It was magnificent! The
glass atrium roofs, sleek marbled corridors, and potted
palms were a delight to behold (a far cry from the current
mess.) Then I relaxed. If that is what this is leading to, I
thought, then I am glad they are doing it. When I dropped
my resistance, I enjoyed the process, including the
construction phase.

The entire universe is in a construction phase, never totally
complete as it is, but always perfect as it unfolds. When you
appreciate the beauty as you go, you become a true perfectionist.

Alan Cohen is the author of 15 popular inspirational books
including the best-selling A Deep Breath of Life. To order
Alan's new acclaimed novel My Father's Voice, or request
free catalog of Alan's books, tapes, and seminars, 1-800-462-3013.
website www.alancohen.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Day At A Time*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Race

I've tripped and stumbled and fell flat on my face
But I'm picking me up and getting back in the race
The race is a long one, it's hard and it's rough
But I'm gonna win cause I'm strong and I'm tough
The winners in this race are far and few
I am a winner and one of the new
There's gonna be road blocks for the rest of my time
I'm not gonna pick up I'm gonna do fine
Not picking up and staying drug free
Is winning the race called RECOVERY

Written by John Poulos 10/95

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*First Things First*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When they take your smile away they might just as well shoot you.
-- Violet Hensley

Violet is one big smile. And it's not the result of having an easy
life. On the contrary, she has worked doubly hard all her life to
support her family. However, she has a joyful attitude, and it has
made the difference in her life. Now in old age, she still works
hard making fiddles for sale and performing music; but she
loves every minute of life, and when you're with her, you love
it too.

Why aren't we more like Violet? The answer always rests within
us. We have decided how to respond to life's trials. We were
never forced to dread, hate, or appreciate our experiences. We
were, and still are, solely responsible for our interpretation. The
Violets of the world opted to have more fun.

How do we begin having more fun? The first step is deciding
to leave the past behind. No matter what our experiences were
last year or in our childhood or even this morning, they don't
have to determine what our experiences will be in this next
hour. Having more fun is clearly a decision that is coupled with
action. Any one of us can do it as well as we want to.

Smiling at myself in the mirror is good practice. Offering one to
the first person I encounter strengthens my desire to offer more.

from the book: Keepers of the Wisdom by Karen Casey

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Easy Does It*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"This one moment - now -
   is the only thing you can never escape from,
   the one constant factor in your life.
   No matter what happens,
   no matter how much your life changes,
   one thing is certain: it's always 'now'.
   Since there is no escape from the 'now',
   why not welcome it?
   Why not become friendly with it?"

   Eckhart Tolle

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Live And Let Live*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

  From pages 214 & 215 in AS WE UNDERSTAND

ALANON PRAYER  ~ A PRAYER FOR EVERYONE

Dear God,
I am powerless and my life is unmanageable without your help and
guidance.
I come to you today because I believe
that You can restore and anew me to meet my needs today.
Since I cannot manage my life and affairs,
I have decided to give them to You.
I put my life, my will, my thoughts,
my desires and ambitions in Your hands.
I give You all of me: the good and the bad,
the character defects and shortcomings,
my selfishness, resentments and problems.
I know that You will work them out in accordance with Your plan.
Such as I am, take and use me in Your service.
Guide and direct my ways and show me what to do for You.
I cannot control or change my friends or loved ones,
so I release them into Your care
for Your loving hands to do with as You  will.
Just keep me loving and free from judging them.
If they need changing, God You'll have to do it; I can't.
Just make me willing and ready to be of service to You,
to have my shortcomings removed, and to do my best.
Help me to see  how I have harmed others
and make me willing to make amends to them all.
Keep me ever mindful of thoughts and actions that harm myself and
others,
and which separate me from Your light, love and spirit.
And when I commit these errors,
make me aware of them and help me to admit each one promptly.
I am seeking to know You better,
to love You more.
I am seeking the knowledge of Your will for me
and the power to carry it out.
Lord, teach me patience,
and remind me that it is hard work,
but well worth the labor.
Guide me in all I do to remember that
waiting is the answer to some of my prayers,
and that when I need You,
You will be there to help me.

Amen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep The Focus On You*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When we surrender to God,
we surrender to something bigger than ourselves -
to a universe that knows what it's doing.
When we stop trying to control events they fall into a natural order,
an order that works.
We're at rest while a power much greater than our own takes over,
and it does a much better job than we cold have done.
We learn to trust that the power that holds galaxies together
can handle the circumstance of our relatively little lives.
Marianne Williamson

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Let God and Let Go*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.
Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.
Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.
Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so.
One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the
pillow,
or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want,
more than all the world, your return.
Mary Jean Iron

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Do not go where the path may lead;
go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I will greet this day with love in my heart.
For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures.
Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life itself
but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of man
and until I master this act
I will remain no more than a peddler in the market place.
I will make love my greatest weapon
and none on who I call can defend upon its force...
my love will melt all hearts liken
to the sun whose rays soften the coldest day.
Og Mandino

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Come To Believe*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

God speaks to you through your heart.
God brings peace to your life.
You can know happiness, and you can know love.
There is nothing else worth knowing.
John-Roger From:
The Way Out Book

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Look For The Beauty*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Practice these principles in all your affairs
or change your affairs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Today Is A Gift*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Carry the message, not the mess.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Keep Stepping*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can only help another to the degree
that I've been helped myself.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Stay In The Light*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*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
http://www.AdultChildren.org

Al-Anon/Alateen
http://www.al-anon.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Deaf and Hard of Hearing
http://www.dhh12s.com/

Artists Recovering through the Twelve Steps
http://www.artsanonymous.org

Clutterer’s Anonymous
http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Cocaine Anonymous World Services
http://www.ca.org

Co-Dependents Anonymous Home Page
http://www.codependents.org

Crystal Meth Anonymous
http://www.crystalmeth.org

Criminal and Gangs Anonymous
http://www.angelfire.com/id/CGAnonymous

Debtors Anonymous: A Twelve Step Fellowship for…
http://www.debtorsanonymous.org

Depressed Anonymous
http://www.depressedanon.com

Dual Recovery Anonymous - a 12 Step program
http://www.draonline.org

Eating Disorders Anonymous
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org

Emotions Anonymous
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

Families Anonymous
http://www.familiesanonymous.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org

Hepatitis C Anonymous
http://www.hcvanonymous.com

HIV Anonymous
http://www.hivanonymous.com

The Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

Methadone Anonymous
http://www.afirmfwc.org/methanon.htm

Narcotics Anonymous Official  Homepage
http://www.na.org

Earth Group N.A. online meetings
http://www.earthgroupna.org

Nar-Anon is a family support group
http://www.naranon.com

Nicotine Anonymous (WWW Home Page) NA Home Page
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org

Overeaters Anonymous
http://www.oa.org

Parents Anonymous
http://www.parentsanonymous.org/paIndex1.htm

Rape Survivors Anonymous
http://www.rsaws.org

Recovering Couples Anonymous
http://www.recovering-couples.org

Sexaholics Anonymous
http://www.sa.org

Sex Addicts Anonymous
http://www.saa-recovery.org

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
http://www.slaafws.org/

Shoplifters Anonymous
http://www.shopliftersanonymous.org

Spenders Anonymous
http://www.spenders.org/home.html

Survivors Of Incest Anonymous
http://www.siawso.org

Workaholics Anonymous
http://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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