Challenges not troubles-experiencing a full life in recovery

 



I was having some trouble with fear, projection and worry and so I saw a counselor. He asked, "Rick, if all the things you are worrying about were resolved how would you feel?" "Terrific", I replied. "Stress free". He said' "Well, hate to tell you,  but this is a world full of trouble. So if your current worries do get resolved come back and see me and I will tell you a thousand bad things you haven't thought about that could happen to you. Then you will have plenty to fill  your worry box."

So several conclusions I eventually drew from this conversation:

Gifts

Potential and talents are God's gifts to us; What we do with them are our gifts back to God.

What gifts or talents have you been given that would serve God's purposes?

Are you using them?

One definition of Wisdom

 




Wisdom: Doing today; what we will be glad we did tomorrow.

I heard this and been thinking a lot about it. It implies a lot of things to me. Not reacting, but thinking things through, delayed gratification, patience, understanding there are consequences for my actions.

Thoughts?

Words I like (want) and dont like-(need)

While in my disease my focus and attitude were on these words:

Fast, easy, immediate and comfortable

In recovery I’ve been directed to these words and attitudes:

Thoroughness, perseverance, discipline, delayed gratification and growth

 

My reaction to this realization:

I still really like the first set of words-but know that to be who God wants me to be- and a person I will like and respect- I must strive to accept and incorporate the second set of words- (ouch)

I’m still under construction but getting better.

My Favorite Golfer

I just want to share this story with any golfers who may be looking at my blog. I don't mean to discourage  non-golfers from reading it; however, I believe this is a story that only golfer lovers will really get the full essence of.

Child like joy lost and restored through recovery

                                

                                                                                                                                  

                                                                             

I was speaking at an open meeting the other night, telling my story of recovery from alcoholism. The majority of those in attendance were newcomers to recovery. At the end of my talk, I asked if anyone had any questions. A newcomer raised his hand and asked a question about a story I had told about my experiences at Wrigley field, Home of the Chicago Cubs.

Making amends to Guthrie (a horse)

Rick, Dolores and  "Guthrie"

Yes,  I know it sounds funny and this actually is a humorous rendition of an amend I could and should have made to Guthrie the horse.

My sister Dolores always has loved horses- when we were small kids playing around the house, I remember she would always have toy horses. Now she is a mother of 3,a grandmother of 2, a full time nurse and a very good sister.

And she still loves horses....

A Higher Power that will solve your problem.......

Did you ever experience this scenario: you read some section out of the Big Book maybe 50 or 100 times, maybe more… Over and over, and we get whatever we get out of it.

Then one day we read the section for the umpteenth time and certain words, sentences or paragraphs come screaming off the pages with a whole new meaning. We have a new appreciation for what the words mean. We want to tell everyone about our discovery. We are kind of stunned that we never saw this wisdom before. These words and ideas add new building blocks to our growing program of recovery.

Well, as you may have guessed, I had just that experience. Happened many years ago. The discovery still affects me when I read or think about the section. 

Our Daily Spiritual Condition

 





From page 85 of the 3rd edition of the Big Book of  Alcoholics Anonymous:

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will.

What does this section mean to you?

Do you believe the bolded underlined sentence is true for you?

It’s every person in AA that makes the whole thing work

Did you ever notice how many different type of people there are in AA? Men and women, young and old, professionals and tradespeople; Introverts, extroverts, people who are good speakers, good listeners, happy, serious, tough minded, kind, loud, soft spoken, and so on and so on…

This is a selfish program?

 



"This is a selfish program."  Ever hear that said at an AA meeting? I cringe every time I hear it.  The reason is that I lived a life that was purely selfish for so many years- Doing what I wanted to do and not really caring about the affects on others-Not helping when i could and should have.

 The Big Book states it perfectly- Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.

 So the saying "This is a selfish program"  bothers me as much now as it did when I first heard it.

Actually I don't think the words capture what  the saying is meant to imply.  My interpretation now is that we need to take care of ourselves as a priority so we can be of maximum service to others. If we lose the focus on our program of recovery and drink- we are no longer any use to ourselves or to others. It reminds me of when you are flying;  The instructions in case the plane loses oxygen is " first put the oxygen mask on yourselves and then help others do the same".


Thoughts?