Tag Archives: daily reflections

Daily Reading from Recovery Days May 12th by Chris B

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MAY 12

On this day in 1935, Bill W first met Dr Bob
Fellowship
The first meeting of Stockbroker Bill Wilson and Dr
Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio gave little indication at
the time of what was to come. Bill was five months
sober and verging on relapse while Bob was still
drinking (he stopped altogether a few weeks later).
But their discovery that talking together could help
them become and stay sober was a turning point in
their lives. The real breakthrough however was in
demonstrating that alcoholism needed no longer to
be a solitary nightmare; soon millions of people
were reaching out to each other. The power of
connection is the power to recover – Higher Power.
Am I grateful to the founders of AA for demonstrating
the power of recovery through connection?


Perhaps at first, we are sorry that we can no longer
drink or use, but soon we become glad. We just need
to make sure that cravings are managed, because
addiction will always try to return. How much more
difficult it would be, to struggle alone. We are
fortunate to have the means to overcome our illness.
Today I give thanks to the founders of AA and every
fellowship member, who ensure that I am not alone.
……………………………………………………….

Daily Reading from Recovery Days May 11th by Chris B

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Giving

Life is mostly froth and bubble,

Two things stand alone –

Kindness in another’s trouble,

Courage in one’s own.

Adam Lindsay Gordon.

The poet is right in highlighting these two great qualities. And no doubt, the more kindness we show to others, the more courage we shall have in times of need because we will have built up our resilience and sense of purpose and self-esteem. Kindness, like anything given away, will come back to help us. Do I appreciate the power of giving?

I should remember that kindness is always within my power, even when love is not. The world would be a happier place and I would feel happier too, if I showed more kindness. There are far too many people whose lives are so hard that they depend on the kindness of strangers. Today I ask God to make me a channel of kindness to people in my daily life, whatever I am doing.

……………………………………………………….

Daily Reading from Recovery Days May 7th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations

Kindness

Today was a difficult day, said Pooh. There was a pause. Do you want to talk about it? asked Piglet. No, said Pooh after a bit. No, I don’t think I do. That’s alright, said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend. What are you doing? asked Pooh. Nothing, really, said Piglet. Only, I know what difficult days are like. I quite often don’t feel like talking about it on my difficult days either. But goodness, continued Piglet, difficult days are so much easier when you know you’ve got someone there for you.

A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh.

Am I ready to show kindness, even unasked?

We know when we have given or received kindness because of the warm feeling it brings. It lifts our spirits and strengthens us in ways that we don’t always appreciate. Everyone benefits from it. Today I will seek to offer kindness in the sure knowledge that I am helping myself by helping others.

……………………………………………………….

Daily Reading from Recovery Days May 6th by Chris B

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On this day in 1946 the AA Twelve Traditions were published

Twelve Traditions
The Twelve Traditions were formulated by early members of AA in response to the need to clarify certain principles and attitudes, for the sake of the integrity and long-term survival of the movement. Broadly speaking, these cover issues of administration, finance, aims and relations with other groups and society at large. They have fulfilled their purpose because since that time, the basic tenets and beliefs of AA have remained unchanged. We tend to take things for granted but in truth, it’s a record that not many institutions achieve. Am I grateful to the founders of AA?
An organisation that advises its members that compromise is fatal for recovery must match its actions to its words. So much of history tells of well-intentioned people who gradually failed to measure up to their original principles. It is part of my responsibility as a grateful beneficiary of this fellowship, to do my utmost to uphold the Twelve Traditions so that future generations will enjoy the fruits of this wonderful organisation. Today I give thanks to the founding fathers of all the Twelve Step fellowships.

……………………………………………………….

Daily Reading from Recovery Days May 4th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax your whole body gradually

Unconditional love

A small pet is often an excellent companion for the sick.

Florence Nightingale.

In our sickness and recovery from addiction, pets provide a focus of attention outside of ourselves. They give unconditional love, are non-judgmental and honest in showing their emotions. They are loyal and forgiving. The power of example shines bright on most pets, inspiring us to be better people. To feel trusted and loved by a pet can be an important moment in recovery. They say that the newly sober should learn relationships by first tending a plant, then a pet and then another human being. Will I strive to be the person that my pet thinks I am?   

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.                                                                          St Paul, Corinthians.

Perhaps I need to learn how to love. If so, I could do no better than to reflect on these words of St Paul which are as fresh as when they were written, nearly two thousand years ago. Today I ask God to grow in love, because nothing else matters.

Today I Will……………………………………………………………………………

Daily Reading from Recovery Days May 1st by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

Good life

We are the heroes in the story of our lives. But, like in a Greek tragedy, the hero is usually the one who is the problem. Greek tragedy is about rage and grief and right and wrong and consequences that inevitably happen. It’s all a bit reminiscent of active addiction. The Greeks didn’t go in for happy endings much. They left that sort of thing to the imagination. They were desperate to explore morality and responsibility because they believed the only acceptable life was one lived with integrity, honour and virtue. We could all benefit from a study of Greek tragedy but few of us will manage it. But we can still be heroes. Am I ready to live as a hero in the story of my life?

Purging the emotions in Greek tragedy was known as ‘catharsis’. It is followed by a feeling of relief. Steps Four and Five are cathartic because by identifying and sharing our character defects, we are able to let them go. But life doesn’t have to be all about dramatic catharsis. Zen for example, is a way of meditation that lets go of feelings through gentle meditation – a sort of catharsis without the drama. Some of us prefer it that way. Today I ask God for a life without too much negative drama, whatever the possible benefits.

Today I Will………………………………………………………………………………..

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 30th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

HALT

In April, we looked at courage, honesty, integrity, giving, helping others and the joy of recovery. These positive attributes do not just appear, we must work for them, and we must ask for help. Our main motivation at first is fear – addiction will kill us unless we take positive action. Soon other motivations appear, to keep us on the right path: we don’t want to disappoint our friends who offered the hand of friendship, we don’t want to lose the new happiness we are starting to feel, and we do want to be true to our Higher Power. Later on, the siren call of our old addiction will become so tiny that we don’t notice it at all but for now, there is still work to be done. There are no holidays from recovery. Do I understand that recovery is for life – that, however good I am feeling, I must remain vigilant?

HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) are the four things to avoid in early recovery. We could find ourselves in any (or all) of those states at any time. If we do, what should be our response? We should have a plan to deal with it – a person to call or a meeting to attend. Our great good fortune is that we are members of a worldwide support system. We must ask for help, so that we see how to help others, when the time comes. Today I remind myself to ask for help when I feel the need.

Today I Will……………………………………………

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 28th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – review expectations

Denial

When you decide to quit addictive behaviour and face up to reality, you are essentially casting off your denial – the twisted mental process that allowed you to continue your addiction for so long although you knew it was wrong. Sobering up means accepting three essential truths:

  • This is what your behaviour was like
  • This is how it makes others think about you
  • This is how it makes you feel about yourself.

Facing reality can be painful – nobody likes hearing other people’s criticism, however justified. The thing that gives us encouragement is that we have a plan for putting things right – the Twelve Step programme. With this plan and the help of our Higher Power, reality does not seem so painful.

The moment we decide to sober up is a hugely important milestone. The road ahead may be arduous, but we have a roadmap and a guide. All that is left to do is to make the first move. Today I thank God for giving me the necessities for my recovery journey.

Today I Will

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 26th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax your whole body gradually

Learning life’s lessons

Anyone in recovery who reads Alice in Wonderland would be likely to see it as an allegory about addiction. A solitary young girl disappears down a rabbit hole into a sometimes- frightening fantasy world where she discovers mind and body- altering substances. It is also a story about self-discovery: Who in the world am I? she asks. She learns too about growing up and making the right choices. By the end of the book, Alice is behaving like an adult: It’s no use going back to yesterday, she says, because I was a different person then. The book can help us understand how to deal with the challenges of growing up, although there is no evidence that the author Lewis Carroll had addiction in mind. Am I open to learning some simple lessons in life from all kinds of sources?

We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad. How do you know I’m mad? said Alice.

You must be, said the Cat, or you wouldn’t have come here. But let me tell you something. The best people usually are.  Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland.

Such wise words of acceptance. I’ve heard very similar things at AA meetings. Today I ask God for the wisdom to know that I have an illness that is mental, physical, and spiritual, but I can live with it.

Today I Will…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 25th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

Happy recovery

What can we do to make recovery a joyful experience? For a start, we can shed some burdens:

  • Make sure that we have addressed the past and made amends
  • We must do Steps Four to Seven
  • Stop worrying about the future and focus on today
  • Hand life’s daily problems over to a Higher Power.

Having shed these three burdens, we can try some new ideas:

  • Cultivate friendships, perhaps in the fellowships
  • Explore new interests
  • Discover the pleasure in helping others.

We should always remember that happiness comes as a result of good actions. Am I ready to build a happy recovery, with the help of my Twelve Step group?

The American psychologist M Scott Peck, in his book The Road Less Travelled, spoke about the blessing of alcoholism because it puts people into a visible state of crisis for which there is a ready- made therapeutic community – an AA group. How fortunate we are to have the fellowships. I ask God today for the enthusiasm to build a contented and meaningful recovery.

Today I Will