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Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 23rd by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – enjoy the moment

Spiritual growth

The joy of living is a sometimes-unexpected bonus for many recovering addicted people. Feeling physically well is only a part of that. We realise that there is more pleasure in giving than in getting, that caring about other people is fulfilling, that friends are dependable, that Higher Power is real, that honesty brings peace of mind, that living a day at a time is manageable. When we look at the wreckage of our past and compare it to the calm simplicity of our life today, there is so much to be happy about and so much to be grateful for. Am I truly grateful for the way that my life has changed so much for the better?

I accept the good that surrounds me instead of searching for it, and I truly understand the meaning of spiritual growth. That is how my sobriety will turn into a happy recovery. I know that by surrendering my life to my Higher Power, I will find peace and contentment. Thus, my life will have true meaning and happiness. For that I am grateful. Today I ask God for spiritual growth that will continue for the rest of my life.

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

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 18th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax your whole body gradually

Self-improvement

When we think about self-improvement, it’s difficult not to recall Lisa Simpson saying: It’s a long, arduous journey of personal and spiritual discovery. Very few of us are fine the way we are and some of us know it. The paradox is that we have to first accept ourselves the way we are before we can make any changes. Self- improvement is a very legitimate goal for most of us. The Twelve Steps are all about it. If you think that you can achieve happy sobriety without doing any work on yourself, perhaps by taking some ‘miracle pill’, then by all means try. But for those of us who struggle with dishonesty, selfishness, self-pity, and other character defects, it may not work. Do I have a realistic view of myself?

I must try not to take myself too seriously. Addiction is a life-or-death disease, but it can be successfully managed. Normal life is not all about doom and gloom. We use comedy to get perspective and sometimes to help us accept difficult truths. I must keep an open mind always and remind myself that often laughter is the best medicine. Today I ask God to preserve my sense of humour so that I may improve my insight into life’s problems.

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

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 17th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – Breathe calmly

Helping others

Richmond W, author of the inspirational AA meditation book Twenty-four Hours A Day, also wrote poetry. His lines on helping others from his poem Not Enough run as follows:

To hear is not enough…

…I must give wherever need appears And learn to live unselfishly.   R.Walker

Richmond was as good as his words and is said to have helped hundreds of struggling addicted people during his years of sobriety. A man of true integrity and a shining example to us all. Am I ready to help others in need, without hesitation?

If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.

Chinese proverb.

Altruism is pleasurable, it builds connections that benefit both giver and receiver. When we look beyond ourselves, we see that we are not alone, and we realise the limitations of staying within our selfish comfort zone. If I help others, I help myself. Today I ask for the courage and insight to be proactive in helping people in need.

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

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 15th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

Unity

For a Twelve Step group to be successful, there are said to be six essentials:

  • Fellowship
  • Faith in a Higher Power
  • Service
  • Welcome
  • Humility
  • Gratitude.

Where a group’s members can regularly demonstrate all these things, the group is likely to thrive and the outcome for newcomers will be good. Am I ready to make every effort to ensure the success of my group?

Learning to live unselfishly takes practice. The need to keep my addiction active turned me into a highly selfish person. Only a conscious effort to do things differently, on a daily basis, will enable me to change. I need help from my Higher Power. Reading some of the stories of unselfishness and helping others, either in the lives of the founding fathers of AA and NA or in the lives of the Saints, gives me daily inspiration. Today I ask to be freed from the bondage of my selfishness.

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

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 14th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Fellowship and connection

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.

Shakespeare, King Henry V.

Whether we have actually shed blood or not, all of us addicted people have been in a fight and this common experience gives us a strong sense of fellowship and a sense of purpose too. Brotherhood and sisterhood are great words that bring us a sense of connection and togetherness at a crucial time in our lives. For most people, doing something as part of a group or team gives more satisfaction than doing it alone. Am I glad of the feeling of team spirit and involvement that I get from belonging to a Twelve Step group?

Attending a fellowship meeting and sitting alone at the back of the room, we can observe the other members and we can learn from their words of wisdom, but do we feel comfortable? If we feel welcome and if we interact with others, it is likely that we will enjoy the meeting more and leave with a warm feeling of having been a part of something, rather than having been just a spectator. Others, perhaps with more experience, have a responsibility to extend the hand of friendship but we have a responsibility to ourselves to make an effort to connect. Today I ask God for the courage to make the extra effort needed to come out of my isolation and meet new people.

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

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 13th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax your whole body gradually

Responsibility

Responsibility has several meanings – duty, care, protection, control and blame. For us, it is a positive word meaning positive action. People in recovery are among the most responsible people you can find, because they know from bitter experience the negative consequences of irresponsible behaviour. Am I ready to act responsibly today?

When I show responsibility by extending the helping hand of fellowship to a struggling person, I am also showing gratitude, compassion, empathy, humility, and the power of example. Doing this is a form of prayer:

Inasmuch as you have done unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

St Matthew.

No wonder then, that doing so makes me feel good. Today I will remember the words of St Paul in his letter to the Corinthians: Three things will last forever: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.

Today I Will……………………………………………………………….

Daily Reading from Recovery Days April 10th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – relax your whole body gradually

Integrity

Personal integrity is part of my mission in recovery. I should also be aware of the need to preserve the integrity of the Twelve Step programme. We who follow this path are the custodians of a tradition that goes back many decades. It is strong and successful because it has integrity. That means that we do not compromise with our Steps or our Traditions. The urge to adapt and improve things has led to trouble in many areas of life. If we want to improve something, then it should be ourselves, not the programme. Am I prepared to accept the programme of recovery without compromise?

The Twelve Step fellowships are strong, but we must constantly be checking their health, as well as our own. Many great institutions are destroyed not by outside enemies, but from inside. It is the crooked timber of our own humanity that puts the stress on the edifice. Our own prejudices and ignorance are the threat. Today I ask God for the strength and integrity to keep the message of recovery constant, without compromise.

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 31st by Chris B

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* March 31 *

On this day in 1947, the first AA meeting was held in London

Message of recovery

In the course of this month, we have looked at Surrender, Fellowship, Gratitude, Facing Reality, Power of Example, and a lot of things besides. It may seem complicated, but we should never lose sight of the basic message which is quite simple: we can change our lives – it needs honesty, openness, courage, and willingness to change but we can do it, with God’s help. Addiction is a complex, vicious, and powerful disease but it responds to treatment and can be successfully held in remission. Do I fully understand the message of recovery?

Our lives have not gone the way we expected. Addiction has forced us into making a ‘plan B’ for our lives. But the good news is that plan B is so much better than plan A. We have been blessed by receiving this second chance and we must show our gratitude by making amends to those we have hurt and carrying the message to others in need. “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psalm 126). Today I thank God for a second chance at life.Today I Will………………………………………………………

Daily Reading from Recovery Days March 27th by Chris B

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Remember Mindfulness – close eyes briefly

Gratitude

Many of us have experienced a life in addiction where nothing seemed to make sense, nothing could be predicted, and nothing trusted. The world did not suddenly fall into place when we sobered up but at least we became more sensible, predictable, and trustworthy. Soon we realised that we did have two things that we could absolutely depend upon – a Higher Power and the Twelve Step fellowships. In fact, they were both a part of the same thing because they provided us with the support we needed. Anyone reading the Twelve Steps will see how interconnected they are. In a world where only a minority of people live in a conventional family and large numbers rely on medication of some kind just to be able to function, we in recovery can count ourselves among the fortunate few. Am I sufficiently grateful for Twelve Step recovery in my life?

To addicted people, recovery is all about beating addiction, but we should be mindful of the large numbers of dedicated people working in general healthcare who cheerfully shoulder the huge daily responsibility of caring for the sick, regardless of the often-severe cost to themselves. Today I give thanks for all who unselfishly work and care for others in the healing professions.

Daily Readings by Chris B from Recovery Days

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* March 18 *

Remember Mindfulness – send positive thoughts

Response to challenge

Life is not easy. For a lot of people, it is just one challenge after another. Yet many seem to expect it to be smooth going and complain when it is not. Others try to avoid the challenges and seek the softer easier way, but life usually finds them out in the end. Some become addicted. We have all seen people who seem to stroll through life without difficulty as if possessed with magic powers. In fact, they are people who have a clear vision of the world and what they need to do about living in it with peace of mind. They have taken the necessary action. Simple in concept but hard to achieve without rigorous honesty, determination and high principles. Can I reject the softer, easier way?

People who truly live life well are always respected. They trigger in us a desire to be like them because we have a longing to live a good life and to do what is right. We may forget words, but we remember how people make us feel. That is why the power of example matters. Today I ask God that I may pursue with determination my desire to live my life in the very best way that I can.

Today I Will……………………………………………………