Feb. 4, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Nothing that is worth doing can be done alone, but has to be done with others.

— Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr

We who are blessed with a close-knit family, where thoughts and actions can be discussed and developed, are aware that what is given is not as important as what is shared. As we help one another, we learn that sharing can never exist unless we care first. This is the major ingredient of love.

Albert Schweitzer described human service toward a common goal as the greatest of deeds. Charles Dickens assured us that when we lighten the burdens of another, we can never consider ourselves useless. Those of us who are led today may show the way tomorrow. In giving, we receive, and in getting we cannot avoid being givers.

What do I receive by giving today?

Hazelden Foundation

Feb. 4, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024

Today, motivated by Einstein‘s wisdom that individual happiness should be pinned on goals rather than a person or thing, I will build my sobriety and recovery on the goal of attaining grace and redemption. In doing so, I will not gamble by basing my recovery on what another person does or does not do or on a situation that may or may not play out the way I want or fear. I am playing with fire, not to mention using manipulation and abusing AA, if I decide I will not continue in recovery if the spouse who left me because of my drinking doesn’t return or if the employer who fired me because of my drinking doesn’t rehire me or if the judge hearing my DUI case doesn’t dismiss charges because “I’m in recovery.” In keeping my recovery goal-oriented, I am not only paying respect to the integrity of AA’s Steps and Traditions, I am also reinforcing the truth that I and I alone am responsible for both my alcoholism and recovery. Neither is because I might have been dealt a bad hand in life. Today, I focus on my sobriety instead of people or events to maintain my sobriety and recovery. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — Chris M., 2024

Feb. 4, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024

AA Thought for the Day

Treating others to drinks gave us a kind of satisfaction. We liked to say, “Have a drink on me.” But we were not really doing the other people a favor. We were only helping them to get drunk, especially if they happened to be alcoholic. In AA, we really try to help other alcoholics. We build them up instead of tearing them down. Drinking created a sort of fellowship. But it really was a false fellowship, because it was based on selfishness. We used our drinking companions for our own pleasure. In AA, we have real fellowship, based on unselfishness and a desire to help each other. And we make real friends, not fair weather friends.

With sobriety, have I got everything that drinking’s got, without the headaches?

Meditation for the Day

I know that God cannot teach anyone who is trusting in a crutch. I will throw away the crutch of alcohol and walk in God’s power and spirit. God’s power will so invigorate me that I shall indeed walk on to victory. There is never any limit to God’s power. I will go step by step, one day at a time. God’s will shall be revealed to me as I go forward.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have more and more dependence on God. I pray that I may throw away my alcoholic crutch and let God’s power take its place.

Hazelden Foundation

Feb. 4, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

 

A Day at a Time

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024

Reflection for the Day

Rare is the recovering alcoholic who will now dispute the fact that denial is a primary symptom of the illness. The Program teaches us that alcoholism is the only illness which actually tells the afflicted person that he or she really isn’t sick at all. Not surprisingly, then, our lives as practicing alcoholics were characterized by endless rationalization, countless alibis and, in short, a steadfast unwillingness to accept the fact that we were, without question, bodily and mentally different from our fellows.

Have I conceded to my innermost self that I am truly powerless over alcohol?

Today I Pray

May The Program’s First Step be not half-hearted for me, but a total admission of powerlessness over my addiction. May I rid myself of that first symptom — denial — which refuses to recognize any other symptom of my disease.

Today I Will Remember

Deny denial.

Hazelden Foundation

Feb. 4, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

 

The Eye Opener

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024

In the hurry and press of our everyday living, too many of us fail to stop occasionally to allow our souls to catch up with us. We have no time to think upon those things which are of lasting value. We reserve our spiritual thinking for Sunday mornings and meeting nights, oblivious of the fact we must live every day. Find or make time this very day for just a minute with the Man Upstairs. Remember you need Him and He needs you.

Hazelden Foundation

Feb. 4, 2024 – Good morning to a beautiful and serene Sunday

 

Good morning and rise ‘n shine on this grand Sunday

Feb. 3, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

AA Thought for the Day

Fellowship is a big part of staying sober. The doctors call it group therapy. We never go to an AA meeting without taking something out of it. Sometimes we don’t feel like going to a meeting and we think of excuses for not going. But we usually end up by going anyway. And we always get some lift out of every meeting. Meetings are part of keeping sober. And we get more out of a meeting if we try to contribute something to it.

Am I contributing my share at meetings?

Meditation for the Day

“He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings.” The first part, “He brought me up out of a horrible pit,” means that by turning to God and putting my problems in His hands, I am able to overcome my sins and temptations. “He set my feet upon a rock” means that when I trust God in all things, I have true security. “He established my goings” means that if I honestly try to live the way God wants me to live, I will have God’s guidance in my daily living.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that my feet may be set upon a rock. I pray that I may rely on God to guide my comings and goings.

Hazelden Foundation

Feb. 3, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024

Today, no self-destruction by believing I do not deserve recovery. If I am carrying into today the guilt, remorse and regret of yesterday, their strength lies in sabotaging my progress in sobriety and setting me up for failure, i.e., relapse. But my Program of admission, surrender and service has empowered me with confidence, courage and strength, each endowed by a Higher Power of my understanding, and they are strong enough to assure me that I am worth the gift of recovery. Today, by virtue of returning from the abyss, I am earning worthiness. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — Chris M., 2024

Fe. 3, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024

AA Thought for the Day

By drinking, we escaped from boredom for a while. We almost forgot our troubles. But when we sobered up, our troubles were twice as bad. Drinking had only made them worse. In AA, we really escape boredom. Nobody’s bored at an AA meeting. We stick around after it’s over and we hate to leave. Drinking gave us a temporary feeling of importance. When we’re drinking, we kid ourselves into thinking we are somebody. We tell tall stories to build ourselves up. In AA, we don’t want that kind of self-importance. We have real self-respect and honesty and humility.

Have I found something much better and more satisfactory than drinking?

Meditation for the Day

I believe that my faith and God’s power can accomplish anything in human relationships. There is no limit to what these two things can do in this field. Only I believe, and anything can happen. St. Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengtheneth me.” All walls that divide you from other human beings can fall by your faith and God’s power. These are the two essentials. Everyone can be moved by these.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may try to strengthen my faith day by day. I pray that I may rely more and more on God’s power.

Hazelden Foundation

Feb. 3, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

 

A Day at a Time

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024

Reflection for the Day
The Program enables us to discover two roadblocks that keep us from seeing the value and comfort of the spiritual approach: self-justification and self-righteousness. The first grimly assures me that I’m always right. The second mistakenly comforts me with the delusion that I’m better than other people — “holier than thou.”

Just for today, will I pause abruptly while rationalizing and ask myself, “Why am I doing this? Is this self-justification really honest?”

Today I Pray
May I overcome the need to be “always right” and know the cleansing feeling of release that comes with admitting, openly, a mistake. May I be wary of setting myself up as an example of self-control and fortitude, and give credit where it is due — to a Higher Power.

Today I Will Remember
To err is human, but I need to admit it.

Hazelden Foundation

Feb. 3, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

 

The Eye Opener

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024

To shut off from our minds the recollections of unpleasant yesterdays is, of course, impossible. But we can refuse to dwell on them unnecessarily or to lash the present with the cruel whip of the past. It was in the past that remorse, resentments and self-pity were found, but now we are doing our level best to lose them in order to insure a happy and sober present. Close the gate — we have passed through it.

Hazelden Foundation

Feb. 3, 2024 – Good morning and have a productive and paced Saturday

 

Good morning and let’s take a cue from this cute little pussy kitty and have a relaxing but productive Saturday and weekend

Feb. 2, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Friday, Feb. 2, 2024

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Before talking of holy things, we prepare ourselves by offering …One will fill his pipe and hand it to the other who will light it and offer it to the sky and the earth …They will smoke together…Then we will be ready to talk.

— Mato-Kuwapi, Santee Yankton Sioux

Rituals prepare us for moments of spiritual experience. They bring people together; they mark occasions; they give us metaphors through our senses that expose us to mystery, awe, peace, and wisdom. Traditional spiritual practices all use ritual to reach toward God. In our meetings, we also have rituals that accomplish these things.

We may have dismissed ritual in our cynical minds, thinking of it as irrelevant hocus-pocus. But when we seek connection with other people, or with God, we learn that ritual is a way to set our cynical minds aside and open ourselves to the presence. Even in our private time of prayer and meditation, we may light a candle as a sign of our spiritual search.

Today, I will honor the rituals that create conscious contact.

Hazelden Foundation

Feb. 2, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Friday, Feb. 2, 2024

Today, dependency is not confined to alcohol addiction and always impacts my relationships with other people. For years, I depended on alcohol to drown feelings I did not want or to “create” feelings I wanted and to shape my attitude and perspective. Is it no wonder that I depended on alcohol to define — in part — my relationships with other people? Honesty says yes! And my expectations in those relationships were either to dominate THEM, or to be so emotionally needy and clinging to them that MY unrealistic expectations drove them away. Now, in recovery, I have to admit that quitting drinking is not enough, that I must also be clean in my relationships and find the compromise between being the dominant one — and the needy one. Today, I begin the search for the way to be a contributor to healthy relationships. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — Chris M., 2024

Feb. 2, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Friday, Feb. 2, 2024

AA Thought for the Day

We got a kick out of the first few drinks, before we got stupefied by alcohol. For a while, the world seemed to look brighter. But how about the letdown, the terrible depression that comes the morning after? In AA, we get a real kick: not a false feeling of exhilaration, but a real feeling of satisfaction with ourselves, self-respect, and a feeling of friendliness toward the world. We got a sort of pleasure from drinking. For a while, we thought we were happy. But it’s only an illusion. The hangover the next day is the opposite of pleasure.

In AA, am I getting real pleasure and serenity and peace?

Meditation for the Day

I will practice love, because lack of love will block the way. I will try to see good in all people, those I like and also those who fret me and go against the grain. They are all children of God. I will try to give love; otherwise, how can I dwell in God’s spirit whence nothing unloving can come? I will try to get along with all people, because the more love I give away, the more I will have.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may do all I can to love others, in spite of their many faults. I pray that as I love, so will I be loved.

Hazelden Foundation