Tradition 12
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.

We’ve talked some about Tradition 12 in our various meetings this month. It seems to be important for a number of reasons. First, it’s important because it not only protects me but it also protects the program. We’ve discussed how it’s possible that the program would be hurt if individuals touted that they are in Al-Anon and yet failed to live their recovery in their daily life.

It’s also about humility. No one need be treated special or as someone’s HP because when that…

I had a wonderful week-end.  Saturday night I went to see The Soweto Gospel Choir, which was a joy-filled, uplifting, spiritual, energizing experience.  I was also blessed to get the tickets for free, which made the event even sweeter.

Sunday morning I got up, feeling great, went to my church, then attended my boyfriend’s church where he was singing in the choir.  He looked so handsome and when we saw me in the congregation his face lit up like the sun had suddenly burst forth in the room.  After church we came home for lunch, he returned to church for a…

A while ago I wrote a post about my two co-workers at The Second Road who were going through some very rough times.  Both of their sisters were battling metastatic breast cancer.  Beth, our development director, has been spending the last couple of months taking care of her sister, her 7 year old nephew and 10 year old niece, and re-scheduling her entire life to be available to attend to her sister during this horrific period of transition.  Melissa, our Executive Director, has been going back and forth to New York for the last several months, trying to manage her…

I’ve heard a lot of jokes and humor regarding the Al-Anon program. I don’t take offense at them because there often is a misunderstanding of what the program is about.
What it isn’t is a program that bashes or promotes criticism of the alcoholic. In fact, Al-Anon encourages compassion towards the alcoholic. It is really about those who have been affected by the disease of alcoholism.I’ve listened many times over the past few years to a lot of pain coming from women and men who are living with active alcoholism. They cry in pain because someone they love is either dying…

I can’t remember when I’ve been as excited about an election as I am today.  For months I’ve been following my candidate’s every move.  I’ve watched every minute of every debate.  I’ve read the two books my candidate has written.  I’ve worn a button on my purse with his face on it.  I’ve attended rallies and have let everyone know that I think this man is a person of integrity, honesty, and will do his best to united this shattered nation of ours.  Only one problem.  I can’t vote today.

The wreckage of my past due to my addiction landed me…

I’ll be sharing these great little gifts I get every morning. Hope they inspire.

Your Humble Road Warrior

www.gratefulness.org
WORD FOR THE DAY
Tuesday, Oct. 28

Try pausing right before and right after undertaking a new action, even something simple like putting a key in a lock to open a door. Such pauses take a brief moment, yet they have the effect of decompressing time and centering you.

A life practice from Br. David Steindl-Rast

When I was working on the sex relations part of the fourth step, I remember thinking that this was probably one of the most difficult parts of Step Four. It’s all part of being honest with myself, but I really didn’t want to look back at my sexual history.  I’ve had my share of passionate moments and when putting it all down on paper, it made me realize that in lots of cases, I had very selfish motives.

I cared for several of the women that I was involved with but in some cases it was just to fulfill something in…

I had a very interesting experience yesterday.  I spoke to a group of first year medical students on addiction and recovery and several 12 steps groups.  I was paired up with a woman who was approximately my age and we both walked into the class, looking like their mothers dressed to go to a business meeting or a church service.  After we introduced ourselves I asked them to guess which one was the addict and which one was in Al-Anon.  The students shook their heads and said they couldn’t even begin to imagine which one of us was the addict. …

This is a really lousy day.  Actually, it’s not that lousy at all, it’s just that I want to feel really lousy right now so I think I will.  This is the gift of free will that has been given to us all, and right now I choose to use mine to be miserable.  I haven’t “done” miserable in a while and I am a grown up who can do as she pleases.  Therefore I am making a conscious choice to be self-pitying, resentful, pissed, sad and angry all at the same time.  That way I figure and can get…

One week ago today I turned 58.  I’m on this birthday thing - just wait - when you turn 58 you’ll be doing the same thing.  I was doing the math the other day and I realized that I have finally reached the “break-even” point where I have been clean and sober for as long as I wasn’t clean and sober.  So, for 29 years of my life, I lied, cheated, stole, drank, drugged and for 29 years I didn’t do ( or haven’t done) those activities.  When I first thought of that 29:29 ratio I was really depressed.  I…

I got a call from a sponsee last night. He started about 4 weeks ago with me. He seemed willing and wanting to work but for a couple of weeks I had begun to notice that he wasn’t doing much of what was suggested.

I like to have daily contact with a sponsee for a while. That happened at first but then there would only be a call if he was down. And then there was the reading of the first four chapters of the BB. That wasn’t happening nor was he reading over the printed material that I had given…

Last Friday was my birthday.  As a gift, my son gave me a 3 day silent meditation retreat entitled “Awakening to the Heart of Wisdom.”  It was an amazing experience where, for a brief period of my life, there was no time but the present.  We did everything “mindfully”, including chewing, walking, showering, sitting, more sitting, more sitting, brushing our teeth, putting on our shoes, even going to the bathroom.  I had an amazing experience one morning with an english muffin.  It took me 20 minutes to mindfully eat that thing, noticing how the texture changed every time my teeth…

On Saturday, September 27, 2008, there will be a massive rally for recovery on The Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.  If you’re anywhere near (or far) from Brooklyn, mark this date on your calendar.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and we’ll be there filming the whole event.  Come buy a t-shirt, get a free wrist band and share your story with the millions of others who have something to celebrate!

See you there!

TSR Team

An urgent call to action from Faces and Voices of Recovery:

Dear Recovery Advocate,

We need your help once more because the US House of Representatives is likely to vote on what is now named The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act as early as Monday.

The language in the bill is the compromise that was worked out by House and Senate negotiators earlier this summer. The House leadership plans to bring the bill up under what is called the Suspension Calendar - there is only 40 minutes of debate, the bill can’t be amended and a…

from DailyOM.com

September 18, 2008
Exploring the Soul
Living a Spiritual Life

Throughout the journey from birth to death, many people choose to question life, strive for improvement, seek out knowledge, and search for the divine. Simply put, this is the essence of spirituality. One’s spiritual practice can take on many forms, because embracing the spiritual is a very personal pursuit. While many people do relate their spirituality to a God or Goddess, this quest for the divine, or oneness with the universe, always springs from within. It doesn’t matter where you find your spiritual path. We are all fundamentally spiritual beings and the…

It seems like months since I wrote anything - and that is because it has been a long time since I wrote anything. As part of developing this site, my job title has included everything from being a part of a national web cast funded by the federal government, to running to the store for milk for our coffee. I have been a gopher, a porter, a day care provider, a writer, a researcher, a spokesperson, a bookkeeper, a liason, a professional representative, a lecturer, a storyteller, a dog walker, a shoulder to cry on, a cheerleader, a pit bull…

If you were around in 1919 (right before prohibition) and came across this poster…

I mean - seriously - would you quit drinking?

Till Next Time -

Your Humble Road Warrior

It’s been dark and rainy and dreary where I live. On the other hand, we haven’t had rain since the 4th of July and the earth is soaking it up like a thirsty sponge.

My son has been driving me crazy to buy an iphone. On the other hand, he’s the best kid ever.

My house is filthy. On the other hand, I have a house.

I’ve had more stress in my life than I can handle. On the other hand, who hasn’t?

I’m broke. On the other hand, as of today, my bills are all paid.

Someone I care about relapsed again. On the…

These are lyrics to a song written by a friend.  I thought they were absolutely great and when I learn the technology to attach them to the music, I’ll put them both together so you can actually HEAR the song. In the meantime, enjoy the lyrics to this awesome message!

Till Next Time-

Your Humble Road Warrior

Bill Wilson is a mean mistreater and Dr. Bob is bad to the bone

Bill Wilson is a mean mistreater and Dr. Bob is bad to the bone

They’ve asked me to clean house. They’re trying to ruin my unhappy home

When I walked into the rooms, after a…

I just got home from my Tuesday night meditation class. The class consists of a 40 minute semi-guided meditation in the vipanassa tradition of mindful awareness, followed by a dharma talk on some very meaningful topic, such as loving kindness, nonjudgment, or the topic tonight, attachment to views. After years of Tuesday nights spent in this way, I am very slowly acquiring the skill of being mindfully aware of just “what is.” I see longer glimpses of the peace that comes when I concentrate on my breath and place my awareness in the present moment. Tonight, however, that practice was…