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Mother’s Day

“… grateful for one thing… the gift of life.” Found online at:
http://meta-md.com/2012/08/serenity-the-path-of-gratitude/

Today is Mother’s Day, and let’s face it, without them, none of us would be here. I miss my mom – she passed many years ago. I miss her hugs and her telling me she is proud of me. I miss her rye toast with butter and fresh squeezed orange juice. I miss her so much. I am grateful I could be there for her at the end – I thank the program for that.

As I head off, on this gloriously sunny day in Santa Monica, to celebrate the day with some of my kids and my wife, I wish each of you a Happy Mother’s Day. May you take time to celebrate the one that gave you life, in every way you can. ILML

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A Thousand Gurus

” The peace of God fills my soul. And I have no fear.” 12 Step Prayer Book

Bam! There it is in a nugget. Said in a million ways, in a hundreds of books and by a thousand gurus. Light casts out darkness. Love eliminates fear and anger. Invite in the Higher Power and the Lower Power leaves the room. This is how I extend periods of happiness and shorten those of discomfort. I become acutely aware of my feelings, especially those that don’t serve me. Then I practice tools that plug me into source, And just like that: I am uplifted. Gratefully recovering nicely from shoulder surgery and definitely, ILML!

– JamesQ

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Scoffers Unite

“almost the only scoffers at prayer are those who never tried it enough.” – 12 & 12

Not being religious, I was a scoffer for many, many years. One day, I said to my father, who was also in recovery at the time, “How do I believe in God? I want what others have, I just can’t believe.”

He suggested I pray each morning and evening. When I told him I could do it, but doing so would be sacrilegious, he suggested I try being sacrilegious for a week and see if I felt any differently. I asked him “How should I pray?”, and he said, “Simply saying thanks aloud for those things you are grateful for is a good start.”

Though I doubted deeply, I began the ritual the next day, feeling a bit silly and uncomfortable. What happened was that I started feeling better, happier. It took about 3 days of this for me to come to believe that this practice was something that worked for me.

Since that time, over 20 years ago, I have never stopped praying. A non-religious man that has a relationship with a Higher Power he doesn’t really understand and ritualistically prays each morning and evening. Yep, that’s me.

Prayer makes each one of my days considerably more enjoyable. It’s that simple. It’s my time to plug in emotionally and spiritually, and gratitude is the electricity that flows through and around me.

Were, or are you, a scoffer like me? Let me know.

I’m JamesQ and ILML!

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My Path Back to Peace

“What price am I paying by holding on… this day is too precious… When I spend time wishing things were different, I know that serenity has lost it’s priority… I have to let go… if I want peace of mind.” – Courage to Change

Old behavior tells me to “hang onto” these feelings because I’m upset. But doing so only prolongs my pain, it never changes the situation, except to make it worse. Taking action by doing spiritual and recovery work leads me back to my HP, encouraging me to let go and focus back on gratitude. This is my path back to peace. ILML!

JamesQ

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So Much Happier

“I need another trusted person with whom to share… reveal myself intimately… they all listen to and… hold me accountable for my choices and actions… I am never alone.” Hope For Today

This is one of the most magical parts of staying in the middle of a 12 step program – the fellowship. Forging strong, safe relationships with others who’s trusted opinions guide me to be the best and most peaceful person I can be.

All of the posts in this section of my 12stepwork.com site with the name JamesQ at the bottom are also sent out via text to about 65 people who asked to receive them. They are also reposted on my private Facebook page. Those who receive them are close program and family members, and all of those safe relationships who’s trusted opinions I rely upon are within this small social group. I am so grateful for these individuals.

My recovery is about so much more than just sobriety, my spiritual work or the meetings for me. Together, with all of these wonderful people, I am so much happier than I could ever be alone. ILML!

JamesQ

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Humble and Responsible

“All AA progress can be reckoned in terms of just two words: humility and responsibility. Our whole spiritual development can be accurately measured by our degree of adherence to these magnificent standards. To honor these precepts I need only to pray, and care for my fellow man as if each one were my brother.”
– Daily Reflections 4/28

This quote keeps it very simple, which works for me very well. By taking direction, accepting that I don’t have all the answers (keeps me humble), and practicing the principles of the program on a daily basis, I demonstrate to myself that I am responsible. When I do this I am able to help others more effectively and love my life even when things are not going the way I want them to go. I love the simplicity, I have to be humble and responsible, that’s all. I can do that. ILML!

-Jason W

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Be Careful

“What we think, we become.” ― Buddha.

I deeply believe in this concept. It’s something many other spiritual leaders have spoken as well. I often say “be careful what you’re thinking because your mind is listening”. Not only does it listens, it believes. And then from that belief it projects my thoughts into my future, actually manifesting my life from my beliefs.

This means that if I am thinking things like “Life is really tough, I’m tired, I hate that guy, etc.” all those things will become my world. The trick for me is to become aware of those negative thoughts, and their power to create a negative life for myself. Then I simply change them: “Life is amazing! I have tons of energy! That guy is just suffering, I’m glad I’m not him and I hope he gets better!”. Sometimes I need to write it and say it out loud to blot out the negative thoughts. This practice has changed my life. As a result of it, today I’m full of gratitude and ILML!

– James Q

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Specific Actions

“… a continuing series of spiritual awakenings.” – Drop the Rock

When I’m in that wonderful place of God consciousness, I feel invincible from fear, disappointment and anger. I’m at peace. That spiritual energy is always available to me, but to tap into it I need to take specific actions.

I start on my knees out of bed, thanking the universe for the abundance of gifts laid at my feet. I read from inspirational books, journal my gratitude and send out these texts. Thank you for allowing me to include you in my spiritual journey. ILML!

– James Q.

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An Essential Part

“… A ceremonial affirmation, no matter how small, seems to carry an indelible and resonant quality into the heart which the intellect is incapable of carrying. Shaking the hand of a friend is such a ritual. It reaffirms something deep and unsayable in the relationship. A non-rational ritual acknowledges and reaffirms a non-rational, but important, part of the relationship. It is a small but vital thing.” – From A Common Prayer

It is my belief that a power greater than myself, as I DON’T understand it, knows exactly what I am going to say in my prayers before I even think the words. This belief however does not make me exempt from the act of praying. For me, the simple yet profound gesture of prayer is an essential part of connecting to a higher resource and cultivating a deeper and more meaningful relationship with it. iLmL

Richie B

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Eradicate Negativity

“… whenever one is free from negativity, one enjoys peace and harmony.” S.N. Goenka, Attitudes of Gratitude in Love

Goenka, a teacher of meditation, stated that this is the law of nature. I believe it. The sense of fullness I feel in life, my insistence on being happy and in gratitude, is conditional upon my ability to spot and eradicate negativity that adversely is affecting me. Like a week in my garden, If I can’t pull it from the ground (roots and all), I can simply choose to see what is beautiful about it. This practice and philosophy is fundamentally why ILML!

– James Q