by

Eternally Grateful

“Through prayer, and meditation I open channels, then establish and improve my conscious contact with God… By maintaining my spiritual condition, by giving away what had been so freely given to me, I am granted a daily reprieve.” – Daily Reflections

When I have it, money is nice. So is being married to my wonderful wife. As is owning a small business and being the father of 4 great kids. I’m grateful to live in a safe, cozy apartment (both in Maui and Santa Monica). But as great as it is to have these people, places and things in my life, they are the benefits of the peace I get from working the program, rather than the source of it. Without my commitment to the program, even if I had all these gifts, I couldn’t appreciate them or be happy. I thank the 12 steps and all of you for showing me the way. I am eternally grateful and ILML! – James

by

Forever Grateful

“Who wishes to be rigorously honest and tolerant? Who wants to confess his faults to another and make restitution for harm done? Who cares anything about a Higher Power, let alone meditation and prayer? Who wants to sacrifice time and energy in trying to carry the A.A.’s message to the next sufferer? Under the lash of alcoholism … Then, and only then, do we become open-minded to conviction … We stand ready to do anything that will lift the merciless obsession from us.”  – Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 24

I find it ironic that it took me to get my ass totally kicked in order to find the program and start feeling better. Then it took me being unhappy in the program, to get me to really work it. And after all this pain and suffering, both out and in recovery, I discovered that the secret to happiness was simply being a kind, patient, tolerant, loving guy who takes responsibility for his actions, makes amends when I’ve done wrong,  tries to forgive others when they’ve done wrong, and shows up to help others wherever I can. The program has given me so many tools to be and stay happy, and I keep discovering more secret tips from reading, journaling, and listening to others in meetings and fellowship. I’m so incredibly lucky – how could I not love my life? Forever grateful to both AA and Alanon… ILML!

by

Peace of Mind

“We enjoy … real peace of mind. To those of us who have hitherto known only excitement, depression, or anxiety – in other words, to all of us – this newfound peace is a priceless gift…” 12&12

It took me some time to accept the fact that those three – excitement, depression, & anxiety – were very prevalent feelings in my life prior to recovery. Peace, serenity & balance were not goals I strived for (I thought they were boring). Today, my entire outlook of life has changed. Peace, serenity & balance are my best friends – and I derive delicious satisfaction and contentment from hanging out with them. The 12 steps have given me a new manual for living – a new purpose – and by following this simple design for living, I really have been launched into the 4th dimension. I know how truly lucky I am, which is why ILML so much! – James

by

Journey to Enlightenment

“… hug someone three times, breathing in and out with awareness. During the first hug, you both think about how, at some time — you don’t know when — you will no longer be here. During the second hug, you both focus on how, at some time — you don’t know when — the other person will no longer be here. During the third hug, you truly take in that you both are here now, together in this precious moment.” Thich Nhat Hanh’s Hugging Meditation, as outlined in Attitudes of Gratitude

Until this morning, I’d never heard of the Hugging Meditation. Leave it to Thitch to create a meditation that, not only brings in gratitude for the present moment, but allows me to share it with someone I love. I’m already feeling grateful just from discovering another secret path towards my journey to enlightenment! ILML!

by

Warrior Monk

“Meditation.. is essentially an individual adventure… it’s object is always the same: to improve our conscious contact with God… One if its fruits is emotional balance.” 12&12 p101-102

I was shown that how we discover a higher power, and what that higher power looks like, can be unique to each of us, if we want. That was the case for me. The same goes for meditation. I can easily get down on myself because I don’t meditate the way I think I’m supposed to (palms facing up on my crossed knees, sitting, back straight, eyes closed, like David Carradine in Kung Fu). But I’ve learned that I don’t need to be a warrior monk to meditate – even just closing my eyes and taking one slow deep breath in and out can be my meditation (try it now). Whatever brings peace in, is meditation – even just smiling, or writing this post. The adventure into recovery sure is fun – I never know where I’ll go, but I do know I will grow spiritually along the way! ILML – James

by

A Practical Recipe

“… a practical recipe for getting out of trouble… overcome any difficulty… have an open mind… stop thinking of the trouble, whatever it is… drive the thought of difficulty right out of your consciousness, substituting for it the thought of God. This is the crux of the whole thing.” – The Golden Key by Emmet Fox

This God thing is rough for a lot of people I know. How can we believe in something we can’t see? Why should we believe others that there is a God? If God exists, and is good, why all the bad stuff? I struggled for a long time with these questions until I just decided to believe 100%, knowing I may be just “pretending”. Today it doesn’t matter if God is or isn’t “real”. My truth is that my life is better with God in it – way better. I’m just way happier believing. Emmet’s Golden Key is a great reminder to me that if I think of my God (love, gratitude, peace), the problem loses its grip on my mind. I’m grateful for all the wonderful tools I continue to discover which show me how to love my life more fully. Everyday I’m super stoked that ILML! – James

by

Headed for Trouble

“It’s easy to let up on our spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do… What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.” BB p85

At Starbucks as usual, but I’m having a few Golden Minutes instead of my Golden Hour, as I have to pick someone up in 3 minutes for a meeting. I’m grateful though that I never want to let up on my spiritual program. I know the rewards when I take action, and the struggle I go through when I don’t. It’s a beautiful morning in Maui (in big part to my being centered in gratitude). ILML!

by

Feeling the Feelings

“There are times when I have to hurt through a situation and when this happens, the choice is not whether to hurt or not to hurt, but what to do while I am hurting” In All Our Affairs – AlAnon

One thing I’ve learned in recovery is that, eventually the feelings will come – all of them. Sometimes we are bound to feel hurt, sad, angry, scared, frustrated, lost, lonely, hopeless, anxious, overwhelmed and insecure. Without our addictive behaviors there to mask them (feeling number outlets), we get to experience the entire rainbow of emotions – to finally fully live life on life’s terms. These feelings are uncomfortable, but we have a way out – a way to get back to feeling safe, hopeful, content, grateful, happy, inspired and even blissful. We can simply do the things that have proved successful to millions of others in our program, and brought them back into the light when they had fallen into darkness. These tools are here for all of us, and when we pick them up and use them, the rewards are consistently, at least for me, beyond my wildest dreams. Loving life in Maui. – James

by

Peace Channel

“… make me a channel of thy peace – that where there is hatred, I may bring love – that where there is wrong … forgiveness – that where there is discord… harmony – that where there is error… truth – that where there is doubt… faith – that where there is despair… hope – that where there are shadow… light – that where there is sadness… joy.”
12 & 12 p99

This is my favorite prayer – it’s a roadmap for my happiness. If I’m actively doing what these words request, I can’t help but be happy. Service, given freely without desire for anything in return, always leads to gratitude. Gratitude leads to happiness. Happiness leads to life loving, and today, once again, iLmL (that’s for you RB) 🙂 James

by

Inviting God

“When I invite God into my life through prayer, meditation and conversation, I open myself up to infinite possibilities.” – Hope for Today of 37

Most mornings, during my Golden Hour I journal, writing what’s up, identifying things I would like to work on, achievements I’m proud of, amends that need making and gratitude. This morning I found myself running late, and while writing noticing some fear its affect on how I feel. Then I wrote the following:

“I invite more God. More love. More faith. More gratitude. Less fear. I will repeat the words ‘Everything is great! It will continue to be great. It’s going to be fine. You’re great. I got your back James – I’m God & I love you – trust me.’

Thank you God for all you do for me – I love you.’

I choose to breathe, eat, live, sleep, dream and believe these words. They shall be my mantra for today.

My discomfort did not suddenly disappear. However, it subsided a little. I can now breathe a little better. I have begun to think that things actually may be ok today. If I keep these words at the top of my consciousness, I believe I can get back to really loving my life very soon. Right now, honestly, I’m about 70% of where I like to be on the life loving scale, but I know it will keep getting better, because regardless of how I may feel moment to moment, I really do LML! – James