“Unclasp your hold on material things, relax your grip, and the tide of peace and serenity will flow in. Relinquish every material thing and receive it back again from God. Do not hold onto earths treasures so firmly that your hands are too occupied to clasp God’s hands as he holds them out to you in love.”– 24 Hours a Day 4/5

This is tough for me, to unclasp my hold on material things. I have a lot of material items but I want a lot more. But I do know that through letting go and having faith in a higher power that I’ve been able to say clean and sober for over 12 years. If letting go and surrendering to my higher power is the key to my success, then I guess letting go of my material desires and just taking the next right indicated action would be just as effective. I pray today that I can tear my hands off of my materialism and have faith in my higher power instead and know that I will be taken care of, that I will get exactly what I am supposed to have. Grateful to be part of the solution. ILML!

– JasonW

“Thoughts of doubt and fear never accomplish anything, and never can. They always lead to failure.” – James Allen

So true. And even more importantly, they make me feel shitty. When I have enough presence of mind to be aware that I’m feeling bad, I’ll ask myself “What am I thinking about right now? Is it making me feel good? Is it moving me into a loving place?” If not, my dis-ease chimes in saying “It’s ok to feel how you feel. Allow the feeling. You deserve it.” But being in anger or fear never helps me feel better. I’d rather let go of the problem, and get into the solution or make room for inspiration to come. More good feelings, less bad = ILML! 

– JamieQ

  “This is your life. Do what you want and do it often.” ― Holstee Manifesto, The Wedding Day

Stop for a moment and ask yourself “Am I doing what I want in my life?” then answer it honestly. If the answer is yes, youʻre on the right path. If the answer is no, itʻs time for a change. What do you want to do? What would be fun to do today? What enjoyable thing can you commit to doing today to make you happy? I love playing guitar so I commit to playing today, because when I play, ILML!

– JamieQ

“… they offered to lend me their higher power…” – Adapted from Reaching for Personal Freedom

I’ve never heard of lending out a higher power, but I like the idea. In case anyone needs to borrow mine, here’s what he looks like these days:

My higher power is a make-believe guy that isn’t really a guy (cause guys have bodies), but it’s easy to think of him as a friend – in truth he’s just the manifestation of pure love and gratitude; my greatest ally, encouraging me to be my very best and be gentle when I slip up; helping make the right, kinder choices. My higher power is quite simply the opposite of my lower power. The more I stay connected with that source of goodness, the more ILML!  

– JamieQ

“Loving and accepting ourselves… is how we enable growth and change.” The Language of Letting Go 

In the past, when I dug deep and thoroughly to evaluate things in life that were troubling me, I found that often times at the very root was my disapproval of myself or my efforts in life. My expectations of others is great, but those of myself are truly outrageous. Even though my mind knows perfection is an impossible goal, I can still get mad at myself for making mistakes – even knowing it’s a part of my humanness. Today I will remember to be gentle with my self when (not if) I make mistakes, learn from them and then let go. This action restores me to the place where ILML! 

– JamieQ

“Finally, we begin to see that all people, including ourselves, are to some extent emotionally ill as well as frequently wrong.” – As Bill Sees It

They sure are! Why do people have to be so incredibly difficult? Why are so many of them wrong most of the time? Why can’t they just realize that I am right, and that if they would just do things exactly the way I tell them to, they will be happy, and so will l? This is exactly the type of thinking that drove my relationships into a downward spiral. With the help of the program, I’ve learned a different approach. By practicing patience, tolerance, kindliness and love, I’ve learned to foster healthy relationships and as a side benefit… ILML!

JamieQ

“Today may I maintain a peaceful pace rather than a harried one.” – Adapted from The Language of Letting Go 

When things get crazy busy, when I feel overwhelmed by all I have to do, when I find myself running late or remembering something I’ve forgotten, I’ll remember to breathe. I’ll remember that everything is ok. I’ll remember that I can choose to be at peace no matter what. I’ll remember that I don’t need to be worried; that this too shall pass. Life is a series of events. If I can maintain my serenity throughout each of them, I get to enjoy peace of mind. In this way, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“Whenever I go to an Al-Anon meeting, I place myself in an environment conducive to changing my attitudes. In this way, my world is transformed.” – Hope For Today 

When I first attended Al-Anon I wasn’t impressed. In fact, I was uncomfortable. I’m a sober alcoholic that liked drugs too, and Al-Anon was different. I didn’t identify my disease after my name. I wasn’t allowed to mention AA. I just didn’t like it. Eventually though, my need for emotional sobriety outweighed my discomfort and I went back, again and again. Today I get Al-Anon and I love it. Last night’s meeting in Lahaina was awesome. I’m grateful I walked through my initial uneasiness and am open to the peace which that program gives me. ILML! 

– JamieQ

“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” – AA Big Book

I’m a rebel – and an editor by trade. I’ve always felt that the language in step two could be improved. So get ready. Are you sitting down? Here is my suggestion for the new, improved wording of step two: 

“Came to believe that connecting to our higher power could restore our peace of mind.” 

Of course, I can’t rewrite the step to my own liking, but I can take what I like and leave the rest. Today by working step two and tapping into my higher power, I’ll get peace of mind and ILML! 

JamieQ

Seek balance… Whenever possible, let’s be good to others, but be good to ourselves too.” – The Language of Letting Go

Wouldn’t it be great if we could make everyone happy. If we could easily give them all they wanted, say everything they want to hear, and do all that they ask. They would always be pleased with us, think highly of us, and get along perfectly with us. In the past this was my goal, and it was destroying my happiness. Each time I failed to deliver I got upset, either at them, myself or both of us. I now know it’s not my job to make others happy. If I focus on taking care of me, being good to myself, I can give all that I have leftover – a better version of me – to be of service to them. Today I’m a bit more selfish. Like the oxygen mask on the plane, me first, then them. Actually, when I do that, we all end up happier and ILML! 

– JamieQ