“Acceptance gives me choices… My sponsor suggested having back up plans whenever my plans involve someone… It was a great way to put acceptance to work in my life.” — Courage to Change 

Nobody in the world is always dependable, including myself. But somehow it’s so easy to have expectations that others will ALWAYS follow through. This inevitably leads to disappointment, and in the case where it’s happened before with the same person, a sense of hopelessness. I may get angry, depressed or both. But I discovered that all that drama was avoidable, once I decided I didn’t want it in my life anymore. These days I repower myself everyday by taking recovery-oriented actions which help me stay in the attitude of gratitude no matter what happens around me, and as a result, about 98.6% of the time, ILML! 

“Joy comes from ongoing and active study, as well as the application of the principles in my everyday life, and from sharing that experience with others.” – Daily Reflections
I’ve been told by some that I’m one of the few people they know who really loves my life everyday. The truth is, I love life because I do the work everyday to get those results. It certainly doesn’t happen by itself. In fact, on those days when I am “too busy” to do the work, I love life less. When I miss days in a row, I start not liking others and eventually dislike my life. And so I do the daily deal, share it with others, connecting with source, meditating and exercising. I reason my thoughts right out of my mind by putting pen to paper and writing them down. And, as a result of being super diligent in all my rituals, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“Do I remember that I have a right to my opinion but that others don’t have to share it?” — Daily Reflections 

I grew up with two parents who, before having kids, were just two people. When they argued, like most people, each of them wanted to be right and sway the other to agree with them. They acted the same way with us. And when I grew up, I did the same with everyone else – and I was good at it. I can still use my attorney-like personality to drill others until they finally relent and agree with me out of utter exhaustion. But this form of manipulation saboutages my relationships. In recovery, my goal is to state my opinion gently (if asked) and let others have theirs. When I choose to live and let live, instead of needing others to agreee with me, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“What are you telling yourself? What are you feeling? What steps are you taking toward manifesting your dreams and goals?” Until Today

By staying spiritually connected, taking action to nurture ourselves in recovery and working diligently to achieve our personal goals, we align ourselves with God’s will for us. In other words, we live happy, joyous and free. Sound good? It does to me! That’s why, each day, I make it a point to wake up early, meditate, stretch, exercise, do my affirmations, make my bed, clean my house, groom myself, dress becomingly, read uplifting literature, journal, write my gratitude list, share hope with others, productively work, play, sing, dance, make time for fun and share in fellowship with others. Guaranteed, GUARANTEED, when I do all those things ILML! 

— JamieQ

“Within the container of love, two souls grow qualities they never dreamed they could…” – Attitudes of Gratitude in Love 

Today marks the 20th year that I’ve been married to the love of my life. We initially met and fell in love back at Indian Springs High School in 1977. Destiny had its plan, and today we have a rich life filled with the love of children, parents, siblings and friends. Although it wasn’t always easy, each hardship forced us both to change and grow into better, kinder individuals. We learned to adapt, and as a result, our love grew stronger. We set and honored each other’s boundaries. And we fought our fears in order to make it work. The principles of this program have guided us the entire way, and we are more in love today than ever. My wife is one of the greatest gifts of recovery and I am a very blessed man … ILML! 

– JamieQ

“For it is in giving that we receive.” Prayer Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi

Remember getting holiday gifts as a little kid? How exciting it was? I loved it, and it made me so happy. But in 1977, when I was 16 years old, I discovered an even greater happiness. It was Christmas morning and my parents awoke. We all opened gifts. Afterwards I led them to the den for a surprise: I had purchased and installed a Harman Kardon Hi-Fi stereo system. It had taken all night to do it. They turned it on and I knew they were happy and grateful. I felt good about me because I had sacrificed something important to me (my time and hard earned money) in order to make them feel good – a lesson never forgotten. Today I give away a lot of my time to others. I share my experience, strength and hope on everything I have to offer. I share my passion for life. As a result of consistently dedicating time to listen, care for and be there for others, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“My mind is like a great big closets needing to be cleaned out on a regular basis.” — Reaching for Personal Freedom

A business website listed the following as some important reasons for taking regular inventory: Protects against excess demands, helps in providing service to others, aids in productivity, reduces losses, minimizes workload, protects against fluctuations, makes effective use of energy output, identifies dishonest actions such as theft and deceit, pinpoints strengths and weaknesses, uncovers oppporunities for increased earnings. Wow, those are some great rewards I keep receiving. I journal almost every day and… ILML!

— JamieQ

“The cockroach is as beautiful and miraculous as the butterfly.”

We have a tendency to be fearful of the things which we find ugly.

Be that physical objects such as insects or spiders or a homeless hunchback with boils on his head, or the mental aspects of our character; selfishness, sloth, self-centeredness, arrogance, dishonesty…
Many of us are so afraid to face these things that we find a way to cope and, mostly in vain, to avoid them. 

With a cockroach we may scream and run away or smash it to pieces with the nearest slipper. For the mental there is solace to be found in drugs and alcohol. We literally try to drown our sorrows. 

After all, drinking a bottle of vodka and having temporary relief from the pain is far easier than facing the fears head on, right?

As I grow in the 12 step programs of recovery I am beginning to understand what the phrase “life on life’s terms” really means. To stick with my analogy – you will inevitably encounter both cockroaches and butterflies as you go about your day. 

One of the gifts of spiritual fitness, gained through practicing the program, is that I realise I must take the good and bad in the same way. That I have nothing to fear. 

They are as equally whole as each other and both offer an experience from which I can learn and grow…

Provided, of course, that I don’t scream and run away!

ILML

— Adam

“A.A. has given me serenity of purpose, the opportunity to be of service to God and to the people about me, and I am serene in the infallibility of these principles that provide the fulfillment of my purpose.” – AA, Freedom From Bondage

Regular readers of my blog and recovery texts know that I am not a religious man, but that I have a great relationship with the God of my understanding. That said, what struck me about this reading was the reality that this purpose they refer to is absolutely invaluable to me. In fact, I would go so far as to say that there are very few organizations in this world that you can join, which will give you the opportunity to love and be loved by so many other wonderful people. Where you can develop rich and rewarding friendships that will last a lifetime. My life has been forever blessed by AA and Al-Anon. Being a member of both programs, and embracing the principles to the best of my ability, is THE reason why ILML! 

“… everything is always all right no matter what is, because it is exactly as it is supposed to be for the moment” – Cristin Whiting
But what if you lose a loved one? When my mom died I found a book called “The Prophet” by Khalil Gibran by her bedside. I opened it up and read the following passage: 

“And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.” 

In other words, the more I loved, the deeper my well needed to be to hold that love. And when mom was gone, its depth held my tears. Would I have chosen a shallower well, one that wouldn’t have held so much love, if that meant my grieving wouldn’t be so painful?” The answer was no. Life is about change. Receiving gifts and letting them go. What her death taught me was to appreciate love but to stay in gratitude for it rather than expectation of it never leaving. When I can live in that wonderful space of thankfulness, peace and acceptance, no matter what happens, even if it means grieving for awhile, ILML! 

— JamieQ