Thursday, January 18, 2007

live and let live...

Well, I really wanna let those of you who are in this awful winter weather know that I am thinking about y'all and praying for your safety. My mom and dad in law are making their annual winter trek across the US from West Virginia to Phoenix, in their "Minnie Winnie" motor home. Once they hit Texas on Tuesday things got kinda crappy for them. They had a rough time getting from Dallas to Abilene Yesterday. I hope and pray that this weather gives them and others a break soon!

Today's Poll (I am hoping this catches on and visitors participate, lol! Some days this will be serious, other days not so serious)

If you had to pick a favorite principle in recovery, what would it be, and why?

"In Al-Anon we learn: -Not to create a crisis; -Not to prevent a crisis if it is in the natural course of events." -Courage to Change

This reading reminds me that I have to let (to a large extent) the people I care about go through what they need to go thru (but nothing extra created by me, lol) in order for them to be able to learn through life's difficulties whether they are self made or not. This brings to mind my wife's efforts to quit smoking. I have to be careful not to run round the house "tiptoeing and placing pillows everywhere" to ease her insanity. Part of the quitting process (whether it be smoking or drinking) is the pain of quitting. If my quitting process were simple and painless, I might not be able to stay sober, I mean why would I? I had to go through the stuff I went through in order to become the man I am today. Yes, I would've have loved to be spared some of my consequences but I needed them, in order to give my recovery real meaning. I think there's a fine line here, but a necessary one.

Prayer for the day...

JC/HP/God... Help me get through this day with a minimum of insanity. Please continue to remove my obsession to drink and drug. I pray that I might open my heart and mind to You, that You may fil me with Your Grace in order that I might do Your good works today. I pray for my friend Chuck who lost a niece, a mom of four little ones, killed in a crash yesterday, I pray for her soul and her family, for God's will. I pray for the people affected by the winter storms and for our troops and their families... That God may see them all safely, and peacefully along their journeys.

peace to y'all!

8 comments:

Rex said...

Great Paot Scott, thanks for sharing. I think for me the motto these days is "Keep It Simple"

GOOOOOD ol Rockytop... rockytop tennesseeeeee! said...

My favorite principle is that I can hear something that means something to me, and then leave the rest.

Early on my first go around at this, noone told me that we work are own program, and I don't have to do it like that guy or that girl over there. Were all different in that respect. What works well for one won't work for another but may work for so and so.

Thanks for the post Scott

Scott M. Frey said...

hey, we have a pollster, great Jonathan!

My fave principle is that of "letting go and letting God..." I love the relief that comes from turning something over to HP, kowing full well in my heart of hearts, that He will make all things right if only I surrender my will to him...

Mary Christine said...

I don't know how I could pick a favorite principle.

dAAve said...

She should read the book that Scott W and I read and used to stop smoking. It makes it easy, even pleasurable. I was able to stop cold turkey after 36 years and lost the desire just like my drinking. Amazing!!
I agree with MC, all the principles are my favorite.

ArahMan7 said...

Will Scott W and dAAve share with us what book they're reading to quit smoking?

Gee Scott, I can't nuggetized my favourite principles either. They're all great.

Scott W said...

Noor, the book is "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking' by Allan Carr. Dave and I were both able to become non-smokers, two miracles.

Fave principle: A God of MY understanding, placing sobriety first and the WE of the program. Okay, that's three.

Gooey Munster said...

"Part of the quitting process (whether it be smoking or drinking) is the pain of quitting. If my quitting process were simple and painless, I might not be able to stay sober, I mean why would I?"

I have never heard it put that way. It is something I need to pass to someone right now that is struggling and on the verge of going back out again. Thank you so much.