Nor-Cal Recovery

Womens meeting tonight.

THIS IS FOR ANYONE FIGHTING ADDICTION! I cried while writing this. It's the most honest song I ever wrote.

September 01, 2018 Real values Page 255 "We become able to make wise and loving decisions based on principles and ideals that have real value in our lives."... Basic Text, p.105 Addiction gave us a certain set of values, principles we applied in our lives. "You pushed me" one of those values told us, "so I pushed back, hard." "It's mine" was another value generated by our disease. "Well, okay, maybe it wasn't mine to start with, but I liked it, so I made it mine." Those values were hardly values at all-more like rationalizations-and they certainly didn't help us make wise and loving decisions. In fact, they served primarily to dig us deeper and deeper into the grave we'd already dug for ourselves. The Twelve Steps give us a strong dose of real values, the kind that help us live in harmony with ourselves and those around us. We place our faith not in ourselves, our families, or our communities, but in a Higher Power-and in doing so, we grow secure enough to be able to trust our communities, our families, and even ourselves. We learn to be honest, no matter what-and we learn to refrain from doing things we might want to hide. We learn to accept responsibility for our actions. "It's mine" is replaced with a spirit of selflessness. These are the kind of values that help us become a responsible, productive part of the life around us. Rather than digging us deeper into a grave, these values restore us to the world of the living. Just for Today: I am grateful for the values I've developed. I am thankful for the ability they give me to make wise, loving decisions as a responsible, productive member of my community.

SOAR Thinking about learning to fly is not a graceful or pretty proposition There is an awkward and overwhelming feeling of fear and apprehension And it is this thought that keeps us grounded... Frail fledglings, filled with doubt and uncertainty Creeping from the confined comfort of a nurturing nest with no idea of what to do next All that exists is an innate inclination to soar alongside our fellow nestlings Imprinted with intuition and inspiration, ready to realize our birthright How do we achieve the possibilities of this untapped potential? Will these wings even support our weight? Is it time to fly? This is our time, now Standing, shaking, precariously perched on the precipice There is nothing to cushion us from the fall We close our eyes and ignore the fear With one step into the abyss we discover we were built for this And suddenly, without a thought, we are flying free ~S.D.

August 30, 2018 Doing good, feeling good Page 252 "We examine our actions, reactions, and motives. We often find that we've been doing better than we've been feeling."... Basic Text, p.43 The way we treat others often reveals our own state of being. When we are at peace, we're most likely to treat others with respect and compassion. However, when we're feeling off center; we're likely to respond to others with intolerance and impatience. When we take regular inventory, we'll probably notice a pattern: We treat others badly when we feel bad about ourselves. What might not be revealed in an inventory, however, is the other side of the coin: When we treat others well, we feel good about ourselves. When we add this positive truth to the negative facts we find about ourselves in our inventory, we begin to behave differently. When we feel badly, we can pause to pray for guidance and strength. Then, we make a decision to treat those around us with kindness, gentleness, and the same concern we'd like to be shown. A decision to be kind may nurture and sustain the happiness and peace of mind we all wish for. And the joy we inspire may lift the spirits of those around us, in turn fostering our own spiritual well-being. Just for Today: I will remember that if I change my actions, my thoughts will follow. Copyright (c) 2007-2018, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved