Favorite Recovery Passages

[vm]

I thought it might be neat to put up little quotes or passages that have been helpful to you in recovery from substance abuse. I'll start with the famous "acceptance" passage:

And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation - some fact of my life - unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and my attitudes.

Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." He forgot to mention that I was the chief critic. I was always able to see the flaw in every person, every situation. And I was always glad to point it out, because I knew you wanted perfection, just as I did. AA and acceptance have taught me that there is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad in the best of us; that we are all children of God and we each have a right to be here. When I complain about me or about you, I am complaining about God's handiwork. I am saying that I know better than God.

Perhaps the best thing of all for me is to remember that my serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations. The higher my expectations of Max and other people are, the lower is my serenity. I can watch my serenity level rise when I discard my "rights", as well as my expectations, by asking myself, How important is it really? How important is it compared to my serenity, my emoitonal sobriety? And when I place more value on my serenity and sobriety than on anything else, I can maintain them at a higher level - at least for the time being.

Acceptance is the key to my relationship with God today. I never just sit and do nothing while waiting for him to tell me what to do. Rather, I do whatever is in front of me to be done, and I leave the results up to Him; however it turns out, that's God's will for me.

I must keep my magic magnifying mind on my acceptance and off my expectations, for my serenity is directly proportional to my level of acceptance. When I remember this, I can see I've never had it so good. Thank God for AA!

[auntiedeb]

Thankyou Kim for sharing that. I needed to hear that today. :) Acceptance is hard but I am learningit. What a great idea also. You have helped me so much. Thankyou. Gentle hugs to you.

[Katherine]

Thanks that was neat I really need it after my work today.
Hugs and lets keep working together.
Katherine

[vm]

Hello, I am your Disease

I hate meetings...I hate Higher Powers...I hate anyone who has a program. To all who come in contact with me, I wish you death and I wish you suffering.

Allow me to introduce myself, I am the disease of addiction. I am cunning, baffling, and powerful. That's me. I have killed millions and I am pleased.

I love to catch you with the element of suprise.

I love pretending I am your friend and lover. I have given you comfort, haven't I? Wasn't I there when you were lonely? When you wanted to die, didn't you call on me? I was there, I love to make you hurt. I love to make you cry. Better yet, I love to make you so numb you can neither hurt nor cry. When you can't feel anything at all - this is true gratification. And all that I ask from you is long term suffering. I've been there for you always.

When things were going right in your life, you invited me. You said you didn't deserve these good things, and I was the only one who would agree with you. Together we were able to destroy all the good things in your life.

People don't take me seriously. They take strokes seriously, heart attacks, even diabetes, they take seriously. Fools. Without my help these things would not be possible. I am such a hated disease, and yet I do not come uninvited. You choose to have me. So many have chosen me over reality and peace.

More than you hate me, I hate all of you who have a 12 step program. Your program, your meeting, your Higher Power. All of these things weaken me, and I can't function in the manner I am accustomed to. Now I must lie here quietly. You don't see me but I am growing bigger than ever. When you only exist, I may live. When you live I may only exist. But I am here...

And until we meet again, if we meet again, I wish you death and suffering.

[Teri]

WOW Kin! That was great! Do you have "the girl in the glass". I just love that one and for YEARS I had it taped to my mirror so that while I was getting ready for work I was forced to read it. I worked in a wet place so it was very important for me to read it.

For me, working in a wet place was the best thing I could have done after about 9 months of sobriety and the girls I worked with were so fantastic to me.

Watching the people who had been my friends change before my eyes made a huge inpact on me and made me more determined to beat it :D The night a customer laid out a line of cocaine for me was the last week I worked nights tho.....I had the strength to make it thru the booze but that line infront of me was just way too dangerous so I had to change my schedule. (which was realy cool cuz instead of dealing with people who ere drinking, I was working with people who needed a drink;))

It's one NASTY disease!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vm]

No, I don't think I've read it, but I am goinbg to search for it on google.

And, yes, it's a nasty one, isn't it? Thank God there is a solution, huh?

[Teri]

Got IT:D
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you queen for a day
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself,
And see what THAT gal has to say.

For it isn't your husband or family or friend
Who judgment upon you must pass:
The gal whose verdict counts most in the end
Is staring back from the glass.

Some people may think you a straightshottin' chum
And call you a person of place
But the gal in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look her straight in the face.

She's the gal to please, never mind all the rest
For she's with you clear up to the end, And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the gal in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the gal in the glass.


This is something that we all could have pasted to our bathroom mirror~

[vm]

That is good. Thanks! :)

[Christine36]

Kim,

That I am your disease, quote is great. I have been spending alot of time on at a addiction forum, for recovering addicts and people who live with active addiction, recovery,you know any form of the disease. These boards along with 2-3 alanon meetings a week have been a great help to me. I miss all you guys. I will be in touch. Hope all is well.

Christine

[vm]

We miss you, too. Hope you are finding more and more moments of peace.

[Christine36]

I have to say that there are more moments of peace but not as many as I would like. I am starting to realize many things that I did not even see three weeks ago. So I guess that is good. But my health is giving me alot of problems.My doctors said it is stress, you know that 6 letter word that is as far as I am concerned the root of all problems, mental and physical.

I will write again soon.


Christine

[auntiedeb]

KIM-what an inspriing message, thanks for sharing that.


Teri- wow, that was an isnpriing too, I love that gal in the glass. I wish I could get that and send it by email to one of my dearest interent friends.That is beautiful.


God works in mysterious ways. I thankGod we are here and there is help and 12 steps program.

Christine- good to hear from you and you are all in my prayers. We miss you and come back soon.

[Katherine]

Thanks you aLL

[vm]

I kinda forgot this topic for awhile, huh? wink Here's another good one:

LET GO and LET GOD

As children bring their broken toys
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
because He was my friend.

But then, instead of leaving Him
in peace, to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help,
with ways that were my own.

At last, I snatched them back and cried,
"How can you be so slow?"

"My child," He said,
"What could I do?
You never did let go."

- Anonymous -

[vm]

And one more:

Keep Me At It

God, give me due respect for the abilities you
have given me.

Don't let me sell them short. Don't let me
cheapen them. Don't let me bury my talents
through indecision, cowardice, or laziness.

Plant in me the necessary determination. Keep me
at it.

Rouse in me the fires of dedication. Keep me
at it.

Give me the energy, strength, and will power
to bring your gifts to their proper fruition. Keep
me at it.

When I falter or fall lift me up and set me
back on my destined path. Keep me at it.

Oh, God, when the way seems dark and there
is no light there, plant at least one small signal
fire at the end of the long black tunnel that I
may keep plodding steadily forward toward it.

When friends laugh at me, keep me at it.

When people tempt me away from it, keep me at it.

When others scorn what I have produced, let me
not be discouraged. Keep me at it.

When those who have tried and failed or who
have never tried at all, those who are envious or
indolent, when such people would hurt me by
spiteful words or acts, let me not be bothered.
Return me to my task. Keep me at it.

Let nothing really matter but these precious
gifts you have entrusted to me. For their sake
let me be willing and proud to make the
sacrifice. Keep me at it.

~ Marjorie Holmes, I've Got To Talk To Somebody, God

[Teri]

thankx Kim~ perfect timing~

[vm]

I always forget this topic.... Here's a new one:
---------------------------------------
Family Buttons

I was thirty-five years old the first time I spoke up to my mother and refused to buy into her games and manipulation. I was terribly frightened and almost couldn't believe I was doing this. I found I didn't have to be mean. I didn't have to start an argument. But I could say what I wanted and needed to say to take care of myself. I learned I could love and honor myself, and still care about my mother - the way I wanted to - not the way she wanted me to.
(~ Anonymous)

Who knows better how to push our buttons than family members? Who, besides family members, do we give such power?

No matter how long we or our family members have been recovering, relationships with family members can be provocative.

One telephone conversation can put us in an emotional and psychological tailspin that can last for hours or days.

Sometimes, it gets worse when we begin recovery because we become even more aware of our reactions and our discomfort. That's uncomfortable, but good. It is by beginning this process of awareness and acceptance that we change, grow, and heal.

The process of detaching in love from family members can take years. So can the process of learning how to react in a more effective way. We cannot control what they do or try to do, but we can gain some sense of control over how we choose to react.

Stop trying to make them act or treat us any differently. Unhook from their system by refusing to try to change or influence them.

Their patterns, particularly their patterns with us, are their issues. How we react, or allow these patterns to influence us is our issue. How we take care of ourselves is our issue.

We can love our family and still refuse to buy into their issues. We can love our family but refuse their efforts to manipulate, control, or produce guilt in us.

We can take care of ourselves with family members without feeling guilty. We can learn to be assertive with family members without being aggressive. We can set boundaries we need and want to set with family members without being disloyal to the family.

We can learn to love our family without forfeiting love and respect for ourselves.

Today, help me to start practicing self-care with family members. Help me know that I do not have to allow their issues to control my life, my day, or my feelings. Help me know it's okay to have all my feelings about family members, without guilt or shame.

[Teri]

Thanks so much Kim. I needed that badly today;)

[vm]

I saw your post-surgery post this morning and the comments about family and thought, "Hm, my post yesterday was appropos again..." wink

[auntiedeb]

Thanks Kim. I kinda forgot about this board too and diecided come here and read the posts. thank so much.

[gwyn]

thanks kim for the lovely quotes!!!!!!

[gwyn]

thanks kim for the lovely quotes!!!!!!