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PRINCIPLES: THE ADDICTION & RECOVERY NEWSLETTER |
| =====TABLE OF CONTENTS===== =====EDITOR'S COMMENTS =====RECOVERY THOUGHT =====READERS' COMMENTS =====RECOVERY TALK =====SPONSOR =====FEATURED LINK =====PURE BOLOGNA =====SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE =====EDITOR'S COMMENTS===== PLEASE NOTE: Principles leans toward somewhat of an "eastern" perspective on recovery, which fits nicely with 12-step programs' spiritual underpinnings--that is, if you're willing to read it that way. PRIVACY: I will never publish, give, loan, or sell your email address to anyone. Never - No way - No how. DISTRIBUTION: God willing, Principles hits cyberspace once a week--sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning. Find Subscribe & Unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of this page. CONTRIBUTE: I'd love to hear your comments, questions, & ideas. I don't answer every email, but I do read every one, and I answer many. Email me at: Newsletter-Principles-owner@yahoogroups.com Thanks...Charles Roper =====RECOVERY THOUGHT===== The genius of Bill W. and 12-step programs lies in the part of Step 3 that states "...God as we understood Him." Read more below...in RECOVERY TALK =====READERS' COMMENTS===== Regarding last week's reference to the book: "Sunset Limited" by James Lee Burke (who is obviously one of us), GM... writes: "I liked in the book where he spoke of an AA group on the Docks in New Orleans--a tough group named: 'The Work the Steps or Die, Motherfucker! Group.'" ===== Please email your comments & questions to: Principles-Newsletter-owner@yahoogroups.com =====RECOVERY TALK===== The genius of Bill W. and 12-step programs lies in the part of Step 3 that states "...God as we understood Him." The words "God" and "Him" are merely convenient catch phrases easily understood by people in a predominantly Christian, male-centered culture and era. The inclusion of the phrase "...as we understood" underscores the complete spiritual democracy of recovery. It is left up to each of us to reach an understanding about the nature of our true self, Higher Power, God, or even no Higher Power at all. That understanding becomes the basis for our reintegration into a life founded upon eternal patterns. Recovery would never have gotten off the ground had it insisted on a narrow definition of spirituality. It would soon have degenerated into a religion and cult of personality rather than the open and welcoming program that we find today. Recovery addresses only what is common to all of us and refuses to engage in pointless arguments about that which each of us must personally decide. Verse 256, Surah 2 of the "Koran," the holy book of Islam, says: "There is no place for compulsion in religion." None of us should be coerced to accept another's version of truth, nor should we make yet another compulsion and addiction out of our own. In that respect, recovery is similar to Zen. Zen takes our attention away from things that serve only to distract us from the job at hand: To live our lives as full participants rather than as spectators. [Thanks to Mel Ash for the wisdom contained in these thoughts.] =====NEWSLETTER SPONSOR===== "I really hated this book. It made me think, but it really pissed me off." --C High Bottom Drunk: A Novel...and the Truth about Addiction & Recovery, by Charles N. Roper, PhD. Order High Bottom Drunk directly from Small Change Publishing Co., through the HighBottomDrunk website, & receive two free recovery-related gifts (modest but useful) with each copy. I sign & date every copy sold through the website (whether you like it or not). http://www.highbottomdrunk.com =====LINK OF THE WEEK===== This week's featured link is: Big Book Study Online "I run a Big Book Study Online and have for the past year. We have just started the newest cycle and would like to get the word out. We have a daily post at 8AM with discussion throughout the day and night on the board. Hundreds of people have become involved; it is the largest study of it's kind on the net." --Jim K Visit the site at: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/bigbookmeeting =====PURE BOLOGNA & HOGWASH===== One codependent’s manifesto: If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it will always be yours. If it doesn't come back, it was never yours to begin with. But, if it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money, and doesn't appear to realize that you had set it free.......You're either married to it or you gave birth to it. =====SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE===== To SUBSCRIBE to this publication, send any e-mail to: Mailto:Principles-Newsletter-subscribe@egroups.com To UNSUBSCRIBE from this publication, send any e-mail to: Principles-Newsletter-unsubscribe@egroups.com ========================== Till next week, do us all a favor and keep it simple. Charles Roper, Editor Principles: Addiction & Recovery Tips & Talks Alcohol & Drug Abuse - The Addiction & Recovery Information & Resources Web site: http://www.alcoholanddrugabuse.com |