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=====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 looks at recovery through the lens of an "Eastern" perspective, 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 - Ever - 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.
Thanks...Charles Roper
=====RECOVERY THOUGHT=====
Avoid compulsively making things worse:
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
--Anon.
"Better is the enemy of good."
--Anon.
Read more below...in RECOVERY TALK
=====READERS' COMMENTS=====
D.L. writes: "I have struggled with my alcohol and drug addiction for 20 plus years and have gone into treatment twice
before. This time, with the help of the Zen perspective, I feel genuine hope for my continued recovery. Something clicked
for me this time, and I am beginning to awaken to my higher self. The women's treatment center I went to teaches us to
separate out our "addict" from our "wise woman." This fits nicely with the Eastern perspective of Higher Self. This week's
newsletter speaks to the interdependence of recovery and that we are one among many. This is very meaningful to me - one
who thought she could get sober all on her own and didn't need AA or a sponsor."
Please email your comments & questions to:
Mailto:Principles-Newsletter-owner@egroups.com
=====RECOVERY TALK=====
Danny D. writes:
With all the emphasis in the world on getting better, doing better, being better - healthier, slimmer, faster, prettier - there is a
real tendency for anyone, especially one in recovery, not to appreciate the good we already have achieved, the good we already
are.
I like the notion of "better" being the enemy of "good." It seems to suggest a simpler view of the world, and isn't saying, "If it
ain't broke, don't fix it" just another way of saying, "Keep it simple?"
Editor adds:
The other day, I was reminded of the definition of one of my favorite words. The word is meander, and its definition is: To move
aimlessly and idly without fixed direction. The American Heritage Dictionary offers the example, "vagabonds meandering through life."
I have four kids - two grown-ups and two teenagers. One of the grown-ups and one of the teenagers are high achievers. The other
grown-up and the other teenager are meanderers. I love them all dearly and cherish them for who they are. I must admit, however,
that I sometimes fret over what may become of my vagabonds. But...what if I had to trade places with one of the four?
Growing up in a highly dysfunctional home with deeply insecure, unforgiving parents, I never had the option to meander. At report
card time, B's meant failure. In sports, runner-up meant losing. In conversation, anything other than "yes, sir" and "no, sir" implied
disrespect. High achievement? Do it or suffer. Meandering? Forget it or die.
My dad passed away a few years ago. His demands, though, survived him. They live on in my head. Despite my better judgment - my inner
wisdom - I tend to live by time and accomplishment. And I fret over what may become of my vagabonds. My inner wisdom (my higher power)
assures me that I would like very much to trade places with one of them.
What would a Buddha say? "You may think time is passing you by and not realize that time never even gets here."
=====NEWSLETTER SPONSOR=====
Order High Bottom Drunk directly from the publisher, through the http://www.highbottomdrunk.com
website, and receive two free gifts (modest but useful) with each copy
ordered.
High Bottom Drunk: A Novel...and the Truth about Addiction &
Recovery, by Charles N. Roper, PhD.
http://www.highbottomdrunk.com
=====LINK OF THE WEEK=====
This week's featured link is: QuitNet: Quit All Together
QuitNet offers a variety of methods to support smokers who are thinking of quitting, smokers who are actively trying to quit, and
to others who want to help a friend quit. Most of the help is free.
Visit the site at:
http://www.quitnet.org/qn_main.jtml
=====PURE BOLOGNA & HOGWASH=====
A man is awakened at 3:30 AM by a tap-tap-tap on his front door. He tries to ignore it, but then he hears a loud knock-knock-knock.
He drags himself out of bed and goes downstairs. He opens the door and finds a highly intoxicated man standing before him.
"Hi there, buddy," slurs the drunk. "Can you give me a push?"
Irritated as hell, the man shouts, "Hell, no, you old drunk. Get lost, before I call the cops." And he slams the door and goes back
up to bed.
When he tells his wife what happened, she says, "Dave, that wasn't very nice of you. Remember that night we broke down in the pouring
rain, and you had to knock on some stranger's house to get help? What would have happened if that person had told us to get lost?"
"But the guy is drunk," says the husband.
"It doesn't matter," says the wife. "He needs our help, and the Christian thing to do is to help him."
So the husband gets out of bed again, gets dressed, and goes downstairs. He opens the door, and when he doesn't see the man, he
shouts, "Hey, mister, do you still want a push?"
"Yeah, please," comes a voice from the darkness.
Still unable to see the stranger he shouts, "Well, where the heck are you?"
"I'm right over here," he hears from the darkness, "sittin on your swing."
=====SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE=====
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==========================
Till next week, let's keep it simple.
Charles Roper, Editor
Principles: The Addiction & Recovery Newsletter
Alcohol & Drug Abuse - The Addiction & Recovery Information &
Resources Web site:
http://www.alcoholanddrugabuse.com
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