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=====TABLE OF CONTENTS=====
=====EDITOR'S COMMENTS
=====ANNOUNCEMENTS
=====READERS' COMMENTS
=====RECOVERY THOUGHTS
=====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
=====ANNOUNCMENT=====
I was wondering if I could have the following message posted to your
list-serv.
Sincerely,
Tanya Dahms
Recruitment Announcement
Researchers at Penn State University are looking for individuals who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and who are in recovery
from alcohol and/or other drugs for at least one year to participate in a
study about treatment experiences. We are interested in learning about what addiction treatment experiences are like for gay men, lesbians, and
bisexual individuals. This is an anonymous survey that will take about 20 – 30 minutes to complete. No identifying information is required. If
you would like to learn more about the study, please go to: http://www.ed.psu.edu/cecprs/chemdep/trtmntexp/consent.htm
=====READERS' COMMENTS=====
From Jen:
These are things I've either heard at meetings or from my sponsor:
Whatever you don't let go of only drags you back.
Whatever you're worried about, if you can't do anything about it within the next five minutes, you just have to let it go.
As these two thoughts became my mantras, I discovered that life is not an emergency.
From Laura:
It's just plain impossible to know how to navigate somebody else's world.
You might know how to navigate a similar situation if it occurred in your
world, but you can't know how to navigate the same situation in somebody else's world. You just don't know. And nobody else knows how to
navigate your world, either. That is so incredibly freeing to realize.
From Connie:
Robert Aiken, a writer and student of Zen, writes in his book, The
Dragon Who Never Sleeps:
When I catch myself blowing smoke
I vow with all beings to clean the air by confessing.
The smoke doesn't cover my fear.
Please email your comments & questions to:
Mailto:Principles-Newsletter-owner@egroups.com
=====RECOVERY TALK=====
I heard Bob Earle tell this story in 1983:
Two men were sitting at a bar talking, and after a while, the conversation
turned to religion. As it turned out, one man was a believer, and the other, an atheist.
The atheist said, "I gave your god a chance to prove himself to me one time, and he didn't do it."
"How so?" asked the believer. "How exactly did you give God a chance to prove himself?"
"Well," said the atheist, "I was vacationing in Alaska, and my car broke
down. It happened just about the time it got dark. I was out in the middle
of nowhere. There was no traffic, no lights, no nothing. After a while, I
got scared that I was going to freeze to death, so I left my car and started
searching for help. Before long I was totally lost, cold to the bone, and
quite sure I was done for. In that desperate moment, I fell to my knees,
looked toward the heavens, and said, 'God, if you're really up there, prove it to me. Save me from this horrible death.'"
The believer looked puzzled. "I don't get it. How could you still not believe? I mean, you're here. God must have answered your prayer."
The atheist shook his head. "No sir, right after I got up off my knees, some damn old Eskimo happened along and gave me a ride back into
town."
I've heard that story and variations of it many times since then, and I've
been grateful for every one of them.
Whenever I question whether or not there's a power greater than myself--greater than this poor old over-sized ego of mine--I just remind myself
that I'm here. Despite my incredible insanity, I'm here.
How many times and in how many ways did we try to kill ourselves? How often did we not just tempt fate, but shout our challenge in fate's
face? How did we possibly survive our addictions and codependencies?
Who or what was your Eskimo?
=====NEWSLETTER SPONSOR=====
Order my book High Bottom Drunk directly from my website, http://www.highbottomdrunk.com
and I'll send you two free gifts (modest but useful) with each copy. I'll also gladly inscribe your copy
as per your instructions--within reason, of course. You can request specific inscription wording in the text box at the bottom of the Order
Form.
http://www.highbottomdrunk.com
<a href="http://www.highbottomdrunk.com">AOL Link Here</a>
Order High Bottom Drunk from Amazon.com at the same reasonable price but without free gifts and inscription:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0967752906/highbottomdrunk/107-2342820-4863720
Note: you may have to cut & paste this URL into your browser.
High Bottom Drunk: A Novel...and the Truth about Addiction &
Recovery, by Charles N. Roper
=====LINK OF THE WEEK=====
This week's featured link is: Frame 37
Not recovery-related? Perhaps not, but it's beauty sure does make me feel better.
Visit the site at:
http://www.frame-37.com
<a href="http://www.frame-37.com">AOL Link Here</a>
=====PURE BOLOGNA & HOGWASH=====
Bumper stickers we can relate to:
Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it.
Diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
=====SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE=====
To SUBSCRIBE to this publication, send any e-mail to:
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=====WITHDRAWAL=====
Let's do each other a favor and keep it simple.
Charles Roper, Editor
Principles: The Addiction & Recovery Newsletter
Alcohol & Drug Abuse - The Addiction & Recovery Information &
Resources Website:
http://www.alcoholanddrugabuse.com
<a href="http://www.alcoholanddrugabuse.com">AOL Link Here</a>
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