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=====TABLE OF CONTENTS=====
=====EDITOR'S COMMENTS
=====READERS' COMMENTS
=====TIGHT BRIEFS
=====ADDICTION & RECOVERY
=====SPONSOR'S CORNER
=====FRIENDLY LINKS
=====PURE BOLOGNA
=====SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE
=====WITHDRAWAL
=====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
=====TIGHT BRIEFS=====
"If you plant potatoes, you are going to get potatoes. To expect anything else is insanity."
-- Kevin Eikenberry
=====READERS' RAMBLINGS=====
From Mindy:
Thanks to my HP, some willingness on my part and the people in the programs, I am 17 years sober and clean. No matter what
life crisis I find each day, the message to pick up at least one spiritual tool comes to me. That tool could be: Go to a meeting,
make or take a phone call, say a prayer, meditate, reflect on my blessings, read a recovery e-mail...and (always) maintain my
regular meeting commitment. If life is "too full" to make a meeting on Monday night, I'm there on Tuesday.
Time has shown that those who quit attending meetings generally don't stay sober and don't have the quality of sobriety which
accompanies it. The wonderful Alanon program taught me to "detach with love" and to know that I don't have to try to fix the world!
Thank you for the wonderful reminders of how well this works! This is solely my experience, strength, and hope.
Please email your comments & questions to:
Mailto:Principles-Newsletter-owner@egroups.com
=====ADDICTION & RECOVERY=====
I know these "list things" can get a little old, and I know not everyone likes them, but on the off chance that you dear readers
can stomach one more description of recovery from somewhat of an "eastern" perspective, here goes...
You're deep into spiritual recovery when:
1. You have no desire to change places in life with anyone else.
2. You step over setbacks without stopping or looking back.
3. You accept and appreciate praise, but never take it to heart.
4. You don't overeat or feel driven to diet.
5. You don't think about your sex life.
6. You meet and do what's true without fear of the consequences.
7. You really don't want anything from anyone.
8. You stop thinking about how much money you may or may not have.
9. You don't carry any upset from the last moment into the present one.
10. You have no interest in old resentments.
11. You start spending more time alone and enjoying it more.
12. You stop dreaming of the perfect vacation.
13. You're neither frightened nor shocked by the evening news.
14. You stop making deals with yourself.
15. You dress for comfort, not for compliments.
16. You lose all interest in trying to win mental arguments.
17. You don't blame anyone else for the way you feel.
18. You forget what it was you didn't like about someone.
19. You're awake to and spontaneously considerate of the needs of others.
20. You see beauty in life where you never could see it before.
21. Your life gets progressively simpler.
22. You see where you're wrong sooner than later, and stop defending yourself faster.
23. You do what you need to do (but don't want to do) and you do it with a lighter spirit.
24. You're not afraid of having nothing to say or do, if that's your true condition.
25. You can take criticism without cringing away from the truth it may hold.
26. You have no concern for what others may think of you.
27. You stop trying to make others see life in your way.
28. You enjoy the sound of silence as much or more than the sound of your own voice.
29. You see the same unpleasant traits within yourself that have made you shun others.
30. You say what you want, and not what you think others may want to hear you say.
31. You actually enjoy hearing about the good fortune of someone else.
32. You see more and more just how un-free you and others really are.
33. You're moods are fewer, lighter, and move on much quicker.
34. You see that society is destroying itself and that the only solution is self-change.
35. You can listen to others without the need to tell them what you know.
36. You don't find a thrill in any kind of fear.
37. You know that forgiveness of others is the kindest thing you can do for yourself.
38. You realize that the world is the way it is because you are the way you are.
39. You'd rather not think about yourself.
40. You can't come up with one good reason why you should ever be anxious or frightened.
Excerpted from Freedom From the Ties That Bind, by Guy Finley
( 1999; Llewellyn Publications; http://www.guyfinley.com
)
=====SPONSOR'S CORNER=====
If you haven't read High Bottom Drunk yet, please visit my website,
http://www.highbottomdrunk.com,
and take a look.
If you purchase the book from there, I'll send you two free gifts (modest but useful) with each copy. If you want, I'll 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 one of shopping cart pages.
http://www.highbottomdrunk.com
High Bottom Drunk: A Novel...and the Truth about Addiction &
Recovery, by Charles N. Roper
=====FRIENDLY LINKS=====
This week's featured link is: The Minnesota Recovery Page
This site contains a lot of information specific to Minnesota AA, but this particular page offers a wonderful collection of
recovery-related information. Some is specific to AA, some is not.
Visit the site:
http://www.lakeweb1.com/mrp/
=====PURE BOLOGNA & HOGWASH=====
A man walks into a bar. He sees a beautiful, well-dressed woman sitting on a barstool alone. He figures it’s worth a shot so he
walks up to her and says, "Hi there, how's it going tonight?"
The woman turns to him, looks him straight in the eye, and says, "I’m loaded to the gills, and I'll screw anybody at any time, any
where - your place or my place - it doesn't matter one bit to me."
The guy raises his eyebrows and says, "No kidding; what law firm do you work for?"
=====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:
Mailto:Principles-Newsletter-unsubscribe@egroups.com
=====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
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