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=====TABLE OF CONTENTS=====
=====EDITOR'S COMMENTS
=====READERS' COMMENTS & CONTROVERSIES
=====TIP & TALK FEATURE ARTICLE
=====SPONSOR'S SPIEL
=====AN EASTERN PERSPECTIVE ON RECOVERY
=====FEATURED LINK OF THE WEEK
=====PURE BOLOGNA & HOGWASH
=====SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE / COMMENT
=====EDITOR'S COMMENTS=====
DISTRIBUTION: God willing, Principles hits cyberspace every Friday morning.
Find Subscribe & Unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of this page.
PRIVACY: I will never publish, give, loan, or sell your e-mail address to anyone. Never -
No way - No how.
Thanks...Charles Roper
=====READERS' COMMENTS & CONTROVERSIES=====
"...the "my way or the highway" stance of my organized religion does not
jibe with my alcoholic mindset....I am especially enjoying the articles on Eastern
Perspective...Keep 'em coming." ---jd
[Editor: Thanks, Jim]
====
A reply to LB (see Vol.1, No.26:
http://www.alcoholanddrugabuse.com/newsletters/news26.htm
"Let us presuppose that Eastern philosophy is not associated with any religion,
because it is not a religion - it is philosophy, while Christianity and Judaism are
religions. This includes Western philosophy. Each religion 'has' a philosophy of sorts,
yet it is within the confines of the limitations of the belief system dictated by the
evolution of a singular religion.
Next, let us ponder the thought that perhaps the act of 'knowing' a thing is a shared
experience that all humans have the capacity of 'doing.' Most humans can think. Indeed, it
is the capacity to think as well as the desire to think that seperates us.
Last but not least, and from a purely philosophical viewpoint, are we dealing with a
'collective conscious' or 'individual thought' when we mentally review Eastern philosophy
and compare it to world religions? Something tells me we might be trying to compare apples
to oranges here."
--Most humbly, c.m.
[Editor: I don't quite get it, c.m. I want to, but I don't.]
=====TIP & TALK FEATURED ARTICLE=====
RECOVERY TIP:
"Don't forget the physical aspects of recovery."
RECOVERY TIP TALK:
We talk a lot about addiction being a "four-fold" disorder or disease--one that
affects its victims physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
If that's true, then recovery must occur along all of these dimensions, at least if it is
to be comprehensive. If one or more areas get neglected, then the overall quality of our
recovery suffers.
Of the four dimensions, physical recovery is the simplest to understand and carry out.
Indeed, compared to mental, emotional, and spiritual recovery, the physical is a piece of
cake (or better yet, a walk in the park). Oddly, it's also the one most neglected--and by
a long shot.
Physical recovery happens in at least two ways. The first doesn't even require any effort
on our part. It occurs as a function of abstinence from alcohol and drugs. When we deprive
it of toxins, the body has an amazing ability to repair itself. Alcoholics and addicts get
sober and clean, and in a relatively short period of time they feel better. That's because
they *are* better.
The second avenue of physical recovery occurs through (ugh!) effort. It goes beyond
physical repair to physical health, and yes, it generally involves changing habits,
especially those around diet, exercise, stress management, and our so-called
"secondary" addictions. And then, of course, there's the denial attached to all
of the above. We've heard (and said) them all:
"Whatever else I'm doing, at least I'm not getting high."
"I can only deal with one issue [or addiction] at a time."
"I'll handle the weight problem once I'm stable in recovery."
"Exercise? You've got to be kidding."
"I don't have time for all that bullshit."
"Recovery is a spiritual process--not a physical one."
Consider the following definition of recovery: "Recovery means positive growth and
change along the four dimensions--physical, mental, emotional, & spiritual."
One might ask, "Wait a damn minute. Where's the part about not drinking and
using?"
It's there, of course. Recovery happens within the context of abstinence. But it doesn't
happen *because* of it.
The four dimensions of recovery are not separate from one another. They're a team. They're
an inseparable team. Leave one piece of the team out, and the team fails to function
properly. Recovery suffers.
=====SPONSOR'S SPIEL=====
High Bottom Drunk: A Novel...and the Truth about Addiction
& Recovery, by Charles N. Roper, PhD.
"...and so it was with reading High Bottom Drunk...like riding down some unfamiliar
back roads and feeling vaguely 'at home,' like I'd been there before, and learning some
things about finding my way back to the familiar roads."
Order High Bottom Drunk directly from the publisher, through the
www.highbottomdrunk.com website, and receive two free gifts with each copy.
http://www.highbottomdrunk.com
=====AN EASTERN PERSPECTIVE ON RECOVERY=====
Zen is the ultimate and original recovery program. It exposes our denial of true self and
shows us how we've suffered because of our attachment, judgment, and separation. It
suggests a program for recovering our original nature and teaches steps we can take
immediately to regain our sense of unity with each other and the universe.
Zen is there when we swerve out of the way of danger without thinking. It is there when we
feel deeply the suffering of another. It is there in the unconscious grace of our physical
movement, the elegant flow of our thoughts, and the automatic breathing that keeps us
alive.
Zen never forgets or abandons us. We, on the other hand, do forget and abandon Zen. We do
so when we take this moment for granted, when we believe that we are separate from all we
see, and when we feel alone and unique in our suffering. We forget Zen when we search high
and low for meaning, contentment, and satisfaction. Trying to fill our emptiness with
meaning from outside of ourselves is like pouring water into the ocean to make it wet.
Paraphrased from: The Zen of Recovery, by Mel Ash.
=====LINK OF THE WEEK=====
This week's featured link is: Soberspace
Soberspace is Bob B.'s site in support of his monthly column on recovery-related topics,
primarily from an AA perspective. The site includes some very excellent articles.
Bob developed the monthly column for individuals concerned about their own alcohol and
drug consumption or that of someone they care about. It is also for people in recovery
wanting to share their insights with those in search of some.
Visit the site at:
http://www.morrock.com/sober.htm
=====PURE BOLOGNA & HOGWASH=====
Another oldie but goodie:
A man walks into a bar and asks for six shots of vodka. The bartender says, "Six
shots? My God, Man, what's wrong?"
"I found out my older brother is gay," replies the man.
The next night, he walks into the bar again and asks for six shots of vodka. "Holy
cow, Mister. What's wrong this time?" asks the bartender.
"I found out my younger brother is gay," replies the man.
The night after that, the man walks into the bar again and orders six shots of vodka.
"Geez, Fella," the bartender exclaims, "Doesn't ANYBODY in your family like
women?"
The man nods his head slowly, takes his first shot, and says, "Yep, seems my wife
does."
Submitted by: Submitter requests very strict anonymity.
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==========================
Alrighty, then...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
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