|
=====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 following is a random sampling of readers' responses to Kate's comments in last week's newsletter. (See: Vol.1, No.32 - December 15, 2000:
http://www.alcoholanddrugabuse.com/news32.html
From Arlene: "...The program of Alcoholics Anonymous does not teach me how not to drink; it teaches me how to live each day and become a decent loving member of society. Because we try to practice the principles of AA we don't have to get angry at those who see us differently. We can be accepting of others' views and love you anyway...."
From Maggie: "...all I can say is WOW. She must not be in recovery, or if she is, she is definitely stuck. Something that has worked for people for over 60 years is not something to sneeze at. I say different strokes for different folks...."
From Tina: "...Kate, I agree with you 100%. Education and support are the keys to recovery. I'm sick and tired of hanging with AA's and Alamamas who are now addicted to the program and get really angry if a feeling comes up. I'm tired of listening to dry drunks drone on and on about something they clearly have not internalized. The problem is increased by the number of recovering addicts running recovery programs. Their fear of feelings is so intense they make sure the programs are structured to make sure no one can have them...."
From Debra: "...I Love AA controversy. It keeps me open-minded. I have a box of BandAids that I call meetings, and my Rx is a Loving Higher Power...."
From Steve: "...It's obvious she understands little about AA. I hope she isn't an addict, because with a "magical mind" like that, she could very easily analyze herself out of any chance for recovery...."
From Robyn: "...While I agree with you that it is not therapeutic to hang onto the excuse of "I drink because I have a disease," the point of counseling is not to perpetuate the problem, but rather to offer alternatives. However, what you may have missed out on is this--while we are NOT responsible for our disease, we ARE responsible for our recovery once we become aware of the disease. As for AA, NA or any other "A", it works for thousands and thousands of people...."
From Teri: "...those who do not like AA are certainly not obligated to remain in the program, but not offering it as an option would be a violation of medical ethics."
==========
[Editor's Reply: I wish I had room for everyone's comments. They were all thoughtful and interesting.]
=====TIP & TALK FEATURED ARTICLE=====
RECOVERY TIP:
Don't let recovery scare you too much.
RECOVERY TIP TALK:
I received a long e-mail from a close friend the other day that gave me some dreaded insight into my own recovery process. In a nutshell, it reminded me of how much I "understand" about recovery and how little I "apply" what I understand.
Here's the relevant piece of my friend's e-mail:
"I've been praying lately for the courage (willingness? faith? humility?) to surrender completely to a power greater than my own ego. I think perhaps my reluctance to actually do it (surrender) hinges at least partly on the fact that I know it will work. I know in my heart that surrendering my will--that is, my thinking, my ego--will result in my getting/having what I most want--namely, to feel genuinely happy and at peace with myself, others, and God.
"It occurs to me that this is how the conversation with my higher power might sound:
HP: "Want to be happy and at peace?"
Me: "Hell, yes!"
HP: "Okay...go ahead...you know what to do."
Me: "Hell, no!"
"Now, I ask you, Charles...how insane is that? What's wrong with me that I refuse to simply accept and apply this gift, knowing all the while that it will work (if I work it)?"
After re-reading this a few times, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I felt exposed. And he wasn't even talking about me. Or should I say, he didn't know he was talking about me.
The truth is, my ego-driven thinking keeps me "safe" and therefore out of "trouble," but it also keeps me stuck in the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that sabotage my chances for the best recovery and truest happiness. My old counselor & mentor used to tell me, "Maybe you should just quit thinking, Charles; you know, it was your best thinking that got you into the fix you're in today."
I know what to do. I think all of us do. I mean, we have so many incredible tools at our fingertips. We've been handed any number of simple sets of instructions. We've got the Twelve Steps, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the Ten Commandments, etc., all of which say pretty much the same thing once you get past the superficial differences. And on top of that, we've been blessed (or is it cursed?) with intelligence, intuition, and consciences. It makes me wonder...why am I so resistant?
If I know in my heart of hearts that surrendering my will to that of a power greater than my self--my ego--will give me the life I want, why don't I just sigh a sigh of relief and do it?
The Big Book couldn't be clearer on the subject. Beginning at the bottom of page 86, it reads:
"In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while. What used to be the hunch or the occasional
inspiration gradually becomes a working part of the human mind...."
It sounds so simple.
=====SPONSOR=====
High Bottom Drunk: A Novel...and the Truth about Addiction & Recovery, by Charles N. Roper, PhD.
"...this book has become a companion to my Big Book."
"...reading High Bottom Drunk has deepened my understanding of AA's principles tenfold."
Order High Bottom Drunk directly from the publisher, through the www.highbottomdrunk.com
website, and receive two free gifts (modest but useful) with each copy.
http://www.highbottomdrunk.com
=====AN EASTERN PERSPECTIVE ON RECOVERY=====
Buddha was in his eighties when he felt his death approaching. His monks and followers were distraught and wondered how they could carry on after he died. But Buddha downplayed his personal importance in relation to his teachings, stressing that he was merely human and that everything that is born must die.
This calm acceptance of the way of life and nature is a hallmark of Zen, emphasizing that the way to peace and fulfillment lies not in a vain struggle to conquer reality, nor an equally pointless resignation and submission to fate. Instead, Buddha taught the middle way of finding our place in the scheme of things and thereby bringing ourselves back into harmony with the universe.
Birth, death, and life are all cut from the same unchanging and endless piece of cloth. They have no real existence apart from for thinking minds. Unattached to these concepts, one attains one's original nature and knows that all is well and always has been.
Paraphrased from: The Zen of Recovery, by Mel Ash.
=====SPONSOR=====
HostingByDesign.com offers website design, redesign, hosting, promotion, and eBusiness solutions at prices that darn near anyone can afford.
http://www.hostingbydesign.com
=====LINK OF THE WEEK=====
This week's featured link is Christian Recovery International.
The site represents the work of a coalition of ministries dedicated to helping the Christian community become a safe and helpful place for people recovering from addiction, abuse or trauma.
Visit the site at:
http://www.christianrecovery.com
=====PURE BOLOGNA & HOGWASH=====
Christmas Carols for The Emotionally Challenged:
SCHIZOPHRENIA:
Do you Hear What I Hear?
MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER:
We Three Queens Disoriented Are
DEMENTIA:
I Think Maybe I'll Be Home for Christmas
NARCISSISTIC:
Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me
MANIC:
Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Busses and Trucks and trees and Fire Hydrants and...
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY:
You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why. Maybe I Won't. Maybe I'll Have Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire.
DEPRESSION:
Silent Life, Lonely Life, All is Flat, All is hollow.
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER: Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock............(better start again)
PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE PERSONALITY:
On the First Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me (and then took it all away).
PARANOID:
Santa Claus is Coming to Get Me.
=====SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE/COMMENT=====
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
To COMMENT &/or SUBMIT INFORMATION, send e-mail to:
Mailto:Principles-Newsletter-owner@egroups.com
==========================
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
|
