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PRINCIPLES: ADDICTION & RECOVERY TIPS & TALKS
Vol.1, No.8
June
30, 2000
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=====TABLE OF CONTENTS=====
=====NOTES
=====EDITOR'S COMMENTS
=====BTW, HAVE YOU HEARD?
=====TIP & TALK FEATURED ARTICLE
=====SPONSOR'S SPOT
=====WHAT WOULD BUDDHA DO?
=====GUEST SPOT (ANYTHING GOES)
=====SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE/COMMENT
=====NOTES====
Principles: Addiction & Recovery Tips & Talks is published every Friday
morning by the folks at Alcohol & Drug Abuse - The Addiction & Recovery
Information & Resources. Visit the Website:
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=====BTW, HAVE YOU HEARD?=====
"Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things
are within our control and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this
fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and cannot control that
inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible…if you attempt to adopt the
affairs of others as your own, your pursuits will be thwarted and you will become a
frustrated, anxious and fault-finding person." --Epicetus, Stoic Philosopher
(circa 95 AD)
=====EDITOR'S COMMENTS=====
This week's TIP & TALK FEATURED ARTICLE was originally published in either another
newsletter or in the Articles section of another website. I apologize for not having the
direct reference. The article is a letter written anonymously by a 10-year-old person who
identified him/herself simply as "Z." It offers a subtle yet powerful glimpse
into the pain of those we hurt the most.
NOTE: If you would like to submit a TIP & TALK article or story, please contact me
through the newsletter address listed at the bottom of this page.
Charles N. Roper, Editor
=====FEATURED ARTICLE=====
RECOVERY TIP: "Never forget 'what it was like' for those we hurt."
RECOVERY TIP TALK:
I Am Against Alcohol
Z, age 10
The reason I am against it is because it is stupid to drink. It not only hurts you, it
hurts your family and friends too.
Alcohol can ruin families and friendships. If someone drinks they can break promises like
a dinner date or to be there on time. They can also be gone drinking and not take you
somewhere that they said they would, like a fishing trip or a camping trip. If a parent is
drinking they can let down a child by missing a birthday or a Christmas or a big event in
your life.
In the alcoholic's brain there is a part where if you take one drink it activates that
part of the brain and that part of the brain says, "Give me more alcohol," and
they cannot stop very easily.
When you drink alcohol you become drunk, then you become mean or nice. If they are mean
they argue a lot and they do not act like themselves. If they are nice, they will act as
if they are your friend and do anything for you but the next day when you think they are
back for good they leave to go drinking again.
If someone goes and drinks, sometimes they care about drinking more than they do about
their family. If someone drinks, that person can make other people sad and mad and that
gives the person who drinks control in the situation.
When you drink you get a giant headache called a hangover. So you are sober but your head
hurts very badly.
So I ask you, do you want to drink?
=====SPONSOR'S SPOT=====
High Bottom Drunk: A Novel...and the Truth about Addiction & Recovery, by
Charles N. Roper, PhD.
Within the context of an immensely powerful story populated with fascinating characters, High
Bottom Drunk offers the key to understanding the true nature of addiction and
recovery.
I thought I understood
what recovery means. I was wrong. Now I get it, and it blows me away. High Bottom Drunk is
like highly potent self-help fiction. ---SV, Tampa, FL
Read excerpts of High Bottom Drunk: A Novel... at the Website:
http://www.highbottomdrunk.com
=====WHAT WOULD BUDDHA DO?=====
Q: What would Buddha do when criticized?
A: Look upon one who tells you your faults as giving you a hidden treasure, as a wise
person who shows you the dangers of life. Follow that person; if you do, you will see good
and not evil. –Dhammapada 76
Buddha knows who we should be hanging with—not sycophants (self-seekers who attempt
to win favor by flattering other people), and sometimes not even those who love us and let
us slide. A real critic is a blessing. A person like that shows us how we really are. This
is a rare opportunity, and we shouldn’t miss out. Right?
The trick is to be open. There’s nothing like criticism to bring out the monkey mind
of the defensive self. The monkey mind will chatter back in the nastiest way. And you
should see the things it throws! Buddha challenges us not to be this way.
Are you open to critique? How about this: Why are you reading this book when you could be
donating blood?
Paraphrased from the book: What Would Buddha Do? 101 Answers to Life's Daily Dilemmas,
by Franz Metcalf.
=====GUEST SPOT (ANYTHING GOES)=====
This nice little story was forwarded to me by our friend, Josh C. Thanks, Josh; keep up
the good work!
Joan, the town gossip and supervisor of the town's morals, publicly accused her neighbor,
George, of being an alcoholic because she saw his pickup truck parked for hours at a time
outside the town's only bar.
Instead of getting angry or defending himself, George said nothing. Later that evening, he
parked his pickup truck in front of Joan’s house and left it there all night.
=====LINK OF THE WEEK=====
This week's featured link is a terrific site called Recovery-man.com.
Devoted to personal healing from addictions and trauma, this site offers a wide selection
of recovery resources that you will find interesting and useful, regardless of the exact
nature of your affliction.
Visit Recovery-man.com at:
http://www.recovery-man.com
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==========================
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
Website:
www.alcoholanddrugabuse.com