A Potpourri Day

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for all the non-profit agencies that use money wisely. I say this because the United Way agency here in Houston was once rife with financial scandal. The director ripped off over $3M for his personal use.

for the little white lies I no longer have to create so I don't have to hide my drinking

for a clear brain; foggy no more

that today is the 2,990th Thursday during my lifetime


The way I see it, if you want the rainbow,
you gotta put up with the rain.
- Dolly Parton

leading a colorful life

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that we all have different personalities; otherwise, life would be so dull and boring!

that good things just keep happening in my life especially when I don't expect it

that so many of my life experiences can help me today, if I only keep it all in perspective

for honesty and integrity in myself and others


A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity;
an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
- Winston Churchill

The easier softer way

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I no longer have to waste so much energy finding reasons to do the next wrong thing

for rigorous honesty in all my affairs

for my health. I'm overweight by 30 pounds but so far I seem to remain fairly healthy. My Peripheral Artery Disease is 75% better since I stopped smoking and began working out 4 years ago. I hope to become willing to improve my diet so I can take some poundage off.

that I heard this in a meeting --- "I'd rather someone else beat me up when I screw up because at least they will know when to stop."

Every wall is a door.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wisdom comes in many forms

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for awareness (this seems to be the single-most important aspect of recovery)

for the principle behind step 10 -- perseverance!

that I'll never be a politician; I am committed to being an honest person

that I'm a rule follower even when I don't agree with the rule

for awareness, and then some


Security is mostly a superstition.
It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
- Helen Keller

midweek

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong. It keeps me honest and sends a good message to others. I'm much less apt to admit when I'm right. I want to let the facts speak for themselves.

that forgiveness has a big place in my heart these days

to know I'm no better and no worse than my colleagues

This little tidbit has proven to be a lifesaver for me... I'd rather be happy -- than right.

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

- Confucius

31754

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I seem to have developed a really good defense against taking that first drink. I believe this is the single most important tool for an alcoholic to remain sober. And there seems to be an almost infinite number of ways to achieve this.

to know that my boundaries need to be for me, not against any particular person

for people who are honest with me

that I'm honest with others (I dislike making amends)


What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
- Albert Pike

H.O.W.

And thus, dear students, we have arrived at the basic formula for understanding women.




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I remain honest, open-minded, and most of all, willing

for those who started the recovery journey and those who are teaching me

that I have so much to learn and even more to change; I hope I live long enough LOL

that things seem to be working out in ways I can accept (sometimes reluctantly)



When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
- Lao Tzu

no h8

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I have no hate in my heart. Several years ago, I realized how negative this emotion is and made a commitment to myself to eliminate it from my life. With the aid of the steps, practicing all of them daily and an honest appraisal of myself and others, I have no hate. For this alcoholic, it's a wonderful feeling.

for an awareness of many things I don't like or approve of, but there is no hate!

that we read my favorite story in the 4th edition of the big book yesterday .....
ACCEPTANCE WAS THE ANSWER --- I feel that I could talk/write all day about this story and its revelations. I'll share more later in the week.

that honesty and faith can take me a long way


If a man does not know what port he is steering for, no wind is favorable to him.
- Seneca

This above all ...

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

to be aware of different levels of honesty. In recovery, I have learned that there's more than just "cash register" honesty.
Denial, exxageration, little white lies, manipulation of the facts are just a few of the means by which I can get my way.

for a clearer understanding of an unmanageable life

for those who step up to the plate when asked

for the life of John Lennon


This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
- William Shakespeare

Principles

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I got to see my good friend, Jessie J. yesterday morning after about a month of absences from our morning meeting. He is to undergo major surgery today but the prognosis is good. He's a fine example of recovery and this experience will add to his 29 years of sobriety.

for Step 1 and all its implications; it's amazing how long it took me to recognize how unmanageable my life had become during my 33 years of alcoholic drinking.

for the principles of honesty, faith, integrity and compassion. Now, if I can just remember to practice them.

for others


Real excellence and humility are not incompatible one with the other, on the contrary they are twin sisters.
- Jean Baptiste Lacordaire

Broiled chicken breast

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for some awareness of how easy it is to fool myself into wrongful thinking -- otherwise, called a mis-perception

that I have been pretty damn forthcoming in a couple of meetings about my domestic problems; I've probably said enough though

that solutions to just about anything is in the Big Book

that my friend Jessie seems to have a pretty good attitude about some new, serious health problems -- Love ya Jessie!!

for the efforts and sacrifices of all servicemen and women throughout our history without whom I would not have had the freedom to drink in all the bars that I drank in


Those who believe they can do something and those who believe they can't are both right.
- Henry Ford

Gratitude -- what a concept!

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I got to substitute-chair the 6:30am meeting yesterday and started the new month of November with a gratitude meeting. I'm sure it's the first of numerous ones this month and that's a good thang!

that I picked up on the tools to stay sober after about 6 months in the program. First, I had to develop some honesty I didn't want to face, then I had to become open-minded enough to allow the concept of a higher power into my life and finally I had to become willing to try something different.

for all those people who just keep coming back, for whatever reason

for some rain here in Houston - finally! It's been a record-breaking dry run here - 41 days without measureable rainfall.


Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect.
It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.
- Anonymous

Step 7

I'll post some great! photos of Halloween pumpkins this weekend. Drop by and see 'em.

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for those days when I remember to actively practice Steps 6 & 7. We read and discussed Step 7 yesterday. Here's a few of my favorite parts ......

... the attainment of greater humility is the foundation principle of each of A.A.'s Twelve Steps. for without some degree of humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all.

... never was there enough of what we thought we wanted

... we never thought of making honesty, tolerance, and true love of man and God the daily basis of living.

... The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered fear, primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we demanded.

the quote below. My kind of humor.

In order to fly, all one must do is simply miss the ground.
- Douglas Adams

Honesty -- really?

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I had a full weekend of fellowship -- both with friends in and out of the program

that people trust me enough to handle large amounts of cash -- unsupervised! LOL

that I can resist almost everything, except temptation

that my Corvette actually won 1st place in its category (1970-1979 vintage cars) at a local car show


I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.
- Thomas Jefferson

Monday morning

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that my sobriety has a life of its own

that I'm not an angry person

that I'm able to be honest with others but everyone doesn't have to know everything about me

that I'll chair a noon AA meeting today and we'll discuss Step 9

that I'm so damn lucky


Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.
- John F. Kennedy

Now you see it ...

rust. under the black vinyl top.



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful


that I learned another good lesson yesterday. I had to humble myself and become honest. During a meeting in which the topic was honesty, I realized I was being less than honest in the description of the car I'm selling on eBay. It has a rust issue but I had purposely neglected to mention that. Obviously, the rust may well affect the value of the car as I try to sell it.
I admitted that I would want this information if I were buying the car and would feel cheated if the seller did not mention it. So, I had to come clean and when I got home, I amended the vehicle description, both in words and pictures.

that sometimes it's really tough to practice these principles in all my affairs, but it's worth it because I keep a clean mind

that I'm able to help others, even when I don't feel like it

The only difference between stumbling blocks and steppingstones is the way in which we use them.
- Unknown

Step Five "Admitted to God,

to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."


This was pretty easy for me when I first did it with my sponsor. I had a couple of sordid tales to tell and I told them. Talking through my 4th step highlighted the patterns of resentment of my life. We talked about those and how they can be largely prevented in the future.

The fallout from this step is that I feel comfortable (usually) talking to my sponsor about most matters. He doesn't judge me (as far as I can tell). He offers advice if I need it but always offers support. Another unsuspected benefit from an honest and thorough 5th step is that I always, always feel accountable to him. Many of my actions/behaviors are guided by the fact that I know I might have to relate them to my sponsor later on. It's like he's always looking over my shoulder.
I love this stuff!!


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for those who suit up and show up

for honesty, open-mindedness and willingness (H.O.W.)

that I get to participate in 3 AA meetings today, one of which will be in my backyard

for the many years of laughs given by Rue McClanahan

that Betty White is still going strong and may enter the NYC and Boston marathons while running for president


I have a 'Play The Melody' philosophy. It means don't over-arrange, don't make life difficult. Just play the melody and do it the simplest way possible.
- Jackie Gleason

H.O.W.

todAAy i AAM grAAteful & thAAnkful


for the lessons of being honest

for the new concepts I can realize from being open-minded

for the opportunities given me by becoming willing

that it doesn't matter which side of the bed I wake up on; either side is good these days

I've always thought I could do whatever was necessary to succeed.
- Michael Jordan

more recovery stuff

I washed my car a couple of days ago and this lovely little SWAT vehicle was next to me. Look at the size of the cop compared to the rear tire.

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for Lambda Center, where everybody knows my name

that "My life is filled with honesty today. Every action, word, prayer, and Twelfth Step call is an investment in my spiritual freedom and fulfillment."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th edition, page 469

that one of my sponsees will tell his story today at the 12:15pm meeting

CLICK HERE for a short recovery story


All we have to decide is what to do with the time we are given.
- Gandalf to Frodo, The Fellowship of the Ring (movie)

no foolin'

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

the we read "SAFE HAVEN" yesterday from the Big Book;
... that the process of discovering who he really was began with knowing who he didn't want to be

for being rigorously honest -- those little white lies I used to tell you just don't work anymore

that a few of us (4, actually) took an AA meeting to a Chicago friend who's here for cancer treatment. Actually, he had a stem cell transplant a few weeks ago and is not allowed to spend much time in public yet. He's still very susceptible to infection. It was special to all of us and I know he appreciated it very much.

that my friend Jamie R. celebrates 1000 days of continuous sobriety today!

Let us so live that when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry.
- Mark Twain