for a really, really wonderful meeting on Saturday morning wherein we discussed humor in sobriety. I think everyone who attended left that meeting with a smile on our faces.
for love and tolerance, something I want to be remembered by
for few expectations and lots of acceptance
that my Astros won a game (oh dear, they're 2-7 and it doesn't look like it's gonna be a pretty season)
A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life. - William Arthur Ward
that I got past the need to go to bars. It took about 9 months of sobriety, but it happened. Naturally. I just got tired of being sober around a bunch of drinking people. I know a lot of people in "recovery" who still frequent the bars. From time to time, I hear about one of them relapsing. It's never a surprise.
that doing things differently results in different things happening
that sometimes I even listen to my own advice!
that my Houston Astros begin their season today which will end at the end of September. This team is not likely to make any playoffs in October. But they're my team and I follow them in the bad times as well as the good.
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
that I have not had a drink in over 7 years, no matter what!
that I'm accountable; to myself mainly and to others as well
for those who make it back to AA after a relapse; they teach me a lot
that I lived through another baseball season; I've been a Houston Astros fan since their inception in 1962. It's been a lifelong lesson in loyalty and patience.
If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else. - Yogi Berra
that I do so many things differently now than I did before I got sober
for the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous - without it, why stay sober?
for hours spent at an automobile auction where I really had to practice some discipline so as NOT to sell my car at a low price. I am just going to keep it for now because the market is very weak. If you're interested in buying a used/collector car, it's a buyer's market and you can make some good investments now.
for Astros baseball games and the guys I go there with
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
that I know that my nightly conscious contact with my HP has been suffering a bit lately and I plan to fix that
for fun and fellowship in recovery
that I went to the Astros (baseball) game last night with 3 recovery friends and one of them got a foul ball off a LA Dodger (the last time he got a foul ball was 55 years ago)
A somebody was once a nobody who wanted to and did.- John Burroughs
The first of the maintenance steps. I work at this constantly. At least I do when I'm spiritually fit.
The literature on this step is astounding. The 12/12 tells me that "it is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us." Noooooooooo!! It says that "justified anger ought to be left to those better qualified to handle it." But, but ... I learn about "restraint of tongue and pen." Whoa!! Who knew?
Along with the occasional sincere attempt to become what I could be, I pray every day to just do the next right thing. The way I figure it, if I always do the next right thing, I'll be the best person I can be. Right?
In theory this should work. But I am an alcoholic with a self-will that can run riot at times. Granted, it's not as often and usually not as severe as the good old days, but the potential is still there. It still happens.
Enter. Step 10. Every day. Every hour. Constantly.
todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful
for my passion about recovery and so many ways to participate in it
that my friend Lloyd was not seriously injured when a driver fell asleep and hit him head-on
for air bags
that I got up at 3:30 this morning, so I could pray & meditate, write this post and go to the gym before my 6:30 meeting
that my Astros are finally starting to pull out of a 2-month skid
for reruns of Seinfeld, Two and a Half Men and Cheers.
the greatest sporting event in the world begins today in South Africa. See the official song below.
If you really do put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price. ~~ unknown
...to have God remove all these defects of character."
During my first year of being sober, I heard somone with many years relate the following... "It's been my observation that just about everyone I know who has relapsed has done so as a result of NOT working Step 6." Well, that was just what I needed to hear! In other words, my defects will take me out. It's that simple.
The hard part (for me) is becoming ready and staying willing to have all these defects removed. It really is a daily challenge. I do my best. I'm not perfect; none of us are. Awareness. Willingness.
todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful
for a drama-less weekend and that means s-e-r-e-n-i-t-y for me!
that Troy B. shared his AA story Saturday night
that I went to a baseball game with a sponsee who was celebrating 2 years of continuous sobriety -- my our Astros won 6-3
If you find in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded. - Maya Angelou
that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."
It took a little while. I ignored anything to do with church/religion since I was a teenager. Any mention of "GOD" sent me running or at least covering my ears. I was afraid something yucky might rub off on me. During the summer of 2003, sitting through dozens of meetings and occasionally listening to the experience of others who felt (or had felt) the same as me finally began to make some headway. I was not aware of that at the time though. But it was slowly working on me. Those last 3 months of drinking AND going to AA meetings coincided to transform my thinking and my attitude. By the end of August 2003, I was ready to accept that a power greater than myself might be able to help me (as if I needed help! HA!).
I had no clue about any insanity due to drinking. But I did think I was having a mental breakdown. But it had nothing to do with drinking. No way. No how.
todAAy i AAM grAAteful & thAAnkful
that we had some visitors at the 6:30am meeting yesterday
for the annual Memorial Day picnic sponsored by Lambda Center - great fellowship!
that I went to an Astros game yesterday. We had a lot of sober fun, but the game was terrible (for an Astros fan).
Most of us spend our lives as if we have another one in the bank. - Ben Irwin
that I discovered a healthy boundary I didn't know I had -- it seems to have developed during the past year (Al-Anon?)
that I no longer drink nor do I have any desire or temptation to drink, but some of my other addictions and obsessions are in full bloom
an AA friend once said that recovery is a life of diminishing addictions; I am finding this to be true
that it's baseball season -- the Astros begin their season tonight
If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down. - Mary Pickford
I love this song when it's performed this way. I've never really cared to hear it sung/performed with artistic impression. But that's just me. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
todAAyi AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful
that I have visited Ground Zero in Manhattan and could feel its significance
that Al-Queda terrorists have laregely been thwarted in this country for the past 9 years.
that most meetings where the first step is discussed, more is revealed to me
that feeling good (and spiritually fit) is not a trigger for me to lower my standards
for the few (percentage-wise) alkies that make it back to the rooms of AA after relapsing
that I intuitively know how to handle many more situations than I used to (every morning in my first conscious contact with my HP, I ask for the guidance to do the next right thing so that I can be the best I can be. Most of the time, it is no longer necessary for me to have to sit and think what that next right thing is. I just seem to know what to do. If it turns out to be the wrong thing, I have Step 10 to rely on.)
that I have a pretty busy schedule today, so I'm off to the gym in a few minutes to be there when it opens at 5am; I'll end the day at an Astros baseball game tonight
that I love recovery!!
When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?' - Sydney J. Harris
It was Green Day at Minute Maid Park where the Houston Astros play. I got this nifty green Astros hat.
My life is now complete.
todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful
that I remember what I did last night and to whom I did it
that I shared on group level about one of my isolation triggers and how I tackled it. Basically, I made myself accountable to someone. I shared this in the hope that someone might benefit from my experience even though I felt it made me look very weak-minded. This is new stuff for me.
for the majority of the time when I can have a positive attitude
that I went to the baseball game last night with somone who was afraid to go by himself because he'd never been without drinking -- he did just fine and it was good to see someone tackle one of their fears
that I'm not afraid to try new things usually, except brocolli
There is no one luckier than he who thinks himself so. -German Proverb
that I am still sober after a wonderful weekend. More is being revealed.
that I sat in on a meeting where the topic was sponsorship. I learned some things, including the fact that some of the people to whom I really look up to in recovery have not had a sponsor for many years. I was surprised. More is being revealed.
for my relationship with my partner -- we are both very independent people and we give each other plenty of space -- I have only recently realised the extent of the freedom that he allows me within our relationship. Previously, I tended to focus more just on the freedom I give him. I actually feel that I've had another awakening - a relationship awakening. More is being revealed.
that the regular baseball season begins today! I don't know how my beloved Houston Astroswill do. We'll just have to wait and see. More is being revealed.
The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation. -Corrie Ten Boom
"Imagine yourself a year from now, looking back on today. Imagine your future self being exceedingly thankful for the way you lived this day. Then step forward and live today with that in mind. Think, speak and act in such a way that the person you will become inherits many positive benefits from the person you are right now. Confidence, integrity, strength and effectiveness do not simply appear out of nowhere. They are built by the way you live your life. And now is your opportunity to live in a powerful, positive way that will benefit your life for a long time to come. Now is your chance to make your future self thankful for the empowering paths you choose to take.”
I think this is from Ralph Marston. Not sure.
todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful
for the Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous -- without them, AA would be just another set of initials
that Scott W chaired a meeting yesterday where we discussed honesty, humility and of course, gratitude
that my Houston Astros have won 14 of their last 15 games and are making a late season run at the playoffs
that I hope to be back tomorrow online, but this storm may have other ideas (I am going to try to publish my weekend jokes ahead of time, so they should show up even if I can't get online)
that the rest of you will possibly sign-up to be a follower of this blog (look at the top of my sidebar)
HABITS
"Habits are like comfortable beds; they are easy to get into, but difficult to get out of." -- Denis Waitley
"Nothing needs reforming so much as other people's habits." -- Mark Twain
"Good habits are as addictive as bad habits, and a lot more rewarding." -- Harvey Mackay
"You leave old habits behind by starting out with the thought, 'I release the need for this in my life'." -- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Our finished backyard deck. It's waiting for some landscaping now.
todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful
that my journey is ... my journey. No one can take that away from me.
that my session with my therapist gave me some fresh outlook on keeping a better attitude -- about myself and those close to me
for a morning spent plant shopping with our landscaper
that one of my favorite AAers celebrated his 72nd birthday yesterday (his naval birthday, not sobriety birthday)
for my red-hot Houston Astros -- it's too late to make the playoffs for this season, but I can wait til next year. After all, I've been saying that for the past 47 years about them.
The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between political parties either--but right through every human heart. -Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn
for a peaceful weekend, sprinkled with rain and accompanied by lower temperatures
that I woke up sober this morning, again
that I don't have to like everyone in AA, but I need to respect them if they are finding a way to remain sober. However, there's a recent incident of someone with 20+ years sobriety 13th stepping a 1 week newcomer. The newcomer was emotionally and sexually abused by this person and of course relapsed. I find this difficult to swallow (no pun intended).
that THIS GUYhad his uniform number retired yesterday at Minute Maid Park
Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world. -Annie Lennox
that I KNOW I must practice Step 6 throughout every day
that I am aware of so many more things around me these days
that I am driving the convertible with Mr & Miss Lambda Center in the Gay Pride Parade tomorrow night; there are typically 200K-300K people (many straight families) lining the parade route
for another (hopefully) productive meeting with the builder/contractor of the new house. I called my builder's agent a f_ _ king cu_ t and had to make a little apology. I won't call him that again (even though it's a very apt description). LOL
that I'm not in denial (I don't think)
that I'm attending the Astros-Red Sox baseball game tonight; it's the first ever meeting between those 2 teams. Last night, I called our friend JJ(click here) to let her know I would be there. I'll wave at ya, JJ!!
There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings. -Hodding Carter
