Houston at Night

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I have a Higher Power that knows me so well; a Higher Power from which I cannot hide nor be dishonest, a Higher Power that gave me the opportunity to stop drinking
(something I could not do by myself)

that I live in such a wonderful city (Houston) that has so many opportunities to offer to so many people. We are leading the country in growth and there's a reason for this

to be able to be aware and recognize when my experience is of help to someone else although most of the time, I am surely NOT aware of these times


Resistance creates suffering.
Stress happens when your mind resists what is.
The only problem in your life
is your mind's resistance to life as it unfolds.
- Dan Millman

Did I say awareness?

todAAy I AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for time spent with friends

that I don't live on a derseted island. I used to wish I did at times, when I wanted to isolate. I had to learn how NOT to isolate. With that knowledge, I was rewarded with a new freedom.

for the people who trust me enough to share their life with me

for awareness, awareness and awareness


Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.
- Swedish Proverb

a different slant

There. It's fixed.



todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful


for another gentle reminder that I'm not getting any younger; intellectually of course, I know this. But sometimes I need physical evidence and usually my HP is more than willing to provide that evidence. Damnit.

that we read Bill's Story yesterday morning. A timeless piece of writing. If you have not read it in the past, let's say 6 months, pick up your book and read it again. It's even better if you read outloud in a group of more than one. If you don't know what I'm talking about, don'tworryboutit.

that awareness of my flaws really cuts down on my denial of them

for my sponsee who get it. I am working with some guys who are willing to do whatever it takes and it's a real pleasure to know them and watch them.


The key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness. - Dalai Lama

Happy birthday MOM!

1924

1966

2005

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that my Mom would have been 88 years old today. She was born in 1923 and died in August 2008. She was a major guiding influence in my life, her and my father having adopted me at birth. As a 50+ year old man in recovery, my finest moments were the 3 years after her major stroke, until she died. My living amends to her were to be present in her life, much more so than I had been while drinking. I became her primary caretaker and handled most details with my sister's assistance and approval. I visited her in hospital and in her nursing home numerous times each month, often just sitting by her bedside without her conscious knowledge of my presence. I think of her almost daily and miss her. But as a realist, I know she lived a full life and it was her time to go. She had a wonderful life.

for awareness not to make permanent decisions from temporary situations

for the generosity of my friends

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

Mid-Week Musings

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I actually remembered to use some of my spiritual/recovery tools when I needed to

that I get to experience another day of thinking, not drinking

for the alkies I get to work with and get to know

for more awareness of when to say no

that our friend, Mary in Denver, will be runnin' again!

that my partner made it safely to London; he'll be there for a month


The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Cold?

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful


for an awareness that I don't always know what's best for me. If I feel a need to doubt this, all I have to do is look at my track record for the past 50+ years.

for a good meeting about Step 7 - "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings."

that if I am to acheive some progress towards humility, Steps 6 & 7 must be part of my daily life

that the coffee shop at which I'm a regular is frequented by many other recovering alkies where we can sit back and relax and talk about our lives


Forgiving is not a gift to someone else - Forgiving is your gift to yourself.
~~ unknown

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

Step Six "Were entirely ready ...

...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

just passing through ...

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I do my best to respect the space of others

that I don't depend on this blog (or others) for my recovery and rarely use it to inflate my ego

for the spiritual tools laid at my feet for use any time I wish to use them

for awareness. I've used this word often, but it plays such an important part of my sober life, it can't be overlooked.


The kindest way of helping yourself is to find a friend.
- Ann Kaiser Stearns

being aware of stuff

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful


for the power of awareness -- without this I don't stand a chance

to be aware of multiple addictions; before I got sober, I had no idea!

that I got to hear my friend Gaylen G. relate some of his recovery story over the weekend

that pitchers and catchers reported on Saturday!!

for my lifelong interest (obsession?) with the game of baseball

When the student is ready, the teacher appears.
- Tao saying

more of the good part of the journey

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for all the examples you guys wrote about yesterday

that I don't allow myself to get all worked up over things I have no control over
ie: politics, hate/no hate campaigns, religion etc...

that this whole awareness theme that I'm on seems to be working

that my brain cell continues to operate, albeit at a reduced level

for those who are willing to include me in their lives


Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
- M. Kathleen Casey

italics & parentheses

todAAy i AAM grAAteful & thAAnkful

for Step 6 and the awareness it gives me (when I think about it)

for so many opportunities to help others (almost always in little ways, but it's enough to make a difference to them and me)

that I enjoy doing the things that are necessary for me to take care of myself (except eating the proper diet)

Scott W emailed this video clip from Britain's Got Talent (the UK version of American Idol). It's 7 minutes long but well worth watching.


Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them.
-Brendan Francis

a sleeper

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for all the people who keep showing up at the meetings I attend; without them, I'd be alone

that sometimes a little effort is all that's required

that I am more aware of those times when I have negative thoughts and can attempt to quell them

for a statement from a friend yesterday at the noon AA meeting ... He was commenting on being arrested last weekend for an outstanding warrant for an unpaid traffic ticket.
He said that the ticket was a consequence of his drinking. The fact that it was unpaid (after 2 years) is a consequence of his alcoholism. BRILLIANT!!


Old age, to the unlearned, is winter; to the learned, it’s harvest time.
-Yiddish Saying

on the freeway ...

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

for the constant reminders around me that my alcoholism is alive and waiting

for the changes that have occurred in my life due to becoming a more responsible person

that I carry absolutely no resentments towards people, or groups of people, with whom I disagree on a political or social basis (this is pretty big for me)

that I had the opportunity to witness another fascinating day in court yesterday; a friend accused of sexual abuse of a child. While that charge sounds very ugly, there are extinuating circumstances that brought the jury to a deadlock during the late afternoon, but the judge directed them to continue deliberating.


He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.
-Persian Proverb

If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it?
-Stephen King

grrrrrrrrrrr

todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful


that Daniel G. told us a bit of his early AA story yesterday; he's really passionate about his program

for the awareness I get from prayer (sometimes)

that I learn every day
that I forget every day
that I learn again, everyday

that I'm off to Trinidad later today; I should be able to post from there, but if not, see ya next week

that I'll get to find a meeting or two in Port of Spain (the capital of Trinidad

that my cats get to stay in the Fat Cat Flats (a cat kennel)

Men stumble over pebbles, never over mountains.
-Emilie Cady

ongoing sobriety

post-Hurricane Ike beach houses in Galveston (in this picture, there's about 7 or 8 missing homes)


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that Boston is leading the 6:30am meeting today

that I have been asked (and of course I accepted) to tell my AA story at a treatment center next week (I've never even been there before)

for some awareness of my false perceptions (occasionally)

Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is.
-Will Rogers