AUG 30, 25.. EMOTIONAL SOBRIETY..

Lately Patti and I have been reading the above Grapevine Book along with some older (1990s up to 2010) Grapevine Magazines reading many articles written by longtime members stating that there is far more to AA than just not drinking.

It all boils down to EMOTIONAL SOBRIETY.

So I decided to "Toss My Hat Into The Ring"

What is it? 

For me it is simple. Emotional Sobriety is being relatively (no we will never be perfect) happy, joyous and free.

Then I have to want this! And be willing to go to any length to achieve it.

For me it takes:

GRATITUDE.. If I can just focus on what I have to be grateful for, then I am NOT focusing on my problems and challenges. For me Gratitude is an action not merely a mind trip.

ACCEPTANCE.. Does not mean Approval. What is, IS. Period.

If I cannot accept what I am absolutely, totally unable to change, I will be out trying to change things I will never be able to change. This is a dead end road of frustration that takes me away from being relatively happy, joyous and free.

Actually using the 12 Steps of Recovery. Walk The Walk! Don't Just Talk The Talk. 

Pause When Agitated. Practice Love and Tolerance of Others. Clean my side of the street. When wrong make amends. etc.

PRAYER and MEDITATION, working together, go a long way helping me find Gratitude and Acceptance.

Good luck on your journey.

NOV 28, 24 .. THANKSGIVING DAY.. GRATITUDE..

The word thanks has several synonyms.

One of them is gratitude.

On Thanksgiving Day, it fits to discuss gratitude.

At one time, it has been a few decades ago now, I used to get bored when the topic of a meeting was gratitude.

Then one day the following thought occurred to me.

Our brain can think about many things BUT it can only think about one thing at any given nanosecond.

Doctor William Duncan Silkworth wrote in the Doctors' Opinion the following words.

"Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by  alcohol."

Translation: We drink to change how we feel.

Enter gratitude.

IF we can focus our mind upon things we are grateful for, we don't need to take a drink to change how we are feeling.

Make sense?

It sure does to me!

We hope you enjoyed a very

HAPPY THANKSGIVING..

JUL 4, 23 .. HAPPY 4th OF JULY 2023 .. A TIME FOR GRATITUDE

 Sober on the 4th of July, it doesn't get much better. 

In addition to our traditional holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve) the 4th of July is a holiday that lends itself to family gatherings. 

Guess what? Family gatherings, especially large ones, can lead to drinking. And more drinking. We all know what that can lead to!

So to be sober today is a gift of our program and one to be grateful for!

Of all the people this holiday who have braved crowded airline flights, cancelled flights, long waits, etc, I propose the below question:

Today's Rhetorical Question : How many people would you think had their 4th of July spoiled by excess drinking? How many may not even remember the event they traveled long and far to attend only to have a "blackout" experience?

Grateful NOT to be one of them?

We sure are!

Were all of you guys sober today?

Smiling!

DEC 1, 19 .. GRATITUDE .. THANK YOU JASON ..

This past Thursday, I wrote a post on the topic of Thanksgiving and gratitude.

http://aaphotoshere.blogspot.com/2019/11/nov-28-19-thanksgiving-day-in-united.html

And below will you look what showed up in my e-mail from Jason a great friend.

Gratitude is a feeling.

A feeling stirred and offered outwardly from within the Heart.

When in a state of Gratitude, the whole body, mind, and soul are aligned with, and opened to, the purity of reciprocal Love.
In other words--- when we're in a state of Gratitude, there is no "what about me", there is no sense of separation--- we feel connected to All That Is.

Gratitude is the ultimate Healer.
Gratitude for the tiniest of things in every moment, is good medicine for the body, mind, and soul.
Gratitude can heal the world.

Practice Gratitude and feel your life change from the inside out.
Focus on Gratitude instead of luck, it stimulates Abundance.
Before sleep, upon waking, and with each breath, Be Grateful for something, anything, and Be Connected to All That Is.


In this moment I share my Gratitude for each of you, for this wonderful life I am experiencing, and for the gentle snow that is gracing us with cozyness this day...And the Chickadees, and the Squirrel...and...

Patti sent this : Gratitude is its own powerful pick-me-up!

THANK YOU TEAM !

NOV 28, 19 .. THANKSGIVING DAY IN THE UNITED STATES .. GRATITUDE

If you have been in, or if you have been around, the Fellowship for even a short length of time, I am sure you have attended a meeting in which the topic was gratitude.

Have an attitude of gratitude.

This is what our forefathers, The Pilgrims, those who settled our nation, had during their early years beginning back in October of 1621 when they held a Harvest Feast to celebrate a successful growing season.

They were so grateful for their abundance that their harvest festivals eventually became what we now know as Thanksgiving Day. A day to humbly give thanks. Or a day to express our gratitude for our good fortune.

Odd as it may seem, our minds can only focus upon one thing at a time. IF we can bring our minds to focus upon gratitude, and all of the good things in our life, then we will not be focusing on all that is wrong around us.

I don't care how bad you think your day has been, if you have managed to get through your day without picking up a drink, then at the very least be grateful for your sobriety.

Have a happy Thanksgiving and a Sober Holiday Season and don't forget to express your gratitude for your many blessings.