A Sober Life

In our addiction, we didn’t care. We didn’t care about other people, even though we wanted to. We just didn’t come through for them in ways that mattered. We didn’t care for ourselves. We let bad things happen to us. We didn’t care about living. We set no goals, had no fun, smelled no flowers. [...]

The only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one moment to the next. – Mignon McLaughlin I do not have to have courage for a lifetime, just for the moment. I am helped by the philosophy that teaches me to live one day at a time, one hour at a time, [...]

Self-acceptance. At the beginning of our AA sobriety, we were reminded that we were not reformers. Yet we sometimes have a tendency to want to “reform” ourselves or others after we’ve established sobriety. This can become a practice of “fixing things that aren’t broken”. We may not realize it, but many things in our lives [...]

Do not waste any time disliking who you are because of something you can no longer do anything about. Lord, help me to forgive myself all shortcomings of the past that I still hold on to and rather make the very best of this moment. We never really know how far reaching our influence will [...]

All animals, except man, know that the ultimate of life is to enjoy it. – Samuel Butler Today I choose to enjoy my life. Regardless of the problem and difficulties that this day will bring, I have an inner joy that comes with my recovery from addiction. With a clear head and body free from [...]

Every year the holidays come & we start worrying…Family, friends, work, even what girts to give & where are we gonna get the money…I found a great quote this morning from an unknown author about how to address the gift giving season or anytime for that matter The best gifts to give: To your friend [...]

The ultimate lesson all of us have is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well. –Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Back in the days of my active disease I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror…Oh sure I could comb my hair & stuff like that…But I mean really look at myself…Look into [...]

And to practice these principles in all our affairs. Third part of Step Twelve. This is a statement about us. We are now people of values. These values reflect our spiritual growth. We know how to help others. We know how to admit our wrongs. We know how to look at ourselves and change our [...]

Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss wants, small minds discuss people. – Laurence J. Peter Gossip is ultimately a form of malicious cowardice. It is a “blasphemy” because it seeks to denigrate the human being that God has made in His image. As a practicing alcoholic I was a gossip. I exaggerated and manipulated [...]

I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul. – William E. Henley Things do not just happen, we make them happen. For years I thought that my getting well was dependent upon my family getting well. I rooted my recovery in the recovery of others. I was the typical [...]