Blog Series: The Serenity Prayer

"God, Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference."
This series seeks to segment the Serenity Prayer; something many of us say everyday, and yet don't always take the time to know it's many faceted and powerful meanings.

Are you interested in hearing more?

I am tracking the number of readers to find out if there is enough interested readers to continue this series.
comments are welcome.

Never Give Up, but Always Surrender

There is a famous line from the movie, "Galaxy Quest"

Never Give Up, Never Surrender

For the sake of my recovery, however, I like to say

Never Give Up, ALWAYS Surrender

By surrendering our WILL to our Higher Power, we relinquish the necessity of Control... which is an illusion anyway.  Sure, we make choices. But, are we ever actually IN CONTROL? No
The decisions of society, people around us, and our circumstances will always be changing...If you still think you are in control... You will be in for a rude awakening: Time and Time again, until you realize that only by Surrendering control will you actually find peace, tranquility, and yes: Serenity.
I have made a recent commitment to stop any Illegal drugs as a part of my sobriety plan.  I'm on day 10 of abstinence from marijuana. I feel more clear-headed, and sober in that regard, than ever before...but the temptation still is present.  The reason for my abstinence: the possibility of Adoption.
I want to have children.  As we go through the process, I have become afraid that CPS may require a drug test before offering kids for adoption.  So, the logical choice is to STOP.  I'm at peace with that.  Although, the fact that marijuana is legal in many states of the U.S., really increases the temptation.  With courage and resolve, I tread forward with my abstinence.  Who knows what the future will hold, but for now I take it One Day At A Time!

Sober Assistance

 

 "Remind me this day, as I choose not to numb my senses

1. No substance will take away or change my circumstance
2. If I were to feel better from a substance it would be temporary
3. I am creating lasting change in my life by facing it as a SOBER individual
4. I walk faster towards my goals when I am not walking through "Sludge"
5. The friends I left behind on my journey, have started their own journey to their own destination---I have not abandoned them
6. I am not alone, I have support, both physically here, emotionally here, and spiritually here.
7. I feel better when I fill my body with goodness, just like I feel better when I fill my heart and mind with goodness."
8. Nothing I put in my body will take away what I feel in my mind.

Easter Sobriety

Easter may just be another holiday you don't care about.  Or, perhaps it is a holiday you care a lot about...either way, for many people it is another excuse to take a drink or substance to numb out the loneliness  abandonment, and hopelessness that many people feel as a part of life.
I encourage you to take an Easter moment in sobriety and imagine a white bunny rabbit in a yard.  Just looking for its next meal...it is only worried about survival.  A very simple existence: looking for the next meal and staying away from predators.  What can we take away from this?
1) Look for your next meal: the next positive thing that can feed your soul and mind with happy thoughts and warm feelings of unconditional love and acceptance.
2) Avoid predators: poisonous people and substances that want to enter your life or your body and do nothing but damage the progress you have made.

Take a moment to enjoy Easter! Sober!...and Hop like a bunny rabbit, to the next day...one day at a time!

Holiday Humble

This has been a particularly financially lacking Holiday Season for me.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are some of the most difficult times of the year for me to stay sober.  Lots of parties where friends like to drink, family stress and drama, and the cozy memories of the drunken eggnog and making out in the name of the holiday spirit--with people we hardly know.  But now through recovery, the holidays look quite different.  Family gatherings are less stressful, and I don't have to be a part of the drama.  Friendly parties don't pressure me to drink, because they respect that I don't.  I no longer attend the parties with lots of kissing or "more"...so less danger of breaking my sobriety in that arena.  Now, because of my finances, I have been a little down because I didn't have a lot of gifts to give...but I still feel at peace.  I have been present--psychologically to give the gift of listening and participating in the lives of all the people I care about.  That may be the best gift I can give anyone right now.  I'm grateful that God, my higher power, has blessed me with a new outlook on life that I can share with others for free!

When the stress is too much...

Right now I don't feel my encouraging self. But, how can I expect to be happy all the time? I guess the ups and downs are bound to come...and usually at the most inopportune times!
After vacation, a retreat, and then Halloween, my body is crashing from all the great moments. So now, when I feel low, I'm going to remember the great times I've had recently: new friends, relaxing fun, adventurous socials...and I remember this is just my break in between the wonderful moments: and that makes this moment just a little sweeter!
Peace to you!

Back in the Saddle Again

I'm back to my blogging after a few months of "blogging vacation".  This time was not necessary, or was it?  Sometimes we beat ourselves up for taking a break from our journaling, step work, or other obligations.  Learning from this recovery absence is important.  Was I working on my health, my recovery...was I cultivating friendships, improving my finances: or was I engaging in my addiction?  Of course we want to STOP using--in whatever form our addiction takes...and sometimes a change in our routine can help us see signs of a relapse...can help us conenctrate on specific triggers...and help us cultivate our recovery.  After this brief vacation, we can return to Helpful stepwork, meeting with our sponsor, attending meetings, journaling..and all things that will help bolster our recovery.

Peace to you All.