Let’s Flip the Misery and Truly Be “Happy, Joyous, & Free” – Step 5
“If one speaks or acts
with a cruel mind, misery
follows, as the cart follows
the horse … .
– the Dhammapada (circa 500 BC) a version of Buddhist scripture
How to Identify the “Flaws which Sometimes were Responsible for the Whole Pattern of our Lives.”
“We can go far beyond those things which were superficially wrong with us, to see those flaws which were basic, flaws which sometimes were responsible for the whole pattern of our lives.” (12 & 12, p. 80)
Great Apes Wisdom Passed Down from One Generation to the Next – Step 5
From Rose – “In a time of COVID, loneliness is one of the most prevalent emotions … . Recently, I melded the two worlds together and now my online friends are friends with my school friends, and to see the possibilities of the internet and create a community of my friends during this time brought a lot of security and strength to me.”
The Spiritual Talisman that Fulfills Our Wildest Dreams – Step 5
“Said she, ‘I will not live with grief from morrow unto morrow.
My heart cries out for some relief, ‘Good-bye, my little sorrow.’
Why “Guilt is a Rope that Wears Thin” Over Time – Step 5
When they entered the judge’s chamber the dog began to shiver with the cold.
“See how he trembles, Your Honor,” said the porcupine. “Isn’t that a sure sign of guilt?” (full story below)
The Unimaginable Moment that Made Us Feel Like We Truly Belonged – Step 5
From Paul D. “I belong in the AA fellowship and The Art House fellowship. I am comfortable in my own skin today. One day at a time.”
“We All Go Thru Something in Life” – Step 5
“Fate leads the willing and drags along the unwilling.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman philosopher
The Mystery Behind “A Word Often Misunderstood” – Step 5
“To be truly humble is to accept and honestly try to be ourselves. None of us is perfectly good or perfectly bad.” (The Basic Text, p. 36)
“Humility, Elation, and Relief” are some of the Sweet “Fruits” of Recovery We can Now Enjoy – Step 5
“The human heart has hidden treasures,
In secret kept, in silence sealed;—
The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures,
Whose charms were broken if revealed.” (excerpt from Bronte poem titled, Evening Solace)
Why “Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” – Step 5
“How can I be less noble to refuse to forgive you! The thought of revenge had been burning in my mind. Go away and take the thought of revenge from me.” (excerpt from Youssouf and the Stranger on Zonr post)