“Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.” – Anais Nin (1903 – 1977) U.S. novelist (on self-acceptance)
AND REACH FOR THE STARS – “There is no model of the recovering addict. When the drugs go and the addict works the program, wonderful things happen. Lost dreams awaken and new possibilities arise. Our willingness to grow spiritually keeps us buoyant.” (The Basic Text, p.91)
Don’t let an Armed Club Q Cretin Obscure What Our Higher Power Wants for Us – “It is not God’s will merely that we should be happy, but that we should make ourselves happy.”
– Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804) German philosopher
AN ATTITUDE OF HUMILITY – “An attitude of humility is not the same as humiliation, nor is it a denial of our good qualities. On the contrary, an attitude of humility means that we have a realistic view of ourselves and our place in the world.” (It Works, How & Why, p. 49)
HOW DEFECTS CLOUDS OUR THINKING –
“Most of us saw no
way out, believing that
we would use until
the day we died.”
(Crystal Clear,
p. 8)
FROM TOLERANCE TO ONENESS - "Finally, we begin to see that all people, including ourselves, are to some extent emotionally ill as well as frequent- ly wrong, and then we approach true tolerance and see what real love for our fellows actually means." (12 & 12, p. 92) "I'll tell you what I did need to learn was tolerance, and I think I've been actually given a daily opportunity to practice that, and it's ... it's ... and I know that that sounds almost like a backhanded slap, and it is in a way because I haven't been successful at…
ABANDONING SPIRITUAL PIETY FOR "HAPPY USEFULNESS" - "... our feet ought to be firmly planted on earth. That is where our fellow travelers are, and that is where our work must be done. These are the realities for us. We have found nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness." (The Big Book, p. 130) HAPPINESS: "A RADICAL AND DESIRABLE ACT" - "Just for today I will be happy." "'Let It Begin with Me' is a way to change the things we can - especially our own attitudes - instead of waiting for everyone else…
LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED - "In Step Eight, we begin to rectify our wrongs. We begin to accept responsibility for our actions by listing the people we have harmed and by becoming willing to make amends to them all." (It Works, How & Why, p. 54) "VANITY, PRIDE & ARROGANCE" oh my - "There were cases, too, where we had damaged others who were still happily unaware of being hurt. Why, we cried, shouldn't bygones be bygones? Why do we have to think of these people at all? These were some of the ways in which fear conspired with pride…
"OUR REAL PURPOSE" - "Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us." (The Big Book, p. 77) "The principle of service ... is not a passive principle. To be of maximum service to the still-suffering addict, we must energetically seek to carry our message throughout our cities, towns, and villages. (It Works, How & Why, p. 152) "Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity." - Buddha (563 B.C. - 483 B.C.) ancient…
LETTING GO OF SELF-OBSESSION - "Most of us owe amends to at least one person who has also harmed us. Perhaps we haven't truly forgiven that person yet. We must let go of resentments and focus on our part in the conflicts in our lives. We won't get better...if we are still in the grip of self-obsession." (It Works, How & Why, p. 55 on self-delusion) FREES US FROM SELF-DELUSION'S PRISON - "Some of us, though, tripped over a very different snag. We clung to the claim that when drinking we never hurt anybody but ourselves." (12 & 12, p,…