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Letting Go of Guilt
(Preview)
Feeling good about ourselves is a choice. So is feeling guilty. When guilt is legitimate, it acts as a warning light, signaling that we're off course. Then its purpose is finished.
Wallowing in guilt allows others to control us. It makes us feel not good enough. It prevents us from setting boundari...
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Quetzal
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1
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511
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24hrs a Day ~ 8th February 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ Everyone who comes into A.A. knows from bitter experience that he or she can't drink. I know that drinking has been the cause of all my major troubles or has made them worse. Now that I have found a way out, I will hang onto A.A. with both hands. Saint Paul once said that nothing in t...
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Sobrietyspell
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0
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415
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Owning Our Power
(Preview)
We need to make a distinction between powerlessness and owning our power.
The first step in recovery is accepting powerlessness. There are some things we can't do, no matter how long or hard we try. These things include changing other people, solving their problems, and controlling their behavi...
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Quetzal
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1
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516
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Intimacy issues in childhood
(Preview)
I have to share this & ask if my fellow females can offer their ES&H. I included something of this nature in part of my Step5 as I felt I had to. No secrets, right? But I have not experienced any relief from having told this to my Sponsor. In fact, where I'd laid it to rest & already dealt with it,...
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Sobrietyspell
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6
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24hrs a Day ~ 7th February 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ A night club crowded with men and women all dressed up in evening clothes looks like a very festive place. But you should see the rest rooms of that night club the next morning. What a mess! People have been sick all over the place and does it smell! The glamour of the night before i...
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Sobrietyspell
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439
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prayers
(Preview)
Hi all: One of my former patients Danny passed away this am. He became a friend and him and his wife were precious to me. He was only 49 years old. He and his wife emulated to me what a great joy it is to have a great marriage! So loving and trusting and full of care. It breaks my heart today that he is gone so youn...
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lani
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5
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487
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The Know-It-All Falls Flat
(Preview)
6 months sober from alcohol, proud of that fact. Knew everything. Could sound great in meetings. Thought I was IT man! Due to the fact that I saw alcohol as poison and knew it would make me sick and die or wish to die I thought I had it made. Thought AA is nice but why bother with all the hard work when I KN...
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nique
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15
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758
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24hrs a Day ~ 6th February 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ On a dark night, the bright lights of the corner tavern look mighty inviting. Inside, there seems to be warmth and good cheer. But we don't stop to think that if we go in there we'll probably end up drunk, with our money spent and an awful hangover. A long mahogany bar in the tropic...
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Sobrietyspell
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0
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371
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Stopping Victimization
(Preview)
Before recovery, many of us lacked a frame of reference with which to name the victimization and abuse in our life. We may have thought it was normal that people mistreated us. We may have believed we deserved mistreatment; we may have been attracted to people who mistreated us.
We need to let go, on a...
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Quetzal
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622
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RALLYING POINT - Daily Reflections - 2/6
(Preview)
RALLYING POINT Therefore, Step Two is the rallying point for all of us. "Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this Step. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 33 I feel that A.A. is a God-inspired program and that God is at every A.A. meeting. I see, believe,...
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Doll
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WOOO HOO Quetzal!
(Preview)
Dear Carol, Congrats on 2 years! What a joy and a blessing! I am so proud of all that you've accomplished! You are a treasure and Im glad we're such friends! Thank you for being such a great example to all of us!!! Love ya! Laurie
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lani
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3
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548
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Stepping Back from Anger
(Preview)
When we find ourselves in an argument, we may feel like we are losing control of emotions that have taken on lives of their own. When we can become aware that this is happening, taking a deep breath can help us step back from the situation. Once we can separate ourselves from the heat of the moment, we may f...
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Wren
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2
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479
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24hrs a Day ~ 5th February 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ One thing we learn in A.A. is to take a long view of drinking instead of a short view. When we were drinking we thought more about the pleasure or release that a drink would give us than we did about the consequences that would result from our taking that drink. Liquor looks good fr...
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Sobrietyspell
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0
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459
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Will be gone a week
(Preview)
Just wanted to let you all know I will be gone a week or so so you dont worry about me. My husband's brother killed himself and we are going to Michigan for the funeral and such. I am glad I am sober to be here for my hubby, he is taking it rough. Pray for him and our safe trip. I will write when I return. Love y...
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nique
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6
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577
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Financial Responsibility
(Preview)
We are responsible for ourselves financially.
What a frightening, grown up thought that is for many of us - taking responsibility for money and our financial affairs. For many of us, handing over responsibility for our financial affairs has been part of a codependent trade off in our relationshi...
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Quetzal
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2
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598
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A GLORIOUS RELEASE - Daily Reflections - 2/5
(Preview)
A GLORIOUS RELEASE "The minute I stopped arguing, I could begin to see and feel. Right there, Step Two gently and very gradually began to infiltrate my life. I can't say upon what occasion or upon what day I came to believe in a Power greater than myself, but I certainly have that belief now. To acqu...
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Doll
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440
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Need some HELP..............
(Preview)
PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.............. A friend of mine in the program (we have the same sponsor for years now).... This friend and I were never really close in years back. This friend has always been somewhat of a complainer, and an introvert of sorts and always always overly sensitive. So much so that it...
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jonijoni
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6
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468
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Enjoying Recovery
(Preview)
What a journey!
This process of growth and change takes us along an ever-changing road. Sometimes the way is hard and craggy. Sometimes we climb mountains. Sometimes we slide down the other side on a toboggan.
Sometimes we rest.
Sometimes we grope through the darkness. Sometimes we're blind...
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Quetzal
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1
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423
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Scared of 5th step
(Preview)
Finally after working (or not working) on my 4th step since last June... I'm about done with it, and scheduled to do my 5th step with my sponsor on Friday night... and I'm scared to death!!! Most of it doesn't scare me, except I asked her about part of it, if I needed to do it in detail or if what I wrote r...
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ChicknLittle
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11
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709
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Rejecting Shame
(Preview)
Shame can be a powerful force in our life. It is the trademark of dysfunctional families.
Authentic, legitimate guilt is the feeling or thought that what we did is not okay. It indicates that our behavior needs to be corrected or altered, or an amend needs to be made.
Shame is an overwhelming negat...
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Quetzal
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2
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585
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WHEN FAITH IS MISSING - Daily Reflections 2/4
(Preview)
WHEN FAITH IS MISSING Sometimes A.A. comes harder to those who have lost or rejected faith than to those who never had any faith at all, for they think they have faith and found it wanting. They have tried the way of faith and the way of no faith. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 28 I was so sure God had...
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Doll
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0
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408
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I got a new "kid"!!!
(Preview)
My "adopted mom and dad" took me to the First Monday sale today, it's a flea market that's been going on here for over 100 years, I've been wanting to go since I moved here but just never went... so we went for a little bit today, and they took me down "critter road" where the poultry...
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ChicknLittle
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7
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450
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I'm Going to Akron to see Dr. Bob's house
(Preview)
Well my favorite Washington Redskins just got selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. in Canton. I just got tickets to the enshrinement ceremony on Aug. 2nd. And will be attending the Hall of Fame game on the 3rd. Flying in, and staying in Akron insures me a trip to Dr. Bob's house, which I've alway...
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StPeteDean
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7
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579
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24hrs a Day ~ 3rd February 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ By drinking, we escaped from boredom for a while. We almost forgot our troubles. But when we sobered up, our troubles were twice as bad. Drinking had only made them worse. In A.A., we really escape boredom. Nobody's bored at an A.A. meeting. We stick around after it's over and w...
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Sobrietyspell
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0
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417
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FILLING THE VOID - Daily Reflections - 2/3
(Preview)
FILLING THE VOID We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. "Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?" As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. ALCOHOLICS...
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Doll
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420
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My Hiatus is DONE
(Preview)
As some of you know, I took a break in order to write and teach a class on eco-awareness to a group of women. It went awesomely well ( and I was so very nervous about writing and teaching a class--tsk, where's all that confidence I thought I'd built up?) I had fifteen students within the first 8 hours, and h...
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Wren
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5
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570
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RESCUED BY SURRENDERING - Daily Reflections - 2/2
(Preview)
RESCUED BY SURRENDERING Characteristic of the so-called typical alcoholic is a narcissistic egocentric core, dominated by feelings of omnipotence, intent on maintaining at all costs its inner integrity.... Inwardly the alcoholic brooks no control from man or God. He, the alcoholic, is and mus...
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Doll
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2
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470
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24 Hrs a Day ~ 2nd February 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ We got a kick out of the first few drinks, before we got stupefied by alcohol. For a while, the world seemed to look brighter. But how about the letdown, the terrible depression that comes the morning after? In A.A., we get a real kick: not a false feeling of exhilaration, but a re...
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Sobrietyspell
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1
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478
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The Program works if you want it to work
(Preview)
The Program works if you want it to work. -- Anonymous
Rarely do climbers stare up to see how far away the top still is. Instead, when they rest, they look down toward the starting point of their journey. The view they see assures them that they have already come a long, long way.
Like the climbers, we...
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Quetzal
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423
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Hello, I am Phillip
(Preview)
I am new here, I had quit on my own and was doing very well until November when I lost my job. (quit for almost 2 years) Now I am back to every day. The main reason I never tried AA before is I do not believe in god, but maybe you folks can help anyway. Please do not try to talk me into going to meetings because I won...
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1phillip
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7
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751
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Newbie
(Preview)
I just found this and i wanted to introduce myself and say hi to everyone. I havent been an alchoholic for very long, about 3 years, but i fell hard and fast. I just turned 22 last week and i feel like im out of control. I had gastric bypass surgery in march of this year and i was only able to stop drinking fo...
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Missy123
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13
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Raising our Sights
(Preview)
"A human being is a part of the whole, called by us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is akind of prison for us, restricting us to our p...
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Wren
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412
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As we think, so we become
(Preview)
We can enrich our interior monologue. We can seek the company of people who inspire us with a loving approach to life. We can absorb the written thoughts of writers who encourage our positive emotions. We can decide to be cheerful and optimistic, just for today.
Whom would you rather be around - some...
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Quetzal
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3
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722
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24 Hrs a Day ~ 27th January 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ Alcoholics carry an awful load around with them. What a load lying puts on your shoulders! Drinking makes liars out of all of us alcoholics. In order to get the liquor we want, we have to lie about where we've been and what we've been doing. When you are lying you are only half aliv...
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Sobrietyspell
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1
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24 Hrs a Day ~ 1st February 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ When we think about having a drink, we're thinking of the kick we get out of drinking, the pleasure, the escape from boredom, the feeling of self-importance, and the companionship of other drinkers. What we don't think of is the letdown, the hangover, the remorse, the waste o...
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Sobrietyspell
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1
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447
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God's doing somethin for me...
(Preview)
God's really doing something for me right now... I haven't had a cigarette in the past 7 or 8 hours... I didn't plan to quit, though I needed to. I finished a pack and I'm really broke. I was gonna scrounge up change for a pack and run to the gas station, but I didn't feel like it, so I took a shower, after t...
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ChicknLittle
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7
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526
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24 Hrs a Day ~ 31st January 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ Drinking cuts you off from God. No matter what your religion is, no matter if you say you believe in God, nevertheless you build up a wall between you & God by your drinking. You know you're not living the way God wants you to. As a result, you have that terrible remorse. When y...
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Sobrietyspell
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432
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I prayed for you today
(Preview)
"I prayed for you today, gave thanks for your life, wished you the best, asked the heaven's to bless you with good health and happiness. I sent you good thoughts, surrounded you with hope and faith and love. I asked the earth to be good to you and asked God to show you His perfect way. I prayed for you...
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lani
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3
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505
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Asking for What We Need
(Preview)
One evening, I was alone, weary, and exhausted. I was in the midst of extensive traveling, disconnected from friends and family. I had flown home for the evening, but it seemed like nobody noticed. People were used to me being gone.
It was late at night, and I began arguing with God.
"I'm out t...
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Quetzal
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3
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522
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Yupper :)
(Preview)
Key to Serenity The Key that Unlocks the Door to Happiness By BuddyT It seems almost too simple to be true, but acceptance -- accepting things exactly as they are -- can be the key that unlocks the door to happiness. It may be one of the most referenced passages in recovery literature. It's from Page 449 o...
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Phil
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4
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613
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OUR COMMON WELFARE COMES FIRST - Daily Reflections - 1/31
(Preview)
OUR COMMON WELFARE COMES FIRST The unity of Alcoholics Anonymous is the most cherished quality our Society has. . . . We stay whole, or A.A. dies. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 129 Our Traditions are key elements in the ego deflation process necessary to achieve and maintain sobriety in Alco...
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Doll
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Hey all
(Preview)
Just thought I'd drop a line, to say I'm still here and sober. Things are doing as well as can be expected, taking slow. Son is now back up in this area and looking into going back to school, and showing signs of doing the walk the walk thing instead of the talk the talk. We"ll see how things go, in Mar...
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Tina
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1
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452
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24 Hrs a Day ~ 30th January 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ A drinking life isn't a happy life. Drinking cuts you off from other people and from God. One of the worst things about drinking is the loneliness. And one of the best things about A.A. is the fellowship. Drinking cuts you off from other people, at least from the people who reall...
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Sobrietyspell
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0
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412
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Uniqueness
(Preview)
Everyone has his own fingerprints. The white light streams down to be broken up by those human prisms into all the colors of the rainbow. Take your own color in the pattern and be just that. -- Charles R. Brown
We are often amazed at how different members of the same family seem to be. Contrasts are ofte...
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Quetzal
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0
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467
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FREEDOM FROM . . . FREEDOM TO - Daily Reflections - 1/30
(Preview)
FREEDOM FROM . . . FREEDOM TO We are going to know a new freedom. . . . ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS , p. 83 Freedom for me is both freedom from and freedom to. The first freedom I enjoy is freedom from the slavery of alcohol. What a relief! Then I begin to experience freedom from fear - fear of people, of economic ins...
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Doll
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1
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414
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AA Prayer
(Preview)
Lord: In the past several hours I have not hurt any one. I have not drank. I have peacefully coexisted with life. For that I am gratefull. But I'm about to get out of bed now and I'm really going to need your help.
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StPeteDean
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6
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1069
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HELP ME understand
(Preview)
I have drank for 22 years. Today I am an alcoholic in recovery for 4 months. I am a single mother with only a part time job right now and have no health insurance or I would go to a doctor about this. I have been so tired since I quit drinking. I only work 5 hours a day and when I get home I just want to sleep. I...
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Kittie
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12
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856
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Going to Meetings
(Preview)
I am still amazed, after years of recovering, at how easily I can begin to talk myself out of attending meetings. I am also still amazed at how good I feel when I go. -- Anonymous
We don't have to stay stuck in our misery and discomfort. An immediate option is available that will help us feel better: go to...
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Quetzal
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1
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481
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THE JOY OF SHARING - Daily Reflections - 1/29
(Preview)
THE JOY OF SHARING Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you. to have a host of friends - this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and...
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Doll
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433
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24 Hrs a Day ~ 29th January 2008
(Preview)
A.A. Thought for the Day ~ What a load wasting money puts on your shoulders! They say that members of A.A. have paid the highest initiation fee of any club members in the world, because we've wasted so much money on liquor. We'll never be able to figure out how much it was. We not only wasted our own money, b...
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Sobrietyspell
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