Today is October 1, 2005
A Great Day for Recovery!

LAUGHTER

"We are all here for a spell, get all the good laughs you can."
-- Will Rogers

When I first heard recovering alcoholics laughing, I thought I was in the wrong place. I was angry that they treated the disease so lightly. Then slowly I began to see that laughter is part of joy --- a deep joy that comes from personal healing. Laughter is spiritual because it is a positive response to life. It is the noise of optimism.

And there is so much in life to laugh about --- not only the funny things we did, but also the "humor" that abounds in living. How funny is our self-righteousness! How amusing we are in courtship. How ridiculous we appear when we pretend to be serious and "in charge".

Laughter is the conversation of angels.

Let me see the miracle of humor in the gift of life --- and let me be prepared to share it.

Saturday, October 1, 2005 Richest treasures

In this day there is real and lasting treasure. Somewhere in the circumstances, the people, the moments, the experiences of today there is a unique and valuable gem that can bring much richness to your life.

If you set out with the goal of just getting through today, you'll likely pass that treasure by without even seeing it. If you spend your energy on anger, envy, worry or gloominess, your eyes will be blinded to the goodness and value that could otherwise be yours.

For today is a day when you can make positive, creative and beautiful things happen, if you will. Today is a day when you can add much meaning and substance to your world, if you choose.

Like precious diamonds that are hidden beneath the ground, the most valuable treasures of this day are not immediately evident. Yet the more love, creativity and effort you put into life on this day, the more real value you will uncover.

The most valuable treasures won't be found in those things from which you attempt to take. The real treasures will be in those things to which you give the best of who you are.

Choose now to do more than simply get through this day. Choose to discover and to live its richest treasures.

-- Ralph Marston

happy, sober october!!

hey!! that rhymes...sober, october...:)

love yas, hugs, Wendy

The Ten Commandments Of Emotional Literacy

I. Place love at the center of your emotional life.
Heart-centered emotional intelligence empowers everyone it touches.

II. Emotional Literacy requires that you not lie by omission or commission.
Except where your safety or the safety of others is concerned, do not lie.

III. Stand up for how you feel and what you want.
If you don't, it is not likely that anyone else will.

IV. Emotional Literacy requires that you do not power play others.
Gently but firmly ask instead for what you want until you are satisfied.

V. Do not allow yourself to be power played.
Gently but firmly refuse to do anything you are not willing to do of your own free will.

VI. Respect the ideas, feelings and wishes of others as much as you do your own.
Respecting ideas does not mean that you have to submit to them.

VII. Apologize and make amends for your mistakes.
Nothing will grow you faster.

VIII. Do not accept false apologies.
They are worth less than no apologies at all.

IX. Love yourself, others and truth in equal parts.
Never sacrifice one to the other.

X. Follow these commandments according to your best judgment.
After all, they are not written in stone.