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Post Info TOPIC: Something for the toolbox...
Stepchild


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Something for the toolbox...
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When I got into this program I always heard about this toolbox we could use to keep us sober...Of course mine was empty....like anyone else that stumbles or crawls into AA, at first I thought...Oh no, another slogan...These are doing nothing for me....Keep it Simple...One day at a time...Nothing changes if nothing changes....and on and on. I came to realize that these were simple tools you were giving me that were hanging on the wall and I could have them for nothing. So I took them.

I found out there were twelve power tools I could have that I would have to put some effort in to get them. And I wanted them. I had a maual on how they worked and I read it like I have never read a book in my life. I had to ask myself a simple question...Do I want to stop drinking for the rest of my life...AM I DONE???

When I read this I saw me and the answer was clear...Page 8, BB

No words can tell of the loneliness and despair I found in that bitter morass (A swamp... a situation that traps, confuses, or impedes) of self-pity. Quicksand stretched around me in all directions. (I didn't even think I could pray myself out of this one) I had met my match. (I was whipped)  I had been overwhelmed. (overpowered in thought or feeling)  Alcohol was my master. (Alcohol was my Higher Power)

This guy had descibed me to the "T" in so few words it almost knocked me off the chair. I got busy...I added those tools and I use them every day. I use that manual every day. I added the one that has all power...The one that can fix anything...And I rely on it to live.

I know that there is more to this program than just going to meetings and trying to hatch an egg...I got involved. I chair a meeting once a week for my homegroup...I help people when I can. I share in meetings but I keep it short. I don't dwell on my war stories, but rather focus on recovery. I look right at anyone that is sharing...I listen. I want to sponsor someone...Take them through the steps, but my sponsor said it might be to early for me to do that. I think I could but I don't want to look cocky. That time will come when God is ready for me to have it. And I'll be ready to do it...With his help.

I try to add a new tool every day. I earn the respect of elder members and I pick their brains. Add to the Box. Last night talking to a guy after the meeting with 49 years sober he offered me this one.

There is no problem in the universe you can have, No matter how big...That alcohol can't make worse.

What a gem. It's been put away. I'll use that one for sure. If you have have any you would like to give me...I'll take them. I have so much room.

Stay safe, sane and sober.

 


 



-- Edited by Stepchild on Saturday 26th of November 2011 07:08:24 AM

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Pythonpappy


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Hey StepChild, ...

You continue to amaze me with your posts ... Your zeal for learning and living the program is inspiring to me ... and the 'toolbox' analogy is a wonderful concept to keep with us on our journey ... cause you never know what tool you'll need for a sitution that comes up in the future ... the more tools you have, the better prepared you are to handle situations that used to baffle us ...

There are so many slogans and 'sayings' that I have trouble bringing them to mind right this instance ... I do recall them easily when confronted with a situation that spurs the thought ... and though I have a lot of tools in my box, I've got room for more ... Here are a few of my tools, hope they help:


The only thing you get from sitting on the pity pot is a ring around your butt and nobody to show it to!

S O B E R = Son Of a Bitch, Everything's Real

Self-will can get me what I want right now,
God's will can provide what I need for eternity.

The alcoholic's mind is like a bad neighborhood, don't go there alone.

I'd rather be hurt by the truth, than protected by a lie.

It is better to offer help too soon than risk being too late.

Alcoholism does not take a vacation when we do.

Wouldn't we be better off if we shared experiences rather than opinions.


(these are just a few, there are many more)

Take Care and keep the faith, God Bless,
Pappy



 



-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Saturday 26th of November 2011 11:45:37 PM

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Stepchild


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Thanks Pappy...I'll tell you what...I'll take anything...Prayer and meditation tips...Any trick you may have that works for you to stay happily sober I'd like to hear it. ....You can't have too much of that...I'm really interested in prayer and meditation tips....But anything that works is fine.



-- Edited by Stepchild on Saturday 26th of November 2011 02:20:09 PM

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jj


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so glad you have joined MIP.  keep coming back.  the one thing that helped me "early on"  was "taking a pause" to think instead of reacting immediately.  i can choose my words now, think before speaking, and not react to having my buttons pushed (quite so easily) at this place in my life.  i make more sense now, i have more control over my mouth now, i can choose to not jump into a nasty situation and avoid yelling contests.  AA has helped me so much.  thank you for your post.   jj/sheila



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jj


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  Oh, i forgot to add that at one of my meetings

prayer and meditation was clarified for me.   Prayer is when we talk to God, Meditation is when we listen for God to talk to us.     Meditation happens sometimes when i pray (and stop thinking about "me" and "mine)  and let my mind reach out God and his grace and mercy without trying to make things fit into my idea box.    jj



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Stepchild


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Nice stuff...Thanks jj.

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pinkchip


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No matter what...don't drink. If your ass falls off, pick it up and go to a meeting. If you are thinking about going to a meeting, go to a meeting and then think about it. Utilize your sponsor....there are so many things.

It is refreshing to have someone enthusiastic come along like you stepchild. It reminds me that AA really does work miracles for those of us that put in the work.

Mark

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Pythonpappy


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Hey Stepchild, ...

Oh Boy, ... you're jumping in with both feet aren't you ... :)

Meditation and prayer are essentual to my sobriety ... they makeup a part of every morning and every evening of every day for me ... As you work the program, you become aware of its spiritual foundation and become highly 'tuned-in' to the critical necessity of prayer and meditation to improve our 'conscious contact' with God (pg. 86/7 of the BB) ...

Meditation was mentioned in many of the meetings I've been to and it seems there are as many ways to meditate as there are people ... and I like what jj said about it ... and I've mostly heard people say to 'say your prayers' and go and spend quiet time somewhere to 'listen to God's answers' ... You know what???, that never worked for me ... and I know of others with many years of sobriety say they still don't know how to meditate ... FOR ME, after a few months in the program, I developed a routine that works for me, and has now for years ... This works for me:



1) When I get up in the morning, I get my coffee and go to my garage ... There, I have a big comfortable chair at a window with a view of the morning sun ... with the window open and the radio/TV off and nothing else but the sounds of the morning birds, I drink my coffee ... You see, I can't just jump out of bed and say my prayers first thing, I can't even think past getting that cup of coffee ...

2) As I'm setting there in the morning light, I start to think of yesterday's events and how I handled or reacted to them and of the meeting I usually go to ... as I drink my coffee, my brain seems to begin this 'review and summary' process and automatically starts coming up with a freakin' list of the things that I could have done or handled better ...

BAM, ... One day it occurred to me that this was the purpose of meditation ... that LIST my brain came up with came out-of-nowhere it seemed ... I now know that it's God's way of showing me where to improve and where my priorities should be ...

3) Once I've spent about 20 to 25 minutes in quiet contemplation(my meditation, and three cups of coffee), I go to a bedroom alone to get on my knees to talk to God for a minute or two or five ... the content of my prayer will be, in part, based on my list of 'things that I should concentrate on' for the coming day ... (the list from the meditation)

4) After the days activities, I go to a room by myself again, and get on my knees to say my nightly prayer, usually one of thanks, then go to bed ...



So you see, I don't follow the 'norm' here, I do what works for me ... I mean I'm serious about waiting to pray in the mornings until I have some small amount of cognitive reasoning to communicate with ... You know what it's like to be nearly 'brain dead'? ... Oh wait,....of course you do ... HeeHee, silly me!

 

Oh, one more thing, I don't use ANY TRICKS to stay sober ... my sobriety is real, based on real actions taken by what the BB of AA suggests ... don't for get ... S.O.B.E.R.  ---  Son Of a Bitch, Everything Real ... I would never base my sobriety on any tricks, that would only be an illusion ... and it wouldn't last ...

 

 

Take Care and God Bless,

Pappy



-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Sunday 27th of November 2011 01:21:33 AM

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Stepchild


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Thanks guys. I hear a lot of people say they had to drag themselves to a meeting...I actually enjoy them. And I go to different places for meetings all the time. But I remain loyal to my homegroup. I never miss that one. I haven't missed a meeting since July 19th...7 days a week. This isn't a game for me...This is my life. I was at a meeting last night and there was a lady there fresh out of rehab. She was looking for a womens meeting that met around lunchtime that get together and chat. This isn't about social hour for me...This is about what can I learn to save my life and live it the way it was meant to be lived. Nothing more, nothing less.
Pappy that sounds a lot like my day...I start it the same way. Thanks. I"ve actually had people that say you should pray first and then meditate. I do it the other way around. Quiet time opens my mind to pray. The beauty of it is...There is no right or wrong way to do it...As long as you do it. Kind of like the 4th step.

Thanks again!

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pinkchip


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I never had to drag myself to a meeting until...after about 2 years sober, I did start thinking there were other things I ought to be doing than going to meetings 7 x a week. I did realize I was hearing literally the same person share their story for the 3rd time and started to think "I have heard this before" - So, while I was also gangbuster AA for a good year and a half - That nagging "Do I have to drag myself to a meeting?!" feeling did come and now I have to balance out obligations, my new freedom, and needing to always go back for a certain amount of AA medicine.

The time will come when you will feel like you are dragging your ass to meetings....BUT, that does not mean you stop going or relapse at those times. You sound just like me at 5 mos sober, so I would not anticipate having those thoughts anytime soon - and by the time it happens, you will have a good foundation and know how to pick out what is your disease vs. what is not when deciding how many meetings you need.

Mark



-- Edited by pinkchip on Sunday 27th of November 2011 10:12:55 AM

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Stepchild


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You could be right. But one thing I do see is people with 25+ years and they are still going to meetings daily. I've also seen people with quite a few years go out after letting meetings slide. I learn from meetings...Sometimes at someone else's expense.

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Stepchild


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A guy shared this in a meeting this morning...."That if I have God in one hand and the 12 steps in the other and I hold them tightly...I'll be all right.".....I liked that.

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SeekingSerenity


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Pythonpappy I really liked how you shared your am and pm mediation with us
I struggle with getting up and getting so busy that the evening meeting seems to be the first time that I remember I did not pray let alone mediatate
Your way just seems so quiet and serene but so doable I have a glass blowing studio that normally after my coffee, chat with Mom, taking care of morning chores, etc, I go out to and start getting ready for the days production. How easy it will be to take my second coffee to my chair and reflect quietly before starting the days production I believe can do that
Thank you

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Pythonpappy


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Welcome 'SeekingSerenity', ....

Thanks for your kind words ... My morning routine is essential for me to put the coming day in the proper perspective ... When circumstances throw me off my routine and by chance I didn't talk to God that a.m., then my day seems to be disjointed and chaotic ... For me, it is impairitive that I get my 'thinking' on the right track before starting the day, and then discuss it with God through prayer before getting caught up in daily matters ... THEN and only then do I seem to make intuitively good decisions throughout the day ... (if I have to, then I get up a little earlier to have time for meditation and prayer before going out in the day)

Living in the program of AA is the only life for me 'today' ... there is no other way for me to have and keep the 'peace and serenity' that I now enjoy ...


Good Stuff ... thanks Donna!



Take Care and God Bless,
Pappy



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SoberSteve


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Stepchild, have you heard of the book "My Mind is Out to Get Me?" Great book with 500 wisdom and humorous slogans said at meetings!

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God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

 

 
Stepchild


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No....But it sounds like one I should probably read.

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Pythonpappy


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Hey Steve, ...

Thanks, I think I might also like to get that one ... know the author? ... or is it pretty obvious you got the right book?



God Bless,
Pappy



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SoberSteve


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http://www.amazon.com/My-Mind-Out-Get-Me/dp/1568380100/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322960077&sr=8-1 ITS GREAT!!!!! PERFECT BATHROOM READING MATERIAL LOL!!! I CAN POST SOME OF MY FAVORITES IF YOU ALL WANT!



-- Edited by SoberSteve on Saturday 3rd of December 2011 07:56:11 PM

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God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

 

 
Pythonpappy


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Thanks Steve, ...

I go to 'Books-A-Million' all the time ... but if the price ain't right, I'll definitely order from your link ... appreciate it ...

Pappy



-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Saturday 3rd of December 2011 08:02:59 PM

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Dan B 76


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Three things needed to stay clean:

1. Don't drink
2. Read the BB
3. Go to meetings

Do these and all else falls into place. The twelve promises will be fulfilled.

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Stepchild


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I'd say that's it in a nutshell Dan....Can't keep it any simpler than that.

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Pythonpappy


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Ditto Dan, ... thanks for reminding me of the KISS way of looking at it ...


God Bless,
Pappy



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