Soundness of Mind

[MajestyJo]

It has been said in AA that we are interested only in alcoholism. That is not true. We have to get over drinking in order to stay alive. But anyone who knows the alcoholic personality by first hand contact knows that no true alkie ever stops drinking permanently without undergoing a profound personality change.

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We thought "conditions" drove us to drink, and when we tried to correct these conditions and found that we couldn't do so to our entire satisfaction, our drinking went out of hand and we became alcoholics. It never occurred to us that we needed to change ourselves to meet conditions, whatever they were.

1. Letter, 1940
2. Twelve and Twelve, p. 48
From "As Bill Sees It"

Can identify with this. I could stop, but couldn't stay stopped. If I stopped alcohol, I substituted other things, like food, pills, work, and busy as a whole, something to take me out of the moment so I didn't have to feel, be accountable, or acknowledge what was going on in my life.

Love Always,
Jo

From my site Soundness of Mind in Yahoo. I was told that sobriety meant soundness of mind and that is why I have to work and live my recovery program every day.

This is applicable to all addictions. Smoking a joint doesn't give soundness of mind, I know because yesterday my son came by after smoking one. I tried one once, and resented the fact that I was sick and lost all the alcohol that I had to drink.

I had started drinking at noon, it was about 10 p.m. when I got sick and had to let my husband drive home, even though I never allowed him to drive my VW after he had 2 beer. So glad that I don't have to go there in today.

[MajestyJo]

Thanks for sharing. I was walking through Hess Village, just around the corner from me and one of the "In" places to party. The houses are old houses, lots of brick, wood, and wrought iron. There is shrubbery, flowers, patios, music, etc. and I told my friend, who was a member of the same group, I like the Spirit of the Place. He said, "You are right Jo, there is a lot of spirits around here." As they say, "We use people, places, and things." We want to fit in, and even if we aren't comfortable with what is "In" in the moment, we allow others to dictate our lives.

[MajestyJo]

Gentle Presence



~Within her gentle presence
All nature she will touch
To show the gracious wonder
Of love she feels so much

Each gift is nature's present
They all are in her care
Guarding and protecting
Her love it is sincere

Holds them to her softly
Gives them special love
God smiles on her sweetly
His message from above

Each joy of life created
Within this world to share
This very special angel
Knows love is everywhere.~

~ Francine Pucillo ~© original 2001

[MajestyJo]

Liked the words "God Thoughts," I know mine were anything but, and one of the reasons I called myself a God Heathen in early recovery. I was raised to be a lady and I resented her when she came out. What came out of my mouth was nothing like the good little Christian girl I was raised to be. It was a different personality. Every time I picked up a drug (any drug), I lost a piece of me.

http://www.hanoverbaptistchurch.org/...dness-of-mind/

I am not my disease, but I allowed my disease to take me to a place I never want to go back to.

[MajestyJo]

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment

#4260 Wings Over The Mountains of Life

If You Could Kick...
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If you could kick the posterior of the person who has hurt you the most,

...you wouldn’t be able to sit down for six weeks.

~John Hagee~

NOTE: My thought was, "I am glad I can't reach my own behind."

April 2005

[MajestyJo]

From Hour to Hour

Sometimes reality slaps us right in the face. We may be out of money, facing jail, losing a loved one, or hating our circumstances. However, right this hour we have only one true reality: SOBRIETY. Without sobriety all the above only gets worse!

I make contact with Divine Intelligence so that I am not preoccupied with things outside my control. I want to remember why I am here.

To insist stubbornly on clinging to old relationships, when they are basically drug oriented relationships is sabotaging our recovery process. Is it not our disease finding a 'good' excuse to keep us close to drugs?

May I be able to hear the suggestions of those who work with me. May I listen in this next hour and follow the suggestions.

Hour To Hour - Book - Quote

Even when we consciously don't think we want to get high, our disease of addiction works through our subconscious and calls, 'what do they know; just one won't hurt; well, if they're going to be like that!' Our subconscious pops silly excuses for using into our minds. We must learn to recognize and neutralize these thoughts.

May my subconscious 'arguments' that subtly tell me to use, have no power to influence my true goal of staying clean and clear.

Recovery allows us to listen to these subliminal messages from our disease, and recognize them for what they are and where they come from. We are given a choice and allowed to make a decision. Do I want to stay clean or sober, or do I want to go back to that old way of life. Do I realize I just may not make it back, a second chance may not be an option. Relapse was not an option for me. It was stay clean and sober or die.