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Vulnerability
(Preview)
I've learned that the more vulnerable I allow myself to be, the more in control of myself I really am. -- Anonymous Many of us feel that we can only show our strong, confident side. We believe the face we have to show to the world should always be one of politeness, perfection, calm, strength, and control...
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267
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Some readings re Step Two
(Preview)
How it Works When, therefore, we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God. This applies, too, to other spiritual expressions which you find in this book. Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you. At the star...
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Phil
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506
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Anxious Day
(Preview)
I am having a very anxious day, for a bunch of little reasons. First, my in-laws, who don't live in the U.S. and only speak Spanish (which I can speak to some degree, but not completely comfortably) are here and hanging out at my apartment. When they are there, they sit and talk to my wife in Spanish and d...
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JohnInNYC
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5
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328
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New on this forum
(Preview)
Hi everyone, I am new on this forum. I am also new to realising that I am an alcholic. Its hard to say that! I want to stop drinking and often manage a couple of days but not more. If anyone has any strategies that have helped you when you first decided to quit I would appreciate your comments. Regards,...
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clara
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11
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430
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Owning Our Power in Relationships
(Preview)
So much of what I call my codependency is fear and panic because I spent so much of my life feeling abused, trapped, and not knowing how to take care of myself in relationships. -- Anonymous No matter how long we have been recovering, we may still tend to give up our power to others, whether they be authori...
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290
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How to be Humble
(Preview)
How to Be Humble"It's hard to be humble," says an old country song, "when you're perfect in every way." Very few people, of course, actually think they're perfect in every way, but it can still be pretty hard to be humble, especially when you live in a society that encourages com...
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Doll
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3
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For all of us who ever wondered why we got here
(Preview)
I love The White Stripes, a band, for those who don't know them. They have a song on their new album that I have listened to a lot in my first few weeks of sobriety, though I doubt they write their songs with that in mind. The lyrics are funny, but the point is, things have gone wrong when they have because o...
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JohnInNYC
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0
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291
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A Humbling Story
(Preview)
A TRUE STORY By Malcolm Forbes The Gingham Dress A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston, and walked timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office. The secretary could tell in a mo...
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TenderheartsKS
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0
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282
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Some Readings Re Step Ten
(Preview)
We continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matt...
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Phil
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0
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470
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divorce
(Preview)
My husband and I had been having trouble because of my drinking. I am on day 26 of sobriety, and was so happy. Tonight he told me he wants a divorce, that he is too emotionally detached at this point. We have one little 6 year old boy. I don't know what this will do to him. And, I don't know what I am going to d...
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MicKen
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12
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2215
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Happiness
(Preview)
Happiness is a mental habit, a mental attitude, and if it is not learned and practiced in the present it is never experienced. -- Maxwell Maltz If only I had a new bike, then I'd be happy. If only my family were more understanding, then I'd be happy. If only my hair were styled better. If only I had more frie...
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Desiderata
(Preview)
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive...
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Phil
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3
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Have Some Fun
(Preview)
Have some fun. Loosen up a bit. Enjoy life! We do not have to be so somber and serious. We do not have to be so reflective, so critical, so bound up within the rigid parameters and ourselves others, and often ourselves, have placed around us. This is life, not a funeral service. Have some fun with it. Enter...
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Quetzal
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I did it... can you believe it?? sorry, yes, it's a long ramble
(Preview)
Well, I moved out, left my boyfriend... found out yesterday he was cheating on me this whole time when supposedly we were in a relationship, even just a couple of weeks ago he was bringing up marriage and kids and stuff like that, tryin to say all the right things I guess... yeah, well, not just one woma...
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LisaF
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7
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613
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The Art of Not Being Offended--long
(Preview)
By Dr. Jodi Prinzivalli ========================== There is an ancient and well-kept secret to happiness which the Great Ones have known for centuries. They rarely talk about it, but they use it all the time, and it is fundamental to good mental health. This secret is called The Fine Art of Not Bein...
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Wren
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5
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677
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Fill Up Your Tank
(Preview)
How do we keep our inner fire alive? Two things, at minimum, are needed: an ability to appreciate the positives in our life and a commitment to action. Every day, its important to ask and answer these questions: Whats good in my life? and What needs to be done? -- Nathaniel Branden I have found theres a ve...
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Wren
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7
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The way it used to be....
(Preview)
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Phil
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5
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372
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Letting Go of What We Want
(Preview)
For those of us who have survived by controlling and surrendering, letting go may not come easily. -- Beyond Codependency In recovery, we learn that it is important to identify what we want and need. Where does this concept leave us? With a large but clearly identified package of currently unmet want...
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Quetzal
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493
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what is it worth to you
(Preview)
for me, there is no price for my sobriety, my recovery! thought i'd share yesterdays meeting topics... whats the first thing you do in the morning? what is the key to recovery?
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wantneeda
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6
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522
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When The Goin Gets Rough...
(Preview)
DON'T QUIT!When things go wrong as they sometimes will When the road you're trudging seems all up hill When the funds are low and the debts are high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh When care is pressing you down a bit Rest, if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer, with its twists and turns As...
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Phil
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3
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371
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sweet cravings
(Preview)
Hi everyone! I was talking in a thread below about how much I craved sweets and was losing weight. Well, the weight loss has evened out, although I need to lose more actually to be healthy. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 30, and I am really not a big girl. But I also have PCOS (Polycystic ovar...
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MicKen
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5
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345
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wow
(Preview)
7 months clean and sober today by the grace of god, AA and you thankyou from the bottom , top and sides of my heart!
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wantneeda
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5
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325
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Accepting Powerlessness
(Preview)
Since I've been a child, I've been in an antagonistic relationship with an important emotional part of myself: my feelings. I have consistently tried to ignore, repress, or force my feelings away. I have tried to create unnatural feelings or force away feelings that were present. I've denied I was a...
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Quetzal
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313
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Pride
(Preview)
Hi everyone, Rosco here and I am proud to say that I am celebrating 60 days sober. I feel so very happy to be involved with MIP and AA. One day at a time is definately working. I may not be on message board for a while, because I am leaving for rehab on 8/1/07. I have a blackout period but, as soon as it is ove...
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Rosco
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5
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320
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Fear
(Preview)
One day, I decided to try something new. I took my ten-year-old son out on the St. Croix River on a Waverunner. A Waverunner is a small boating vehicle resembling a motorcycle. We donned life jackets and embarked on an experience that turned out to be both exhilarating and frightening; exhilarating w...
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Quetzal
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food...newly sober
(Preview)
I am 22 days sober now. Big deal for me because I was drinking daily for 13 years. I am 35. Went to my Dr. to be safe, and he gave me something for withdrawals. Two things I am noticing: 1. I want to eat nothing but sugary cereal. I have to force myself to eat protein. I have lost 10 lbs in a week. How long...
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MicKen
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8
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402
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How Y'all Doin Eh?
(Preview)
"We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable." Who cares to admit complete defeat? Practically no one, of course. Every natural instinct cries out against the idea of personal powerlessness. It is truly awful to admit that, glass in hand, we have...
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Phil
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5
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336
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Anyone got any information??
(Preview)
Hi again all. I'm wondering if any of you know about finding AA meets abroad?. The reason for my asking is I was given a link lastnight by a very nice lady for AASpain, only to find that all the ones I would ever have any chance of getting to have now been closed along with the english speaking ones. Any ideas...
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flumpy
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2
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357
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Letting Go
(Preview)
Stop trying so hard to control things. It is not our job to control people, outcomes, circumstances, and life. Maybe in the past we couldn't trust and let things happen. But we can now. The way life is unfolding is good. Let it unfold. Stop trying so hard to do better, be better, and be more. Who we are and t...
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Quetzal
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0
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265
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What are your difficulties?
(Preview)
In the third step prayer in the Big Book, it says..."take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love,and Thy Way of Life. After some time in the program I had to ask myself, what difficulties am I having that are keeping me from turning m...
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Eddie
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4
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598
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Ugh, I need to stop worrying...
(Preview)
Went to the dr again yesterday... he's still trying to put me on anti-psychotics, gave me samples, but I'm not taking them. He lectured me on the smoking, refused to see again unless I quit, and bf jumped in on it a bit too but not so bad... well, I pretty much broke down... threw the cigs away... prob...
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LisaF
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6
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487
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Daily Reflections July 26
(Preview)
THE "WORTH" OF SOBRIETY Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. TWELVE AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 160 When I go shopping I look at the prices and if I need what I see, I buy it and pay. Now that I am supposed to be in rehabilitation, I have to straig...
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Doll
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0
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288
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Clarity
(Preview)
I know better than to not trust God. But sometimes, I forget that. When we are in the midst of an experience, it is easy to forget that there is a Plan. Sometimes, all we can see is today. If we were to watch a weaver sewing a tapestry for only a few moments, and focused on only a small piece of the work, it would...
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Quetzal
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251
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It isn't easy :(
(Preview)
Hi all again, it's the sad one back, just wanted to let you know I read all you replys to my last post and I am truelu greatful. I'm trying i am, but things aren't always as easy as they seem. Time will tell, Sorry if I seem or come across as flippant, I don't mean it, I'm british! Kate.xx
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flumpy
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4
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Hi Folks, 18 months sober
(Preview)
Just browsing through my favourites and thought I'd pop in and say hello. I'm still coping with the fact that sobriety doesn't bring; riches, success, spiritual enlightenment, but that's cool, that's why it's called being sober, aka being realistic. Hope everyone is OK. Pauly
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Pauly
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7
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Daily Reflections July 25
(Preview)
THOSE WHO STILL SUFFER For us, if we neglect those who are still sick, there is unremitting danger to our own lives and sanity. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151 I know the torment of drinking compulsively to quiet my nerves and my fears. I also know the pain of white-knuckled sobriety. Today,...
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Doll
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1
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313
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Cravings
(Preview)
Hi I need to share loads just need to get it out. I have allways been a binge drinker thought since i have started AA i now notice i get cravings. I had a great day today then 5pm sat down reading feeling good and next minuite my mind is thinking of drink. From no where. Then it,s like having two voice...
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fletch
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6
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432
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It's a Third Step Kind of a Day
(Preview)
Hi everyone - I've been reading everyone's posts over the last few weeks, and it has been very helpful to me. I'm having "one of those days", so I thought I would write about it and just get over it. The funny thing is, "one of those days" really isn't that bad anymore. At least I'...
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Simple
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4
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384
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Be careful of what you ask for when you Pray
(Preview)
Since coming back into recovery, Iv been having a hard time putting down the big stick Ive been beating myself with for picking up where I had left off 13 years ago. Last night, I was REALLY down on myself and thinking what a looser I was for what I had done. All that self-pity we read about in the Big Book wa...
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ron70062
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3
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336
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Keep at It
(Preview)
Keep practicing your recovery behaviors, even when they feel awkward, even when they haven't quite taken yet, even if you don't get it yet. Sometimes it takes years for a recovery concept to move from our mind into our heart and soul. We need to work at recovery behaviors with the diligence, effort, an...
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Quetzal
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264
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Language of the Soul
(Preview)
The Paradox Of Spirit Each of us has a spiritual self that animates our bodies and infuses our thoughts and feelings. Our language is limited to the world we know for descriptions of something that perhaps cannot be fully comprehended by the human mind. Therefore, only metaphors approach the expres...
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Wren
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3
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276
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Long Strange Trip.
(Preview)
Last Tuesday I turned 52 but today the 23th I turned 11. In some ways it seems like yesterday and in others it seems like a lifetime ago. I'd been trying off and on to quit by my on will for quite awhile and on July 14th I had my last drunk, on the 18th I had my last drink a bottle of Bass Ale and I knew that I needed o...
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cooncatbob
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6
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356
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Denial
(Preview)
Denial is a powerful tool. Never underestimate its ability to cloud your vision. Be aware that, for many reasons, we have become experts at using this tool to make reality more tolerable. We have learned well how to stop the pain caused by reality - not by changing our circumstances, but by pretending...
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Quetzal
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2
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Hi just me
(Preview)
Just wanted to check in I'm doing fine, been a little busy but keeping myself from that negative thinking, surrounding the aniversaries of my parents death. But I guess in do time it gets easier to deal with. My daughters been away quite a bit since schools been out, she's on her second week of camp, and...
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Tina
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2
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307
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Blackouts during new sobriety?
(Preview)
I don't know what is wrong with me. For those unacquainted with me, I am in my eighth day of sobriety. Realized at 30 that I am an alcoholic. Although I was not an everyday drinker, giving it up for good seems to be really messing with my head. On my first day sober, I was out of town (that's where the epiph...
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JohnInNYC
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6
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957
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Off the board for a few...
(Preview)
A saying I heard somewhere..... Take care of yourselves and each other... And keep on going forward....one day at a time Love...
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Phil
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4
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382
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Making It Happen
(Preview)
Stop trying so hard to make it happen. Stop doing so much, if doing so much is wearing you out or not achieving the desired results. Stop thinking so much and so hard about it. Stop worrying so about it. Stop trying to force, to manipulate, to coerce, or to make it happen. Making things happen is controlli...
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Quetzal
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0
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273
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Given Choice
(Preview)
Freedom of choice is more to be treasured than any possession earth can give. -- David O. McKay I want to choose the details of my life. Fortunately, Ive come to appreciate how important it is to give others the freedom to choose their own paths. None of us wants our choice robbed from us. I cant know whats...
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Wren
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0
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258
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Dependency
(Preview)
Dependency (on another human being) is the inability to experience wholeness or to function adequately without the certainty that one is being actively cared for by another. -- M. Scott Peck No matter what we may think, overdependence on another can be very unloving because it drains others of any c...
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Quetzal
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2
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309
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Learning to Trust Again
(Preview)
Many of us have trust issues. Some of us tried long and hard to trust untrustworthy people. Over and again, we believed lies and promises never to be kept. Some of us tried to trust people for the impossible; for instance, trusting a practicing alcoholic not to drink again. Some of us trusted our Higher...
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Quetzal
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309
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