Think...Don't Drink...

. I was walking around in a store.
I saw a cashier hand this little boy his
money back saying “I’m sorry, but you
don’t have enough money to buy this doll.”

 Then the little boy turned to the old woman
next to him: ”Granny, are you sure I don’t
have enough money?”

 The old lady replied: ”You know that you
don’t have enough money to buy this doll,
my dear.”

 Then she asked him to stay there for 5 minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly.

 The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.

 Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. “It’s the
doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for this Christmas. She was so sure that
Santa Claus would bring it to her.”
 I replied to him that may be Santa Claus will bring it to her after all, and not to worry. But he
replied to me sadly. “No, Santa Claus can’t bring it to her where she is now. I have to give
 the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.” His eyes were
so sad while saying this. “My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going
to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.”

 My heart nearly stopped.

 The little boy looked up at me and said: “I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her
 to wait until I come back from the mall.” Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where
he was laughing. He then told me “I want mommy to take my picture with her so she won’t forget me.”
 “I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to
be with my little sister."

 Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly. I quickly reached for my wallet and
said to the boy. “What if we checked again, just in case you do have enough money?”
 “OK” he said “I hope that I have enough.” I added some of my money to his without him seeing
and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money. 
The little boy said: “Thank you God for giving me enough money!” Then he looked at me and
added “I asked yesterday before I slept for God to make sure I have enough money to buy this
doll so that mommy can give it to my sister. He heard me!”
 “I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to
ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.”
 “My mommy loves white roses.”
A few minutes later, the old lady came again and I left with my basket. I finished my shopping in
a totally different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I
remembered a local newspaper article 2 days ago, which mentioned of a drunk man in a truck,
who hit a car, where there was one young lady and a little girl. The little girl died right away,
and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on
the life-assisting machine, because the young lady would not be able to recover from the coma.

Was this the family of the little boy?

 Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young lady
had passed away. I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the
 funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make
last wishes before burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand
with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed,
feeling that my life had been changed forever. The love that this little boy had for his mother
and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine.

And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

 ~ Author Unknown

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. Re-posted from the blog...

http://morningstoryanddilbert.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/the-doll-and-the-rose/
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carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee…

. carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee…

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You will never look at a cup of coffee

the same way again.

 A young woman went to her mother

and told her about her life and how things

were so hard for her.

She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting
and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to
the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came
to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed
ground coffee beans.

She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.
She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a
bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see.” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.
 Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.
The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed
the hard-boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled,
as she tasted its rich aroma the daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?”

 Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water.
Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being
subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin
outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides
became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the
boiling water, they had changed the water.

 “Which are you?” she asked her daughter.

“When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? 

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt
and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes
with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some
other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am
I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean
actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot,
it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get
better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest,
do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

 May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough
sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don’t
necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along
their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can’t go forward
in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

 When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

 Live your life so at the end, you’re the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

 Author Unknown

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ME and the Boss
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Quote of the Week

Michelle Case

December 3, 2012

Quote of the Week

"After 5 years of sobriety you get your brains back, after 10 you learn how to use them, and after 15 years you realize you never needed them anyway."

What a cord of recognition this struck when I first heard it (at 10 years recovery). I remember the first 5 years, and how I seemed to be in a haze in the beginning. I spent these years learning how to make sense of and deal with my feelings, my life, relationships, etc. Everything was so new to me and my focus was on recovery and learning how to live life on life's terms.

Once I passed this phase, I did feel as if I had my brains back and I began thinking and planning. What career did I want? How about a future with a family? How could I use my new clarity and focus to twist life to suit my needs and wants? If other people had things, why couldn't I get them, too? And off I went trying to arrange life to meet my expectations.

When I get centered and connected to my Higher Power, though, I see clearly and simply and know that my only real purpose is to do God's work and be of service. It doesn't take a lot of brains to do that, instead it takes listening to my heart and doing what I know is right. When I'm "into action" and not "into thinking" things generally turn out for the best. I just hope I don't have to wait 15 years to accept and consistently practice this.

As posted on facebook...

ME and the Boss

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Ocean Grass

December 2, 2012 

the meadow waves
lap at the birch shore line

From my blogger friend : seedbud

being alone

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By allowing ourselves to be comfortable

with being alone, we can become the people

with whom we want to have a relationship.

The most important relationship we have in

our lives is with our selves. And even though

we are the only ones who are present at every

moment of our lives ˜from birth onward” this

relationship can be the most difficult one to cultivate.

This may be because society places such emphasis on the importance of being

in a romantic partnership, even teaching us to set aside our own needs for the needs

of another. Until we know ourselves, however, we cannot possibly choose the

right relationship to support our mutual growth toward our highest potential.

By allowing ourselves to be comfortable with being alone, we can become the

people with whom we want to have a relationship. Perhaps at no other time in

history has it been possible for people to survive, and even thrive, while living alone.

We can now support ourselves financially, socially, and emotionally without

needing a spouse for survival in any of these realms. With this freedom, we can

pursue our own interests and create fulfilling partnerships with friends, business

partners, creative cohorts, and neighbors. Once we’ve satisfied our needs and

created our support system, a mate then becomes someone with whom we can

share the bounty of all we’ve created and the beauty we’ve discovered within

ourselves. As we move away from tradition and fall into more natural cycles

of being in the world today, we may find that there are times where being alone

nourishes us and other periods in which a partnership is best for our growth.

We may need to learn to create spaces to be alone within relationships.

When we can shift our expectations of our relationships with ourselves and

others to opportunities for discovery, we open ourselves to forge new paths

and encounter uncharted territory. Being willing to know and love ourselves,

and to find what truly makes us feel deeply and strongly, gives us the advantage

of being able to attract and choose the right people with whom to share ourselves,

whether those relationships fall into recognizable roles or not.

Choosing to enjoy being alone allows us to fully explore our most important relationship

 - the one with our true selves.

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ME and the Boss
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by Madisyn Taylor 


James Houck and Alcoholics Anonymous

. By Wally P. Archivist,

Historian, and Author Back to Basics

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During the past five years, I have been

asked on numerous occasions to answer

specific questions about James Houck.

The three questions that come up the most are:

Is James Houck a member of A.A.?

Is James Houck a recovering alcoholic?

Is James Houck a member of the Oxford Group?

Sometimes there are no easy answers even when the questions seem to be simple and
straightforward. This is certainly the case when trying to explain the relationship of
James Houck, the Back to Basics Beginners' Meetings, and Alcoholics Anonymous.
Although there are now more than 2,000 Back to Basics Beginners' Groups throughout
the world which have produced more than 100,000 recoveries, there are still people
within the A.A. community who are unfamiliar with this "original" meeting format
or the role James Houck has played in bringing this highly successful "design for living"
back to the fellowship. James is the last living link to the spiritual roots of the Alcoholics
Anonymous program that produced a 75% recovery rate from alcoholism. Many people
today know very little about the early days, except for what they have read or what they
have heard from some "old-timers" (actually newcomers compared to James Houck)
who sobered up in the 1970's. They don't realize that the program of the 1970's was quite
different from the "original" program of the 1940's. The program has continued to change
over the years and has reached a point where today A.A. has only a 5-10% recovery rate,
depending upon which study you read. Figures published by GSO show that the fellowship
peaked in 1992 at 2.2 million members and has declined 20% since then. Prior to the 1990's,
the fellowship doubled in membership every ten years. The objective of Back to Basics is
to reverse this decline by reintroducing the "original" Beginners' Meetings that worked for
three out of every four people who entered the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous.

James Houck is truly a unique individual. He is ninety-five years old, sixty-six years sober,
and one of the greatest "life-changers" of the past one hundred years. Just like Bill W.,
Dr. Bob S., and the other "Big Book" authors, James Houck found God and sobriety in
the Oxford Group. And, just like Bill W., Dr. Bob S., and the other "Big Book" authors,
James had his spiritual awakening as the direct result of taking the Oxford Group Four
Steps of Surrender, Sharing, Restitution and Guidance. James attended Oxford Group
meetings with Bill W. in Frederick, MD from 1935-1937. The Oxford Group considered
all addictions to be equally detrimental in terms of cutting a person off from God.

There was no more emphasis on alcohol than there was on smoking, womanizing, or drug
addiction. All of these behaviors left us in the dark relying on self-will, rather than God's
will to solve our problems. The Group believed that self could not overcome self. Only
God could remove our addictions and afflictions, provided we established an intimate
two-way relationship with Him. In 1937, Bill left the Group to work full time with alcoholics.
  As James explains it, when Bill W. left the Oxford he didn't take all the drunks with him.
James remained in the Oxford Group, as did Rowland H., Cebra G., Victor K., and Charles C.
among others. In fact, Dr. Bob didn't leave the Group until 1940; almost a year after the
"Big Book" was written. James is the only person alive today who has first hand knowledge
of the material Bill W. and the other "Big Book" authors used to write the book Alcoholics Anonymous. On numerous occasions, he has stated that the "Big Book" is Oxford Group
literature written for a specific segment of the Oxford Group fellowship. Although James
stayed in the Oxford Group, he did have contact with the early A.A. fellowship through
Sam Shoemaker, a mutual friend of his and Bill W.'s. Sam Shoemaker was the rector of
the Calvary Church in New York City, which was the United States headquarters of the
Oxford Group. Bill W. attended Oxford Group meetings at the Calvary Church and Sam
was instrumental in assisting Bill W. with the writing of the "Big Book" Bill acknowledged
this linkage when he wrote on page 39 of A.A. Comes of Age: "The early A.A. got its ideas
of self-examination, acknowledgment of character defects, restitution for harm done, and
working with others straight from the Oxford Groups and directly from Sam Shoemaker,
their former leader in America, and from nowhere else." Since the Oxford Group had been responsible for his spiritual awakening, James remained with the fellowship even after it
changed its name to Moral Re-Armament in 1938. He didn't attend A.A. meetings until the
1980's when he was working with a grandson who had a drinking problem. At these meetings,
he saw people practicing a program that did not even remotely resemble the "original" program
of the 1940's. That's when he started to speak at A.A. events about the early days of the
fellowship. James Houck does not consider himself to be a recovering alcoholic. The term "recovering" is belittling, it refers to someone still struggling with the problem rather than
living in the solution. It is an expression that evolved from the treatment centers in the 1970's.
This is how James describes his recovery: "To me 'recovering' means you haven't made the
grade yet. You're still not sure of your position. "I am absolutely sure of my position.

God took alcohol out of my life on December 12, 1934, and when God took alcohol out of my
 life, He took it out forever." James is a recovered alcoholic, which is the term used by Bill W.,
Dr. Bob S. and the A.A. pioneers. The word can be found seventeen times in the first 164 pages
of the "Big Book." In addition, James sometimes refers to himself as an ex-alcoholic.

This expression was used in the first ten printings of the first edition of the "Big Book."
In 1947, "ex-alcoholic" was changed to "ex-problem drinker." James does not identify
himself as an alcoholic from the podium. Here again he follows the precedent set by Bill W.,
Dr. Bob S. and the A.A. pioneers. Neither Bill nor Dr. Bob ever identified themselves as
 alcoholics when speaking at A.A. meetings. To verify this all you have to do is listen to
the audio tape recordings of their speeches. The ritual of identifying oneself as an alcoholic,
followed by a chant from the audience of "Hi _______," also came from the treatment centers
decades after the fellowship came into being. It is not a part of the "original" A.A. program.
  James does not claim to be the oldest living member of A.A. because he does not want, in any
way, to overshadow those who have maintained continuous sobriety after the fellowship was
formed in the spring of 1939. Therefore, Duke P. of Jacksonville Florida is the oldest member
of A.A. with a sobriety date of 8/15/40, even though Duke's sobriety date is almost six years
after James=. This is also the reason James uses his last name when speaking at A.A. events.
He downplays his membership in A.A. to avoid being considered the oldest living member of
the fellowship. Keep in mind that James Houck, Bill W. and Dr. Bob S. all found permanent
sobriety in the Oxford Group. If we say that James Houck's sobriety date isn't important because
he sobered up in the Oxford Group, then we must say the same thing about Bill and Dr. Bob.

This has been a lengthy explanation of several very simple questions.

In summary:

Is James Houck a member of A.A.? Yes, he is as much a member of A.A. as
anyone else who has a desire to stop drinking. However, for James the compulsion to drink
was successfully removed on December 12, 1934. He has not had a drink of alcohol or
taken a mood altering substance (including nicotine) since that day. James has an A.A.
home group. It meets on Thursday nights at the Towson, MD Methodist church.

Is James Houck a recovering alcoholic? No. James Houck, Bill W. and Dr. Bob S. all had
drinking problems, which they overcame in the Oxford Group as the direct result of taking
the Four Steps of Surrender, Sharing, Restitution, and Guidance. Since December 12, 1934,
James has been a recovered alcoholic or ex-alcoholic.

Is James Houck a member of the Oxford Group? James Houck was a member of the Oxford
Group in the 1930's and is a member of Moral Re-Armament today. He is also a member of
the Hunt Valley Rotary Club and the Towson, MD Methodist Church. Although the Oxford
Group, as such, does not physically exist anymore, the principles of the Group are just as
valuable as a "design for living" today as they were in the 1930's. Both James Houck and I
apply the Four Standards of Honesty, Purity, Unselfishness and Love to our thoughts, words
and deeds; use Restitution to become life-changers; and rely upon the Guidance of God to
direct every area of our lives.

In this sense, the Oxford Group is alive within each and every person who practices the
"original" A.A. program in order to witness once again the miraculous results obtained
by our A.A. pioneers.

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ME and the Boss

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Eight Gifts That Don’t Cost A Cent

. 1. THE GIFT OF LISTENING…

But, you must REALLY listen.

No interrupting, no daydreaming,

no planning your response. Just listen.

2. THE GIFT OF AFFECTION…

Be generous with appropriate hugs,

kisses, pats on the back and handholds.

Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

3. THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER…

Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories.

Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

4. THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE…

It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet.

A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime,

and may even change a life.

5. THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT…

A simple and sincere, “You look great in red,”

“You did a super job”, or “That was a wonderful meal”

can make someone’s day.

6. THE GIFT OF A FAVOR…

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

7. THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE…

There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone.

Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

8. THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION…

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone,

really it’s not that hard, to say, “Hello” or “Thank You.”

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From the 2001 Farmers’ Almanac

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ME and the Boss

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Are You Afraid of Success?

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Tiny Wisdom:

by: Lori Deschene

“Success 
will never 
be a big step 
in the future; 
success
is a small step 
taken just now.”

 ~Jonatan Mårtensson

We often talk about releasing the fear of failure to create motivation and momentum,
but I’ve found that there’s another obstacle that can keep us from taking risks:
the fear of success.

Success in any pursuit requires responsibility. At one point, I decided this was
one thing I didn’t want. I didn’t want people to depend on me. I didn’t want to
create conditions in my life that I needed to maintain with consistency, both
in effort and earning.

I wanted the freedom to drop everything in a heartbeat so that I never had to
feel trapped. This felt safe to me. If I never chose to rise too high, I’d never have
to fall too far if I messed up; I’d never had to worry about disappointing anyone;
and I’d never have to consider that maybe I didn’t deserve any attention
or acclaim I might receive.

Perhaps you can relate. Maybe a part of you feels resistant to the changes that
might ensue if you advance professionally or personally. Maybe you’re afraid
that you’re not good enough, which makes you want to sabotage yourself when
opportunity arises. Or maybe you just plain don’t want things to be any different
than they are now.

If the last one is true—you truly don’t want to lose the weight, or get the job,
or start the business, or whatever it is that success might mean to someone else—
then you’re in a good place. You’re not afraid of success; you’re simply content
with the way things are.

But if you are scared, and somewhere inside you a quiet voice is begging for growth,
you owe it to yourself to question what’s really holding you back.

We all deserve to live lives that feel passionate and purposeful. And the world needs
for us to find the courage to do the things we want to do—not because we’re chasing
success, but because we want to make a difference, and we know we deserve and
can handle whatever that entails.

My success is learning and writing every day, regardless of how Tiny Buddha grows.
What is success to you—and what are you going for it?



Photo by Frames-of-Mind

You're Going To Hurt Someone.

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You're going to hurt other people.

Even though you don't want to.

Even though you don't mean to.

To no fault of your own.

You're going to hurt someone.

We're all bumping up against each other

with our cravings and sensibilities,

reaching clumsily for fulfillment.

We bond and then unbind.

We stretch our arms to grab more life, and we give someone a black eye.

Egos get hurt; vows are broken; fires doused.

Becoming whole leaves breakage.

Why does it help to know the inevitability of hurting someone?

It helps to know of this inevitability so that you don't retreat when you need to lift off,

so that you choose to leave the house of familiarity for Morocco, or Broadway, or love.

Or the center of your Soul.

It helps to know how nature works when you are exploring wilderness.

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Danielle La Porte

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http://www.daniellelaporte.com/
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.ME and the Boss

7 Lovely Logics Of Life

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by leighmarie27

Along For The Ride

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7 Lovely Logics Of Life
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1) Make peace with your past so it doesn’t spoil your present.

2) What others think of you is none of your business

3) Time heals almost everything. Give the time some time

4) No one is the reason of your happiness except yourself

5) Don’t compare your life with with others,
you have no idea what their joy is all about.

6) Stop thinking too much. It’s alright not to know all the answers.

7) Smile, you don’t own all the problems in the world.

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...Many thanks to my blgger friends on Wordpress

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ME and the Boss
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The Positivity of Pride.

DanielleLaporte.com

. I have never met someone

who is living a bold and successful life-

-and by successful I mean prosperous,

kind, and in touch with the meaningfulness

of what they?re doing -

- who has apologized for being

perfectionistic, mercurial, unrelenting,

or whatever their slightly controversial hallmark characteristics are.

You will always be too much of something for someone:

too big, too loud, too soft, too edgy.

If you round out your edges, you lose your edge.

Apologize for mistakes.

Apologize for unintentionally hurting someone -- profusely.

But don't apologize for being who you are.

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Borrowed from Danielle LaPorte

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ME and the Boss

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FEAR

. “You are

very powerful,

provided you

know how

powerful you are.”

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 ~Yogi Bhajan

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Have you ever stopped to think about your definition of fear?

As my dear friend Mr. Webster states, fear is “an unpleasant emotion caused by the
belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.”

Simply put, I disagree with this definition of fear.

My definition of fear goes something like this….

“An opportunity for self discovery and self growth; a well of untapped personal power
and strength; the gateway from wishing and wanting to doing and being.”

The truth is, for most of us, fear is present on a regular basis, but the form that it chooses
to present itself in is constantly changing. Maybe you experience anxiety, a deep
nervousness, confusion, lack of motivation, uncertainty, or something unidentifiable
deep within. Chances are, you’re experiencing fear on a magnitude of levels and in
multiple forms all at once. (Fear is sneaky like that! It’s always showing up in disguise
to try to trick you!)

Now you might be wondering, “How do I know if I am experiencing fear and what do I do
with this feeling, regardless of whether it’s fear or not?” The answer is simple. Know that
where there’s fear, there’s power. Everyone on this planet experiences fear (nope, you’re
not alone on this one) but what sets successful (and might I add, happy) people apart from
everyone else is their ability to act in the face of fear. Turning your fear into power might
seem unachievable at first, but here’s a simple process I use to pursue my personal passions
and visions, despite my fear.

4 Steps To Turning Fear Into Power

Warning: This is powerful, juicy stuff and your life will start changing for the good
when you apply these tips!

1. Indulge in self-reflection and positive self-talk.

Next time you feel nervous, anxious, afraid, or uncertain, I challenge you to dig deep
and look what’s underneath those feelings.

2. Weigh your options.

Make a pros and cons list of what would happen if: You pursued your passions and vision,
despite your fear You choose to maintain status quo

3. Act. The arrows are pointing in the right direction.

Yes, you can act in the face of fear without the whole world crashing down on you.

The next step is to actually do it.

4. Celebrate.

Give yourself a pat on the back for facing your fears and celebrate your successes
(no matter how big or small) along the way. This will feed your positive momentum
and will keep the good stuff coming your way!

The best part about following these four simple steps is that each time you choose to
look beneath the surface and uncover what’s truly behind your fear, you step more and
more into your personal power. You become more aligned with who you are and what
you want in life, and it gets easier to pursue your dreams with each step you take.

Are you ready to turn your fears into power? What’s your first or next step?

Editor’s Note: This is a contribution by Leanne Kallal

(Courtesy of the Tiny Buddha)

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ME and the Boss
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Tiny Wisdom: Think Less, Feel More

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. Jul 19, 2012 | Lori Deschene .

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“Get out of your head

and get into your heart.

Think less, feel more.”

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~Osho

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Have you ever felt attached to your thoughts—like you knew you were

thinking yourself in circles, but a part of you wanted to keep getting dizzy?

Now that I’m healthy and energized, three months after my surgery,

I’m developing a consistent yoga practice again—and I’m feeling better

mentally and physically as a result of doing that. But sometimes,

when I get to the end of the day, particularly when I know I have a lot to do,

I feel resistant to making that time for myself. It’s not even necessarily when

I’m planning to work through the evening. Sometimes I’ll think,

“I have a lot on my mind—I don’t feel like it tonight.”

But that’s actually a compelling reason to go. Yoga always helps me calm my mind.

So the other day, I stopped and asked myself: Am I resistant to clearing my head

—and why? I realized that I wanted to keep thinking because I felt like I was

creating solutions, like I was somehow making mental progress. If I took a break

to clear my head, I thought, I might miss out on discovering something useful.

In other words, I felt like sitting around analyzing, assessing, and plotting was

somehow more productive than getting out and enriching my mind and body.


What a misguided notion. While there’s something to be said for thinking things

through, sometimes it’s far more useful to let everything go, create some space,

and than see what ideas and feelings emerge in that new place of clarity and stillness.

Taking a break in any fashion can feel like losing control—at least it can for me.

But releasing control often feels far better than we imagine it will.


Creating space feels good. Connecting with our bodies feels good. Stopping the

cogs in our heads—yes, that feels good, too. And when we feel good, we increase

 our odds of doing good, through our work and hobbies. I know quite a few people

with absolutely beautiful minds. One thing they all have in common is that they

make time to nurture them. If we want to create and inspire, we need to create room

to access inspiration. It doesn’t come from sheer mental will. It’s from enabling a

flow between our heads and our hearts so that we don’t just know our answers

—we feel them, with every ounce of our being.

by Lori Deschene

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.  ME and the Boss

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Working the Steps in a Group...

Originally published in the AA Grapevine                                                                                                                                                            "I BELONG TO an AA group

that meets on Tuesday evenings
at eight o'clock.
The members are primarily from
Chicago's western suburbs; several
are from other areas.
We meet in members' homes and
discuss a Step each week.
We begin with Step One,
go right through to Twelve,
and then start at the First Step again.

If a new person comes to the group
and it's his first meeting and we're on
Step Seven, for example,

we don't go back to Step One.

If the Twelfth Step call has been made properly, we figure, the First Step
has been explained to the new person before he comes to the meeting.
Otherwise, there might be so many meetings on Step One that the entire
group would fail to move along as it needs to. Every member in the group
helps the newcomer feel welcome and spends some time talking with him
or her after the meeting. Everybody in the group is working the Steps.
If a new person comes into the group and attends regularly, he starts working
them, too. He doesn't know any differently. He very quickly figures out
that "How It Works" means that this is how it works. Doesn't it get repetitious
with the same people talking about the same Steps month after month and
year after year? Well, it probably would if we worked each Step only once.
However, every member in the group is working and reworking all the Steps.
As a result, we speak from fresh experiences each time we go through them.
We don't talk about the Fourth Steps we wrote years ago. We discuss
inventories written recently and Fifth Steps we took not long ago.
The same holds true for every Step. This creates an atmosphere that stimulates
 each of us to continue work in the program. The group is far more than a place
to go and ventilate our feelings merely to find symptom relief. In our experience,
conditions such as depression, anxiety, fear, boredom, hostility, and apathy are
just symptoms, and they will disappear through persistent work with all the Steps.
The answer, then, is not to concern ourselves with the symptoms, but to work
and rework the Steps so that they may remove the causes. Then the depression,
fear, boredom, or other symptom will disappear, too. We've seen this happen
consistently. Some members who join our group suffer from this condition.
They have had substantial amounts of sobriety and have tried various therapies
and brands of counseling, because they felt they "needed something more than
just AA." In every instance, it turns out that they have not done enough continuing
 work with the Steps. Without fail, when these men and women begin to work and
rework every one of the Steps, their symptoms gradually vanish. Very possibly,
the Twelve Steps may be the most commonly overlooked and underrated long-term
therapy there is for the alcoholic. Therapies of all kinds appear and promise magnificent
benefits for the client. Gradually, each sinks into richly deserved obscurity, only to be
replaced by something new. Unfortunately. AAs often get siphoned into such an
"expanded approach," because they're hurting and don't understand that their hurt
is the inevitable result of insufficient work with the AA program. Our home group
 has found that this program works effectively at any stage of sobriety for any AA
who is willing to keep using it. It generates a vitality for change that is translated
into increasing health and freedom. The February 1975 issue of Psychology Today
included twelve classified advertisements for Primal Therapy, under the heading
of "Growth Centers." A few years ago, all of those listings would have been for
Transactional Analysis. Five years from now, it will be something else. All of
these fads flourish for a while and then fade into oblivion. It seems to me that
AA members often wind up in these various therapies because of inadequate
sponsorship. Sponsorship in our group is strong. We try to be honest and open,
and we don't waste each other's time pretending to be counselors or therapists.
We simply try to share our actual experience in working the AA program.
  Such experience--generally recent--has shown us again and again that outward
 problems in our lives are produced by conditions within ourselves. Persistent
use of the Steps removes the inward conditions that cause the problems. As we
experience changes in ourselves, we live our way into a new understanding,
and we gradually stop creating difficulties in our lives. We find answers and
solutions that we could never see before, and they all come from the program.
It's so simple that it's sometimes tough to believe! In the past several years,
three other groups have branched off from our Tuesday-night group. These,
too, are Step groups. A number of AAs with eight, ten, and more years of
sobriety have joined our group because they heard about it from other members,
who described the help found in our meetings and work with the Steps. It is a
working group. We get our directions from the Big Book and the "Twelve and
Twelve." They are used as springboards for continuing work, not simply for talk
about what we did with a Step years ago. This continued action in the program is
the key to the healing vitality the group provides for each of us. The meeting
begins with a quiet time, and then someone reads "How It Works." The host or
hostess generally leads off with some remarks from personal experience about the
Step under discussion and then asks for comments from each person present.
Each talks about AA and the Step under discussion, rather than offering erudite
philosophy or amateur psychology. No one talks about peer-group pressure,
treatment modalities, attitudinal ambivalences, multidisciplinary approaches,
or therapeutic milieus. Each member tries to honestly share his experience with
that particular Step: what he has done with it, what he is doing with it, and what
it has done and is doing for him. Usually, we have between twelve and fifteen
at a meeting; sometimes, as many as twenty. The meetings begin at eight o'clock
and generally end by nine. We've found that if we try to avoid talking beyond
our experiences, we can thoroughly discuss a Step in a surprisingly brief time.
Members in our group range in sobriety from a few months to many years.
All of us go to the meetings because we need what the group gives us: a regular r
eminder of where our help lies, along with steady encouragement to keep doing
the work.

There's a quiet enthusiasm in our members. We know what's made the changes in
our lives, and we're equipped to talk about it from the standpoint of fresh, growing
experience. And that's the message. Regardless of where we are in sobriety, you
 and I have a specific method of dealing with what happens to us each day--by simply
 renewing our work in the program. Unless I do this kind of continuing work, I'll never
know what the AA message really is or how to help another person experience it.
One basic measurement of my progress in AA starts with what I'm doing in my home
group. Our group helps me remember the transforming power of the program, summed
up on page 562 in the Big Book: "I get everything I need in Alcoholics Anonymous-
-everything I need I get--and when I get what I need I invariably find that It was just
what I wanted all the time."

  Paul M.                              Riverside, Illinois

Disengage From Other People’s Drama!

. Disengage From Other People’s Drama!

by Michael Eisen on July 7, 2012


There is a common trend amongst many people
in our society that when someone feels down or
off in some way, we try to make them feel better.
Sometimes we can even try to take on that person’s
problems and solve it for them.

The biggest challenge that surfaces from this type
of interaction is that it creates a dependency issue
for the person with the problem(s).

If someone is always there to make you feel better
or fix your issues, you will begin to rely on it.
This dis-empowering behavior prevents both parties
from becoming truly self-sufficient and independent.

A couple of weeks ago I was in L.A. visiting a special girl named Jill that I recently started
dating, and on the eve of my birthday I had a very profound experience that allowed me to
break free from this behavior in my own life. We had just finished having a fantastic dinner
with friends and we were on our way to a karaoke bar, so I could continue to face down my
fear of singing in front of people. As we left the restaurant I was feeling great, but as we got
closer to the bar I felt a huge wave of resistance surface.

Out of nowhere I became tired, indecisive, cranky and was very much stuck in my head.
As we walked into the bar I felt my whole body clench with fear. I didn’t stay inside longer
 than a minute before I had to retreat outside for some air. I was noticeably upset, even though
I was trying my best to hide it. In past relationships, whenever I felt like this, the person I
was with would always try to figure out what was wrong with me, how they could cheer me
up or even how they could solve my problem. I even experienced this sequence of behavior
with my mother for most of my childhood. So it is safe to say that I had an unconscious habit
of interacting this way that still found a way to surface every so often in certain situations.

But this time around something completely different happened. Instead of getting all caught
up in my drama, Jill just held the space for me to work my way through it on my own.
She didn’t try to get involved with my inner dialogue, she didn’t provide options or possible solutions, and she didn’t take me by my hand and drag me back into the bar.

On some level I wanted her to just fix it for me, but she refused. What she did do was provide unconditional support in whatever I decided to do and disengaged from my drama completely,
giving me space to work through it. Even though this agitated me–because I was clearing
through the remains of that old pattern – I still felt empowered and safe. As a result, after
about 20 – 30 minutes I ultimately decided to go back into the bar, get up on that stage and
belt out a tune from the depth of my soul. It was another empowering experience of overcoming
my fear of singing in front of people, but none of it would have even been possible if Jill had
engaged in my drama. In fact seeing her not engage in it was actually one of the most
empowering things I have experienced. It inspired me to take a hard look at myself, get my
act together and move past the old pattern that had been holding me back from experiencing
any sort of sustainable intimate relationship with a woman. I realized that every time I got
others to help solve my problems, I was giving them my power.

Now I am not saying stop asking others for help. But what I am saying is that there comes a
time in the process that we need to value our own inner voice more than the opinions of others. Otherwise, we will never truly experience the coveted freedom and independence that we all
truly long for. When it comes to helping other people, Jill showed me how powerful holding
space for someone can truly be. This form of non-confrontational support gives another
individual the power to feel their way through the so called storm without depending on any
external sources. Holding space is not about giving someone a flash light so they can see
their darkness more clearly or showing someone an easier path to take. It is about beaming
your own light so bright that the other person feels safe enough to find their own way
through whatever they are experiencing.

Although it is a natural tendency for many of us to engage in other people’s stories and drama,
I believe this behavior holds us back from truly experiencing ALL that life has to offer.
After all, we all have enough to deal with in our OWN lives; we don’t need to burden ourselves
with other people’s drama, too!

Take Action Challenge:

Do you try to solve or fix other people’s problems for them? Are you engaging in their drama?
It’s time to disengage! Every day for the next week take a hard look at your relationships, and
take a step back from playing an active role in other people’s problems.
If / when you are asked specifically how to solve their problems, mirror the same questions they
ask you back to them, while providing unconditional support, encouragement and love so they
can figure it out for themselves! If / when you notice the inner “rescuer” surfacing, remember;
stay in your own truth and shine your own light even brighter, while letting go of the desire to
solve the problem for them.

The best help you can provide is to EMPOWER them so they can find their own way!

.

  # # # Michael Eisen is the founder of the Youth Wellness Network, an organization
dedicated to inspiring and empowering youth across the globe to live happier and more
positive lives. Michael is teaching his first online program this summer called
Living the Empowered YOU.

To learn more about Michael and the Youth Wellness Network,
visit: www.youthwellnessnetwork.ca,
connect with him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter: @youthwellnet

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ME and theBoss

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Nature’s Guide To Life

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A  

Beutiful

thought

from my

favorite

Aussie

Blogger

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Nature’s Guide To Life

By Jen On June 29, 2012

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‘Listen,’ invites Spirit.

‘Stand tall,’ says the tree.

‘Spread your wings,’ chirps the bird.

‘Be still,’ whispers the mountain.

‘Let go,’ sings the river.

‘Open your heart,’ smiles the flower.

‘Awaken,’ breathes the sky.

‘Shine your light,’ urges the sun.

‘Love your darkness,’ pleads the moon.

‘Dream your dream,’ twinkles the stars.

‘Trust me,’ winks the Universe.

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http://mysmilingheart.org/
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Thanks, from ME ant the Boss

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IS ALCOHOLISM A DISEASE?

. Joe McFadden

5:25pm May 7

"Continue to speak

of alcoholism

as an illness,

a fatal malady."

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(BB pg 92)
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  Someone once asked Bill Wilson, "How do you justify calling alcoholism an illness, and not a moral responsibility?" (The Disease Concept) To which Bill replied, "Early in A.A.'s history, very natural questions arose among theologians. There was a Mr. Henry Link who had written "The Return to Religion (Macmillan Co., 1937). One day I received a call from him. He stated that he strongly objected to the A.A. position that alcoholism was an illness. This concept, he felt, removed moral responsibility from alcoholics. He had been voicing this complaint about psychiatrists in the American Mercury. And now, he stated, he was about to lambaste A.A. too. Of course, I made haste to point out that we A. A.'s did not use the concept of sickness to absolve our members from moral responsibility. On the contrary, we used the fact of fatal illness to clamp the heaviest kind of moral responsibility on to the sufferer. The further point was made that in his early days of drinking the alcoholic often was no doubt guilty of irresponsibility and gluttony. But once the time of compulsive drinking, veritable lunacy had arrived and he couldn't very well be held accountable for his conduct. He then had a lunacy which condemned him to drink, in spite of all he could do; he had developed a bodily sensitivity to alcohol that guaranteed his final madness and death. When this state of affairs was pointed out to him, he was placed immediately under the heaviest kind of pressure to accept A.A.'s moral and spiritual program of regeneration -namely, our Twelve Steps. Fortunately, Mr. Link was satisfied with this view of the use that we were making of the alcoholic's illness. I am glad to report that nearly all theologians who have since thought about this matter have also agreed with that early position. While it is most obvious that free will in the matter of alcohol has virtually disappeared in most cases, we A.A. 's do point out that plenty of free will is left in other areas, It certainly takes a large amount of willingness, and a great exertion of the will to accept and practice the A.A. program. It is by this very exertion of the will that the alcoholic corresponds with the grace by which his drinking obsession can be expelled." (speaking at the N.C.C.A. documented in 'Blue Book', Vol.12, 1960) 1961 quote by Bill W.: "We have never called alcoholism a disease because, technically speaking, it is not a disease entity. For example, there is no such thing as heart disease. Instead there are many separate heart ailments, or combinations of them. It is something like that with alcoholism. Therefore we did not wish to get in wrong with the medical profession by pronouncing alcoholism a disease entity. Therefore we always called it an illness, or a malady — a far safer term for us to use." -- The Big Book (which didn’t focus heavily on a specific disease model-- in fact the word disease is only mentioned once in the entire basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous on pg 64) also the publishers of the A.A. Grapevine, often promote a medicalized unitary disease concept. In fact, the disease concept promoted by A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob (a proctologist) was alcoholism as “an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer,” more a metaphor than a medical mechanism. Bob was noted by his fellow A.A. members as deeply spiritual, given to soul-searching prayer with a alcoholics taking their first steps toward sobriety. For him the importance of the disease concept lay in conveying the hopelessness of terminal illness which only a higher power could touch. As centrally important as Silkworth’s “allergy” and “obsession” ideas were to prove in the continuing understanding that members of Alcoholics Anonymous had of themselves, there is an even deeper significance and contribution tucked away in his “Doctor’s Opinion” letter in the A.A. Big Book, where he also noted that: “We doctors have realized for a long time that some form of moral psychology was of urgent importance to alcoholics. . . .” Therein lie both the problem and the promise of any investigation of Alcoholics Anonymous and the disease concept of alcoholism. For disease in its many names has also long served as metaphor, and “moral psychology” hints of a realm beyond the physical. Our study of Alcoholics Anonymous and the disease concept of alcoholism, then, will necessarily involve more than the obvious, first-level, physical-science aspect of that question. Again, recall that p. 44 “definition” of alcoholism as “an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer.” A supplementary note on the meaning of disease in early Alcoholics Anonymous, at least to its most medically educated member: In 1938, while preparing the manuscript of the A.A. Big Book, Bill asked Dr. Bob about the accuracy of referring to alcoholism as disease or one of its synonyms. Bob’s reply, scribbled in a large hand on a small sheet of his letterhead, read: “Have to use disease -- sick -- only way to get across hopelessness,” the final word doubly underlined and written in even larger letters (Smith [Akron] to Wilson,15 June 1938). Reading through the Big Book stories that mention Dr. Bob, one finds consistent emphasis on the reminder that an alcoholic cannot safely drink alcohol ever again. (See for example the almost paradigmatic story of Bill D., “Alcoholics Anonymous Number Three,”) A.A.s may be a “day at a time program,” but the admission of powerlessness over alcohol, the surrender to hopelessness, could not be a retractable event, and if the way to get this across was to talk in terms of “disease” or “allergy,” then thus would A.A.s carry their message. Certainly Dr. Bob, who had his own “slip” after his first meeting with Bill, had no doubt about the importance of remembering this facet of his own alcoholism. . . . . ..

Compassion for the Devil

Last week Iattended an event where the indomitable Lynne Twist was speaking aboutcommitment and compassion. 

She spokeabout the Hunger Project work she did in Africa and some of the surprising anddisappointing things that happened while working in Zaire during the regime ofMobutu. 

Mobutu is considered by some tobe one of the most cruel, brutal and reprehensible dictators in history.  Lynne considered him to be a monster.  During this time she was invited to attend astate dinner in Tokyo. 

It turned outthat the guest of honor was the evil perpetrator Mobutu.  She found herself standing in a longreception line (with all the other guests and dignitaries) waiting to shake hishand.

Deeply conflicted, she debatedwhether to stay in line or risk offending her host (and one of her largestdonors) by leaving the line.  Just beforeit was her turn to shake the hand of the monster, Mobutu, she had anepiphany...she realized that something very terrible must have happened to him asa child that had him turn into the villainous man he became. 

And with that she was able to find compassionfor the innocent child in him and shake his hand.Hearing thisstory triggered my own memories about stories of a monster and despicable humanbeing I grew up hearing about.

Until I wentaway to college, we spent every Sunday visiting my paternal grandparents inMiami, Florida. My Grandma Mae would make a big Jewish feast of brisket, noodlekugel, and other delicious food and delectable goodies and treats.  At least once a year we would be joined byour cousins from New Jersey...Al and Carol Lipson...they were holocaustsurvivors. 

Every visit theywould share the story of how they endured the horrors of the concentrationcamp, they would show us the numbers tattooed on their bodies, they would tellus about the dozens of other relatives who died in the camps, and then their grippingstory would end with the miracle of how they were reunited after the war.

After hearing thisscary story, year after year, I asked my parents why they always talked aboutit and revisited the unfathomable, inexcusable horror. My parents told me ifwas very important that we never forget how Hitler killed millions ofJews.  I grew up with a deep knowing thatthere was evil in the world and that evil is called Hitler.

 A few years agowe were in Venice, Italy with my sister Debbie and several friends and we wentto see a contemporary art exhibition featuring the collection of FrancoisPinault (Salma Hayak's husband).  It wasin a gorgeous palace known as the Palazzo Grassi and it includedworks by Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Maurizio Cattelan and others.I enjoy seeing theseworks but I don't pretend to understand the depth, nuance and complexity oftheir meaning.

After viewing the artof the first floor, we began walking up a marble staircase to the nextfloor.  Halfway up there was a landingand I noticed what looked like a young boy kneeling, in prayer position, facingthe corner.

From the back the boy lookedto be about 12 or 13 (the same age as my nephew Beau was at the time) and hewas wearing clothes from the early 1900's.He had brown hair and for a moment I thought - "that looks like it couldbe Beau."  There was something still andserene about this boy in the prayer position.

I walked to the side to see the boy's face and Debbie and I werecompletely shocked and surprised to see the face of the adult Hitler, moustacheand all.

I suddenly rememberedthat Hitler's father had unexpectedly died when he was 13 years old and in thatmoment I felt a wave of compassion run though me.  Hitler, the monster was once an innocentchild. (and yes, I still consider him a monster and this experience in no wayminimized for me who and what he became.)

I tried to take apicture of this statue but security guards quickly stopped me.  I asked why there were two guards...was it justto stop people like me who wanted to take a photograph? The guard who spokeEnglish told me that many people had such a negative reaction to the art thatthey would try to spit on it or harm it in someway. (that was certainly the immediatereaction of some of my friends who were with us.)

Just as Lynne foundcompassion for Mobutu, I found that a work of art became a life-changingexperience for me....I learned that even in the most horrific of circumstances,compassion can be found.

Being able to open myheart and find compassion for a monster is a dimension of Wabi Sabi Love (theart of finding perfection in imperfection) that I never anticipated.

This experience became, for me, the nextlevel to grow a generous heart and to discover the depth and range in terms oflove, compassion and appreciation within myself ,when I am willing andcourageous enough to explore these potentials.

Where or when have youfound compassion for the impossible?

Love, Laughter and Magical Kisses,

Arielle Ford

Positive Thinking = Make Belief ???

By intomind

Sometimes I get the feeling that people misunderstand the whole positive thinking/optimism thing. Some think it’s similar to brainwashing: even if you managed to convince yourself that everything is and will be great, it wouldn’t get you anywhere, it’s all just pretend. How sad… Fortunately, psychologists have gathered lots and lots of data to show that a positive mindset makes a huge difference and leads to measurably more achievements and other good stuff. Here’s why:

Your Feelings Are Real and Valid

Tiny Wisdom:

Feb 08, 2012

by: Lori Deschene



“Feelings are real

and legitimate.”

-Unknown





One of the most frustrating things in the world is feeling something painful
and having other people tell you that you shouldn’t be upset.

That it’s no big deal that relationship didn’t work out, or that opportunity
didn’t pan out—that it’s all in your head, so you should  let it go, suck it up,
and move on.

A while back, a friend of mine got fired from a new job after her
first day. We were out in a group when she got the call, and several
of us watched her emotions slowly build to gut-wrenching tears.

Naturally, everyone wanted to console her, but that quickly turned
into a rapid fire succession of reminders that it really was
no big deal—no one died—and she shouldn’t feel so crushed.

I understand it can be helpful to put things in perspective,
and I know there were good intentions behind those words,
but I found myself wondering if it ever helps to tell someone
that they should be feeling something else.

No matter what someone else thinks about our circumstances
and how we should respond, our feelings are not imagined.

If you’re mourning a loss of any kind, you don’t have to pretend
you’re not hurt. Know that your feelings are real and valid.

If you’re missing the way things were, you don’t have to pretend
you’re not sad. Know that your feelings are real and valid.

If you’ve been betrayed, disrespected, or violated in any way,
you don’t have to pretend you’re not angry.
Know that your feelings are real and valid.

We are only human, and we are going to have times when we feel
wounded, sometimes over events that would challenge anyone’s sense
of composure, and sometimes over things that may seem insignificant
to everyone but us.

In those moments, we may feel an overwhelming surge of emotion
without really know the words to express it. Maybe the key is to
simply feel it, without stressing about whether that’s right or wrong,
and then give ourselves some time to understand what’s going on
in our heads and our hearts.

We can either judge our emotions, telling ourselves we should be
stronger, or accept them for what they are, and then allow ourselves
space to recognize what we can think and do to feel stronger.





Photo by The Wandering Angel
Photo by daveynin



Copyright (C) 2012 Tiny Buddha All rights reserved.

The 4 Rules Of Fair Fighting!

by Terri Cole

Are you

a fair fighter,

or do you fight

dirty?

Do you know

what it means to be a fair fighter?

There are 4 “rules” to fair fighting”:

1.1. No Name Calling.

It will not resolve anything and is the opposite of loving.

1.2. No Blaming.

Just don’t. Enough said.

1.3. Only Stick To the Issues At Hand.

Do not go back in time and bring up everything that
has pissed you off since Clinton was in office.

1.4. Give Each Other Space To Talk.

Do not be quick to cut off the other person with a
typical phrase like, “but that’s not what happened”.
Take a deep breath. Be the water rather than the stone.

Many times remembering why you love this person makes
resolving differences easier.

Fair fighting is a skill and I have no doubt you can
learn it and watch your relationship evolve into a more
peaceful space. Conflicts will arise but it is how we
manage them that creates or destroys trust.

How do you handle disagreements with your loved ones?
Is it easier to resolve conflicts with some family
members/partners than others? Share your thoughts
on what you think fair fighting entails or if you need
some advice on a sticky situation.

Here’s hoping for week of nonviolent communication
and loving solutions!

Love Love Love

Terri


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ME and the Boss

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Alcohol's Disastrous Promise

I have

some promises

I'll make

to you

If you will do

what I want you

to do.

The more that you consume of me
The more will your losses be.
Here are the promises to you I make
And I promise the promises never to break.

I promise to take your money, your home
And all you can get in the way of a loan.
I'll take your character, your reputation too
Your good name, I'll take from you.
Your friends I'll take from you one day
Your family from you I'll turn away.

I'll take your car, I'll take your wealth
I'll take your job, I'll take your health.
I'll cause you to stay out in the rain.
I'll take your credit, I'll take your bail
I'll cause you to sleep in a dirty jail.

I'll cause you regret, remorse and pain
I'll cause your name to go down in shame.
I'll bring you misery, I'll bring you woe
I'll bring you trouble more than you know.
I'll take your clothes and pawn them too
The necessities of Life, I'll take from you.

I'll take from you the days, I'll take from you the years
I'll double the flow of your bitter tears.
I'll take your heart, give you one of stone
I'll cause you to walk through life alone.
I'll take away your desires to live aright
Your light of day, I'll turn to night.

I'll cause you to dishonor your mother and dad
I'll take away all the pleasure you could have had.
I'll turn your love for your friends to hate
Your desire to repent will come too late.
Your road to despair for you I'll pave
I'll cause you to fill a premature grave.

I'll put you in an institution for the insane
Your normal thinking will go down the drain.
I'll cause you to murder your very best friend
I'll trouble your mind to the very end.
I'll bring you contention, I'll bring you strife
I'll finish with you by taking your life........


Author Unknown
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ME and the Boss
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Binge Drinking

Originally Published: 1/18/2012

Reading, PA         Eagle-Times



Facts about binge drinking
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Binge drinking means that men drink five or more alcoholic drinks,
or women four or more, within a short time.
A drink is considered a 12-ounce beer, a 4-ounce glass of wine
 or an ounce of hard liquor, either straight or in a cocktail.

• Age group with the most binge drinkers: 18-34.

• Age group that binge drinks most: 65 and older.

• Income group with most binge drinkers: more than $75,000 per year.

• Income group that binge drinks most often and drinks most at a time:

less than $25,000.

• Most alcohol-impaired drivers binge drink.

• Most people who binge drink are not necessarily alcohol dependent

or alcoholics.

• More than half of the alcohol adults drink is while binge drinking.

• More than 90 percent of the alcohol that youths drink is while binge drinking.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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ME ....PS...Everyone has an opinion,

and I can design a survey to support every one of my opinions.

What about the emotional and spiritual values of the drinker ???

Take what you need and leave the rest.

ME and the Boss
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Bill W's Last Message....

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Presented at

The New York

Intergroup

Association

annual dinner,

Oct 10, 1970.

in honor of Bill's upcoming 36th anniversary, Dec. 11, 1970.

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*

My dear friends,

Recently an A.A. member sent me an unusual greeting which
I would like to extend to you He told me it was an ancient
Arabian salutation. Perhaps we have no Arabic groups, but it
still seems a fitting expression of how I feel for each of you.
It says, "I salute you and thank you for your life."



My thoughts are much occupied these days with gratitude
to our Fellowship and for the myriad blessings bestowed
upon us by God's Grace.



If I were asked which of these blessings I felt was most
responsible for our growth as a fellowship and most vital
to our continuity, I would say, the "Concept of Anonymity."



Anonymity has two attributes essential to our individual
and collective survival; the spiritual and the practical.



On the spiritual level, anonymity demands the greatest
discipline of which we are capable; on the practical level,
anonymity has brought protection for the newcomer, respect
and support of the world outside, and security from those
of us who would use A.A. for sick and selfish purposes.



A.A. must and will continue to change with the passing years.
We cannot, nor should we turn back the clock. However, I deeply
believe that the principle of anonymity must remain our primary
and enduring safeguard. As long as we accept our sobriety in
our traditional spirit of anonymity we will continue to receive
God's Grace.



And so -- once more, I salute you in that spirit and again

I thank you for your lives.



May God bless us all now, and forever.

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