This too shall pass. My Ass!

I have always loved the slogan, "This too shall pass," becasue things do. Nothing is forever--but it doesn't seem like it when we are stuck in the middle. So when a member of our group recited, This too shall pass," and whispered under her breath "MY ASS!" I had to laugh.

It will pass--just hang in there!

Embrace the Suck

New slogan from Vernal at our morning meeting:
"Embrace the Suck"

Embrace the Suck

What he said was, "Sometimes life sucks and what I have learned is that sometimes one has to the embrace the suck!"

The meeting cracked up. Yeah, isn't that the way life is--sometimes you just have to accept and that may mean embracing the suck.

What slogan's or great one-liners have you heard lately? 

History's Best and Worst Advertising Slogans

Slogan's are a way we try to capture an idea or philosophy in a few simple and catchy words. For alcoholics and addicts who have a rough time focusing in early recovery, slogans can be a live-saver, literally. Yet they are not meant to be taken literally--but interpreted in small mental wisdom bites.

Because we don't believe in promoting our program publically, AA does not have a slogan like businesses and other organizations do. But we probably use them in our program more than any other organization I can think of.

Here is a history of advertising slogans that gives you a clue as to why they work for people in recovery--especially early recovery.

History's Best and Worst Advertising Slogans | Mental Floss: "An article over at The Atlantic provides a list of some of history's best and worst slogans, along with the "science" behind why some of them last in perpetuity. Classics include—"Good to the last drop," which Maxwell House (probably apocryphally) attributes to an off-hand comment made by Theodore Roosevelt while sucking down some Joe at Andrew Jackson's house. "Breakfast of Champions" has been the driving force behind Wheaties since 1927, when Lou Gehrig's image graced its box covers. They also have some historically hysterical offerings ("Great national temperance beverage"—Coca Cola, 1906), and some preposterously forgettable ones from the recent past ("The way the world works"—FedEx, 1996-1998)."

'via Blog this'

Quotes About Blaming Others (30 quotes)

I haven't been very good at all about keeping up with quotes and this blog--what has it been? Two years???? However, getting back on track with this--Quotes about blaming others! Isn't that what alcoholics and addicts do? It's never their fault! Well here are some good quotes on that topic.

Quotes About Blaming Others (30 quotes): "“It’s time to care; it’s time to take responsibility; it’s time to lead; it’s time for a change; it’s time to be true to our greatest self; it’s time to stop blaming others.”
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience"

'via Blog this'

Drugs Verses Alcohol Addiction

a contribution to Fruedian Sips...

A woman in my home group reading how it works "alcohol - cunning, baffling, wonderful "


from a reader,  TJ c.



'via Blog this'

My favorite AA Slogan

Deciphering Addiction | Jean-Paul Bedard: "My favorite AA slogan, and you'll hear it in meetings taking place around the world, is "Keep it simple." Ironically, some of the most intelligent people I've met over the years in recovery are the same people who seem to struggle most with staying sober. Addicts are typically very ingenious when it comes to lying and deceiving those around us, but we forget, we are equally disingenuous when it comes to deceiving ourselves. There is always this soundtrack playing in the background of an addict's mind with the dangerous refrain: "You're different. You're not like the rest of the addicts in this room. Just have one drink, one line, one pill...""



'via Blog this'

E.G.O. Easing God Out

OK--I have been very very lax in keeping up with this blog, but I promise to do better--there is so much to say about so many of our slogans in the 12 Step programs--that's its about time I say them! In any case we'll have a lot of fun--and do sen din your great one liners or thoughts about our slogans. This weeks featured slogan is E.G.O. Easing God Out

Our program will work for people who believe in god.
Our program will work for people who don’t believe in God.
Our program will not work for people who believe they are God.
If you are having trouble with this, read pages 61, 62, & 63 of the Big Book.

ManyFaces1Voice & The Anonymous People Film

This is going to be so much fun! thank about getting a group of folks together, have dinner, popcorn and sit and watch this film. It's all day (on demand) and FREE for one day--this Sat March 1st. You're goig to want to watch it and its better watching it with friends.

ManyFaces1Voice & The Anonymous People Film: "On March 1st, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, a founding partner of the ManyFaces1Voice call-to-action campaign, will host a free online stream of The Anonymous People via the Hazelden Social Community: www.hazelden.org/social (You must join the online community to watch, but joining is free).

On that day, people from all over the world will watch The Anonymous People, which will be accessible for online streaming for 24 hours (12AM to 11:59PM EST on 3/1/14). As an added bonus, the film’s director, Greg Williams, and other key subjects from the film, including Hazelden’s William Cope Moyers, will have a dialogue about recovery advocacy during a live chat that begins at 5 p.m. EST"

'via Blog this'

(36) InsideOUT Writers

If you are not a member of FaceBook I apologize for linking to this--but it is such a great endeavor. This is young people who have been incarcerated using writing to help help themselves and reaching out to others. I love it. That is how the book "Young, sober, & Free" was written--a group of young people in recovery getting together and deciding what needs to be in their book. In the forward we quote a judge who always used to say "I ain't Preaching..." because he didn't thinking preaching to those before him would ever help. Today in many 12 step programs they have a saying "reach out, don't preach out." and young writers reaching out to other kids who need guidance--well, there is nothing better.



(36) InsideOUT Writers:



'via Blog this'

Celebrate #GivingTuesday |

After the insanity of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the upcoming Broke Wednesday--we need a break. The United Nations foundation started a great counter to this--called Giving Tuesday.

Although those in recovery are already known for being particularly giving, its nice to see a day set aside for this amid the holiday commercialism. Take a minute to read this and ask yourself what your "community giving" is this season. If you don't have money, then think about volunteering your time. Many kitchens for the less fortunate may need your help. Or become the bell ringer in front of the Big Box stores. Don't let this season go by without giving back to your community--

Can you think of great slogans about giving? Give so you shall receive? or You can't give away what you don't have? What others can you think of?

Celebrate #GivingTuesday | The White House: " #GivingTuesday builds on the American tradition of giving back but uses technology to give this greater impact. This commemoration does not seek to coordinate funds toward any particular nonprofit or to direct volunteers to support a specific cause. Instead, #GivingTuesday is intended to encourage Americans to reflect and give back. It’s a collective moment for individual and community action."

'via Blog this'

Recovery Slogans

A few new ones not in the Walk Softly books! I lime them.


Recovery Slogans: "Overeaters Anonymous Slogans

Put down the fork
Nothing tastes as good as abstinence
Abstinence is the most important thing in my life "

'via Blog this'

Emails and HP

this comes to us from Kingman, AZ--they were talking about prayer and paying each and every morning when I guy shared, "I get up and do my knee-mail every morning."

don't you just love the way slogans are born?

Last minute recovery gifts

Last minute gift for your sponsor or sponsee? Or for you son or daughter in recovery?  Here are two suggestions, one that cost a few bucks and the other for free--you can email either gift or both.

1. FREE. Vision recovery meditations: (a Hopi tradition) Go here, pick the format you want, type in the code "Sobriety"  (capital S, no quotes) and a box will open for your name and email. Then it will take you to the free download page.
https://www.ebookit.com/books/0000002026/Sitting-in-Pictures-Vision-Meditations-for-Addiction-Recovery.html

 2. $4.99 A digital copy of the Pocket Sponsor. Unfortunately it is only on the Kindle format, but the kindle reader for your computer is free.

Merry Christmas everyone, am thinking of all my friends this Christmas Eve.

NBC dateline on drinking and drugging while driving

NBC dateline did a special on drinking and driving last night. It was very good and asked us, would you stop a drunk from driving. It was really good.

Then a friend from bayakinfoline sent me this reminder--but it has a twist ending. This is an intimate message, for all those still drinking whether or not alcoholically--Must read:

Shelly, merry Christmas to you and the family.
I want to share an experience with you--although not alcoholic, I thought you might be able to share with others who would benefit about drinking and driving. As you well know, some of us have been known to have brushes with the authorities on our way home from an occasional social session over the years. sometimes they lay in wait by the bars to "catch" us. well the other night I was out with some friends and had a couple beers and some red wine with dinner. 

Knowing full well I may have been slightly if not well, over the limit, I did something I have never done before. I took a cab home. Sure enough, I passed a check point by the police--but because I was in a cab, they waved it through. I was so happy not to have been caught drunk driving. I arrived home safely without incident, which was a real surprise because I have never driven a cab before and am not sure where I got it or what to do with it in my garage. So be care this season and Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

Tips from The Ranch at Dove Tree for living safely on the edge during holidays | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Often, alcoholics and addicts use the holidays for relapse. But hey, us addicts use any excuse to drink and drug! They used to say in the groups, "I drank because it was a holiday, or a rainy day, or a work day or Saturday  Sunday, Monday....

Yeah, we drank and used because we are addicts! That's the long and the short of it. So read this article from Dove Tree Ranch...A few good tips for the that young person in recovery. Click through to read the whole article.

Tips from The Ranch at Dove Tree for living safely on the edge during holidays | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: "The holidays don’t have to be predictable. In a sincere attempt to lighten up, Jack Britton suggests ways to spice up December:
Often the holidays offer face time with relatives who grew up in a different era. Dive below the surface and actually get to know Grandma. Who was her first crush? (Fidel Castro!) What did she get away with as a kid? (Armed robbery!)".......

'via Blog this'

A Gift for you from Day By Day!

A Gift for you from Day By Day!

For one week only, we are giving away the digital format of our newest book, "Sitting in Pictures, Vision Meditations for Addiction Recovery". Read about it below--. With over 280 illustrations, it is a great way to begin the holidays.

Delivery Format:in PDF, epub for Nook, iPad, and most ereaders and also Kindle format. Go to the following link and use the coe "sobriety" and download for FREE--DOWNLOAD NOW. Offer expires December 4.

https://www.ebookit.com/books/0000002026/Sitting-in-Pictures-Vision-Meditations-for-Addiction-Recovery.html
and visit us at SittinginPictures.org

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Sitting in Pictures, Vision Meditations for Addiction Recovery: "Sitting in Pictures, Vision Meditations for Addiction Recovery

by Peoples of the Earth Peoples of the Earth Peoples of the Earth
Illustrated by Christine Sundly

Description: This is a a deeply spiritual addiction recovery meditation book based on the Hopi tradition of 'sitting in pictures.' It contains 280 visual mediations as well as a 12 Step Principle and the wisdom of an Elder or tribal adage from people's around the world. Based on the Maya Tzolkin spiritual round, the days do not reflect the western Gregorian calendar. Instead the season are used for reference: Summer Solstice, Harvest Time, Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox. Letting the Spirit guide them, readers may use the meditations randomly or begin at the first mediation and go 280 days, then begin again. We trust that every reader will bring their own guidance when creating the healing visualization in each page of days. This meditation book is illustrated by Christine Sundly of the Menominee Nation (Menominee means 'wild rice' in Chippawa). For more information please go to the website SittinginPictures.org
"

'via Blog this'

Celebrate Recovery for Christians

Although Celebrate Recovery is aimed at Christians, it still works with the 12 step principles. They also have a sheet of our most popular slogans that you can download and print--It's nice--print it out and tike to your next meeting.

http://www.celebrate-recovery.org/Groups/All/CRSlogans.pdf

Read about Celebrate Recovery here:
Home Page: "Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered and Bible-based 12 Step Recovery Program. The purpose is to focus on God’s healing power through fellowship with others. By working the 12 Steps and the 8 Beatitude Principles, issue groups open up, share experiences, and explore hope. In this way, we become willing to accept God’s grace in solving our problems."

'via Blog this'

More Recovery Slogans

More Recovery Slogans: "Recovery slogans are deeply rooted in the real life experience of millions of recovering people. Although often overused and sometimes not appreciated, they do not lose their truth.

The following recovery slogans were suggested over time by DRA members who have found them useful in their personal dual recoveries. They are not part of DRA World Network approved literature, nor are they authored or copyrighted by Dual Recovery anonymous."

'via Blog this'

Recovery Slogans

Recovery Slogans: "Recovery Slogans

Alcoholics Anonymous Slogans

AA  formally uses these Simple Slogans to assist members to recover during difficult periods.

Easy Does It
First Things First
Live and let Live
Think......Think.......Think
another good slogan site!

One Day At a Time
But for the Grace of God
Principles before Personalities
Al-Anon Family Groups Slogans

Al-Anon formally uses the above AA Slogans as well as these slogans to assist members to recover during difficult periods.

Let go and let God
This too shall pass
Let it begin with me
Just for today
Courage to change"

'via Blog this'