I love these two short daily meditations from Henri Nouwen. I see so much of what drives my addiction as an unhealthy response and relationship to pain. I have been a pain killer and am now learning, with the help of a Higher Power and my A.A. community, to be a pain healer. That transformingContinue reading “Live Your Wounds & Befriend Your Pain – Henri Nouwen Daily Meditation October 9th, 10th”
Category Archives: Gratitude
Perception – Any Way You Slice It – Grapevine Article January 2024 By Claire S.
When I was about 6 years old, I distinctly remember placing my sandwich order with my mom and specifically asking for the jelly to be on the bottom and peanut butter on the top. While I closely supervised her preparation, I was horrified to see she hadn’t followed my directions, not even a little, andContinue reading “Perception – Any Way You Slice It – Grapevine Article January 2024 By Claire S.”
Let Go Of Who You Think You’re Supposed To Be And Embrace Who You Are – Brene Brown
This article uses extracts from the first and last chapter of Brene Brown’s book ‘The Gift of Imperfection’. Her focus on worthiness is very consistent with how we move from toxic shame to healthy guilt. We’ll begin with a quote I love from Brene that I think helps put this short article in perspective. –Continue reading “Let Go Of Who You Think You’re Supposed To Be And Embrace Who You Are – Brene Brown”
The “Felt Sense” Prayer – Author Unknown
This prayer/poem describes the many ways in which we attempt to avoid all sorts of physical and emotional pain. It also highlights how recognizing our pain and accepting it can increase self-knowledge and improve self-care. It further suggests how our response ability and relationship with pain has impacted our addiction, our recovery, and our livesContinue reading “The “Felt Sense” Prayer – Author Unknown”
Mashup 7th Step Prayer & Offer God Your Imperfections August 23rd Reflection By Henri Nouven
7th Step Prayer (Big Book P.76) My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go outContinue reading “Mashup 7th Step Prayer & Offer God Your Imperfections August 23rd Reflection By Henri Nouven”
Gratitude – The Spirituality Of Imperfection By Ernest Kurtz (Excerpted from Chapter 12)
Gratitude can best be defined and understood as the only possible response to a gift, to something recognized as utterly, freely given. Gratitude is the vision—the way of seeing—that recognizes “gift.” Our culture seems on the verge of losing the meaning of the experience of gratitude, in part because we have lost all sense ofContinue reading “Gratitude – The Spirituality Of Imperfection By Ernest Kurtz (Excerpted from Chapter 12)”
Valuing This Moment – The Language Of Letting Go August 18th By Melody Beattie
Detachment involves present moment living – living in the here and now. We allow life to happen instead of forcing and trying to control it. We relinquish regrets over the past and fears about the future. We make the most of each day. This moment, we are right where we need to be, right whereContinue reading “Valuing This Moment – The Language Of Letting Go August 18th By Melody Beattie”
The Gift Of Sobriety – Grapevine Article February 1993 In Their Own Words
I’m still mystified by how I got sober, and the only answer that makes sense is that I stopped drinking through the grace of God. I was thinking about the difference between those of us who get sober and those who are still drinking, and I believe the difference is that we have accepted theContinue reading “The Gift Of Sobriety – Grapevine Article February 1993 In Their Own Words”
Constructive Workouts – As Bill Sees It #215
There are those in A.A. whom we call “destructive” critics. They power-drive, they are “politickers,” they make accusations to gain their ends—all for the good of A.A., of course! But we have learned that these folks need not be really destructive. We ought to listen carefully to what they say. Sometimes they are telling theContinue reading “Constructive Workouts – As Bill Sees It #215”
Being Is More Important Than Doing – August 6th Daily Reflection By Henri Nouwen
I suspect that we too often have lost contact with the source of our own existence and have become strangers in our own house. We tend to run around trying to solve the problems of our world while anxiously avoiding confrontation with that reality wherein our problems find their deepest roots: our own selves. InContinue reading “Being Is More Important Than Doing – August 6th Daily Reflection By Henri Nouwen”