Yesterday I heard myself say, "I wish I had his new car".
I went home feeling ungrateful and sat down and made my list.

Dear God, You have given me so much to be thankful for.
I have a house, not a castle, but it's all mine.
I have a car. Not brand new but it runs well.
I have a family who has forgiven me.
I have a sweet little girl dog who loves me.
I have 56 friends in my home group.
I have 56 teachers who tell me how to live.
I have a job that pays well.
I have a new knee and insurance that paid for it.
I have otherwise good health.
I have a friend who’s cancer surgery was successful.
I am two years from a retirement.
I have places to go seven nights a week.
I'm no longer lonely.
I no longer lie or steal.
I no longer want to drink myself to death.
I have faith in something at last!

Thank you God for all the bounty and when you hear me moan
occasionally, it's only that little part of me that's not healed yet.

There is nothing you need to get,find or
acquire to be enlightened.You don't need
a teacher or a guru.You don't need a priest
or rabbi to intercede with God for you. You
don't need a special technique ormeditation
practice. You don't need to memorize scripture
or engage inesoteric breathing practices.Look-
ing for spirituality outside yourself is a
dead end.

Trust your Higher Power

May today there be peace within.
May you trust your Highest Power
that you are exactly where you are
meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities
that are born of faith. May you use those gifts
that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow
your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun.

Nia,

    Wishing you a wonderful Sunday!   –john

Nia -

     Life is... life. I've gotten a chance to find out how well my program is put together. I've been diagnosed with severe emphysema. My own fault. Doing well for the most part, just trying to sort things out and assign what priorities belong behind God and sobriety...

Hugs,

Dennis

I'm Slipping
When I begin to dislike AA conversation and company... When I deliberately stay away from meetings.... When I am beginning to take your inventory, instead of my own.... When I am more afraid to be known as an AAer than a drunk..... When I begin to remember the good times that I had drinking and overlook the bad.... When I begin to condemn in others that which I tolerate in myself.... When I shrink from self-examination.... I'm slipping.

There were once three frogs on a log and one of them
made a decision to jump in. How many were left?
Answer: There are still three frogs on a log, he only
made a decision, he took no action! Until we were
miserable enough to have the willingness to jump
in with both feet and try something different we did
not get sober. Today I am grateful for the day I finally
arrived at that “jumping off” place, where I could no
longer face the misery of living with alcohol but could
not live without it.

NIA ...

How's all in the Northern tier?

Been busy with the weather on this end ... snow, then snow, then more snow! All of that equals work, work and more work! But, through it all, I've been sober and pretty happy! I had a few days that I wasn't home, but the phone worked and the conversations were full of love! I stayed in contact with others in the same 'boat' and maintained a closeness to AA through them and stayed in contact with God through prayer and meditation ... as best as I could on a daily basis ... and, taht is what makes this program work ... working it!

Take care and write when you can ... Later!

Jim 

“I have placed both operation and myself in God's hands. I'm going to do what it takes to get sober and stay that way.” "Just before they stopped [at the hospital, where Dr. Bob was to perform surgery], Bill, who also had his practical side, gave him a bottle of beer...The bottle of beer Bill gave him that morning was the last drink he [Dr. Bob] ever had. "Although arguments have been and will be made for other significant occasions in A.A. history, it is generally agreed that Alcoholics Anonymous began there, in Akron, on that date: June 10, 1935."

From "Two alcoholics meet:" c. 1980, Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, pages 74-75 A.A. Timeline History www.alcoholicsanonymous.9f.com/aa_history_timeline.htm