“No matter how much you talk to your plant, if you don’t water it, it’s going to die.”
–Mike Perry
Never make a permanent decision based on a temporary storm. No matter how raging the billows are today, remind yourself: “This too
shall pass!”
–T. D. Jakes
Love is a great beautifier.
–Louisa May Alcott
Walk in Dry Places
Secrets of the New Happiness
Success in living.
Most of us know whether other people are truly happy. What’s odd, however, is that we don’t often try to practice the things that bring happiness to others. Often, the happiness we’re striving for is really a form of excitement-trying to be continuously stimulated so as not to be bored or depressed.
Excitement does not create happiness. We find true happiness when we learn to serve others in right ways; that is, without demanding their gratitude or some other recognition. We also find true happiness in self-acceptance-being generally satisfied with our lot in life and grateful for the self-improvement we’ve found. We find happiness, too, in keeping occupied with useful activities that place demands on our energies and abilities.
There is no such thing as a happy alcoholic who is still drinking. There are also recovering people who have not yet found happiness. But the program unlocks the happiness, and we do have members whose happiness is an example to others.
I can be happy one day at a time. I will make the choice to be happy today, and to let tomorrow come in its own time. Nothing can interfere with today’s happiness.
It’s easy to feel grateful when we receive a raise, meet the love of our life or watch our children succeed, but spiritual gratitude is not
circumstantial. It arises from a true knowing that God is our Source. We can feel thankful for every day, even in the middle of life’s challenges.
–Mary Manin Morrissey
Praise the young and they will flourish.
–Irish Proverb
Action eradicates fear. No matter what you fear, positive, self-affirming action can diminish or completely cancel that which you
are fearful of.
–Mark Victor Hansen
Walk in Dry Places
Tough Honesty?
Honesty
The term tough love came into use to describe an attitude that aims to correct bad behavior by refusing to indulge or enable it. In the same way, we must recognize that there’s such a thing as tough honesty when situations require us to deal with unpleasant facts.
One employer liked to compliment his subordinates even for work that he actually considered substandard. Later on, however, he would express his real opinions to an intermediate supervisor, who would then be forced to convey the bad news to the workers involved. The employer thought he was being kind, when he was actually being deceptive and treacherous simply because he wanted to be liked.
We have a moral obligation to practice though honesty whenever it is required, if something unacceptable needs to be dealt with, we must do so in a timely manner… Taking care to be as reasonable and fair as possible in stating our case.
Being honest in this way with others is also a reminder that we should always be honest with ourselves.
Today I’ll face the need for real honest whenever it’s required. I’ll be upfront with myself and others about anything that must be faced and dealt with. I will not use supposed kindness as an excuse for bearing false witness.
For all my good intentions, there are days when things go wrong or I fall into old habits. When things are not going well, when I’m grumpy or
mad, I’ll realize that I’ve not been paying attention to my soul and I’ve not been following my best routine.
–Robert Fulghum
Everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but
unless we go into every room every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person.
–Unknown
Suffering is no longer a menace to be evaded at any cost. When it does come, no matter how grievously, we realize that it too has its purpose. It is our great teacher because it reveals our defects and so pushes us forward into the paths of progress. The pain of drinking did just this for us. And so can any other pain.
AA Co-Founder, Bill W., November 1958, Editorial, AA Grapevine
Thank you for this, I needed this today! 
Walk in Dry Places
Dealing with Fear
Challenges
Some of us suffer from a free-floating anxiety that is like a general fear, while others have specific fears that cause distress. Sometimes the specific fears are easier to face, because they can at least be identified. Most of us dread that other kind— a sort of general apprehension that things are not well or that something very bad is about to happen.
It’s reasonable to have some fear when facing trouble or risk. It’s unreasonable, however, to let fear keep us from acting in our own best interests. A review of the past may show that may of us did that while drinking-- and brought even more calamities upon ourselves.
Whatever the fear, the answer is always the same. We must apply our principles to the problem, take ay reasonable action and then place the outcome in God’s hands. No person can do more than this.
This will not bring permanent victory over fear. It will however, give us confidence in the program as a tool for dealing with fears that arise in the future.
I may have to deal with fear today, but I will accept it as part of the human condition. I know that I have great spiritual resources to deal with any fear that might arise, and this gives me confidence and reassurance.
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
–Anne Bradstreet
We can find no better insurance policy, than working a diligent program.
Today I feel my entire body energized by my powerful positive, thoughts. I feel alive and full of joy as I feed myself with loving and positive energy.
–Ruth Fishel
Walk in Dry Places
Did I have a dysfunctional family?
Healing the Past.
We hear much about the long-term effects of growing up in a dysfunctional family. Many alcoholics, in fact, have bitter memories of their own parents’ drinking, and may feel this caused needless deprivation and misery.
Whether our families were dysfunctional or not, we must agree that most of our parents did the best they could. We cannot bring back the past---- nor can they, ----and it is best released, forgiven, and forgotten. Our wisest course is to use the tools of the program to reach the maturity and well-being that will bring happiness into our own lives. This will not happen, however, if we believe that growing up in a dysfunctional home has left us permanently impaired.
In our fellowship, we can find endless examples of people who used the Twelve Steps to overcome all kinds of emotional and physical disabilities. Just when we start thinking something in our past is a permanent handicap, we meet other people who survived the same bitter experiences and are living life to the fullest. They’ve cleared away the wreckage of their past in order to build wisely for the future.
I’ll remember today that I am not bound or limited by anything that was ever done or said to me. I face the day with self-confidence and a sense of expectancy, knowing that I am really a fortunate person with many reasons to be grateful.
Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life.
–John Homer Miller
A happy life is made up of little things . . . a gift sent, a letter written, a call made, a recommendation given, transportation provided, a cake made, a book lent, a check sent.
–Carol Holmes
We need to let the old go, so the new can emerge.
–Peggy Bassett
