Trudging the Road of Happy Destiny

Dictionary
trudge
verb [ intrans. ]
walk slowly and with heavy steps, typically because of exhaustion or harsh conditions : I trudged up the stairs | she trudged through blinding snow.

trudge | noun
a difficult or laborious walk : he began the long trudge back.

DERIVATIVES
trudger | noun -- ORIGIN mid 16th cent.(as a verb): of unknown origin.

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Thesaurus
trudge | verb
they trudged through two miles of wet snow plod, tramp, tromp, drag oneself, walk heavily, walk slowly, plow, slog, toil, trek; informal traipse, galumph.

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Could this be the manner in which we attain our slobriety?? Absolutely! It's good to have the official definitions for phrases & terminology we use so frequently and oft too loosely. Personally, I love this trudge. It's definitely preferrable to the slow, inexorable decay of addiction & alcoholism. May I find many more of us while trudging the road of happy destiny. May God bless you & keep you... until then!

Daily Reflection for 12/28/05 "...Until We Came To Believe."

"...Until We Came To Believe."

The love of God and man we understood not at all. Therefore we remained self-deceived, and so incapable of receiving enough grace to restore us to sanity.

12 and 12 / Page 32

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Mired in the darkness of alcoholism & addiction, I know that I was far too miserably demoralized to even consider the possibility that there was grace or love in the world. There definitely was no love for me. Who would love me??

That was my mistake.

After going through drug rehab and then learning the principles of the program, I've learned that there is so much love I don't know what to do with it all. In fact, I've learned that it is better to give love than to receive it, and that there is plenty of love to go around!!

The love of God and man indeed. Please stick around to see the miracle--you will, if you are honest!

Daily Reflection for 12/20/05 "...Continuing to Take..."

"...The Next Indicated Direction."

Some of us had already walked far over the Bridge of Reason toward the desired shore of faith. The outline and the promise of the New Land had brought luster to tired eyes and fresh courage to flagging spirits.

Page 53

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Alcoholics & Addicts are a stubborn & resilient bunch, aren't we? How much reinforcement do we need before we are willing to believe that life can be good? That life can get better? Personally, I had to go "To Hell & Back" (as my friend Pax puts it in his dad's book about The Alcoholism & Addiction Cure), before I was able to even consider the "New Land". All of us who ultimately "got it" had to go to our own personal Hell before we were willing to listen.

But that's not necessarily what the book says! The book says "The outline and the promise...", not the "touch & feel" of the new land. That was enough to get us to keep going. Just the outline and the promise. Nothing more. Upon reflection it's amazing to me how little is really asked of us. We're not commanded to do anything, we're not given any edicts, rules, obligations or duties. Just the tiniest bit of open-mindedness and the most rigorous honesty & willingness are needed.

To me, this passage is about maintenance of a drug and alcohol-free life, nothing more. It's about Continuing to take the next right action (or indicated direction). Don't stop! We're on the right path--Stay the course!

I have full faith that we can all make it if we're willing to follow a simple program and be rigorously honest about a few simple steps. Who's with me??

Have a great day...
*AP

Daily Reflection for 12/16/05: "...A Power..."

"..A Power...Greater Than Myself."

...we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect justice, forgiveness and love was healthy, and that it could work where nothing else would.

12 and 12 / Page 116

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Wow, what a thought. Coming to believe is exactly what needed to happen, because belief wasn't instantaneous by any stretch. It was gradual and slow, and then eventually (before I knew it) I was filled with incredible power to belive and manifest whatever I wanted. Why? Because I had the independence I never had before. I was able to depend on the perfect justice of the Universe to let everything happen in exactly the way it should.

On another thought, I want to apologize for not having posted these in a while, if there is anyone that's actually looking for these. I recently searched for "daily reflections" on Google, looking for another possible source for these things. Guess what? This very blog came up on my search as a possible source for daily reflections. It was at that moment that I felt this was an obligation, no longer a hobby or an experiment for those suffering from drug abuse or alcoholism.

From now on, I will not only enhance the colors and the layout, but I will also be adding significantly more resources and subjects. These posts will fall under the "AA Daily Reflections" category.

Be well! & Keep Coming Back (please) :-)

Daily Reflection for 11/29/05

"Our Right Actions...Promise Enhanced Thinking."

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Then comes the day when, finally freed in large degree from rebellion, we practice humility because we deeply want it as a way of life.
As Bill Sees It / Page 211

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Daily Reflection for 11/23/05

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"Look to Ourselves...To Retain The Peace."

"It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us.

If somebody hurts us and we are sore, we are in the wrong also. We have found that justified anger ought to be left to those better qualified to handle it."
12 and 12 / Page 90

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I remember being really angry when I first used to hear about this principal. I remember being angry about not being able to be angry. Who's going to tell me whether or not I can be angry? What does being an alcoholic or a drug addict have to do with any of this? Could this be part of the craziness that goes on in a Drug Rehab Facility??

I was way to wrapped up in myself to know anything at all. The point wasn't whether or not I had the right to be angry about something. Of course I had the right to be angry about anything I wanted. The point was that it wasn't worth the time or effort. Anger wasn't worth the time or effort because the stakes are so incredibly high for a drug addict & alcoholic.

I just don't have the luxury of being incredibly & justifiably angry anymore because that leads to ego which leads to the delusion that I can drink and/or use drugs again.

"The persistence of the illusion is astonishing" it says in Chapter 5, How it Works. Indeed. When astonished by something and in need of help, it's probably a good idea to go to those who are familiar with the problem, able & willing to help. In my case, it meant going to alcohol & drug rehab. Thank goodness!

Daily Reflection for 11/22/05

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"It Works... If You Work It."

Courtesy, kindness, justice, and love are the keynotes by which we may come into harmony with practically anybody. When in doubt we can always pause saying, "Not my will, but Thine, be done." And we can often ask ourselves, "Am I doing to others as I would Have them do to me -- today?"

12 and 12 / Page 93

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How true this is. I know that I was nowhere close to the end of my drug abuse & drinking until I was absolutely ready to do anything and everything it took. I was ready to work the program because I knew I had no other choices, no other options. I'm not perfect--in fact I'm the furthest from perfect of anyone I know. But I'm trying and I'm always getting better to the best of my ability. Drugs & Alcohol no longer play a part in my life. What more can you ask for?
:)
*AP

Daily Reflection for 11/21/05

Today is My Father's Birthday. I want to thank him & my Mom for the dedication and unconditional love they provided me during my darkest hours. Not only did they get me into an incredible drug & alcohol rehab twice, but they did so with no reservations about what others might think or say. That was the "first step" in my just getting to a place where I would have the chance to embark upon my own recovery.

The Lighter Side of Recovery From Drug & Alcohol Addiction

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During my early recovery from drug & alcohol addiction, my Dad often provided much-needed humor when I was nothing but down & depressed. These days, there is certainly no shortage of laughter; my friends & I laugh like fools and love it.

I came across this poem recently from a good friend of mine in recovery. Perhaps it will provide a nice sentiment for someone else who needs it.

Sober Eyes

I sit here with my sober eyes
And take all of this in
Some guy just fell and pissed himself
Wait…he's back up again.

In the corner this man sits alone
And talks to his shot of Jim Beam
I've lost count of how many he's had
Fifteen or twenty it seems.

One girl is dancing and I'm afraid
Her mirror is telling her lies
For her skirt is struggling to contain
Her "telephone pole-like" thighs.

Has caused her eyes to glaze
Her belt should be given overtime
Or at the very least, a raise.

The alcohol that she's consumed
Has caused her eyes to glaze
Her belt should be given overtime
Or at the very least, a raise.

There goes the drunk guy in for the kill
He wants to join in her dance
He hopes she's as drunk as he is
For maybe then, he'd have a chance.

"Play me some Skynard", she screams to the band
And he can't believe what he heard.
For this woman seemed to pierce his soul
By just yelling out, "Freebird!"

She sees him, she smiles, she pulls him in close
For a mate this woman does seek
They'd be dancing cheek to cheek.
It's closing time now and he gives her "the look"
She nods her head yes to the man
They leave the bar, and walk under the stars
Together, hand in hand.

And as I drive home, I can't help but think
As that trailer is rockin' tonight
What will they think of each other…
When they're sober and in the daylight?

Heck, maybe they'll go get married
And maybe they won't say goodbye
They might get matching airbrushed t-shirts
To go with his shiny black eye.

But whatever happens, I'm just glad
That tonight I am alcohol free
Or else someone might be telling a story
About that same lady and me.

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Thanks bud, *AP