The ABC's of Recovery

[MajestyJo]

P is for Play. Have fun. Recovery is serious business, but we don't have to take ourselves so seriously. What do you like to do? You will be surprised as to what you can do clean and sober, and enjoy it too.

[MajestyJo]

Q is for Quick. There is no hurry, no race to run, but if you don't start going to meetings, quickly, you could relapse. It is important to be quick about finding a sponsor, even if it is a temporary sponsor, until you find the one you think you need. you have to be so quick with the Steps, that you don't get the complete message. It doesn't help to skimp over them unless your are prepared to go back and do the Step again. We only get what we put into our recovery.

[MajestyJo]

R is for Rooms. There is recovery to be found in the meeting rooms of the different Fellowships. Sometimes we can go to one Fellowship and get what you need, while others find help in other rooms. In early recovery, I went to the rooms of AA at least once a day. On Monday, Tuesday, and Friday to the rooms of NA. On Monday and Wednesday, I went to Al-Anon.

I went to AA for my denial, I went to NA for identification, I always knew I was an addict. And when I went to Al-Anon, I found myself and dealt with old tapes and childhood issues. I found myself in the rooms of recovery.

[MajestyJo]

S is for Serenity. When I think of serenity, it means being at peace within myself.

Just going through the day, going where my God leads, I find that calm amongst the turmoil. I got the thought today to stop and rest when i got off the bus and went to mall. I stopped beside my bank, with no thought of going in and then I thought of a question I had with my bank statement, and went in to see what I did wrong and it was my fault. I get that good orderly direction, it depends on whether I choose to listen to it. If I don't most times the Serenity goes out the window.

[MajestyJo]

T is for Trust. We tend to take things for granted. We don't always test things out, we just go head long into things and expect them always to be the same. It doesn't always happen that way. Things change, we change, and we often have to rebuild our trust, looking at reality and removing the blanket of denial.

[MajestyJo]

U is for Unity. This is a WE program. We celebrate our recovery and we are there for each other. One addict/alcoholic sharing with another addict/alcoholic. We can do what I can't do alone.

[MajestyJo]

V is for Vote. Cast your vote for the Fellowship that works for you. They say you should have no outside interests. We need to focus on our recovery.

The squirrel says to gather what you need and make your place safe to store them in.

[MajestyJo]

W is Wait. The Bible says, "Wait on the Lord." Wait for the Good Orderly Direction from your Higher Power. Don't try to make things happen. They are sure to go astray. All of a sudden the Light will go on, and you will know what to do. If in doubt, don't. Wait until the time is right.

[MajestyJo]

X is for 'Xtra. When you are feeling over emotional, especially if you are down in the dumps, go to eXtra meetings.

When you are coming up on an anniversary, go to eXtra meetings, especially to those you went to in early recovery to show gratitude fpr those who were put in your path.

When you need an attitude adjustment, go to eXtra meetings.

It probably would hurt to call your sponsor and do some Step work.

[MajestyJo]

Y is for Yes. You don't have to say "Yes" when you mean to say "No." You don't have to say "Yes, when you need to say "No." Say "Yes" when you mean it.

Just because you have learned to say "No" doesn't mean you always have to say it, don't for get "Yes."
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[MajestyJo]

Z is for Zzzzzzs. Try to get as much rest as you can, even if you can't sleep. Sleep or lack of sleep, can be a real issue in recovery.

[MajestyJo]

A is for Attempt. All we can do is attempt to be the best that we can be. Sometimes we exceed and other times we fall short of our expectations, but the important thing is that we try.

I can't just sit back and say, "I can't." I at least to make an attempt to start to work the program in all my affairs.

[MajestyJo]

B is for Beware. Be aware of all the beauty around you. Beware of energies around you that are negative. Don't take on something that doesn't belong to you. Some people tend to project their stuff onto you and if you are not in a good space to receive it, set a boundary and detach.

[MajestyJo]

C is for Care. Take care of yourself. Top yourself up and then you have something in the tank to give to others.

[MajestyJo]

D is for DOG. DOG is part of what I call the God/Dog syndrome. Good orderly direction from a group of drunks/drug addicts/Divine Order Good.

When you look for the 'Divine orderly good' each day, you can't go too far wrong.