We were created fully human. We were given emotions, desires, hopes, dreams, and feelings. There is an alive, excited, fun loving child in us somewhere! Let it come out! Let it come alive! Let it have some fun

A Cup of Tea Nan-in, a
Japanese master during
the Meiji era (1868-1912),
received a university
professor who came to
inquire about Zen. Nan-in
served tea. He poured his
visitor’;s cup full, and then
kept on pouring. The
professor watched the
overflow until he no longer
could restrain himself. “It is
overfull. No more will go
in!” “Like this cup,” Nan-in
said, “you are full of your
own opinions and
speculations. How can I
show you Zen unless you
first empty your cup?”
More like this at;
http://www.101zenstories.
com/

An alcoholic is a sick human being trying to get well, not a bad one trying to be good.
Alcohol is a perfect solvent: It dissolves marriages, families & careers
Alcoholism is a disease that tries to convince you that you don’t have it
An alcoholic is someone whose feet are firmly planted in thin air
Courage is not [...]

Five Finger Prayer
Discovering that she had
trouble remembering to
pray for the needs of
others, we can learn from
this woman who devised a
five-finger prayer memory
trick: THUMB - The woman
explained: “Before I pray, I
hold my hand up in front of
my face, with my thumb
pointing back toward me.
The thumb reminds me to
pray for those closest to
me–my family, my friends,
my neighbors.” INDEX
FINGER - Wiggling her
index finger, she
continued: “Teachers used
to point at us in school, so
as I come to this finger, I
pray for those who have
been my teachers and
spiritual leaders. MIDDLE
FINGER - My

Enabling is doing for others what they are capable of doing for themselves.

How to talk to a woman
who has problems with
alcohol and other drugs If
a friend were sick, you’;d
do everything you could
for her, wouldn’;t you? But
when she shows signs of
having a problem with
alcohol or other drugs, it’;s
hard to know what to do or
say. Yet chemical
dependency is more than
just a problem — it’;s a
medically-proven disease
just like diabetes, cancer
and heart disease — and
it’;s just as life-threatening
if untreated. While the
symptoms of most diseases
are physical, women with
alcoholism and other drug
problems experience
emotional and social
symptoms as well, often
hurting their friends and

 
Alcoholics Anonymous Founder’s House Is a Self-Help Landmark
By LISA W. FODERARO, Published: July 6, 2007
BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y., July 3 — The house tour was nearing an end in this Westchester County hamlet, in a region known for its historic sites, from pre-Revolutionary grist mills to Gilded Age mansions. But as the visitors entered the austere [...]

Meditate to concentrate
12-Step members will know that the 11th Step suggests the practice of meditation as an aid to recovery. Now science is catching up with ancient spiritual knowledge. Living in this present moment can be achieved by regular meditation and ’mindfulness’ training.
Penn researchers demonstrate improved attention with mindfulness training
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania [...]

One day at a time sharing
experience, strength and
hope Any member of a 12-
Step fellowship will tell you
of the benefits of ‘sharing’;
their feelings with other
sufferers. This study
proves what they have
known all along that a
problem shared is a
problem halved. The other
study gives support to the
principle of living ‘One day
at a time’;. Putting feelings
into words produces
therapeutic effects in the
brain University of
California - Los Angeles
Why does putting our
feelings into words - talking
with a therapist or friend,
writing in a journal - help us
to feel better” A new brain
imaging study by UCLA
psychologists reveals why
verbalizing our feelings

Forgiveness is the art of releasing resentment
One day, long after their abusive father died, Kate asked her brother Kevin how he felt about their painful childhood. "I can’t condone how we were treated," said Kevin, "but I’ve finally forgiven dad."
Kate was astonished. "Not me. I’m so consumed with rage and hatred, I don’t think I’ll [...]