sarahjangel1

Today I thank God for: waking up, the air I breath, my mother and her love for me with all my flaws, my sobriety, my sobriety, the program for teaching me that no matter where we grew up or how we lived - we are all the same. I am thankful for the fellowship of recovering addicts- that I don't know what I'd do without. The 3rd tradition says"the ONLY requirement for membership is the desire to stop using" There is no certain way to work the program-we do what is best for us. NA is a fellowship of freedom,we work the program the best way for us, all we need is the desire...and I am thankful that I have the desire. Every day I wake up with the desire to not use, just for today. All I have to do is stay clean, just for today. If it weren't for people and God who believed in me, when I didn't , I wouldn't be where I am at today.. I will keep coming back!

sarahjangel1

Thank you...for restoring my mind...God can remedy our madness and restore our life to be even better than it was before our season of insanity. He will do so, if we ask. Thank you God for giving me the program. Thank you for giving me the faith to take hold of my recovery and not let go. Thank you for the courage to let go and let God...only you can restore my sanity. Thank you for filling the empty places in my heart. Thank you for the fellowship of the program. There are so many wonderful people in the program...so many have helped me. Thank you for the counselors I've seen and told my deepest secrets to and they didn't judge me. They led me to where I needed to go. Sometimes holding my hand, sometimes letting me go like a small child learning to walk. Just thank you for everything....thank you most of all for taking the pain away...and turning it into love..love for you, my family, my fellowship of recovering addicts and alcoholics,..and for those I don't know...may you touch their heart as you did mine.....

sarahjangel1

I thank You for.... wanting It...sobriety. I give thanks for so many things..but the number 1 thing is wanting to stay clean & sober. I want it..I want to always have it..I am so glad to be sober today. It seems like the sun is brighter, the trees are taller, .... it's so wonderful to wake up knowing that God loves me so much that He gave me another chance. I know so many that perished because of that next bag.. I don't want to hurt anymore. I know the only way not to , is to stay clean. I have a new purpose today. I have so much more to offer now. I have developed a wholesomeness of spirit and a peace of mind that moves my recovery into a whole new realm.

Just for today..my motives have changed...I want to do things for the right reasons...I will try not to be selfish...I will extend my hands to God and another suffering addict....

sarahjangel1

Today is a new day... I am so thankful for recovery..it is so much more than just pleasure, for me, today...it is the light beyond the clouds...the reward for the work I've honestly put in to get and keep it,..."We are grateful that we were made so welcome at meetings that we felt comfortable."
Basic text p.80
Today I am grateful for acceptance...accepting my feelings,no matter what they are, just as they are...faith...believing in myself and my Higher Power even when the road to recovery get tough, my faith will grow...honesty..being honest with myself,my sponsor, my program, my God...honesty is the key to a new way of life...open-mindedness...to change my old ways of thinking,opening my mind to believe and find the help I need to stay clean....and willingness....to do anything to stay clean, with surrender my faith will grow. Willing to try new things will make anything seem possible.....just for today....I WILL BE GRATEFUL...

Time2Surrender

Nice post Sarah Thanks

sarahjangel1

Today I am so thankful for....church...When I was growing up, like many, in a very disfunctional family. It was a big polish family. But so much neglect and abuse, along with alot of drinking. We weren't really raised religious..but I've always felt something spiritual inside me. With all the bad things that happened, in the bottom of my soul, I've always had hope...maybe it was God always there protecting me, I don't know. But I am so thankful for it...it could have always been worse..instead of looking at the bad, like I did for so many years, today I look at the good....maybe I could help someone, like I try to always do. 'One addict helping another addict is without parrell.' Today I am so thankful for what I do have. I don't need much...I am rather simple these days..I am thankful that I have my mother, she turned her life around and she is amazing...I'm thankful that I can still walk, for now. Oh, you are probably wondering about that...I have perminent nerve damage in my legs, due to the exsessive abuse of alcohol...in 5 years I may not be able to walk...but, it is okay today...Just for today, it's okay, I can walk....I am thankful for my life...I have a second chance to do the right thing...and I will follow my program to the best of my ability....

sarahjangel1

Today I give thanks..to so many things...also, for the memories...Yes, thats what I said. The memories. I am learning to use my pain, as a motivator. What would we do if we didn't have memories? Nothing to reflect on? Nothing to learn from? Nothing to mature us? Nothing to sculpt us into who we are now? If I had a choice of erasing all my memories, good and bad, or not having any, what would I do? I would keep them all. Even the ones that sometimes haunt my thoughts. Yes sometimes it hurts so bad, especially to think about my kids. But, you know what? I don't always think about them being taken by their father, I think about when they were babies, and the silly things that they did. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I smile. But today, I have hope. I have hope that someday they will find their way back to me. I know it to be true. I have faith that God will reunite us again, someday. When the time is right. So today, I choose not to use because of it..I choose sobriety because someday might be today. Only God knows when, I just have to be prepared for it...so if you think you have a reason to use...look hard at the reasons you shouldn't....with that...I will keep coming back.

sarahjangel1

Today I am grateful that....I'm free to be who I am.Today I see that my life is up to me. I have another chance to be who I choose to be. How I choose to live,what I accomplish,how I conduct my intimate relationships and how I treat myself,are all in my own hands.I am no longer afraid...of life.Of myself.Of what others want me to be or I should be.I am strong today, I am ready to meet any obstacles...I am strongly aware that I can live my life,as I choose to live it.I have been willing to walk a path of recovery that, though difficult,has built a strength in me and a knowledge that I can survive my most painful feelings.I have met and tamed the monsters that live inside of me.

I'm comfortable in my own skin.Are you?

sarahjangel1

You know everyday I try to think of what I want to type here in this thread and I've come to the conclusion that:I am just grateful. I'm just grateful for life. The good and the bad. The beautiful and the ugly....I'm not living on a cloud or anything.Let me explain:
I've lost count how many times I have been to hell and back.How many bad days of my 34 years I've lived. More bad, then good....until, I became sober. Each day I am allowed to live again. However I choose too. What ever my dreams are-I can now make them come true. No, it's not easy to start over. Believe me, it's been hard as hell. But with every step forward I take, it seems like the path opens wider and the possibilities are greater. Today I can literally wake up and smell the beautiful roses....because my life.....is what I make of it today....Just for today...I WILL LIVE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE....

sarahjangel1

:na2 As long as we maintain an attitude of thankfulness for being clean,we find it easier to remain clean.The best way to express gratitude is by carrying the message of our experience,strength,and hope to the still-suffering addict....

Today I am grateful...and I choose to reach out to those who still suffer.Why? I was given another chance to live because someone reached out for me. I have done my share of suffering. You would be surprised to know, how low I had actually gone.So I understand...and now I am humble. I thank God for every breath I take...He made me who I am today..and I am learning to love myself again.I smile and laugh....something I never did in my addiction...so I say to you...if you want to use..DON'T! There is help everywhere....call the hotline if you need to..I have..and there was a wonderful friend on the other end.....Give your self a break..GET CLEAN...with that......I'll keep coming back..

sarahjangel1

Hello world! Yes, it is a wonderful day...although, some would be upset if they had gotten the news that I just got. If you have been reading some of my threads prior to this one, you would know that I have severe nerve damage in my legs and feet due to my abuse of alcohol and other drugs...YES you can get nerve damage of the legs and feet. It is very rare. But I got it.Anyway, today I went to the specialist, and guess what he told me? No, through all the therapy and medication, the damage hasn't changed..Actually, it has gotten worse...but today, it's okay. The sun is shining and I am clean. That is all that matters, me being clean. I praise God everyday. So,those of you out there feeling sorry for yourself-WAKE UP! Stop, it could be worse....... Take the pain, and making it work for my recovery....no matter what...I am grateful and staying clean.... I'll keep coming back....

sarahjangel1

Hi...I'm Angel, and I am an addict...Isn't that what we all say at the meetings we attend? And sometimes, I've heard, it gets so monotinous.But, what we need to keep in mind, is the fact that when we say it..we need to remember the hell we went through. Don't get caught up in the routine. Be grateful and remember, what you had come from and where you are going. I do. I have to, I can't ever forget the 2nd chance God gave me. So, for yourself, the newcomer, and God, be grateful that you are one of the ones that made it through addictions grip and on the road of recovery.. I am...so grateful, that I made it and I'm clean today...thats all it takes..be grateful just for today..worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.. with that....clean & serene....Just for today...

sarahjangel1

I am saying ...

"We find that when we lose self-obsession,we are able to understand what it means to be happy,joyous,and free." Basic text p.103

The laughter in our meetings often surprises the newcomer.As a group,we appreciate the healing that healthy laughter brings.Even if we are deeply troubled,the joy that often fills the meeting rooms allows us,for a time,to have some fun with our recovery.An ability to find humor in a difficult situation is a gift to develop.
You know, when I go to my home meeting. Often I am very troubled, but as soon as I walk in,I am immefdiately at ease.Why? Well, we laugh, share,hug, and these people are my family.We learn and grow together. We are from all walks of life, with many different addictions. But, we are all the same in those rooms...and laughter is our best medicine...Try and find a little humor..it might make it a little lighter on your shoulders....

sarahjangel1

As I was sitting here,I was thinking about what am I grateful for today..was it getting up at 5am and going to work? Was it working hard and running around all day? Was it coming home and doing the laundry and cooking and cleaning after work? Was it having a nice meal with my loved ones? Was it being a listening friend to someone that was very sad? Was it taking a long bath? Was it , doing all those things,for all those people, without thinking about myself? YES,YES,YES!!!!Today I am thankful that I can do all those things,being very tired, and still have a smile on face, sitting here and typing for you...I think about all the things I accomplished today and still am ready to reach out to you...are you ready to have a wonderful,full,rewarding, life? If you are....stay clean..JUST FOR TODAY...

sarahjangel1

Gratitude:Quality of being grateful,an emotion of the heart,excited by a favor received;thankfulness

Are we grateful for today? Do we remember to thank God for each clean day,no matter what has happened that day?Do we remember that,no matter how deep our despair or how great our joy,God is with us?Our recovery is a gift,a gift that we sometimes take for granted.Each day we stay clean,we can rejoice in God's care.

Just for today:I am grateful for my relationship with God that cares for me.

sarahjangel1

You know I read alot of books and articles about addiction. I guess its my program and I thats how it works for me. We all have the will and power to deside what we want to do with our life. I am grateful for the choice that God gave me.If He didn't give us free will to choose,bad or good,...how would we learn and grow?? It wasn't meant to be a perfect world...and noone has the perfect life..but there are so many choices that we have.When I got clean, it was almost as if I was born again..the possibilities are endless..they say:"Faith without works is dead." I thank God that He gave me the opportunity to put His will before my own. And unless you have some sort of spiritual program....and surrender to it, you will never stay clean and reap what you sow. Think about it, is it worth everything you could have,just to get high????

Just for today: I thank God, for all He has given me..and His love..

sarahjangel1

Today I got out of work early. At first,I wasn't very happy about it. But then, when I got home, I thought more about it. See, the last few days I have been in extreme pain with my legs.It's been very hard for me to walk. And as stubborn as I am, I still went to work today,in pain. I know I shouldn't have. Well, God did for me what I wouldn't do for myself. I got off early, very surprising,I never get off early.So the lesson here is; no matter what we think we should do or have to do, God's will comes first. My life, my pain, my cravings,my sadness,....everything has to offered to Him and He'll take away the bad, and leave me the good...even though sometimes, I think I know it all...He always shows me, who is exactly in charge...so for you, that are still active in your addiction, take note; ask and you will be given..I am thankful that God steps in when I am too proud & in need..with that I will keep coming back...

sarahjangel1

:present: As long as I maintain an attitude of thankfulness for being clean,I find it easier to remain clean...today it is not about what I can't do. Its about what God wants me to do. Today, I am thankful I have a purpose. God has a plan for me. I am only alive because He reached out and saved me. I am thankful today because, I just am. I am alive. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. God has a purpose for me. I don't know what it is, just yet. But He will reveal it to me, when the time is right. Until then, I will stay humbled and full of gratitude....

sarahjangel1

......that I have so many choices, that I am making decisions about how I want to live my life, and...I could now dream of what I want to become...
Love doesn't hurt...
It starts with me...
I have to forgive myself first....

You could be anything you want to be...anything you want to do...being an addict is not a bad thing....recovery makes anything possible....just take it - one step at a time...have faith...and dream....I am going back to school, what are you doing with today, and the rest of your life???

sarahjangel1

:scratchch You know, I was thinking about my loved ones. And I am not perfect, I never claim to be. Every day I make bad decisions. But at least, I make decisions.Some of my choices are not so good. I get fustrated sometimes. I had put my family thru so much, especially my mother, and she still loves me unconditionally. How could she? I sometimes ask myself. But, I know those days I feel sorry for myself, I have to pray. Thats the only thing that will help me those days. My point is, I am so thankful that my mother and the rest of my family, still loves me. And she is so proud of me. Yes, my mother nags also, just like yours. But I am thankful for that. I am thankful that she is so proud of me and cries in joy for me. It is so touching. Did I tell you? My mother is sick. She has a real bad heart. And I know I am going to lose my best friend soon. I would give my life for hers. She has been my rock. She is my sponsor. Yes, I know that is unusual, but my mother is a recovering addict/alcoholic, she has been clean for 18 years......Today and everyday....thank you God for the love you've given me back.....with that encouragement, I will keep coming back...