Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation - some fact of my life - unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation, as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake.
Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes......
taken from The Big Book (AA) pg. 449
I read this everyday, it helps me alot. Just thought I would post it..
have a great day everyone..
gi
Love this too Gina...thanks for the reminder!
I have read that many times, but I really needed to hear it today. Especially, nothing happens in God's world by mistake. I am going through a break-up and I needed to hear it today.
Gina:
Hi...I have read and re-read and basically I agree with the theory of acceptance. I accept the fact that I am an addict...
I recently developed in the past year serious health issues that affect by way of life...I have been to many doctors and have yet to find an answer. Either one that would allow me to l live with less pain, one that would point in the direction of a physical therapy that would relieve the pain or one that would involve a surgical procedure to correct the problem (nerve compression in my back) I have followed each and every doctors suggestion and find it impossible to accept the fact that I will never walk, run, work, again...I am only in my early 50's and to me right now to accept this is to give up...I find mysellf depressed at the fact that I am going to yet another doctor on Monday at Yale and I always end up in tears upon leaving...
I am not asking you for guidance as far as my condition goes, just how to apply this :acceptance" while living(?) the way I have been since Sept 05...
Thanks for listening,
Jan
Hi...I have read and re-read and basically I agree with the theory of acceptance. I accept the fact that I am an addict...
I recently developed in the past year serious health issues that affect by way of life...I have been to many doctors and have yet to find an answer. Either one that would allow me to l live with less pain, one that would point in the direction of a physical therapy that would relieve the pain or one that would involve a surgical procedure to correct the problem (nerve compression in my back) I have followed each and every doctors suggestion and find it impossible to accept the fact that I will never walk, run, work, again...I am only in my early 50's and to me right now to accept this is to give up...I find mysellf depressed at the fact that I am going to yet another doctor on Monday at Yale and I always end up in tears upon leaving...
I am not asking you for guidance as far as my condition goes, just how to apply this :acceptance" while living(?) the way I have been since Sept 05...
Thanks for listening,
Jan
Hi Jan,
How do I apply this to my daily living? For me I just do the best that I can and just try to stay in the day I'm in. I can't worry what tomorrow will bring because its not here yet. I may not even be alive. If I spend all my time worrying about what is gonna happen tomorrow, next week, next month, etc, then how can I enjoy today? I can't. I can't worry about yesterday, its gone. I can't change a thing about it. Now I cant pretend to know what your feeling or going through right now but I do know a bit about living in pain. I don't talk about it much, but its there with me all the time. You see before my last relapse I hurt my back. It was up in the C7 area , I could not use my arm at all. I was in such excrutiating pain, it was horrible. My only choice was surgery. They did put a metal plate in. I did get the use of my arm back. Not 100% but most of it. For a while I spent not accepting the fact that I wasnt like before. I still have 3 other herniations in that same area. Some days are worse than others. I asked the drs would the same thing happen if those herniations I already have got worse? Considering where they are , they said yes. Only difference is it would effect the left side instead of the right. You see I didnt have an accident when all this happened , I dont even know how I did it. So for a while all I did was worry about what if this happens what will I do? How will I handle this? This pain sucks , I want it to go away.....so when I got clean this time. I finally surrendered. I finally accepted I am an alcoholic/addict. I prayed a hell of a lot. The pain I had first getting sober was horrendous.I needed a job , and I couldnt work. I would read this acceptance every day. I read it in my big book on page 417-420. It helped me alot. I finally accepted it for what it is. I cant sit here and worry about the what ifs. I spent so much time worrying about the what ifs, I couldnt be grateful for what I did have. Plus I also have this thing hanging on my refrigerator..(I read it all the time)..its called And God said No....
There also is book that is good that I read recently called...90 minutes in heaven....its about a pastor that was prounced dead for 90 minutes, its a true story and he talks about acceptance alot. The man was in so much pain, as I read it I thought omg how could any one person go through that much pain and still lean on God...well I kept reading and it was really good...anyway I am not that good at writing anymore ..somewhere I think I lost that ability ...I used to write alot, poetry and all...hope this helps some...
take care and I will keep you in my prayers..
gi
How do I apply this to my daily living? For me I just do the best that I can and just try to stay in the day I'm in. I can't worry what tomorrow will bring because its not here yet. I may not even be alive. If I spend all my time worrying about what is gonna happen tomorrow, next week, next month, etc, then how can I enjoy today? I can't. I can't worry about yesterday, its gone. I can't change a thing about it. Now I cant pretend to know what your feeling or going through right now but I do know a bit about living in pain. I don't talk about it much, but its there with me all the time. You see before my last relapse I hurt my back. It was up in the C7 area , I could not use my arm at all. I was in such excrutiating pain, it was horrible. My only choice was surgery. They did put a metal plate in. I did get the use of my arm back. Not 100% but most of it. For a while I spent not accepting the fact that I wasnt like before. I still have 3 other herniations in that same area. Some days are worse than others. I asked the drs would the same thing happen if those herniations I already have got worse? Considering where they are , they said yes. Only difference is it would effect the left side instead of the right. You see I didnt have an accident when all this happened , I dont even know how I did it. So for a while all I did was worry about what if this happens what will I do? How will I handle this? This pain sucks , I want it to go away.....so when I got clean this time. I finally surrendered. I finally accepted I am an alcoholic/addict. I prayed a hell of a lot. The pain I had first getting sober was horrendous.I needed a job , and I couldnt work. I would read this acceptance every day. I read it in my big book on page 417-420. It helped me alot. I finally accepted it for what it is. I cant sit here and worry about the what ifs. I spent so much time worrying about the what ifs, I couldnt be grateful for what I did have. Plus I also have this thing hanging on my refrigerator..(I read it all the time)..its called And God said No....
There also is book that is good that I read recently called...90 minutes in heaven....its about a pastor that was prounced dead for 90 minutes, its a true story and he talks about acceptance alot. The man was in so much pain, as I read it I thought omg how could any one person go through that much pain and still lean on God...well I kept reading and it was really good...anyway I am not that good at writing anymore ..somewhere I think I lost that ability ...I used to write alot, poetry and all...hope this helps some...
take care and I will keep you in my prayers..
gi
And God said "no"
I asked God to take away my pride
And God said "no"
He said it was not for him to take away,
it was for me to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
And God said "no"
He said his spirit is whole
his body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience.
And God said"no"
He said patience is a by product of tribulations
It isnt granted, it is earned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
And God said "no"
He said he gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain.
And God said"no"
He said suffering draws you apart
from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
And God said'no"
He said I must grown on my own.
But he will prune me to make me fruitful.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
And God said "no"
I asked God to help me LOVE others,
as much as he loves me.
And God said,,,
Ah, finally you have the idea.
written by ~Claudia Weisz~
I forgot to mention that, the place I am at spiritually the pain doesnt seem as bad for me on a daily basis. Its either that or Im dealing with it differently than I did before, not sure on that one.lol My brother and I were talking about this the other day. He is also in recovery coming up on 6 monthes. He has back problems and in pain most of the time. Effects his walking and stuff. He says the same thing about where he is at as well. Being on good spiritual ground makes life and things in life easier to deal with. Anyway just wanted to add that.
gi
gi
Gina:
Thank you so much for answering my post...I was going along alright and had my heart and mind straight and it is time for another appointment with the Docs.
It just gets disheartening...
The prayer you posted? I am going to print it out and post on my fridge too!
I know things could be worse, a lot worse....I do try to count my blessings...everyday..and everyday seeing my grandbabys, trying to follow them around and not being able to anymore...it gets hard ya know...Oh, Gina please do remember me in your prayers...and you will be in mine...
I will be ok if I can get past this weekend and through Mondays' appt.
With much appreciation,
Jan
Thank you so much for answering my post...I was going along alright and had my heart and mind straight and it is time for another appointment with the Docs.
It just gets disheartening...
The prayer you posted? I am going to print it out and post on my fridge too!
I know things could be worse, a lot worse....I do try to count my blessings...everyday..and everyday seeing my grandbabys, trying to follow them around and not being able to anymore...it gets hard ya know...Oh, Gina please do remember me in your prayers...and you will be in mine...
I will be ok if I can get past this weekend and through Mondays' appt.
With much appreciation,
Jan
