I think where this gets out of hand is when others feel its it being forced fed down their throats.It can come across as being judgemental.For example,If you dont go to NA/AA you are going to relapse and be miserable in your recovery.It takes on a right wing religious tone which can be a big turn off.Its a program of attraction not promotion.It doesnt make one any better than if they have chosen some other alternative to stay clean.
Personaly,I did start there and it helped me.It introduced me to other people who shared some of the same experiences I did.The twelve steps were like doing therapy.I think what happens is that some people take it to the same degree as right wing Christians who feel they must go out and save the world and this is the only way.Its black and white and there is no grey areas.
I really think if you are a member of a 12th step program and are comfortable with it,you will not feel the need to proselytize it.
The program helped me look into some other things I had always closed my mind to.Like Buddhism.I dont condiser myself a Buddhist but I can see a lot of things I like about it.I also read "A Course In Miracles" and have listened to some CDs of Carolyn Myss.The great thing Im finding is that they all are conveying similar messages, and I think thats pretty cool.
I want to be happy in this life and for me that does mean living chemicaly free.
I hope each year I live I can continue to open my mind to new things.
Man,if you have found a way to get out of the hell of addiction and it doesnt follow the status-quo, more power to you.
I think people who are truly comfortable with their sobriety dont need to convince anyone of anything.Theyve found the answers for themselves.
This is my two cents.
Tim, good post. My story is for the first three months i was totally researching who, what, when, where why and how. The more info I had the more I understood why. I was very self absorbed.
The following three months, I have been trying so hard to live normally with the knowledge I have obtained in the first three months. Lets face it, it is a different way of living. Being single parent and throwing meetings in there just isn't time in my schedule.
I am NOT wavering on my sobriety. Unlike the first three months, if I concentrate on it now it appears to almost be a trigger, like your making it bigger than what it is. I feel life should be first. JMO
The following three months, I have been trying so hard to live normally with the knowledge I have obtained in the first three months. Lets face it, it is a different way of living. Being single parent and throwing meetings in there just isn't time in my schedule.
I am NOT wavering on my sobriety. Unlike the first three months, if I concentrate on it now it appears to almost be a trigger, like your making it bigger than what it is. I feel life should be first. JMO
For me, and only me, (my disclaimer is I am not pointing any fingers at anyone), I need to keep my sobriety first and foremost in my life. With that comes my conscious contact with God, prayer and meditation because when I forget that I am an addict, I get loaded. That is my experience. I have tried various different avenues to achieve "balance" in my life and the only thing that has ever given me the peace of mind I have today are 12 step meetings, working with others and working the 12 steps. I know this is not the only way to stay clean and I realize other people have different paths to take. I am confident that when we open ourselves up to a Power Greater than Ourselves, more is revealed. I also feel that exercise is a huge player in maintaining a healthy mind and body. I have tried not going to meetings, drinking, Hypnotism etc and I, personally, got loaded.
Rachel
Rachel
Honesty, open-mindedness & willingness
Critical to recovery!!!!
Tim & Rachel - So very well said!!! My thoughts exactly!!
Someone once said to me that recovery comes first - anything I put in front of my recovery will be the first thing I will lose. I often feel selfish that NA takes my time away from other things that are important to me, but those things will be lost if I relapse.
Personally, I DO have another relapse in me - - but I do NOT have another recovery in me!!!! I remind myself of that daily.....
Critical to recovery!!!!
Tim & Rachel - So very well said!!! My thoughts exactly!!
Someone once said to me that recovery comes first - anything I put in front of my recovery will be the first thing I will lose. I often feel selfish that NA takes my time away from other things that are important to me, but those things will be lost if I relapse.
Personally, I DO have another relapse in me - - but I do NOT have another recovery in me!!!! I remind myself of that daily.....
For those of you interseted in the controversy of aa/na other programs, you should go to pillanonymous.com and look at the thread called "Club or cult?" It is a thread of more than 125 posts and counting. A guy called Dante who says he is a shrink who got addicted to pain pills started the thread, being a PA place, the old members went WILD...He did sort of insult parts of the program but it is a pretty interesting perspective. He is clean now for something like 5 years...Talk about wild debates!!!
Rachel-Im glad you brought up the exercise .Its what balances everything with me.I know you do yoga and that was something I strated doing last August.I remember my first classes because I was the only guy in there and I have been weight training for years.I kind of had an attitude that because I was fairly muscular that this was going to be a piece of cake.HA!! It took me two months to finnaly do the plow. and the wheel pose.I was more embarrased than anything else.Nothing has done more to help my surfing than yoga.I even quit lifting so heavy at the gym.Bigger muscles and yoga didnt mix well with me.
Now,I try to do a 15-18 minute cycle every morning.
I even found that I could pray while doing yoga.The sun salutations are kind of a welcoming and thamks to God for a new day.
Do you do it on the beach where you live? God, I would love to be able to do that.
Thanks for your input,man.Your like one of these beacons around here.
Now,I try to do a 15-18 minute cycle every morning.
I even found that I could pray while doing yoga.The sun salutations are kind of a welcoming and thamks to God for a new day.
Do you do it on the beach where you live? God, I would love to be able to do that.
Thanks for your input,man.Your like one of these beacons around here.
Hi Tim:
I usually just go to the gym because I am doing a lot of cardio and weights, right now. I haven't been going to Yoga but I love when I do. Different exercise routines are always cyclical for me but it is mandatory in my life. The only time I have not exercised is when I was loaded. There are things that I do on a daily basis that make my day run smoother and exercise along with prayer and meditation are key. I always get something out of your posts and I really appreciate you being here :-) I live on the beach but I haven't been running so I haven't been taking advantage of the serenity that accompanies working out in the sand. PS, my niece was comapred to "Blue Crush" in the newspaper today! She made the Pipeline section.
Rachel
I usually just go to the gym because I am doing a lot of cardio and weights, right now. I haven't been going to Yoga but I love when I do. Different exercise routines are always cyclical for me but it is mandatory in my life. The only time I have not exercised is when I was loaded. There are things that I do on a daily basis that make my day run smoother and exercise along with prayer and meditation are key. I always get something out of your posts and I really appreciate you being here :-) I live on the beach but I haven't been running so I haven't been taking advantage of the serenity that accompanies working out in the sand. PS, my niece was comapred to "Blue Crush" in the newspaper today! She made the Pipeline section.
Rachel
Recovery is freakin' hard work, it's the hardest thing I've done since giving birth to a 9 pound baby. LOL
PS, my niece was comapred to "Blue Crush" in the newspaper today! She made the Pipeline section.
I guess a posted picture would be out of the question.LOL
thats really awesome,she must be good.You know where she will end up if she has that talent.Northshore.Thats exciting.I want all the details.
I guess a posted picture would be out of the question.LOL
thats really awesome,she must be good.You know where she will end up if she has that talent.Northshore.Thats exciting.I want all the details.
wonderwoman,
I'm right there with you except I gave birth to a 10 lb 8 oz baby!!!
And I only weighed 104 lbs at my first pre-natal Dr visit!!!
AAARRRGGGHHHHH - that was some major pain!!!!!
:-)
I'm right there with you except I gave birth to a 10 lb 8 oz baby!!!
And I only weighed 104 lbs at my first pre-natal Dr visit!!!
AAARRRGGGHHHHH - that was some major pain!!!!!
:-)
Ouch ! High five !
My baby girl = so worth it !
My Recovery = so worth it !
My baby girl = so worth it !
My Recovery = so worth it !
