So have you come to the point in your life where you're finally ready to be a part of the solution and not the problem? we have got to surrender to realize that we have a disease that's called Addiction and the problem is US. we attend our 1st meeting of NA or AA and ask ourselves i am not like these people i am unique and i don't need this crap. why do these people all want to hug me for? why do they keep telling me to keep coming back. they tell you this so you can find abstinence from all mind and mood altering substances. we come because the insanity is to the point where we cannot control our using. we have destroyed our lives and the lives of those around us. we have lost so much and we FEAR that we can never get those that we've lost back in our lives.

to find peace and serenity in our lives takes a lot of hard work with not only our sponsors but with God. we become spiritual. we get our self esteem under control. we realize that we are truly becoming better people. it takes time to acheive these things we so desperatly want over night. do not expect instant results and gratification. we develop an Attitude of Graditude, we all share the same goal getting clean and staying clean. we make sacrifices for our Recovery. It has got to be the most important thing in your life. it comes ahead of spouses, significant others, our children, our jobs, and anything else on the ladder of life. Our thinking has got to change because nothing changes if we as individuals don't change it.

So we ask ourselves why do we still fight the 12 step way of life? because we think we can find an easier softer way. trust me there is NOT an easier softer way. you have got to dedicate the rest of your life to the 12 step program of your choice, continue to work the steps on a daily basis, cram as many meetings as you can. i know a lot of people who do internet meetings and not face to face meetings. trust me when i say those meetings will get stale over a time. we need the openess of our recovery brothers and sisters to get clean and to stay clean. Recovery has to be an inside job. we have to stay teachable to be reachable. i am not putting down online meetings i did them for a year and a half 10 years ago. they worked for me at the time i was working two jobs and did not have the time to make it to meetings. today is different being 100% disabled allows me now to attend any meeting i wish.

this site has over 5200 members but i don't see a lot of members posting or sharing their personal Recovery. we need some more of you Old Timers to get busy sharing your Recovery. So take 10 minutes out of your life and post something positive for the newcomers to read. remember we can only keep what we have by giving it away. I stay clean today because it's my choice. as my sponsor would say get out of God's way and let him work in your life today. you may think your in control but God is driving the bus of Life. stay clean and be good to yourself.

A Brother in Recovery 4 life,

JJ